Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Evaluate

Introduction

Ease of Use

Weighing in at simply 695g / 24.6oz. and measuring 12cm in size, the aluminium alloy bodied Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is comparatively mild and compact for such a premium F2.8 customary zoom lens.

It proved to be a well-balanced companion to the the Alpha A9 digicam that we examined it with, even with no battery grip being fitted, as proven within the photographs beneath.

Impressively it weighs 22% lower than the earlier mannequin and is 16mm shorter, with the general quantity decreased by roughly 18%, a not insignificant weight and dimension saving which makes it higher suited to all-day use.

It is also really considerably lighter than all of its essential rivals, which embrace amongst others the unique Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM (886g), the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Artwork (830g), and the Samyang AF 24-70mm F2.8 FE (1,027g).

Similar to the unique model, this new Mark II lens does prolong when zoomed from the minimal 24mm focal size to the 70mm focal size, by virtually 3cms when zoomed to the 70mm focal size.

The general construct high quality is superb, which is one thing of a reduction given the sky-high price-tag, with this very trendy lens using a hybrid steel and plastic building.

This lens has a sealed mud and moisture resistant design utlising silicon seals round all of the buttons and switches and a rubber gasket across the lens mount, which makes it well-suited to life in each the sphere and the studio.

There’s additionally a a fluorine coating on the entrance lens ingredient to assist repel water, oil, and another contaminants, in addition to making it simpler to scrub.

It has a steel lens mount and accepts 82mm filters through steel threads.

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM has two spherical Focus Maintain Buttons for simpler entry when taking pictures in both a horizontal or vertical orientation.

By default they maintain the lens locked to the present focusing distance, helpful in case you’re auto-focusing and don’t need the lens to attempt to discover focus once more. An alternate operate may also be assigned to both of those buttons by way of the digicam’s customized settings.

There’s a pretty large and ridged focus ring on the finish of the lens. Guide focusing is feasible by utilizing the devoted AF/MF swap to toggle between AF and MF.

There are not any exhausting stops on the ends of the vary, making it tougher to set focus at infinity. Polariser customers ought to be happy that the 82mm filter thread does not rotate on focus.

The lens makes use of 4 XD Linear Motors for very quick, easy and exact auto-focusing, and it’s extremely quiet in operation making it well-suited to taking pictures video.

An inside focusing design ensures that the general lens size stays fixed throughout focusing.

In relation to auto-focusing, this lens is a extremely fast performer, taking lower than 0.10 seconds to lock onto the topic when mounted on the Sony Alpha A9 that we examined it with.

We did not expertise any “looking” in any respect, both in good or dangerous mild, with the lens precisely focusing the entire time.

It is also a really quiet performer, which makes this lens equally well-suited to each video recording and extra candid stills taking pictures.

The Mark II model now has a devoted aperture ring. The aperture ring has 1/3EV stops starting from F2.8 to F22 and might be switched between easy and notched rotation utilizing the devoted Click on swap on the lens barrel.

Utilizing the Iris Lock swap on the lens barrel, it may also be locked to both the Auto or F2.8-F22 settings to forestall unintentional motion of the aperture ring.

The generously sized zoom ring sits in the midst of the aperture and focusing rings and rotates by way of roughly 80 levels. It has 4 completely different focal size markings – 24, 35, 50 and 70 mm.

This lens has a model new swap for setting the torque of the zoom ring, with two choices accessible, Tight and Clean.

The previous is helpful for stopping zoom creep throughout transportation or to be used on a tripod, while the latter is a extra general-purpose setting that most individuals will use for more often than not, both for stills or for gradual zooming throughout film recording.

This lens doesn’t function optical picture stabilisation, so it depends on the digicam physique’s personal built-in stabilisation, which is okay except you are an proprietor of an early Sony Alpha digicam.

The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens is commendably provided with each a very good high quality smooth case and strap, and a very good plastic petal-shaped lens hood (ALC-SH168) which has a button to lock/unlock it.

The hood additionally has a filter window which permits for extra handy operation of round polarizing and variable ND filters.

Focal Vary

The 24mm focal size supplies an angle of view of 84 levels.

24mm

The 70mm focal size supplies an angle of view of 34 levels.

70mm

Chromatic Aberrations

Chromatic aberrations, usually seen as purple or blue fringes alongside contrasty edges, usually are not an issue for the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens, even in areas of very excessive distinction.

24mm

70mm

Vignetting

With the lens set to its most aperture of f/2.8, there’s some mild fall-off within the corners, requiring you to cease down by at the least 3 f-stops to utterly stop it.

24mm

70mm

Distortion

The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II reveals numerous each barrel and pincushion distortion, as you may see within the photographs beneath, which can you’ll want to right in post-processing.

24mm

70mm

Sunstars and Flare

The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is able to producing very good sunstars when stopped-down to f/16 or f/22, as proven beneath, and the lens does not exhibit very a lot flare even when taking pictures instantly into the solar, supplied that you’ve got the provided lens hood fitted.

24mm

70mm

24mm

70mm

Macro

The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II presents superb close-up efficiency for the standard zoom lens, with a detailed focus level of 21cm from the sensor aircraft at 24mm and 30cm at 70mm and a most magnification of 0.32x.

Bokeh

Bokeh is a phrase used for the out-of-focus areas of {a photograph}, and is normally described in qualitative phrases, comparable to easy / creamy / harsh and many others.

Sony have paid shut consideration to this facet of lens use, using an 11-segment diaphragm with rounded blades for extra pleasing bokeh.

In our view, their efforts have been very profitable for the standard zoom lens – see the examples beneath to guage for your self.

Sharpness

With a view to present you the way sharp the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens is, we’re offering 100% crops on the next pages.