Sony G 20-70 probably best travel lens on 60 MP bodies

joger · Jan 17, 2023

Just compiled the information availbale so far:

GM 24 .. 70 / GM 24 - 70 II and G 20 .. 70

comparison to other lenses in the range

I was wrong on the pricing though - it's something like 1100 EUR - which is really nice

Let's wait for the MTF charts to understand how good it will be with respect optical quality

this makes me reluctant however:

Member said:
As you might expect for a modern zoom that covers the ultra-wide range, it requires digital correction as part of its design

--
__________________________________
... having is better than needing

Dylan10 · Jan 17, 2023

joger said:
Just compiled the information availbale so far:

GM 24 .. 70 / GM 24 - 70 II and G 20 .. 70

comparison to simlar lenses available

I was wrong on the pricing though - it's something like 1100 EUR - which is really nice

Let's wait for the MTF charts to understand how good it will be with respect optical quality

this makes me reluctant however:

Member said:

As you might expect for a modern zoom that covers the ultra-wide range, it requires digital correction as part of its design

Click to expand...

Really differentiates itself from the usual 28-70/24-70 lenses even despite them being 2.8 in many cases. Well done Sony for such a unique and what seems like "reasonable" value too.

ARB1 · Jan 17, 2023

joger said:
Just compiled the information availbale so far:

GM 24 .. 70 / GM 24 - 70 II and G 20 .. 70

comparison to other lenses in the range

I was wrong on the pricing though - it's something like 1100 EUR - which is really nice

Let's wait for the MTF charts to understand how good it will be with respect optical quality

this makes me reluctant however:

joger said:

As you might expect for a modern zoom that covers the ultra-wide range, it requires digital correction as part of its design

Click to expand...

But which lens these days don’t require some in camera digital correction?

--
Allen
___________
The secret to living well and longer is: eat half, walk double, laugh triple, and love without measure. - Tibetan Proverb

Waku Waku · Jan 17, 2023

Just bought a Tamron 28-200 for an upcoming trip.

20-70 is so tempting.

Malling · Jan 17, 2023

joger said:
Just compiled the information availbale so far:

GM 24 .. 70 / GM 24 - 70 II and G 20 .. 70

comparison to other lenses in the range

I was wrong on the pricing though - it's something like 1100 EUR - which is really nice

Let's wait for the MTF charts to understand how good it will be with respect optical quality

this makes me reluctant however:

joger said:

As you might expect for a modern zoom that covers the ultra-wide range, it requires digital correction as part of its design

Click to expand...

Foto Koch has it now listed at €1599, US are just getting ridiculous favourable prices the same happened with 16-35G and the newer second gen GM as well as A1 and A7Rv

Sony just slap an additional €250 on top of the price so they are really milking the european cash cow, again.

Djehuty · Jan 17, 2023

I think a 24-105 is still better.

Willy81 · Jan 17, 2023

Djehuty said:
I think a 24-105 is still better.

I don't know that the 24-105 is better but I will be sticking with it. I know I would miss what I would lose on the long end more than what I would gain on the short end. I know I would enjoy the lighter weight (everything is a trade off).

--
I enjoy content, simplicity and light weight: A6500, A7C and A7RV w/Sony + G + GM Glass

Dylan10 · Jan 17, 2023

Willy79 said:
Djehuty said:

I think a 24-105 is still better.

Click to expand...

I don't know that the 24-105 is better but I will be sticking with it. I know I would miss what I would lose on the long end more than what I would gain on the short end. I know I would enjoy the lighter weight (everything is a trade off).

I like the idea of it and have the 24-105, I can see it being a very useful single travel lens. But the UK price police have definitely made it far less attractive, surprised at the UK pricing, is there a mistake, £1399 is high, very high.

SrMi · Jan 17, 2023

Djehuty said:
I think a 24-105 is still better.

Lenstip has published their reviews of 24-105 and 20-70.

Resolution-wise, 24-70 is better in the center but worse in the corners. I am a bit concerned about the corner performance of 20-70. We'll see how much it matters in practice.

ARB1 · Jan 17, 2023

Djehuty said:
I think a 24-105 is still better.

Better how? For me if it’s sharp I’ll certainly be selling my 24-105, nice lens but I’ll be happy to shed some weight and I never use the long end anyway.

joger · Jan 17, 2023

Willy79 said:
Djehuty said:

I think a 24-105 is still better.

Click to expand...

I don't know that the 24-105 is better but I will be sticking with it. I know I would miss what I would lose on the long end more than what I would gain on the short end. I know I would enjoy the lighter weight (everything is a trade off).

get the GM 135 for the long end and gain massively image quality and add the G 20 .. 70

I am not decided yet if I will accept the hate distortion of 10 % on the wide end - it's a trade of between convenience and portability on one side and weight and limited range on the other side.

I guess the total weight of a G 12 .. 24 plus the 24 .. 105 is quite close to the weight of the G 20 .. 70 plus the GM 135 delivering s similar range but potentially better in any thinkable way - or add also a GM 14 for Astro and you're done for almost every thinkable situation.

networker · Jan 17, 2023

Well, a Fish Eye might do the same job :-D

https://www.lenstip.com/643.6-Lens_review-Sony_FE_20-70_mm_f_4_G_Distortion_and_field_of_view.html

joger said:
I admit I haven't encountered such a situation in our tests so far. Perhaps extreme, untypical parameters of this lens needed original solutions. Anyway the result is such that distortion at 20 mm can be called only monstrous because it reaches -10.23% in a lens that tries to pretend it's a rectilinear instrument. What's even worse, such a value is a result of high level moustache deformations.

