p.1 #1 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
I’ve had this lens since August 2025, and because of not using it enough, I’ve toyed with the idea of selling it. Took it to the Taj Mahal this morning, and totally fell in love with it again. Sharing some photos from this morning, and for those who haven’t been to Taj Mahal, you must put it in your list to visit if you can.
All photos shot using Sony A1 II and Sony 28-70 f2GM
p.1 #3 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
To those who own and love this lens, I’d like to ask why? Is it the sharpness and contrast or is it the f2? The images here look like they could have been shot by the 24-70 GM II and would look similar. Please help me understand what I am missing in the other than f2 portrait and isolation capabilities provided by f2.
p.1 #4 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
billsnature wrote:
The images here look like they could have been shot by the 24-70 GM II and would look similar. Please help me understand what I am missing in the other than f2 portrait and isolation capabilities provided by f2.
I was going to post the same thing. Something like the 20-70mm f/4 G would have been a better zoom for this scene: same result for $2K less and no need to lug around half a kilo of additional weight.
p.1 #5 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
billsnature wrote:
To those who own and love this lens, I’d like to ask why? Is it the sharpness and contrast or is it the f2? The images here look like they could have been shot by the 24-70 GM II and would look similar. Please help me understand what I am missing in the other than f2 portrait and isolation capabilities provided by f2.
I had got it due to GAS and f/2. My primary use case was to cover my daughters school functions in her Senior year (I’m a hobbyist), cover parties either at our house or at friends’, as a middle path to carrying 24, 35 and 50mm primes while traveling (and possibly 85mm) - images look similar but not the same, and being able to walk about with one body and one lens. Overtime I was ending up using primes and yesterday’s experience at the Taj reminded me of the reason I got this lens.
Of course these images were possible with any lens and perhaps better with a 24-70 due to wider angle. I don’t post family photos but let me find a few street photos if I can taken with this lens and post. Those will do better justice to this lens I suppose
p.1 #7 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
There is. I’m kind of new also to B&W and have experimented with a few Lightroom presets for B&W, my favourite so far have been high contrast ones but will continue to try a few different edits and eventually create a few of my own presets.
johnahill wrote:
I'm interested in the b&w processing, looks great. Is there a touch of blue in the first one or are my eyes tricking me
p.1 #11 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
It's posterization. Checking image 3: full resolution (8640x5760 pixels) file size 871kB.
If resolution was reduced to, say, 1800x1200 that approximate file size might work.
Saving Level 9 JPG in Photoshop would be somewhere around 8MB (or more) for full resolution (ie, 10 times the file size you posted)
p.1 #12 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
You’re right, I had to save these files again at lower file size due to size restrictions on FM. The originals are 10-15 times larger
Choderboy wrote:
It's posterization. Checking image 3: full resolution (8640x5760 pixels) file size 871kB.
If resolution was reduced to, say, 1800x1200 that approximate file size might work.
Saving Level 9 JPG in Photoshop would be somewhere around 8MB (or more) for full resolution (ie, 10 times the file size you posted)
p.1 #13 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
Lots of distortion in #2 and #4 - the minarets are rising away from the central building. I'm guessing these are shot at 28mm (or maybe that's just the way the Taj Mahal is?
p.1 #14 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
billsnature wrote:
To those who own and love this lens, I’d like to ask why? Is it the sharpness and contrast or is it the f2? The images here look like they could have been shot by the 24-70 GM II and would look similar. Please help me understand what I am missing in the other than f2 portrait and isolation capabilities provided by f2.
If you already have the 24-70 f2.8 GM II, the 28-70mm f2 is probably a hard sell.
There is a very good chance I will pick up the 28-70mm f2 within the next few months. I am looking to pair it with my Sony 24-105mm f4 or Nikon 24-120mm f4, depending on the kit I am using. As you mentioned in good light, I agree there are other, less restrictive zooms that will work better, even if you give up a bit of peek IQ. When the light falls f2 is a big advantage, and with IBIS I feel like it could handle almost all my low light needs in a single lens.
Currently, the 28-70mm f2 is $3,300 and weighs 2 lbs. The Sony 35mm f1.4 GM is currently $1,500 and weighs 1.2 lbs. The Sony 50mm f1.4 GM is currently $1,400 and weighs 1.1 lbs. So, for a 1 f stop advantage, the two GM primes are already heavier and are within $400 of the zoom. The only prime that I am still thinking about instead of the zoom is the Sigma 35mm f1.2 II, which is currently $1,550 and weighs 1.6 lbs. That would gain me a 1.5 f stop advantage over the 28-70mm f2, but I would lose the entire zoom range for a lens that is not much lighter, and fairly similar in size: https://camerasize.com/compact/#898.1227,898.1183,ha,t
Hope this helps anyone thinking about the 28-70mm f2.
p.1 #15 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
sandy27000 wrote:
Yes, these presets seem to be too aggressive and I did not take care either. I’ll re-edit these into B&W. Thanks all for feedback
Even aggressive presets shouldn't render this level of banding/posterization (speaking from a great deal of experience). Processing 8-Bit JPG's can definitely result in such, however. Were you processing RAW or JPG files?
p.1 #16 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
DWOfPaul wrote:
If you already have the 24-70 f2.8 GM II, the 28-70mm f2 is probably a hard sell.
