Reading mode: Light Dark

So what is final consesnus on 24-70 f4?

Go to last post
Steve Bingham said:
Silmarion said:
As I understand it's a descent zoom, with some soft corners right? Who cares about corners? I don't, unless it's not just corners, but borders as well.

So how is it? Is it a good match for A7R?
Click to expand...
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
 
Derek Dean said:
Silmarion said:
As I understand it's a descent zoom, with some soft corners right? Who cares about corners? I don't, unless it's not just corners, but borders as well.

So how is it? Is it a good match for A7R?
Click to expand...
LOL, well, I seriously doubt there will ever be a "final consensus" on the 24-70 f4 lens.

When I recently bought my A7ii, I tried the 24-70mm f4 along with the FE 55mm F1.8 and the FE 28mm F2.8 lenses.

It was obvious that both the primes were far more consistently sharp across the frame, but I ended up keeping the 24-70mm because it was turned out to be much sharper than I had expected (given some of the reviews), and it's a much better fit for my style of shooting, fast and loose.

Many folks here would say it's a shame to buy the A7r and not utilize that exceptional sensor to it's fullest, but I think it mainly comes down to what YOUR needs are.

I needed a one lens solution, and the 24-70 gives me that in a very nice package.

So, if you're a zoom kind of guy, then go ahead and buy the 24-70mm with confidence. It's a fine lens and fun to use.

Another option might be to rent one first and see if it fulfills your needs, either that, or be sure and buy it from some place with a good return policy.
Click to expand...
Well stated. I like mine on both the A7s and A7ii. I have many FE lenses and the 24-70 gets the most use for my photo journalistic and critical moment style.
 
Steve Bingham said:
Silmarion said:
As I understand it's a descent zoom, with some soft corners right? Who cares about corners? I don't, unless it's not just corners, but borders as well.

So how is it? Is it a good match for A7R?
Click to expand...
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
 
Steve Bingham said:
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
What zoom lens in this range would you recommend for a serious A7x photographer?

 
Silmarion said:
Steve Bingham said:
Silmarion said:
As I understand it's a descent zoom, with some soft corners right? Who cares about corners? I don't, unless it's not just corners, but borders as well.

So how is it? Is it a good match for A7R?
Click to expand...
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
DFPanno said:
Silmarion said:
Steve Bingham said:
Silmarion said:
As I understand it's a descent zoom, with some soft corners right? Who cares about corners? I don't, unless it's not just corners, but borders as well.

So how is it? Is it a good match for A7R?
Click to expand...
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?

--
Steve Bingham
www.dustylens.com
www.ghost-town-photography.com
Click to expand...
Maybe that's all I need. Though I would rather have a high-IQ mid-range zoom. I am even willing to pay more. Otherwise it means if I buy A7R or A7Rii then I'll be left with just a mediocre zoom like you said. So the problem is there is nothing else currently. Even bigger problem is that Sony has a history (judging from NEX, APS-C) of not re-making their mediocre zooms (like rev.02 or mark2 of 24-70 let's say). So what I mean is that there will be no another high-IQ or Pro grade 24-70 zoom. This is it. Done. Maybe if we are lucky Sony will make something like 24-105 or 35-100 or 28-135 - but if it can't make an excellent 24-70, chances are even bigger range zoom will be even worse.

Sony did a good job with primes, Zeiss did even better job with Loxia and Batis, but why in the world they can't make a non "mediocre" mid-range zoom? I never understood this. Is it because most of A7R users use legacy glass or Loxia line? I find it hard to believe that everyone is happy with current mid-range zoom situation.
Click to expand...
The FE 24-70/A7R outperforms the EF 24-105/5D3.

(Ask me how I know)

If your performance needs lie beyond that you are a pro photography - so what are you doing here and why are you asking these questions?
Click to expand...
Let me state that I personally still think that FE24-70 is a very descent zoom. I came to that conclusion after comparing RAW files on A7R between FE28-70 and FE24-70. I was just replying to Steve because he mentioned it's a mediocre zoom. So I tried to reason further: if it's a mediocre zoom, then why Sony can't make a high-IQ Pro mid-range zoom for A7R? See I'm a bit caught in the middle of divided opinions on this Zeiss zoom. Some say it's excellent, some say it's poor.

I believe you that A7R with FE24-70 outperforms 5D3 with EF24-105, but I would like to know details if you can share. I'm really interested in this comparison. Do you think it's mainly due to better A7R sensor? And still it would be interesting to me and other users to better understand differences between FE24-70 and EF 24-105 - how were borders/corners in that comparison?

Thank you.
 
Silmarion said:
DFPanno said:
Silmarion said:
Steve Bingham said:
Silmarion said:
As I understand it's a descent zoom, with some soft corners right? Who cares about corners? I don't, unless it's not just corners, but borders as well.