I have chosen a combination of the Sigma Art 14-24 F2.8 and the FE 24-70 GM II

Despite some more weight that's the perfect combination. The Sigma 24-70 F2.8, Sony 24-105 and 16-35PZ also suffer from heavy distortion. Only the Sigma 16-35 is a real option for me. Less distortion and it's possible to use standard filters.

joger said:
Loading…

www.opticallimits.com

-8,92% Barrel distortion @16mm

Malling · Jan 17, 2023

SrMi said:
Djehuty said:

I think a 24-105 is still better.

Click to expand...

Lenstip has published their reviews of 24-105 and 20-70.

Resolution-wise, 24-70 is better in the center but worse in the corners. I am a bit concerned about the corner performance of 20-70. We'll see how much it matters in practice.

It’s sharper then the Sigma 24-70 Art! let’s just say this is an excellent lens it has two issues that was the same on 16-35G

Distortion and vignetting to such degree I really see no difference between the two.

The distortion is extreme but that is how it is on most f4 mirrorless lenses all is between 6-10% but this is the sharpest f4 on the market even beating most f2.8

bmike · Jan 17, 2023

1600 Swiss Franc here. I can buy the 135GM for 1680. Wow.

SrMi · Jan 17, 2023

joger said:
Willy79 said:

Djehuty said:

I think a 24-105 is still better.

Click to expand...

I don't know that the 24-105 is better but I will be sticking with it. I know I would miss what I would lose on the long end more than what I would gain on the short end. I know I would enjoy the lighter weight (everything is a trade off).

Click to expand...

get the GM 135 for the long end and gain massively image quality and add the G 20 .. 70

Assuming that weight matters, Batis 135 may be a better choice.

joger said:
I am not decided yet if I will accept the hate distortion of 10 % on the wide end - it's a trade of between convenience and portability on one side and weight and limited range on the other side.

joger said:
I guess the total weight of a G 12 .. 24 plus the 24 .. 105 is quite close to the weight of the G 20 .. 70 plus the GM 135 delivering s similar range but potentially better in any thinkable way - or add also a GM 14 for Astro and you're done for almost every thinkable situation.

joger · Jan 17, 2023

SrMi said:
joger said:

Willy79 said:

Djehuty said:

I think a 24-105 is still better.

Click to expand...

I don't know that the 24-105 is better but I will be sticking with it. I know I would miss what I would lose on the long end more than what I would gain on the short end. I know I would enjoy the lighter weight (everything is a trade off).

Click to expand...

get the GM 135 for the long end and gain massively image quality and add the G 20 .. 70

Click to expand...

Assuming that weight matters, Batis 135 may be a better choice.

assuming weight matters most the APO Telyt M with Adapter is even lighter and it’s outstanding I’m image quality.

The GM 135 is basically unbeatable - did not test the Samyang yet but with the given history of quality control it’s more a gamble to get a decent one.

SrMi said:
SrMi said:

I am not decided yet if I will accept the hate distortion of 10 % on the wide end - it's a trade of between convenience and portability on one side and weight and limited range on the other side.

I guess the total weight of a G 12 .. 24 plus the 24 .. 105 is quite close to the weight of the G 20 .. 70 plus the GM 135 delivering s similar range but potentially better in any thinkable way - or add also a GM 14 for Astro and you're done for almost every thinkable situation.

Click to expand...

joger · Jan 17, 2023

networker said:
Well, a Fish Eye might do the same job :-D

https://www.lenstip.com/643.6-Lens_review-Sony_FE_20-70_mm_f_4_G_Distortion_and_field_of_view.html

networker said:

I admit I haven't encountered such a situation in our tests so far. Perhaps extreme, untypical parameters of this lens needed original solutions. Anyway the result is such that distortion at 20 mm can be called only monstrous because it reaches -10.23% in a lens that tries to pretend it's a rectilinear instrument. What's even worse, such a value is a result of high level moustache deformations.

Click to expand...

I have chosen a combination of the Sigma Art 14-24 F2.8 and the FE 24-70 GM II Despite some more weight that's the perfect combination. The Sigma 24-70 F2.8, Sony 24-105 and 16-35PZ also suffer from heavy distortion. Only the Sigma 16-35 is a real option for me. Less distortion and it's possible to use standard filters.

networker said:

https://www.opticallimits.com/sonyalphaff/1148-sony1635f4g?start=1

-8,92% Barrel distortion @16mm

Click to expand...

In case weight is no concern I wii Stick to my GM 14 / 35 / 50 / 85 / 135 lenses - I might be willing to trade off distortion against software but I am not sure yet - still have time till March to have a 2nd thought

Right now I am a bit grounded and a bit less enthusiastic. Maybe time to accept certain trends.

dth29 · Jan 17, 2023

Willy79 said:
Djehuty said:

I think a 24-105 is still better.

Click to expand...

I don't know that the 24-105 is better but I will be sticking with it. I know I would miss what I would lose on the long end more than what I would gain on the short end. I know I would enjoy the lighter weight (everything is a trade off).

+1

The 24-105 is a much more flexible focal range for me. I could add an UWA, or stack. I would definitely miss the 105mm.

Mr_Win · Jan 17, 2023

dth29 said:
Willy79 said:

Djehuty said:

I think a 24-105 is still better.

Click to expand...

I don't know that the 24-105 is better but I will be sticking with it. I know I would miss what I would lose on the long end more than what I would gain on the short end. I know I would enjoy the lighter weight (everything is a trade off).

Click to expand...

+1

The 24-105 is a much more flexible focal range for me. I could add an UWA, or stack. I would definitely miss the 105mm.

it's a decent lens, good all around

4mm on the wide is a lot

nearly 200 gram difference is very noticeable

alphaZ · Jan 17, 2023

Djehuty said:
I think a 24-105 is still better.

Yes, UK pricing is excessive too!

Sony G 20-70 probably best travel lens on 60 MP bodies

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