There is a very good chance I will pick up the 28-70mm f2 within the next few months. I am looking to pair it with my Sony 24-105mm f4 or Nikon 24-120mm f4, depending on the kit I am using. As you mentioned in good light, I agree there are other, less restrictive zooms that will work better, even if you give up a bit of peek IQ. When the light falls f2 is a big advantage, and with IBIS I feel like it could handle almost all my low light needs in a single lens.
Currently, the 28-70mm f2 is $3,300 and weighs 2 lbs. The Sony 35mm f1.4 GM is currently $1,500 and weighs 1.2 lbs. The Sony 50mm f1.4 GM is currently $1,400 and weighs 1.1 lbs. So, for a 1 f stop advantage, the two GM primes are already heavier and are within $400 of the zoom. The only prime that I am still thinking about instead of the zoom is the Sigma 35mm f1.2 II, which is currently $1,550 and weighs 1.6 lbs. That would gain me a 1.5 f stop advantage over the 28-70mm f2, but I would lose the entire zoom range for a lens that is not much lighter, and fairly similar in size: https://camerasize.com/compact/#898.1227,898.1183,ha,t
Hope this helps anyone thinking about the 28-70mm f2....Show more →
Help me understand this bit "When the light falls f2 is a big advantage, and with IBIS I feel like it could handle almost all my low light needs in a single lens"
What is this use case? Is it handheld landscape or cityscape? Is it theater? Is it natural light portrait or still life? I have a bit of GAS for this lens, but I am really struggling to figure out my use case for it. I was thrilled with the Nikon Z 24-120 for most of what I do since I don't do people. Couldn't do astro, but otherwise pretty great. If I don't need the f2 aspect of the lens (and from an ISO standpoint I don't) is there something magical about the IQ compared to the 24-70 GM II or even the Tamron 28-75?
I would love to love this lens, but
p.1 #17 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
billsnature wrote:
Help me understand this bit "When the light falls f2 is a big advantage, and with IBIS I feel like it could handle almost all my low light needs in a single lens"
What is this use case? Is it handheld landscape or cityscape? Is it theater? Is it natural light portrait or still life? I have a bit of GAS for this lens, but I am really struggling to figure out my use case for it. I was thrilled with the Nikon Z 24-120 for most of what I do since I don't do people. Couldn't do astro, but otherwise pretty great. If I don't need the f2 aspect of the lens (and from an ISO standpoint I don't) is there something magical about the IQ compared to the 24-70 GM II or even the Tamron 28-75?
I would love to love this lens, but ...Show more →
My main use case for f2 is handheld cityscapes in low light, since often tripods are not really an option. I would also occasionally use it for landscapes in low light. It would also make a good lowlight travel lens for dark interiors or even non dedecated astro photography outings (I don't see it competing with my Sigma 14mm f1.4 for dedicated astro photography). The f2 aperture can also allow for some creative shallow depth of field photography, which admittedly I have not been playing with as much with the 24-120mm f4 since it requires switching lenses.
This video has a great example of f2.8 vs f2, vs f1.4 vs f1.2 (go to 1:54 I can't link to the direct time stamp for some reason):
In low light, an f2.8 lens would let you use a 2x faster shutter speed for the same exposure vs an f4 lens. An f2 lens would let you use a 4x faster shutter speed for the same exposure vs an f4 lens. So 1/200 at f2 would be 1/50 at f4. If your subject is moving, that can be the difference between getting the photo or not. Or using ISO 6,400 and getting a good quality image or using ISO 25,600 and possibly getting an image that is too noisy for your needs.
For use in a theater, the 28-70mm f2 would probably work great, assuming you can get close enough to the stage. Years ago, I used to use a 24-70mm f2.8 to photograph shows, and often I found myself at ISO 1,600-3,200, even at f2.8 once I had a shutter speed fast enough to have no motion blur. If the stage is crowded, the shallow depth of field of f2 over f2.8 should help remove distractions in the background. If the action was more predictable, I would sometimes switch to an 85mm f1.4 for better low light handling and shallower depth of field, but if you don't already know the show, a zoom will allow you to respond a lot quicker.
If you don't see yourself needing the low light advantage or shallow depth of field advantage of f2 over f4 I would stick with the 24-120mm f4. If you don't already have a lens faster than f4 I would also recommend picking up a lens like the Nikon 40mm f2 (about $300) or Viltrox 50mm f2 Air (about $200) first. This would allow you to get the feel for an f2 lens at a much lower price. You may even find out that a 24-70 f2.8 is the sweet spot for your needs.
p.1 #18 · Falling in love with Sony 28-70 f2 GM again !
People ask why buy this instead of smaller zooms
It's only $2400 USD with warranty in Hongkong
It's 900g but it's not much vs.70-200
You can't see bokeh or ISO difference 2.8 vs 2.0, I see it.
You say other 2.8-4x zooms zooms are as sharp as this 2.5x zoom, I say get a high res body.
You don't shoot small kids running indoor I do, there is no better alternative
