I have seen many lenses come and go in my 45-year career as a photojournalist, and I remember my first zoom lens, the NIKKOR 43-86mm f/3.5 (the second generation), purchased in 1976.

It was a weird tiny zoom lens with a strange focal length and dubious quality. Since that day, I have used many zooms lenses, some good, some not so good. But having the versatility of a zoom lens is an essential part of every photographer’s kit.

Now 45 years later I think I have found the perfect Sony zoom lens for me, the 24-70mm f2.8 GM II and the 70mm-200mm f2.8 GM II.

Having used the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 since moving to Sony cameras in 2017, I was impressed by the image quality and durability of the lens but not by the size and weight.

With the newly released 24-70mm f2.8 MKII, it’s like someone was listening to my thoughts back at Sony HQ, and I couldn’t be more delighted with the new lens.

The size and weight of the new lens is simply astounding. While Sony says, it’s 20% lighter and 18% smaller. It feels smaller and lighter than the specification suggests when working with my Alpha cameras.

The edge-to-edge (corner) sharpness has improved throughout the zoom range, so it’s tack sharp when shooting environmental portraits at any aperture. Improved image quality and the new 11-blade aperture produce a realistic eye-pleasing bokeh for portrait work.

As we have seen in other recent Sony lens releases, the addition of an aperture ring is on the new lens. There is also a smooth/tight setting to adjust the zoom ring’s tension to adapt to your shooting environment or style.

The newly designed lens hood has a little filter door to allow the rotation of a polarizing or ND filter. It is so well designed you barely notice it and is an excellent addition to the lens

Do you I love this new lens?

It is now my favorite lens in Sony’s impressive sixty-lens mirrorless line-up, followed closely by the 70mm-200mm f2.8 MKII released in late 2021.
These two lenses are the Sony dynamic duo, and I will carry them with me on every assignment.

If I had just one lens choice, it would be the 24-70mm f2.8 MKII GM on my Alpha 1.

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