Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Review (SEL2470GM2)

The Sony G Master lens series was launched in 2016, and the brand has been delivering excellent quality optics. With the series launch, Sony had promised to successively launch impressive optics that would cater to the dynamic requirements of creators from different genres. Over the years, we’ve witnessed several camera lenses from the G Master lens series that have been crowd favourites in the world of content creation. However, with the launch of its new, upgraded Sony G Master lens, Sony has only taken the quality of its products a notch higher. 

We’re talking about the refreshed version of the initially 24-70mm f/2.8 GM. However, it does make us wonder - why has Sony launched the same product a few years after introducing the original one? Well, the all-new Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM2 is here! Sony has worked on all the drawbacks of the original version (which wasn’t exactly a hit among the masses) and come up with an upgraded model that’s loaded with the best features.

Is the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM2 worth it? Totally! The lens features a refined, updated optical formula, among many other new features. It also boasts of a compact form factor and a user-friendly accessible design. In this article we’ll  have a look at why the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM2 is so popular and, hands-down, the best lens from the Sony G Master series that you can invest in.

Compact Size and Sleek Form Factor

The visibly sleek design of the 24-70mm GM2 is a welcome change. However, if you’ve been using the Sony GM lens for quite some time, you’ll quickly note how light and compact its successor is when you hold it in your hands. Weighing just 695 grams, the 24-70mm GM2 weighs 22% less than its predecessor. 

Likewise, the new lens is 12cm long and 16mm shorter than its previous version. The overall volume of the lens has come down by 18%, which is a big deal for such a premium F2.8 standard zoom lens. The compact form factor makes the lens easy to pack and carry around and is well-suited for everyday usage. 

Apart from its predecessor, the 24-70mm GM2 is much lighter than other popular counterparts from other brands. So if you’re looking for a more lightweight alternative to the Samyang AF 24-70mm f/2.8 FE or the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lenses, you can consider investing in the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM2.

Excellent Upgraded Optical Design

Apart from the compact form, if there’s an attribute that distinguishes this lens from its predecessor, the upgraded optical design is a feature to look forward to. The lens’s visual design features a range of 20 elements in 15 groups, including unique elements. All these elements ensure you have excellent image quality in different shooting conditions.

You have two ED (extra-low dispersion) and two super ED elements among the elements. All these four elements help deal with chromatic aberrations and colour fringing. You also have five aspherical elements, which include two XA (extreme aspherical) elements. The aspherical elements help minimise spherical aberrations and distortions, as well as the ‘onion ring’ bokeh.

You also have the Nano AR Coating II, which helps the lens control lens flare and ghosting by reducing internal reflections. Lastly, the 11-balded aperture diaphragm results in a smooth, subtle yet impressive bokeh at all aperture settings. The lens’s optical design cumulatively contributes to the remarkable quality of imagery.

Sturdy, Tough Design That’s Fit For Outdoor Usage

Despite being lesser in weight than its popular counterparts, the 24-70mm GM2 does not compromise its sturdiness. It features an aluminium alloy body, which is compact and light in weight. In addition, the overall lens design features both metal and plastic components, which helps strike the perfect balance between durability and weight. 

The 24-70mm GM2 has a weather-sealed design and is dust and moisture resistant. In addition, the seams of this lens feature rubber gaskets, and the lens mount sports a rubber ring sealing too. These attributes allow the lens to perform well in extreme weather conditions.

In addition to the rubberized elements, the front element of the 24-70mm GM2 features a fluorine coating. The coating protects the lens from water, oil, dust, and smudges. In addition, cleaning the lens is a lot easier, as the layer works as a repellent against many external elements.

Impressive Focusing Mechanism

The redesigned focusing system of the 24-70mm GM2 is one of its major plus points. The lens features four XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors, which afford quick and accurate focusing. Compared to the DDSSM system in the original lens, the XD motors offer faster, quieter, and more precise autofocusing. 

With faster focusing, it’s easier for you to work with subjects in motion. The focus tracking feature is active even when you change the zoom position. Likewise, you have the floating focus, which helps deliver the same image quality throughout the focusing range. Along with an excellent autofocus mechanism, you also have a great internal focusing design, ensuring a more responsive focusing performance across the focal length range. 

Easy and Accessible Lens Design

The 24-70mm GM2 features refined controls, which makes the lens well-suited for hybrid creators. The lens design is basic but highly effective. It features a focus ring and a single on-lens function button. The lens design does not vary drastically as compared to the original lens, but the successor model has better on-barrel controls. 

The lens also sports two Fn round Focus Hold buttons, which offer easy access when shooting in both horizontal and vertical orientations. Both focus buttons, by default, keep the lens locked to the focusing distance you choose. The default locking feature is convenient when you’re shooting in autofocus mode. The two buttons can also be assigned different features via the camera’s custom settings. 

