Sony’s New FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G Lens is Compact, Light, and Fast
Novel and non-traditional focal length and aperture combinations are becoming significantly more common among mirrorless system lenses. Sony is no stranger to different sorts of lenses, having launched the 20-70mm f/4 G last year. Sony is channeling a similar spirit with its newest E-mount lens, the FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G.
By eschewing a bit of reach, the 24-50mm f/2.8 G undercuts the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II’s size and weight by a rather considerable margin. At 695 grams (24.5 ounces), the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is very light for a lens of its type. However, the new 24-50mm f/2.8 weighs a paltry 440 grams (15.5 ounces), undercutting its more versatile G Master sibling by a significant margin.
The 24-50mm f/2.8 is 92.3 millimeters (3.6 inches) long, while the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is 120 millimeters (4.7 inches). It is worth noting that the 24-50mm f/2.8 does extend during zooming. The lens extends to 115 millimeters (4.5 inches). Of course, the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II extends, too. That lens is 152 millimeters (six inches) at its maximum length.
The 24-50mm f/2.8 G includes 16 lens elements arranged across 13 groups. It has four aspherical elements and a pair of ED lens elements. In a pre-release briefing, Sony described its image quality as similar to first-generation G Master lenses.
In PetaPixel‘s review, Chris Niccolls writes, “Good sharpness at f/2.8 will be important if Sony wants this lens to be well-received by event shooters. Luckily the new 24-50mm accomplishes this, mostly,” while noting that the lens is especially good in the central portion of the full-frame image area.
The lens also has some close-up chops. It can focus as close as 0.18 meters (7.1 inches) at 24mm when manually focusing (0.19 meters with autofocus) and 0.29 meters (11.4 inches) at 50mm in MF (0.3 meters in AF). This results in a maximum magnification of 0.33x with manual focus and 0.3x with autofocus. It’s not quite half-macro performance, but it’s close.
Since the lens has relatively small, lightweight elements, Sony didn’t find it necessary to include Linear XD motors. However, it nonetheless promises quick, quiet, and accurate autofocus performance, even at 120 frames per second on a camera like the new Sony a9 III.
Despite not having a super long lens barrel, Sony has incorporated separate focus, zoom, and aperture rings into the lens. The aperture control ring has switchable click stops, allowing users to swap between smooth and clicked operations.
Pricing and Availability
The Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G lens will begin shipping in May for $1,100 ($1,500 in Canada). It is available to preorder now through B&H.
Image credits: Sony
