Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM Hands-on Review
Summary Verdict
Sony’s FE 28-70mm F2 GM is a powerful addition to the G Master series, combining excellent sharpness, a constant f/2 aperture and advanced handling features. It looks set to become a workhorse lens for photographers and videographers who can accept the high price.
Score: TBC
For
F/2 aperture throughout the zoom range
Comparatively compact and lightweight for its type
Declickable aperture ring
Against
High price
Still weighs over 900g
Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM Price and Availability
The Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM, price £3050 / $2899.99, is set to go on sale in December 2024.
The Sony FE 28-70mm F2 mounted on the Sony A1 II.
What is the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM?
The Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM is Sony’s first standard zoom lens with a constant f/2 aperture, setting a new benchmark in the G Master lens lineup. It features four XD linear motors to help keep the size down while enabling fast focusing.
According to Sony, the FE 28-70mm F2 GM is built to deliver prime-like sharpness and contrast across its zoom range and is aimed at demanding professional and enthusiast photographers and videographers.
Specifications
Lens type: Standard zoom
Announced: 19th November 2024
Format: Full-frame
Construction: 20 elements in 14 groups with 3 Extreme aspherical (XA), 3 Aspherical, 3 Super ED (extra-low dispersion) and 1 ED (extra-low dispersion) elements.
Maximum aperture: f/2
Minimum aperture: f/22
Number of aperture blades: 11
Minimum focusing distance: 38 cm (1.25 ft)
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.23x
Filter size: 86mm
Dimensions (D x L): 92.9 x 139.8 mm/ 3-3/4 x 5-5/8 inches
Weight: 918 g / 32.4 ounces
Key Features
The most eye-catching feature of the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM is its constant f/2 aperture, which makes it an attractive choice for low-light shooting. The 11-blade iris also creates a round aperture to achieve smooth background blur.
The lens employs three XA (extreme aspherical) elements, three aspherical elements, one ED (extra-low dispersion) element, and three Super ED elements to ensure superior sharpness and suppressed chromatic aberration.
Sony’s Nano AR Coating II is also applied to minimise flare and ghosting, while the front element has a fluorine coating to repel dust, fingerprints and water droplets.
Conveniently, the lens's minimum focusing distance of 0.38mm is maintained throughout the focal length range.
While the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM has an external zoom design and, therefore, extends when moving from the end of the focal length range to the other, the change in length is only around half an inch, so it maintains a fairly compact form for its focal length and aperture. Crucially, it shouldn't necessitate significant balance adjustment when the lens is being used on a gimbal-mounted camera.
Video-shooters will appreciate the FE 28-70mm F2 GM's focus breathing control and compatibility with Sony’s breathing compensation feature in some Alpha cameras. There's also linear manual focusing for precise, predictable focus shifts, and in AF mode, it can handle tracking at 120fps for stills and 240fps for video.
Build and Handling
Some may scoff at the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM being referred to as 'compact' or ‘lightweight’, but at 139.8 mm in length and 92.9mm in diameter, it's small for its focal length range and maximum aperture. It also weighs 'just' 918g. For comparison, the Canon RF 28-70mm F/2L USM is 139.8 mm long (the same as the Sony lens), but it’s 103.8 mm in diameter and weighs 1430 g.
Consequently, the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM feels solid without being overly bulky. I found it perfectly acceptable for handheld use.
Sony has given the FE 28-70mm F2 G a nice array of controls, including an aperture ring with a click ON/OFF switch, an aperture lock and a zoom smoothness (torque) adjustment switch. There are also two focus hold buttons that are customisable to suit different photographer's preferences.
As expected with a G Master lens, the FE 28-70mm F2 GM is weather-sealed.
Performance
I have used the Sony Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM on the Sony A1 II in a studio to photograph dancers under flashlight, and it performed extremely well. Paired with the 50MP camera, it captures a lot of sharp detail.
So far, I am impressed with the lens, but there’s a lot more testing to be done before I pass final judgement, and I will update this review in the near future.
Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM Sample Images
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. Paired with the Sony A1 II’s excellent eye detection AF, the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM gets the eyes in portraits super-sharp.
Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM at 35mm, F/2, 1/400 Sec and ISO 50.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson.
Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM at 35mm, F/2, 1/400 Sec and ISO 50.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. The darkening towards the top of the image is a feature of the lighting rather than the lens - vignetting appears to be controlled very well.
Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM at 35mm, F/2, 1/400 Sec and ISO 50.
Early Verdict
As it's part of Sony's top-flight G Master series, and the company's first standard zoom to feature a constant aperture of f/2, we have high expectations of the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM. My first impressions are that it doesn’t disappoint. The images I have captured using it so far are super-sharp and have bags of detail.
Paired with the new Sony A1 II announced at the same time, the focus is swift, accurate and silent.
Naturally, cutting-edge optical design and large apertures don't come cheap, consequently, the price the FE 28-70mm F2 GM is likely to be too steep for many justify. However, initial impressions indicate that its a great choice for those seeking a high-quality, fast-aperture zoom with professional-grade performance.
