The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II stands as a testament to engineering excellence within the E-mount mirrorless ecosystem. As the second iteration of Sony's professional-grade standard zoom, this G Master lens is designed to be a versatile workhorse, catering to the exacting demands of professional photographers and videographers alike. It promises exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and robust performance across its useful 24-70mm focal range, all while maintaining a fast, constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. This review will delve into its key characteristics, performance metrics, and suitability for various photographic and videographic disciplines, offering an objective assessment of its capabilities.
Optically, the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is built to deliver. Its intricate optical formula comprises 20 elements in 16 groups, including two XA (extreme aspherical) elements, two ED (extra-low dispersion) elements, two Super ED elements, and one aspherical element. This sophisticated design is engineered to suppress chromatic aberrations, spherical aberrations, distortion, and coma, ensuring outstanding resolution and corner-to-corner sharpness even at its widest apertures. Reviewers consistently praise its ability to render fine details with remarkable clarity throughout the entire zoom range and across the full frame sensor.
The constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is a cornerstone of this lens's appeal, offering significant advantages for creative control and low-light performance. It allows photographers to isolate subjects with a shallow depth of field, producing a smooth, aesthetically pleasing background blur, or "bokeh." The 11-blade circular diaphragm further contributes to this by creating beautifully rounded out-of-focus highlights. This wide aperture also ensures sufficient light gathering capability for shooting in dimly lit environments, providing flexibility when ambient light is scarce and enabling faster shutter speeds to freeze action.
Beyond its impressive optical prowess, the physical design and handling of the GM II represent a significant evolution from its predecessor. Weighing in at a mere 693 grams, it is notably lighter and more compact, making it a more comfortable companion for extended shooting sessions and better balanced on modern E-mount camera bodies. Despite its reduced weight, the lens maintains a professional-grade construction, featuring a dust and moisture-resistant design that instills confidence when working in challenging outdoor conditions. A fluorine coating on the front element repels water, oil, and other contaminants, simplifying cleaning and maintenance.
Ergonomically, the lens is well-appointed for intuitive control. It features a tactile aperture ring, allowing for direct and precise aperture adjustments. Critically for videographers, this aperture ring includes an iris lock switch to prevent accidental changes and a de-click switch, enabling smooth, silent aperture transitions during video recording. An AF/MF switch provides quick toggling between autofocus and manual focus modes, while two customizable focus hold buttons offer additional functionality, often mapped to eye-AF or other frequently used settings. Both internal focus and internal zoom mechanisms mean the lens's length does not change when zooming or focusing, which is highly beneficial for gimbal use, maintaining balance, and minimizing the risk of dust ingress.
Autofocus performance is another area where the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II truly shines. It employs four of Sony's original XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors, which deliver exceptionally fast, precise, and quiet autofocus. This advanced AF system ensures subjects are acquired rapidly and tracked accurately, making it suitable for fast-moving subjects and demanding situations like event or sports photography. For video applications, the quiet operation of the AF motors and the minimal focus breathing are invaluable, ensuring smooth and unobtrusive focus transitions without distracting changes in perspective.
Considering its specifications and performance, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II excels in a multitude of professional use cases. For wedding and event photography, its versatile zoom range covers everything from wide-angle group shots to tighter portraiture, while the constant f/2.8 aperture handles varying lighting conditions and provides excellent subject isolation. Portrait photographers will appreciate the lens's sharp rendition of subjects and the beautiful, creamy bokeh for compelling results. Landscape photographers can leverage the sharp 24mm wide end, especially when paired with its robust weather sealing. Its balanced size and excellent AF make it suitable for street photography, capturing candid moments with precision. Finally, for video production, the internal zoom, internal focus, de-clickable aperture ring, and quiet, responsive autofocus position it as a top-tier choice for run-and-gun filmmaking and high-quality cinematic work.
In conclusion, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is an outstanding piece of optical engineering that lives up to its G Master designation. It delivers class-leading optical performance, superb build quality, and advanced features in a more compact and lightweight package than its predecessor. While it represents a significant investment, its versatility, reliability, and imaging excellence make it an indispensable tool for professionals and serious enthusiasts who demand uncompromising quality and performance across a broad spectrum of photographic and videographic applications. It is, without question, a premier standard zoom lens in the E-mount system.