When it comes to 28-70 mm parameters combined with the fixed f/2.0 aperture there is just one rival of the Sony, tested here – we think about the RF version of the Canon lens. Our chart, for a comparison's sake, features also the classic journalistic Sony 24-70 mm lens and the Sigma 28-70 mm with a fixed aperture of f/2.8.
It's clear that the Sony constructors tried their best to offer you better dimensions and weight than the Canon. They were successful. Although both lenses feature a similar length the Sony, despite a more complex optical system, is slimmer and over half a kilo lighter. This difference in weight is especially impressive. It's worth adding that the Sony has more aperture blades and a tad better minimum focusing distance.
In the photo below the Sony FE 28-70 mm f/2 GM is positioned between the Sony FE 50 mm f/1.4 GM and the reflex camera Sigma A 35 mm f/1.4 DG HSM.
Please Support Us
If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.
The tested lens starts with a metal mount surrounding a 35×26 mm frame made of plastics with embedded contacts. A rear immobile element, almost 33 mm in diameter, is situated practically right below that frame. An area around it is very well matted and blackened. From this side everything looks very well and the lens seems to be completely weather-sealed.
The proper body of the lens starts with a black ring made of plastics which diameter increases as you move further from the mount. On the ring you can find an inscription with the name and parameters of the lens, a white dot, making an alignment with a camera easier, the mount type (E-mount), the symbol of the lens, its serial number, and information that it was produced in Thailand. On the already enlarged part you see two switches. The first one, IRIS LOCK, blocks the aperture ring either in the A position (automatic settings) or at any other point in the range from f/2.0 to f/22. The second switch, CLICK ON/OFF, is supposed to control the aperture ring modes - you can choose from a clickless performance, a nod towards filmmakers, and a clicked mode, with the ring moving every 1/3 EV step.
An aperture ring as wide as 14 mm is the next part of the lens. It is partially ribbed, with aperture marking and an A value allowing the body of the camera to set that parameter automatically. The ring can work every 1/3 EV step or can be declicked – as we've already mentioned, it depends on the setting of the special CLICK ON/OFF switch.
Further on you find a zoom ring that is 39 mm wide, mostly covered by rubber ribbing. Below you find focal length markings at 28, 35, 50, and 70 mm. The ring moves smoothly and is properly damped. It should be added that the resistance of this ring can be fine-tuned by a special SMOOTH-TIGHT switch.
An immobile ring, 17 mm wide, is the next part of the lens. On this ring you find two round, programmable Focus Lock buttons, the AF/MF switch, allowing you to choose the focusing mechanism working mode, the logo of the producer, the G Master series mark, and the aforementioned SMOOTH-TIGHT toggle.
The next ribbed ring, this time completely movable, is used for manual focusing. It is a focus-by-wire construction 23 mm wide, with a very low resistance but still within the comfort range. Running through the whole distance range needs a turn through an angle of about 130 degrees. That value depends only weakly on the speed of your turning.
The front element is relatively flat, with a diameter of 72 mm. It is surrounded by a partially, ribbed part of the barrel, a non-rotating filter thread, 86 mm in diameter so quite big, and a hood mount for a petal-type hood.
The whole front element system is mobile - it extends on a homogeneous tube made of plastics when you pass from 28 mm to 70 mm, increasing the length of the lens by just 17 mm, a quite small value.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with as many as 20 elements positioned in 14 groups. The number of special elements is truly impressive - inside you can find three XA elements [1], three aspherical elements [2], three elements made of low disperson Super ED glass [3], and one ED lens [4]. There's also a round aperture with 11 diaphragm blades that can be closed down to a value of f/22 at the maximum. The producers boast of using Nano AR Coat II coatings and protective layers on outer optical elements.
Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, a petal-type hood, and a hard case of very good quality.
