Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
Announced April 27, 2022
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Exceptional
The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is a refined, high-performing standard zoom that improves upon its predecessor with a significantly smaller, lighter design and faster autofocus. It serves as a versatile, professional-grade tool for various photography genres, though its premium price point reflects its top-tier status.
Weighted from 28 reviewer scores
Pros
- Exceptional optical performance and sharpness
- Comprehensive physical controls and features
- Compact and lightweight design
- High-quality bokeh and close-up capabilities
- Fast, silent, and accurate autofocus
Cons
- High price point
- Optical imperfections including distortion and flare
- Lack of optical image stabilization
- Chromatic aberration and fringing issues
- Softness at specific focal lengths or apertures
- Launch price $2,299 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 24-70mm f/2.8
- Mount & coverage Sony E Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 21 cm (0.32x)
- Filter thread 67mm
- Autofocus motor Dual XD linear
- Weight & size 695g · 87.8 x 119.9 mm (3.46 x 4.72 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 28 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 9/10
With improvements to nearly every facet, the $2,300 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens is the right choice for Sony shooters across many genres of photography.
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The Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM II is an outstanding lens, addressing the few shortfalls of its predecessor to become the best quality general-purpose zoom for the E-mount system to date.
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[...] I like it a lot.
- OpticalLimits 8/10
[T]he Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is an impressive piece of equipment and at least for the time being, it's back at the top of the food chain. Highly recommended!
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If size and weight matter to you, it is worth consideration over its predecessor.
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This small, light, high-performing lens is a great choice for general-purpose uses ranging from landscape photography to portraiture, and the wide f/2.8 aperture extends utility into motion in low-light scenarios, including weddings.
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The Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is, put simply, the finest standard zoom I have ever used.
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[I]f you can afford it and you absolutely need the best possible zoom lens on your Sony camera, then this one has to come highly recommended.
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The new version takes the quality of the old lens and somehow makes it better, lighter, and smaller.
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This zoom lens can keep up optically with many of the best prime lenses in every regard except of speed and flare resistance.
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In terms of general handling, Sony has reached a point where it all works well and we have a very refined and efficient photographic tool.
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The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is a truly exceptional standard zoom lens that improves upon its predecessor in almost every conceivable way. It is smaller, lighter, faster to focus and sharper than the original, making it the new benchmark for professional standard zooms.
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[T]his is a fantastic lens, especially paired with the A1.
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It packs a host of new features, improved handling characteristics and a completely redesigned optical path into a smaller, more lightweight build.
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The Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens packs phenomenal optics into a slim, carry-friendly package, but its high price is in line with its performance.
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[T]his new GM does raise the bar higher.
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I just love it, because this is my dream coming true for the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II, the sequel.
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After a few weeks and a few thousand frames taken with the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM OSS Mark II, it’s simple to summarise by saying this lens is better in every aspect than the Mark I; weight, size, autofocus speed, sharpness, and all this with additional functionality.
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It's sharp, bright and produces stunning images.
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It matches nicely in sharpness, image quality and colours SOOC to the Sony GM 70-200mm f2.8 mk2.
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As you may have noticed, this fully featured lens is very fun to work with, and I will be keeping it in my kit for important jobs.
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This is a much better lens than the big, old original FE 24-70mm GM, which was also optically superb, but too darn heavy to make it fun to carry and use every day. This new -II lens is a dream, being as light as a toy and making big-boy pictures.
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It is a feat of engineering that they were able to reduce the size and weight of the lens by more than 11% and 20%, respectively, without sacrificing the quality of the image it produces.
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It is the lens that earns its place by being the one you don’t think about.
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Well, quite simply, this is the best 24-70mm lens I've ever used, period.
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If you're running a photography business and this is a tool for you to make money, then trust me when I say that this is going to be a lens that you use a lot.
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I would say if you can afford it, then I would go with the native option.
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It is an absolute beast of a lens, expensive but great performing if that's what you're into.
