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Archive 2022 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II

  
 
Swimming_trouble_718
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p.1 #1 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Hello all,

If you've seen some of my posts I've been trying out a couple of different lenses in order to replace my tamron 28-200. I tried the 35-150 for a week and liked it, but thought it might be a bit too big and not wide enough. I've been trying out the sigma 24-70 for the past week and I definitely like the lens and am thinking about keeping it. The weight and the reverse zoom ring don't really bother me, but it would be better if it was lighter and "normal" of course. Which leads me to the new 24-70 gm II. I'm wondering how it compares to the sigma and if it would be "worth" going with? I've looked at a lot of reviews and it seems like it is ever so slightly sharper than the sigma, but definitely a lot lighter. I know it's over 2x the price and not 2x the lens, but part of me is still wondering if I should go with it instead? Since I'm asking it would not put me in financial ruin if I were to get it. I'm very fortunate in that regard. So what do you all think? Unfortunately there isn't an image thread for the new 24-70 so I haven't been able to see very many images on this website, but have looked else where.

Also wondering if there's different rendering for these two lenses (that's meaningful)? I know the sigma is a little warmer, but I've heard some people say that the sigma has a little bit more "pop" to the subject compared with the Sony GM II, even though it isn't as sharp. So does the sigma take nicer images even if it isn't as sharp? Not sure and any advice here would also be appreciated.



Aug 23, 2022 at 12:56 PM
mudlake
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p.1 #2 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Here’s the image thread:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1627146/0



Aug 23, 2022 at 01:30 PM
Swimming_trouble_718
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p.1 #3 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Ah thank you. Unfortunately I was looking for an image thread for the new Sony 24-70 GM II


Aug 23, 2022 at 01:33 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.1 #4 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


The Sigma 24-70/2.8 DG DN is fine optically. The corners are not very sharp wide open, especially at 70mm but it's a fine zoom. From what I've seen online, the new Sony v2 will do slightly better away from the center area.

What I really dislike about the Sigma 24-70/2.8 DG DN and Leica SL 24-70/2.8 (same lens with different barrel) is that dust accumulates in the front element. It's not hard to remove it but there is something wrong with how they designed it. I would always use a protection filter with this lens.



Aug 23, 2022 at 01:37 PM
mudlake
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p.1 #5 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


I got one of the first Sigma 24-70/2.8 in the country when it came out and still have it. No dust issues for me, although other early adopters did have the issue. Sigma fixed that issue shortly after the first batch. You shouldn’t have any problems.

I wouldn’t spend an extra $1,000 on the Sony when for all practical purposes they are identical in image quality. The 140 gram weight difference is something, but not $1,000 worth. Sigma knocked it out of the park with the 24-70/2.8.

Spend the extra $1,000 towards a Sony 14/1.8GM. It would pair perfectly with the Sigma zoom for astro or when you need super wide.



Aug 23, 2022 at 01:42 PM
MikeEvangelist
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p.1 #6 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Fred Miranda wrote:
What I really dislike about the Sigma 24-70/2.8 DG DN and Leica SL 24-70/2.8 (same lens with different barrel) is that dust accumulates in the front element. It's not hard to remove it but there is something wrong with how they designed it. I would always use a protection filter with this lens.


I had an early one and it developed dust internally. Eventually sent it to Sigma and they retrofitted it with their redesigned seals. Problem completely resolved.

And as you and others have said, the lens is excellent optically.



Aug 23, 2022 at 01:45 PM
GoroMajima
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p.1 #7 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


I think if you are looking for purely rendering, it is hard to beat the 28-70 DG DN.
Rendering is almost prime-like IMHO, the 24-70 Sigma renders a tiny bit harsher than the 28-70.



Aug 23, 2022 at 02:16 PM
photomadnz
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p.1 #8 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Ive been testing several Sony 24-70 II's against my Sigma 24-70mm Art. Back story is it took me a couple of Arts to find a great one. The first one I got was awful. Seems par for the course with 24-70's in general more than others.

Anyway, the GM's have all been 'fairly' consistent so I think I have a good handle on how they are. Short story is... Overall, my Sigma is better on the A7R IV. I was a bit shocked. More so at the 24-40mm area where I need it most and the GM is better at the long end.

As far as dust in the Art goes, I believe this was addressed in subsequent production runs. There is even a retro fit gasket that has been supplied as I had a client who sent there's away for this to be installed. Save the additional money and go grab some of the ultra nice primes :-)



Aug 23, 2022 at 03:07 PM
j4nu
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p.1 #9 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


That's a bit surprising considering how much more the GM II costs...


