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Archive 2016 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Chris_88
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p.54 #1 · p.54 #1 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Aug 11, 2018 at 06:44 PM

_manny_
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p.54 #2 · p.54 #2 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Chris_88 wrote:
Congrats, Fred. Thanks also for the summary of your thoughts. I never thought that it could better any of the new(er) Loxia primes. From my own experience with the lens, I knew it was a great performer, especially between 24 and 50mm, but I didn't do any in-depth comparisons with my primes back then. I don't think the GM at 50-55mm did match my 55 1.8, which remains a special lens.

I think this performance goes a long way to show that Sony has done a lot of things right with the GM series, certainly the 24-70 and the 100-400. Many...Show more →

If memory serves me correctly, Roger at Lens Rentals found that across a fairly decent sample size the 24-70 GM had less copy variation than the already outstanding Canon 24-70 L II. And you're right to mention the 100-400 GM. It shows Sony has engineers who can design the highest grade of lenses and also Sony does have the manufacturing capability to produce at a consistently high level of precision, which of course makes one scratch one's head over the other lenses like the 35/1.4 ZA and 16-35 GM which have had lots of issues in terms of quality control.

Aug 11, 2018 at 08:51 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.54 #3 · p.54 #3 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

_manny_ wrote:
If memory serves me correctly, Roger at Lens Rentals found that across a fairly decent sample size the 24-70 GM had less copy variation than the already outstanding Canon 24-70 L II. And you're right to mention the 100-400 GM. It shows Sony has engineers who can design the highest grade of lenses and also Sony does have the manufacturing capability to produce at a consistently high level of precision, which of course makes one scratch one's head over the other lenses like the 35/1.4 ZA and 16-35 GM which have had lots of issues in terms of quality control.

From my experience testing many copies of these lenses (24-70GM and 16-35GM), both have similar zoom variation. So, they perform great at the wide range (usually well centered) and have more variation towards the longer FLs. Good copies will perform great throughout the entire range. I found that the 16-35/4 ZA has a bit more variation in comparison.

Aug 11, 2018 at 10:04 PM

_manny_
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p.54 #4 · p.54 #4 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
From my experience testing many copies of these lenses (24-70GM and 16-35GM), both have similar zoom variation. So, they perform great at the wide range (usually well centered) and have more variation towards the longer FLs. Good copies will perform great throughout the entire range. I found that the 16-35/4 ZA has a bit more variation in comparison.

Interesting to read you found similar experience with those two GM zooms. For myself I only tried two copies of the 16-35 and both had big problems over 28mm. This compounded with Lens Rentals finding high variation left me reluctant to try again but I guess it's worth remembering that I think Lens Rentals only test 10 or 12 and in production runs of thousands I suppose we must not jump to conclusions from small samples.

I think all we can ever do as customers is have an open mind and give them a try. I was apprehensive buying the 55 Sonnar because of what I had read online but my first copy was perfect.

The impression I get online - always difficult to know whether it translates into reality of course - is that some of the Sony lenses are bedevilled by issues that might afflict 10% or 20% or 40% of that particular lens (perhaps compounded by many people moving from 20-24MP Canon cameras to 42MP Sony cameras mercilessly exposing flaws) and I am curious if big retailers ever give up on a lens if it gets returned multiple times and it gets sent back to Sony. It would be fascinating to get the statistics on this though I realise a camera maker is unlikely to release it!

Aug 12, 2018 at 07:33 AM

GMPhotography
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p.54 #5 · p.54 #5 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

To add to this copy variation. I’ve rented the GM 70-200 at least 6 times or more and this last one FINALLY was really good at 200mm. If rented them every time and frankly I should have bought the last one I had rented.

Zooms are just worse than primes I feel when it comes to sample variation. I don’t know the stats on that nor do I care too but it seems every flavor of zooms I bought or rented I had issues. Not to say I have not with some primes. Frankly I’m dead sick of it.

I’m in the camp of renting it , trying it and if good buy the rental. I still have the serial number from the last 70-200 and I may still buy the dang thing

Edited on Aug 12, 2018 at 08:26 AM · View previous versions

Aug 12, 2018 at 08:24 AM

trstahly
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p.54 #6 · p.54 #6 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
I got so lucky Chris. Grabbed one from the Buy and Sell board and it's centered at 24mm, 40mm and 70mm! I never saw a copy this good before. At 24mm wide open, it's sharper than my Lox 25 at center. This is just amazing as the Loxia 25 is sharper than any other 24/25MM prime lens I've tried to date. (Including the Lox 21)

I've posted these comparisons here:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1556180/3#14551324

Boy I hope you are right I have not used my 24-70GM for a long time. I am not one to test my own lenses very often out of laziness and it is something I really do not enjoy. I was of the opinon the 24-70 was not that great over about 55mm and from dxomarks scores and Rogers tests the weakest of the GM's which I own all of them.

I am going to take it out today along with some others and if I have enough energy perform you test on the following.

cv15 vs 12-24G I did one just for color and rendering off my patio over the golf course yesterday thinking the Voiigtlander had richer color and the opposite was true. Today I want to compare my 2nd Loxia 85 with my 85GM & 1.8 for rendering. color pop etc., I feel they are all sharp lenses.

On the 24-70GM I am going to have to do the Fred MIranda tests and compare to my 50 1.4 and 35 .14 I guess the 85 1.8 against 70mm to try and get an idea how it stacks up and probably since I will already have the tests from the 50 1.4 it as well to determine how sharp it is maybe I will try 60mm also for that one.

If it is not as good as your sample is I will probably buy another one and keep the best one and sell the other.

