sony fe 28-70mm f2 gm lens review
so i previously owned the sigma 24-70mm art and sold it away. wanted to upgrade to a sony lens - it was between the light and more affordable 24-70mm f2.8 gm ii vs the 28-70 f2 gm. with this being the first f2.0 zoom lens from sony, it is safe to say that i chose the latter and have no regrets so far!
price wise this might not be the friendliest (~s$4k rtp) though i managed to get it only for $3.2k after shopee discounts. in comparison, the sigma 24-70 costs $1.6k while the sony gm ii costs $2.5k. if budget is a concern maybe the other 2 standard zooms would be better but i decided to go all in on this f2!
with this extra stop of light, the images are mostly crisp and sharp especially when paired with my a7v. despite the claim of vignetting at f2.0, i did not really experience this and the autofocus was very quick as well!
size wise this is probably slightly bigger than the sigma art lens which may be bulky to carry around especially for long hours, but the difference is that the size of this sony lens is more than justifiable for its quality and low f-stop. speaking of which, the bokeh/background blur is excellent especially when shooting at f2.0!
i did also loan the 24-70mm gm2 some time back and though its the most practical choice especially for video/gimbal work, i think i am still more than happy with this f2 variant as i am more focused on photography for the time being.
personal rating: 4.5/5
also got to take this for a spin on my recent trip to istanbul, swipe to see some sample pictures!
Having used the Sony FE 28-70mm f2 GM lens extensively during a recent trip to Istanbul, I can attest to its impressive versatility and image quality. What stands out most is the lens's ability to maintain sharpness across the zoom range, even at the maximum aperture of f2.0. This wider aperture allows for more light intake, making it ideal for low-light situations such as evening cityscapes or indoor photography without compromising on shutter speed or ISO. The bokeh rendered by this lens is beautifully smooth and creamy, which is excellent for portraiture and isolating subjects. This effect was especially noticeable when shooting street scenes around Taksim Square, where the background blur distinguished the subject effortlessly from busy environments. Although some reviewers mention potential vignetting issues at f2.0, personally, I found this lens performs very well with minimal to no visible vignetting, especially when paired with the Sony A7V’s in-camera corrections. Autofocus was quick and reliable, even in challenging lighting, which greatly helped capture fleeting moments without missed shots. Size and weight are always a consideration for travel cameras, and while this lens is slightly larger than the Sigma 24-70mm Art, the balance it delivers on the camera body feels solid, with well-engineered handling. Carrying it around all day was manageable, and the improved low-light capability more than justified the bulk. For photographers focused mainly on still images rather than video, this lens offers a unique combination of speed and image quality that makes it a standout choice. Despite its premium pricing, it’s a worthwhile investment for those who prioritize creative control with aperture and image sharpness in their zoom lens selections.