Aug 24, 2022 at 03:49 AM
Alan Parker
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p.1 #10 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


I'm a happy owner of the Sigma 24-70 too. I still need to get mine serviced, and I am envious of the aperture ring on the GMII, but other than that I'm a happy camper for the 1000 euros I paid


Aug 24, 2022 at 04:46 AM
Josegulias
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p.1 #11 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


A few moments ago I just received mine. Big and heavy but less than expected after reading that it was huge... I like it!! Could someone who has used filters on it comment if at 24mm it vignettes with an ND?
Many thanks!!



Aug 24, 2022 at 05:56 AM
Matti6950
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p.1 #12 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


TL;DR Sigma is surprising good even compared to Gmaster. Price/performance of the Sigma is outstanding (better then can be expected) if 24mm if must have (it is for me, no clue how people can frame cityscape on 28mm).


I still have both (couldn't resist on the GM II for 2000€ instead of 2400€).

A lot of people don't like the Sigma colours, but personally love their DG DN colours are epic imo. A tiny touch of vividness without ever going extreme, easy to go any direction with em still, but much easier then some bland lenses to get vivid (sunset etc) out of it. The 24/35mm GM have also vivid (but of course different) style. I own the 24mm GM, no problems there. The 24-70mm GM II has a... rather very neutral (even more then GM I first one that i owned). Now make no mistake you can push it quite in most directions, but imo, Sony missed the boat here, i think for black and white filming, and for portraits they went for almost to neutral. Even the 100-400mm GM has better colours (more vivid, without exagerrating).

Sharpness needs more test but i'm not all to impressed with the Sony GM II. While it definitely is good, very stable, Astigmatism better then ever fixed, quite flat focus field... The sharpness is, 'not that much' better then Sigma, it might even be a wash. Especially the 70mm 'omg it's amazing' parade is meh. Sure it's better then Mark 1 but that lens completely sucked at 70mm hard. Sigma was way better, and well, Sony follows but doenst improve (if only a little).

The weight is amazing. I don't dislike heavy lenses (i love my Sigma 35mm F1.2), but it's a really nice package, and while give lot of security for future like airplane bagage limitations. And for hiking any gram counts. This thing Sony did really amazing. The best thing imo is that the hard to grab thing near the mount is gone. The barrel is much more thin, making it nowhere near the mount 'closed' off for your fingers. Another nice thing is, for being 'the best in class' lens (together with Sigma), having such a small lens makes it less intrusive to other people, i noticed almost no 'omg that guy is shooting us with a telelens' look using this lens.

The bokeh falls of very fast, good for any bokeh image, bad for 70mm landscape shots, very hard to get F8 front to back sharp images.

Focus is incredible fast. Perhaps this is the biggest difference with Sigma. I do not dislike Sigma focus, but here the Sony has the most to gain. Also in accuracy and close focus.

Anyone thinking of 'upgrading' to Mark II gm for image quality from the Sigma 24-70mm DG DN should not do this. Period. The Sigma is an incredible optical design, that keeps price very low and image quality absolutely high. Shoot F8 at infinity (and some F-stops lower depending on Scene) and the sharpness really matches A7RIV. Yes primes are sharper, but at least every pixel provides details, wich a lot of standard zoom lenses don't (like the Zeiss 24-70mm F4.) Even the bokeh is amazing on Sigma.

Oh forgot about Flare, this seems really good on Sony but rarely had problems with my Sigma.

I'm actually considering keeping my Sigma (and probably Sony too). Standard zoom is my go-to for travelling, all day on camera, so that is for me the 'money' (without making it) lens.



Aug 24, 2022 at 08:36 AM
Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #13 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Based on Dustin Abbott's review of the Sony GM II, I was expecting better frankly. He compared to the Sigma and Samyang 24-70's and the original Sony GM and the Samyang was actually the best in the corners and the Sigma and Samyang were only a tad behind in the centre. The GM II definitely beats the original all around but does not seem worth the money over the competition. One reason I wouldn't get the Samyang, the crazy high weight over 1kg.

I wish Dustin had also tested the Tamron 28-75 G2 as I'm leaning towards that option over the Sigma 24-70.



Aug 25, 2022 at 06:24 AM
Alan Parker
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p.1 #14 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Pixel Perfect wrote:
Based on Dustin Abbott's review of the Sony GM II, I was expecting better frankly.

I would argue that it's Sony's mission to put out the standard zoom with the least or no compromises. I feel like they did that with the GMII. The overall performance bests the competition and the weight and functionality are either in line or at the very top.
Yes at some focal lengths the other options might be better, but overall the GMII will be the best. That's what I would want out of a top-end OEM standard zoom. I wouldn't want to shoot a standard zoom that only shines at 70mm for example if I were to be a professional.