So how is it? Is it a good match for A7R?
Click to expand...
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Silmarion said:
I am a little surprised to be honest. :) I've learned that 24-70 is a better lens than FE2870 - more contrasty, obviously wider range and even a little sharer overall though DxO Mark states otherwise, but I tend to believe my own eyes and they tell me it's a better zoom.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you need to look closer at what DxO says in the detailed measurements rather than just reading the roll-up score for PMpix. DxO's accutance data shows the 24-70 to ne a sharper lens "overall" than the 28-70.
 
vett93 said:
Steve Bingham said:
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
What zoom lens in this range would you recommend for a serious A7x photographer?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately there aren't any really pro glass zooms in this range without an adapter - which have their own drawbacks. Most serious a7x photographers are forced to go prime. The 70-200 f4 is about as close as we get. Hopefully things will change soon.
 
addieleman said:
I have the FE 24-70mm since only a few days and I like it a lot better than the 28-70mm mainly because of its much nicer colors. The 28-70mm always seems to produce greyish pictures while the Zeiss 24-70mm yields lively colors. I didn't do a sharpness comparison between the two because I simply don't like what the 28-70mm does.

--
Best regards, Ad.
Click to expand...
This is the main reason I just bought the 24-70. I actually find the 28-70 to be quite good from a sharpness perspective, at least mine is anyway. It's the color that I want to see a difference in. I tend to do more post processing with the kit lens to bring out colors and contrast. Shooting my Zeiss primes, not so much. Talking about purely colors and contrast here, not sharpness.

The kit lens is still a pretty descent lens though. See attached shot with the kit + CPL, RAW processed in LR

228d849448dd4a44b2e544a595068973.jpg


--
My Shots
https://www.flickr.com/cheynewallace
https://500px.com/CheyneWallace
 
Last edited:
Steve Bingham said:
vett93 said:
Steve Bingham said:
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
What zoom lens in this range would you recommend for a serious A7x photographer?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately there aren't any really pro glass zooms in this range without an adapter - which have their own drawbacks. Most serious a7x photographers are forced to go prime. The 70-200 f4 is about as close as we get. Hopefully things will change soon.

--
Steve Bingham
www.dustylens.com
www.ghost-town-photography.com
Click to expand...
Although I understand - and agree to a certain point - with your reasoning, zooms are always a compromise between IQ and ease of use - and the F4 ones aren't any different - so it's either love or hate them; the better F2.8 are within the same compromise and like it or not, will never achieve prime IQ, as you know.

In this perspective, although the SEL70200G - closely followed by the SEL1635Z - is, IMO also, the best of the "bread", I still believe you're being to harsh with the SEL2470Z... :)

Anyway, although it certainly helps, it's not the lens quality that makes a good photo and you certainly know that - I saw some (recent) work of yours and I'm sure you could make the same great photos with a phone; yes, technically, they wouldn't be perfect, but still good work from a photographic (and photographers) point of view! ;)

Just my/another opinion... :)

All the best,
Pedro
 
Last edited:
NumberOne said:
Steve Bingham said:
vett93 said:
Steve Bingham said:
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
What zoom lens in this range would you recommend for a serious A7x photographer?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately there aren't any really pro glass zooms in this range without an adapter - which have their own drawbacks. Most serious a7x photographers are forced to go prime. The 70-200 f4 is about as close as we get. Hopefully things will change soon.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I kept mine because it's the only zoom game in town for when i'm feeling lazy, but it's overpriced for the IQ. The distortion is wicked, the edges a mess. Nice color and contrast. It's an $800 lens, not a $1200 lens.

If you don't care about edges you must not shoot any landscape.
 
  • Like
Reactions: osv
brudy said:
I kept mine because it's the only zoom game in town for when i'm feeling lazy, but it's overpriced for the IQ. The distortion is wicked, the edges a mess. Nice color and contrast. It's an $800 lens, not a $1200 lens.

If you don't care about edges you must not shoot any landscape.

--
www.flickr.com/photos/brudy
Click to expand...
Ashamed to even put them up to be honest with you........

15211296340_2810e95a06_o.jpg


15629326972_98c680dbe3_o.jpg


15410339119_1651347a67_o.jpg


--
¡Viva la Resolución!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfpanno/
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/dfpanno/popular-interesting/
On Flickriver chose "Scale to Fit Screen" (upper left) for highest resolution.
 
Last edited:
DFPanno said:
NumberOne said:
Steve Bingham said:
vett93 said:
Steve Bingham said:
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
What zoom lens in this range would you recommend for a serious A7x photographer?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately there aren't any really pro glass zooms in this range without an adapter - which have their own drawbacks. Most serious a7x photographers are forced to go prime. The 70-200 f4 is about as close as we get. Hopefully things will change soon.