I do not feel like using my 24-105G anymore other than for an easy way to carry one lens to capture events that I am not looking for the best rendering but more just documenting everything. I really should sell it I do not feel like it captures what I want. Sharp enough for sure but the images don't pop like my other lenses

Aug 12, 2018 at 08:25 AM

GMPhotography
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p.54 #7 · p.54 #7 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Also I went through 2 GM 24-70 lenses. The first one was rubbing internally . My second was a very good copy. Many tests here posted on it but after 50mm it’s was just average. With Fred’s copy he just got. He has a freak lens on his hands. Good for him because I never saw results like that on another copy. But honestly I’m not risking that kind of money on it anymore. I’m actually taking a different route with all my AF glass and maybe go all Batis. I have the 25/135. Probably going to buy the 40 sell the Tammy 28-75 and maybe sell my Sony 85 and get the Batis 85 and just go all Batis for my AF kit. Sounds crazy but I’ve done crazier things.

Aug 12, 2018 at 08:35 AM

eurofox
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p.54 #8 · p.54 #8 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

how are you finding the batis 135mm?

Aug 12, 2018 at 08:40 AM

GMPhotography
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p.54 #9 · p.54 #9 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Untouchable. One of the best lenses out there.

Aug 12, 2018 at 08:46 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.54 #10 · p.54 #10 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

_manny_ wrote:
Interesting to read you found similar experience with those two GM zooms. For myself I only tried two copies of the 16-35 and both had big problems over 28mm. This compounded with Lens Rentals finding high variation left me reluctant to try again but I guess it's worth remembering that I think Lens Rentals only test 10 or 12 and in production runs of thousands I suppose we must not jump to conclusions from small samples.

I think all we can ever do as customers is have an open mind and give them a try. I was apprehensive buying the...Show more →

The 16-35GM got a bit hyped up by some reviewers but in reality, it's not that great from 24-35mm off-axis when compared to other lenses, especially primes. Center and mid are strong but corners show astigmatism (and CA) towards the extreme corners. Some folks are blaming this lackluster performance on lens variation but in reality this is how the lens performs. The 16-35/4 ZA shows even more astigmatism but in the center, they are very similar.

I also thought it was variation but after testing seven copies, I concluded there is no ultra wide miracle zoom.

It's still one of the best but just like the 24-70/2.8 GM, prime-like performance can only be achieved at the wider range.

Aug 12, 2018 at 09:10 AM

_manny_
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p.54 #11 · p.54 #11 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
The 16-35GM got a bit hyped up by some reviewers but in reality, it's not that great from 24-35mm off-axis when compared to other lenses, especially primes. Center and mid are strong but corners show astigmatism (and CA) towards the extreme corners. Some folks are blaming this lackluster performance on lens variation but in reality this is how the lens performs. The 16-35/4 ZA shows even more astigmatism but in the center, they are very similar.

I also thought it was variation but after testing seven copies, I concluded there is no ultra wide miracle zoom.

It's still one of...Show more →

Yes I think it's easy to forget that zooms are by nature something of a compromise in terms of design.

With the 16-35 GM though it's actually the performance at 35mm that I like in some of the photographs I've seen posted - it seems to offer a really nice rendering suitable for portraits. Combined with excellent performance at the wide end - the ones I tested were outstanding at 16mm, at least as good as the Canon 16-35 L III, it did seem like a dream lens and I wasn't going to worry about the corner performance at 100% at 35mm. Sadly the copies I tried were really bad on one side at anything beyond 28mm, 30-40% of the way across the frame and even stepping down didn't help much. I decided to try the Batis 25 and Laowa 15 combination instead and have been very happy but for certain situations a zoom would be useful so I will try again one day.

Aug 12, 2018 at 10:01 AM

_manny_
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p.54 #12 · p.54 #12 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

GMPhotography wrote:
To add to this copy variation. I’ve rented the GM 70-200 at least 6 times or more and this last one FINALLY was really good at 200mm. If rented them every time and frankly I should have bought the last one I had rented.

Zooms are just worse than primes I feel when it comes to sample variation. I don’t know the stats on that nor do I care too but it seems every flavor of zooms I bought or rented I had issues. Not to say I have not with some primes. Frankly I’m dead sick of it.

I’m in the...Show more →

I recently bought the 100-400 GM and find it wonderful at all focal lengths, easily in the same league as the canon 100-400 L II so I am tempted by the 70-200 so it's alarming to read that it seems to have issues. What were you seeing on the poor copies at 200mm?

In the Canon world I really liked the performance at 200mm and 2.8, a sort of poor man's version of the 200/2.0!

Aug 12, 2018 at 10:04 AM

GMPhotography
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p.54 #13 · p.54 #13 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Just soft. I had to back off to about 193mm on most of the rentals. The last one was great. Seriously when it comes to zooms I would do one of two things. Either buy new with a easy return policy or rent from lensrentals and buy the rental if it’s a good one. They will give you the rental free if you buy.

Aug 12, 2018 at 10:21 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.54 #14 · p.54 #14 · Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Rolling Review

Yes, the 16-35GM wide open and @35mm@, yields smooth oof rendering, especially at the transition zone. Its even smoother than the 35/1.4 ZA @ f/2.8. (I compared both side by side and was surprised). Coma performance is also outstanding and all that contributes to its reputation.

_manny_ wrote:
Yes I think it's easy to forget that zooms are by nature something of a compromise in terms of design.

With the 16-35 GM though it's actually the performance at 35mm that I like in some of the photographs I've seen posted - it seems to offer a really nice rendering suitable for portraits. Combined with excellent performance at the wide end - the ones I tested were outstanding at 16mm, at least as good as the Canon 16-35 L III, it did seem like a dream lens and I wasn't going to worry about the corner performance at 100% at...Show more →

Aug 12, 2018 at 10:35 AM

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