The 24-70mm GM2 also has a dedicated aperture ring, which features 1/3EV stops from f/2.8 to f/22. The aperture ring functions smoothly with the presence of the Click switch on the lens barrel. Just like the focus locking system, we also have the Iris lock switch on the lens barrel, which helps lock the aperture to prevent accidental movement of the aperture ring. Videographers, in particular, would find the click-free aperture control helpful, as it’s silent and allows smooth toggling between controls.

Next, we have the large zoom ring, which is in between the aperture and focusing rings. The zoom ring rotates approximately 80 degrees and sports four focal length markings at 24, 35, 50, and 70mm each. In addition, the upgraded lens has a new switch to toggle between the two zoom ring options - Tight and Smooth. 

Great Video Capabilities

The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM2 is popular among photographers, but it also has features that make it appealing to videographers. This lens has minimal issues such as focus shift, focus breathing, and axial shift during zooming. As a result, while capturing videos, you will not encounter unwanted movements and angle variations - instead, you can effortlessly shoot videos with exceptional compositional accuracy. 

The lens also supports a Breathing Compensation function when paired with selective Sony cameras (cine-line and Alpha models). The presence of four XD motors affords quiet and accurate use of the autofocus mode. Likewise, the Linear Response Manual Focus provides intuitive manual focus control. The silent operation of the manual aperture ring makes capturing videos an effortless experience with the Sony 24-70mm GM2 lens.

Wide Focal length Range

The new lens from Sony has a focal length range spanning 24-70mm. The focal length range is incredibly versatile and offers limitless possibilities, especially during demanding photoshoots. In a single photoshoot, you can easily switch from wide-angle to zoom, depending on the type of image you wish to capture. The lens also offers a minimum focusing distance of 21 cm and a maximum magnification of 0.32x. The zoom features of the lens make it a great pick for those perfect macro shots.

The 24-70mm focal length range of this lens stretches from wide-angle to short telephoto. When you look through 24-70mm, you get a natural field of view, which makes composition super easy to learn. The 24-70mm lens is apt for beginners who have just started their photography journey. You can comfortably capture a wide variety of subjects without worrying about many different aspects such as compression, distortion, the field of view, and how modifying each option would affect the scene.

For Whom is The Focal Length 24-70mm Useful? 

Now that we’ve seen how the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM2 is well-suited for both images and videos, let’s delve deeper into understanding who can benefit most from the lens’s focal length range. 

Macro Photography 

The 24-70mm lenses are usually created, keeping genres such as landscape, portrait, and natural subjects in mind. They are built to deliver picture-perfect shots of natural elements, but we miss out on the fact that these lenses have excellent close-focusing capabilities too. As a result, you can use the lens to capture stunning close-up shots of not just flowers, insects, and leaves (and other typical macro subjects) but also zoom into portrait shots for more detailed images of your issues. 

Wedding and Portrait Photography

The 24-70mm focal length range is super flexible and allows you to capture full-body shots of your subject from a distance. Then, the next moment, you can move close, alter the lens settings and zoom in for a detailed head-and-shoulders composition. 

The effortless flexibility offered by the 24-70mm lenses make them apt for wedding photography. Weddings have so much going on; as a photographer, you must be on your toes to ensure you don’t miss out on shots. In such dynamic shoots, you don’t have the time to switch lenses; rather, you have to opt for an all-in-one lens to ensure you can effortlessly capture all key wedding shots. The 24-70mm is the perfect pick for such shooting scenarios. 

Outdoor and Travel Photography

Not just for indoor shoots, the 24-70mm lens is equally well-suited for outdoor photography. One 24-70mm and your camera is all you require to capture those stunning vacation shots. When on the move, there’s nothing like a compact photography kit - you can travel light without worrying about lugging around heavy photography equipment. So pack light and enjoy your vacation or outdoor photoshoot sessions!

Videography 

The 24-70mm lens is well suited for videography; in fact, it is an integral part of professional videographers’ kits. The flexible focal length range and the 2.8 aperture ensure that the lens is quick, fast, stable, and extremely handy in low-light situations. Unfortunately, the Sony 24-70mm lens does not feature in-built image stabilisation, but if you pair the lens with a camera featuring stabilisation, you’re good to go!

Summing Up

If you want to add an all-rounder lens to your kit, your search ends here. The Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM2 is built to perfection, considering the requirements of photographers and videographers. It is power-packed with excellent features, making it well-suited for different genres and shooting conditions. And yes, you get this lens at a great price too! So contact us for more details about the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM2, or place your order immediately to add this fantastic optical piece to your kit.