Aug 25, 2022 at 06:29 AM
Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #15 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Alan Parker wrote:
I would argue that it's Sony's mission to put out the standard zoom with the least or no compromises. I feel like they did that with the GMII. The overall performance bests the competition and the weight and functionality are either in line or at the very top.
Yes at some focal lengths the other options might be better, but overall the GMII will be the best. That's what I would want out of a top-end OEM standard zoom. I wouldn't want to shoot a standard zoom that only shines at 70mm for example if I were to be a
...Show more

I often buy the best OEM glass but for me the 24-70 GM II while no doubt excellent, is not special like the new 70-200 GM II IMO. Given the 24-70 GM II is $3K in Australia, I would much rather spend that sort of money on the 70-200 which IMO is simply outstanding.



Aug 25, 2022 at 06:47 AM
Douglas L
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p.1 #16 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


I would like to get the new 24-70 GM II someday. Right now I am keeping the Sigma which I am very happy optically, and I used the "saving" from not buy the 24-70 GM II to buy a Sony PZ 16-35. My Sigma had a lot of dust, I sent it in and Sigma replaced the rear housing(?). It's fine now.


Aug 25, 2022 at 08:12 AM
sismailian
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p.1 #17 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


I've come to the same conclusion after owning the sigma 24-70 DG DN and the new 24-70 GM II. For landscape shots I kind of had high expectations but got disappointed rather quickly. I shoot with a7rv.

Diffraction kicks in real early even before F/8 where it's hard to get sharp images front to back and when I want some sunstars. Also the flare performance is not great either. You can get some pretty annoying nasty green blobs with the GM II. I always was happy with the sigma lens so I am trying to get it back from the store I sold it to for the GM II (hopefully can get it back). I had no dust issues with the sigma lens either.

Whoever has the sigma lens should not upgrade to the GM II if landscapes is what you shoot. If it's portraits and you shoot events then the sony lens is will be incredible. I just don't see it be worth more than twice the price of the sigma lens sadly. I am guessing since the sony GM II has more elements it tends to flare easier. You can test both lenses side by side if you want and see for yourself if you have a R4 or R5. Sigma really did an incredible job with that 24-70 for the price. I did have to go through 2 copies to get a good one. I'll probably be returning the GM II and get the sigma again or maybe go back to shooting with primes, not sure. Pretty undecided. I did exchange the GM II for another copy wondering why I couldn't get sharp landscape corners at F/8 and realize now that it has a worse DOF issue compared to the sigma. A lot of these test charts I take with a grain of salt. Real life performance is what's more important. My real only issue I ever had with the sigma is that it sometimes would miss focus shooting events. No lens is perfect anyway.

Now in other hand the latest 70-200 GM II lens is that much more special



Feb 21, 2023 at 02:45 AM
Fboss
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p.1 #18 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


>> I couldn't get sharp landscape corners at F/8 and realize now that it has a worse DOF issue compared to the sigma

I don't understand how this is possible. Unless the Sony has strong field curvature (no review has mentioned it), shouldn't the DOF at the same focal and aperture be the same between the 2 lenses ? I had the 24-70 GM II (that I returned because of some softness on the right side), but it was sharp in the corners otherwise at f/8 I agree with the conclusion that for landscapes, both lenses are equally capable. (I also owned the Sigma during ~1 year). The benefits of the GMII are f/2.8 sharpness across the frame, color neutral, AF speed, aperture ring, and weight.
I'm still thinking of buying another copy of the Sony, but there seems to be some significant variation with this lens.



Feb 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM
sismailian
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p.1 #19 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


Yeah I am just confused scratching my head why at F8 its not sharp in corners shooting distant subjects. I exchanged for one copy i might try another copy one more time today. It's getting very frustrating that a near $3k lens you have to go thru multiple copies but i had to do the same with the sony too. 3 tries with the 12-24 gm till i got an absolute excellent copy.


Feb 21, 2023 at 03:30 PM
sismailian
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p.1 #20 · Sigma art 24-70 vs Sony 24-70 GM II


I ended up returning the sony gm ii and getting a new sigma 24-70 dg dn that is an excellent golden copy that i tested.

I could not believe my eyes that the sigma was sharper in corners when stopped down from almost all apertures. The sigma still was sharper at f/11 than the sony at f/8. I believe there is some bad copy variation going on here with the gm ii that killed my interest in it. I dunno i an just baffled. You would think a lens more than twice its price would wow you but nope. I always have to test lenses side by side to get a clear picture. I can post sample shots showing the corners between them. I missed also the sigmas slight warmer crisp rendering. Glad i got some discount on it too 😁

I ended up also picking up a sony 20 1.8g excellent copy lens. What a fabulous small gem. So sharp and light. I guess my damn gas is getting the best of me 😂 Hopefully i domt buy another lens soon. Gotta stop the gas! 🤣



Feb 21, 2023 at 09:41 PM
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