Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II represents an enhanced version of the esteemed "holy trinity" standard zoom lens, featuring advanced optical elements and improved autofocus capabilities within a compact and lightweight design. This lens is optimized for high mobility, making it suitable for both photography and videography. It pairs exceptionally well with high-performance α system cameras and is versatile enough to accommodate a broad spectrum of shooting scenarios.

G Master Image Quality

Engineered to compete with prime lenses, the optics of this zoom have been enhanced to deliver superior resolution, clarity, and bokeh characteristics. The bright f/2.8 constant aperture enables photographers to take images in low-light environments while achieving a shallow depth of field. Additionally, the inclusion of two ED (extra-low dispersion) and two Super ED elements significantly reduces chromatic aberrations and color fringing, resulting in improved clarity and color accuracy.

The optical design incorporates five aspherical elements, featuring two extreme aspherical elements (XA), which effectively minimize spherical aberrations and distortion while also mitigating the occurrence of 'onion ring' bokeh. The implementation of Nano AR Coating II significantly reduces flare and ghosting, aided by a novel optical configuration that limits internal reflections. Additionally, the 11-blade aperture diaphragm contributes to the production of smooth, circular bokeh across all aperture settings.

Faster AF and Floating Focus Mechanism

The redesigned focusing system offers several advantages, including enhanced focusing speed, improved close-up capabilities, and greater control. The incorporation of four XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors significantly elevates focusing performance when compared to the previous DDSSM system. This results in faster, quieter, and more accurate autofocus, making it suitable for both photography and videography. The increased speed of autofocus facilitates better tracking of fast-moving subjects, with support for shooting at rates of up to 30 frames per second. Full autofocus functionality is preserved even when the aperture is reduced, and focus tracking remains effective during zoom adjustments. The floating focusing mechanism ensures consistent image quality across the entire focusing range, which is particularly crucial given the lens's remarkable close-up capabilities, featuring a minimum focusing distance of 8.3 inches at 24mm and 11.8 inches at 70mm, along with a maximum magnification of 0.32x at 70mm. Additionally, the internal focusing design enhances responsiveness and maintains a constant lens length during operation.

Improved Control and Video Capabilities

The evolution of camera design has increasingly catered to the requirements of both photographers and videographers. In line with this trend, this lens has been enhanced with features that specifically address the needs of video professionals. The lens minimizes focus breathing, focus shift, and axial shift during zooming, thereby reducing unwanted movements and variations in the angle of view, which contributes to improved compositional precision during filming. It also supports the Breathing Compensation function available in select cine-line and Alpha cameras. Additionally, the XD Linear Motors operate with remarkable quietness, facilitating the use of autofocus during video capture. The Linear Response Manual Focus offers a natural and intuitive manual focusing experience. Furthermore, the manual aperture ring can be adjusted for silent operation, and the smoothness of the zoom can be modified to achieve the desired level of torque.

Compact, Lightweight, and Robust Design

This lens ranks among the smallest and lightest f/2.8 standard zooms on the market, maintaining its professional qualities while also being weather-sealed and robust enough for challenging working environments. It is approximately 22% lighter and 18% more compact than its predecessor, making it a highly portable and versatile choice for a wide range of shooting scenarios. The addition of a manual aperture ring allows for tactile exposure adjustments, which can be de-clicked for seamless and quiet iris transitions or locked in the 'A' position for aperture control via the camera. Furthermore, it features two programmable focus hold buttons and a focus mode switch to facilitate intuitive focus management, along with a zoom smoothness switch that allows users to toggle between Smooth and Tight zoom ring torque.