Sony is bolstering its mirrorless camera system with a new lens, the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM. It's a professional-grade zoom with coverage that's squarely ultra-wide, and is the only one of its type to also offer an f/2.8 aperture. It's capable of capturing the same epic views as the FE 12-24mm F4 G, but gathering twice as much light, and, according to Sony, offering better overall optics to boot. It's a member of the premium G Master line, the company's highest class of lens. Sony touts its excellent edge-to-edge resolution, minimal distortion, and premium build. Wide-angle lenses are a favorite for landscape specialists, and this one is built for use in any weather, and includes fluorine protection to help keep its big front element free of smudges and debris. At 5.4 by 3.8 inches (HD) and 1.9 pounds, it's a little bit bigger and heavier than the 12-24mm F4 G (4.6 by 3.5 inches, 1.2 pounds), but it also gathers twice the light. It ships with a soft case, a standard rear cap, a slip-o...

Intro; Size and design; Distortion; Sunstars; Chromatic aberrations and LoCA; Bokeh; Autofocus; Fall-off; Sharpness; Video capability; Is it worth the price?;

Intro; Size and design; Distortion; Sunstars; Chromatic aberrations and LoCA; Bokeh; Autofocus; Fall-off; Sharpness; Video capability; Is it worth the price?;

A 24-70mm f2.8 zoom lens is the workhorse for many professional photographers and aspiring amateurs alike. And no camera system is competitive without such a lens delivering very good optical quality.

(24mm, F2.8, 1/60, ISO 100) As a standard zoom lens, the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM is certainly top notch. It doesn't have that charisma of the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 or the Sony 85mm F1.4 GM that you immediately see as soon as you take your first shot.

Excellent image quality Fast, precise and quiet AF Nice handling Great build Constant aperture Weather sealing Super versatile

Steep price tag Ok bokeh Slightly heavy and long

I knew right from the start that reviewing this lens would not be an easy task. Would I end up rejecting it because of its size and weight or would I transcend the “mirrorless camera = small” concept and appreciate the qualities it has to offer? I admit that it is a tough call.

The Sony G Master range is described as a “supreme blend of high resolution and beautiful bokeh” which will match current and even future trends with high resolution sensors. This is a very desirable combination of properties if it can be achieved, especially with such a useful, bright f/2.8...

Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM is a Fixed aperture Auto Focus (AF) Standard Zoom lens with 35mm FF max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with E Mount cameras. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM was replaced with Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II.

Weather-sealed, Autofocus, AF/MF Switch on Lens, Focus Hold Button, Breathing Correction with Supported Cameras, Hood supplied, Full-time Manual Focusing, Zoom Lock, Fast Aperture at Wide end, Fast Aperture at Tele end, Constant f2.8 aperture throughout the range, Covers Full-Frame Sensor, 9...

Weather-sealed, Autofocus, AF/MF Switch on Lens, Focus Hold Button, Breathing Correction with Supported Cameras, Hood supplied, Full-time Manual Focusing, Zoom Lock, Fast Aperture at Wide end, Fast Aperture at Tele end, Constant f2.8 aperture throughout the range, Covers Full-Frame Sensor, 9...

Sony's marketing made some pretty aggressive statements at the time of the announcement of their new GM lineup. The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM is the first GM lens that we tested here and while we are impressed by the quality, it didn't really blow off our socks either.

Zoom lenses do have strengths and weaknesses in their performance, but there is little to complain about with this Sony G Master. Any sacrifice in the bald figures is more than made up for with the convenience and versatility a zoom lens represents, and there are precious few sacrifices.

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM is the new benchmark standard zoom for Sony's full-frame camera range, but it's also an incredibly expensive lens too, almost rivalling the equivalent Canon and Nikon optics in terms of price.