--
Steve Bingham
www.dustylens.com
www.ghost-town-photography.com
Click to expand...
Although I understand - and agree to a certain point - with your reasoning, zooms are always a compromise between IQ and ease of use - and the F4 ones aren't any different - so it's either love or hate them; the better F2.8 are within the same compromise and like it or not, will never achieve prime IQ, as you know.
Click to expand...
Is this true?

Many a Canon prime was sold after the aquisition of the EF 24-70 II or 70-200 II f/2.8s.

Not all primes are equal and many cannot match the IQ of SOTA zooms.
Click to expand...
A (very) few SOTA zooms still aren't enough to change the "optics laws/limitations", and even in those seldom cases you can always design/produce a better prime - Nothing will change this ever! :)
DFPanno said:
DFPanno said:
In this perspective, although the SEL70200G - closely followed by the SEL1635Z - is, IMO also, the best of the "bread", I still believe you're being to harsh with the SEL2470Z... :)
Click to expand...
I agree.
DFPanno said:
Anyway, although it certainly helps, it's not the lens quality that makes a good photo and you certainly know that - I saw some (recent) work of yours and I'm sure you could make the same great photos with a phone; yes, technically, they wouldn't be perfect, but still good work from a photographic (and photographers) point of view! ;)

Just my/another opinion... :)

All the best,
Pedro
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that the 24-70 is easily better than the Sony FE 70mm at 70mm and that the FE 16-35 is better than the Sony FE 16mm at that focal length!

:-D
Click to expand...
I'm not he one complaining - I own/use one and I'm quite satisfied with it - In fact, I was an early adopter and I knew the compromise I was getting into when I ordered it... ;)
DFPanno said:
--
¡Viva la Resolución!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfpanno/
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/dfpanno/popular-interesting/
On Flickriver chose "Scale to Fit Screen" (upper left) for highest resolution.
Click to expand...
...I still think that some initial bad reviews, and bad copies of the lens, made the bad reputation of it; and no it isn't a stellar zoom, but neither a mediocre one, but then again only a fool would use a zoom for critical work! :)

Take care,
Pedro

P.S. Btw, you have many excellent photos in your portfolio! ;) ...And I believe many taken with zooms... :) A good photographer - not the lens - is always what makes the difference!
 
Last edited:
NumberOne said:
DFPanno said:
NumberOne said:
Steve Bingham said:
vett93 said:
Steve Bingham said:
No. The a7r would be overkill! This lens is fine for a snapshooter, not a serious photographer.

It is a very mediocre lens more suited to casual than serious use. However, maybe that's all you need?
Click to expand...
What zoom lens in this range would you recommend for a serious A7x photographer?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately there aren't any really pro glass zooms in this range without an adapter - which have their own drawbacks. Most serious a7x photographers are forced to go prime. The 70-200 f4 is about as close as we get. Hopefully things will change soon.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
DFPanno said:
brudy said:
I kept mine because it's the only zoom game in town for when i'm feeling lazy, but it's overpriced for the IQ. The distortion is wicked, the edges a mess. Nice color and contrast. It's an $800 lens, not a $1200 lens.

If you don't care about edges you must not shoot any landscape.

--
www.flickr.com/photos/brudy
Click to expand...
Ashamed to even put them up to be honest with you........

15410339119_1651347a67_o.jpg
Click to expand...
I am not sure that this is a lens performance issue. I did some test on this lens at 70mm and F8 as well. The edges may be a bit softer than the center but they are nothing like what you have. See the first picture below.

Loading…

www.dpreview.com

V.

--
A7II | A6000 | RX-10
12mm to 500mm
 
vett93 said:
DFPanno said:
brudy said:
I kept mine because it's the only zoom game in town for when i'm feeling lazy, but it's overpriced for the IQ. The distortion is wicked, the edges a mess. Nice color and contrast. It's an $800 lens, not a $1200 lens.

If you don't care about edges you must not shoot any landscape.

--
www.flickr.com/photos/brudy
Click to expand...
Ashamed to even put them up to be honest with you........

15410339119_1651347a67_o.jpg
Click to expand...
I am not sure that this is a lens performance issue. I did some test on this lens at 70mm and F8 as well. The edges may be a bit softer than the center but they are nothing like what you have. See the first picture below.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55807594

V.

--
A7II | A6000 | RX-10
12mm to 500mm
Click to expand...
Not sure either. Those leaves are pretty funky.

I have many others that are much better.



--
¡Viva la Resolución!
www.flickr.com

David Francis Panno

Explore David Francis Panno’s 1,779 photos on Flickr!
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com

Flickriver: David F. Panno's most interesting photos

Flickriver - view images as a 'river of photos' and more...
www.flickriver.com www.flickriver.com
On Flickriver chose "Scale to Fit Screen" (upper left) for highest resolution.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top