Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Full-Frame Autofocus Lens for E-Mount, Black {82} SEL2470GM2

Sony's lightest full-frame f/2.8 standard zoom, rebuilt from scratch.

The FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II covers the most-used focal range in professional photography at a constant f/2.8, and it does it in a package weighing just 695g, over 20% lighter than the original GM and 16mm shorter body-to-body. That size reduction isn't a spec-sheet trick; it changes how you shoot, making this a lens you'll actually keep on the camera all day than leaving in a bag to save your back.

Optically, Sony built this around 20 elements in 15 groups, including two XA (extreme aspherical) elements ground to 0.01-micron surface precision and multiple ED glass elements for chromatic aberration control. The result is f/2.8 sharpness that holds across the full zoom range, including at the 21cm minimum focusing distance where you can hit 0.32x magnification. Four XD linear motors drive a floating focus system with no external movement, keeping dust out and AF speed high. The 11-bladed aperture produces smooth out-of-focus rendering, and the diaphragm is new to this generation.

For video, the aperture ring declicks for smooth exposure transitions, focus breathing is kept to a minimum by design, and the quiet linear motors won't intrude on audio. This is a lens built to work hard across formats without asking you to compromise on either end.

Who It's For

Wedding photographers get a single-lens solution that covers ceremony wide angles at 24mm and compressed portrait framing at 70mm, all at f/2.8 in mixed or low light. Photojournalists and documentary shooters benefit from the 695g weight and sealed construction when working long days in unpredictable conditions. Video operators running solo or small-crew productions will use the declickable aperture ring and breathing-controlled optics for cleaner footage. Studio and location portrait photographers working close will appreciate the 0.32x magnification at 21cm, which opens up tighter detail work than the previous generation allowed.

Key Features

• 24-70mm constant f/2.8 aperture, full-frame zoom lens
• 695g weight, 20% lighter than previous generation
• Two XA extreme aspherical elements, 0.01-micron surface precision
• Four XD linear motors, floating focus system, no external movement
• 11-bladed aperture for smooth bokeh rendering
• 8.3" minimum focus with 0.32x magnification ratio
• Declickable aperture ring for silent video exposure control
• 82mm filter thread, Sony E mount

FAQ

How does the GM II compare to the original FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM in size and weight?

The GM II weighs 695g-over 20% lighter than the original-and is 16mm shorter body-to-body with roughly 18% less overall volume. That reduction translates directly to all-day carry without fatigue, which changes how you actually use the lens in the field.

Is this lens sharp enough for high-megapixel cameras like the Sony a7R V?

Yes. The lens delivers corner-to-corner sharpness at f/2.8 on 60MP sensors, performing more like a Leica M lens than typical standard zooms. Sharpness holds consistently across the entire 24-70mm range.

Can I use this for video work, or is it primarily a stills lens?

It's built for both equally. The aperture ring declicks for silent exposure transitions, focus breathing is minimized by design, and the four XD linear motors operate quietly. The minimum 8.3" focusing distance with 0.32x magnification also handles close-up video work.

How does autofocus performance compare to the original GM?

Four XD linear motors driving a floating focus system deliver fast AF with no external movement, keeping dust out and performance high. Focus speed is limited more by your camera body than the lens itself.

What's the distortion like at 24mm and 70mm?

Uncorrected, you get barrel distortion at 24mm and pincushion at 70mm. But in-camera correction eliminates it entirely if you enable it. Raw shooters can apply correction factors of ±2.20 at 24mm and ±3.00 at 70mm.

Does the bokeh quality improve with the new 11-blade aperture?

Yes. The 11-bladed diaphragm (up from 9 in the original) produces smoother out-of-focus rendering, and the two XA elements ground to 0.01-micron precision suppress onion-ring bokeh across the zoom range.

What's the closest focusing distance, and can I do macro work?

Minimum focus is 8.3" at 24mm and 11.8" at 70mm with 0.32x magnification. That's a real improvement over the original's 0.24x, giving you usable close-up capability without a dedicated macro lens.