Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II: The Ultimate Standard Zoom Lens?
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens has arrived, and it’s generating significant buzz in the photography world. As the successor to the highly regarded, but aging, original 24-70mm GM, this new lens promises improved performance, a lighter design, and enhanced features. Is the hype justified? Let’s dive into a comprehensive overview of the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, examining its key features, performance, and overall value.
What’s New with the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II?
Sony has completely redesigned the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, resulting in a lens that’s noticeably smaller and lighter than its predecessor. This reduction in size and weight is a welcome change for photographers who often carry their gear for extended periods. But the improvements don’t stop there. Sony has also enhanced the optical design, autofocus performance, and overall usability of the lens.
Key Features and Specifications
- Optical Design: The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II features a new optical design with five aspherical elements, including two extreme aspherical (XA) elements, and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements. These elements work together to minimize aberrations, distortion, and color fringing, resulting in exceptionally sharp and clear images.
- Autofocus System: Sony has equipped the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II with four XD (Extreme Dynamic) Linear Motors. These motors provide fast, accurate, and quiet autofocus performance, making the lens ideal for both stills and video.
- Aperture Blades: The lens features an 11-blade circular aperture, which creates smooth and beautiful bokeh, even when shooting at wider apertures.
- Construction and Build Quality: The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is built to withstand the rigors of professional use. It features a dust- and moisture-resistant design, ensuring reliable performance in challenging environments.
- Weight and Size: As mentioned earlier, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is significantly smaller and lighter than its predecessor. This makes it more comfortable to carry and use for extended periods.
Image Quality: A Closer Look
One of the most important aspects of any lens is its image quality. The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II delivers exceptional results in this area. Sharpness is excellent across the entire frame, even at the widest aperture of f/2.8. The lens also effectively controls aberrations, distortion, and color fringing. Bokeh is smooth and pleasing, making it easy to create images with shallow depth of field.
Sharpness
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II provides outstanding sharpness throughout the zoom range. Even at the edges of the frame, images remain crisp and detailed. This level of sharpness is crucial for professional photographers who demand the highest possible image quality.
Aberrations and Distortion
Thanks to its advanced optical design, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II effectively minimizes aberrations and distortion. This results in cleaner, more accurate images with fewer unwanted artifacts. While some minor distortion may be present at the extreme ends of the zoom range, it’s easily corrected in post-processing.
Bokeh
The 11-blade circular aperture of the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II creates beautifully smooth and creamy bokeh. This is especially noticeable when shooting portraits or other subjects with shallow depth of field. The bokeh adds a sense of depth and dimension to images, making them more visually appealing.
Autofocus Performance: Speed and Accuracy
The autofocus system of the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is incredibly fast and accurate. The four XD Linear Motors provide smooth and responsive focusing, even in challenging lighting conditions. The lens also supports Sony’s Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF features, ensuring that your subjects remain in sharp focus, even when they’re moving.
Stills Photography
For stills photography, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II delivers exceptional autofocus performance. It quickly locks onto subjects and maintains focus, even when they’re moving erratically. This is essential for capturing sharp, in-focus images of fast-moving subjects, such as athletes or wildlife.
Video Recording
The autofocus system of the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is also well-suited for video recording. The lens provides smooth and quiet focusing, which is crucial for capturing professional-quality video footage. The lens also minimizes focus breathing, which is a common issue with some zoom lenses. [See also: Best Sony Lenses for Video]
Build Quality and Handling
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is built to withstand the demands of professional use. The lens features a robust construction and a dust- and moisture-resistant design. The controls are well-placed and easy to use, even when wearing gloves. The zoom ring and focus ring are smooth and precise, providing a comfortable and intuitive shooting experience.
Ergonomics
The reduced size and weight of the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II make it more comfortable to handle than its predecessor. The lens balances well on Sony’s full-frame cameras, even when shooting for extended periods. The customizable focus hold buttons and aperture ring further enhance the user experience.
Durability
The dust- and moisture-resistant design of the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II provides peace of mind when shooting in challenging environments. Whether you’re shooting in rain, snow, or dusty conditions, you can be confident that the lens will perform reliably. However, it is important to note that the lens is not fully waterproof, so it’s still important to take precautions to protect it from excessive exposure to water.
Compared to the Competition
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II faces stiff competition from other standard zoom lenses, including those from Canon, Nikon, and Sigma. Each of these lenses has its own strengths and weaknesses. However, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II stands out for its exceptional image quality, fast autofocus performance, and relatively compact size and weight.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM I vs. GM II
The most obvious comparison is to the original Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM. The Mark II version offers improvements in almost every area, including size, weight, image quality, and autofocus performance. While the original GM lens is still a capable performer, the GM II is a significant upgrade.
Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is a comparable lens for Canon’s mirrorless system. It offers excellent image quality and features image stabilization, which the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lacks. However, the Sony lens is generally considered to have slightly better autofocus performance and is also smaller and lighter. [See also: Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM Review]
Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
The Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is another strong contender in this category. It delivers excellent image quality and features a customizable control ring. The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, however, is often praised for its superior autofocus capabilities.
Who is the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II For?
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is an ideal lens for professional photographers and serious enthusiasts who demand the highest possible image quality and performance. It’s a versatile lens that can be used for a wide range of applications, including portraits, landscapes, weddings, and events. Its fast aperture and excellent autofocus performance also make it well-suited for video recording.
Portrait Photographers
The smooth bokeh and excellent sharpness of the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II make it an excellent choice for portrait photographers. The lens allows you to create images with shallow depth of field, isolating your subject from the background and creating a visually appealing effect.
Wedding and Event Photographers
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is a versatile lens that’s well-suited for wedding and event photography. Its zoom range allows you to capture a variety of shots, from wide-angle group photos to close-up portraits. The fast aperture and excellent autofocus performance ensure that you can capture sharp, in-focus images, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Landscape Photographers
While not a traditional landscape lens, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II can still be used to capture stunning landscape images. Its excellent sharpness and minimal distortion allow you to create images with exceptional detail and clarity. The wide aperture can also be used to create images with shallow depth of field, blurring the foreground or background to draw attention to your subject.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Relatively compact and lightweight
- Dust- and moisture-resistant design
Cons:
- High price tag
- No image stabilization
Conclusion: Is the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Worth It?
The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is an outstanding standard zoom lens that delivers exceptional image quality, fast autofocus performance, and a relatively compact and lightweight design. While its high price tag may be a deterrent for some, it’s a worthwhile investment for professional photographers and serious enthusiasts who demand the best. If you’re looking for a versatile and high-performing standard zoom lens for your Sony full-frame camera, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is an excellent choice.
