p.1 #1 · Help me decide--should I exchange this Sony 24-70 f 2.8 GM II?
Just received this lens from B&H. Very well packed. The right side seems softer especially at 24mm. I may use it for astro and want it as good as possible wide open at f2.8. These are 200% crops so I am not sure what is reasonable. The 70 mm corners look decent with a more subtle but discernable asymmetry.
p.1 #3 · Help me decide--should I exchange this Sony 24-70 f 2.8 GM II?
Not the worst asymmetry I've seen in a standard zoom, but certainly not the best*. I see these were on an a7r III, so it'll likely look even worse on a higher MP body. At $2,400 I wouldn't accept it.
*I'm assuming the focus was established in the center, then reframed. Assuming the subject distance is far enough to avoid DOF issues from reframing, and that your a7r III's mount isn't the issue.
p.1 #4 · Help me decide--should I exchange this Sony 24-70 f 2.8 GM II?
Yes, focus established in the center. Certainly far enough away at 24mm. Thank you for thinking about this. I expected a bit better for the price. My Sigma 14-24 was more even. I'll assume the mount is OK, but a good point. I greatly appreciate other eyes looking at this.
p.1 #5 · Help me decide--should I exchange this Sony 24-70 f 2.8 GM II?
Here's a test I just did on my Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 L-Mount @ 24mm f/2.8. This is on the Panasonic S1R, which has just slightly more resolution than your a7r III. Note this at the very extreme corners of the frame, ie where the trees are above the chimney in your shots.
p.1 #7 · Help me decide--should I exchange this Sony 24-70 f 2.8 GM II?
People are going to have different standards about what is acceptable. I just scrutinized each image, and for me that would be acceptable - keep in mind that viewing at 200% is equivalent to a GIGANTIC print that few on this forum have ever even dreamed of printing. Over the last four decades I have had zooms that were way worse.
