camera gear
Sony 20-70mm F4 G Review | Wide Angle Meets Standard Zoom
Are you a photography enthusiast in search of a versatile lens that offers both wide-angle and standard zoom capabilities? Look no further than the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens. Whether you’re capturing stunning landscapes or shooting portraits, this lens delivers exceptional image quality and flexibility. In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the features and performance of the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens, exploring how its wide-angle meets standard zoom functionality allows for creative freedom and convenience in various shooting scenarios. Join us as we uncover the true potential of this impressive lens and why it belongs in every photographer’s kit.
Sony 20-70mm F4 G Review | Wide Angle Meets Standard Zoom
Foreign Abbott and I’m here today to give you my video review of the Sony Fe 20 to 70 millimeter F4 G lens. Now, I recognize that I’m probably a couple of months late at this point after this lens has been released just due to scheduling quirks, I couldn’t fit it in. At the time, but I’ve been spending some quality time with this lens over the last several weeks, including taking it with me on a trip to Cancun, Mexico area, and it has proved to be an excellent travel companion for that, and so I thought that that would be a great kind of a segue for this particular review and at this particular time.
Lens Design and Wide Angle Capability
It was actually in the briefing for this lens that a Sony rep mentioned the fact that something that kind of resonated with me, and that was that modern cameras, you know, for example, I’ve got this Mounted on the Sony a7r Mark V, which I’ve used primarily for this test, that’s 61 megapixels when you got 61 megapixels you have a lot of options for cropping which of course gets you closer to the subject but what high resolution doesn’t solve is the ability to get lighter and So it becomes increasingly important in this you know day of of increasingly common high-resolution bodies to have lenses that can go wide enough because that gives you more flexibility so essentially this lens takes the standard Zoom kind of standard ratio of 24 to 70 millimeters and while four millimeters Doesn’t sound like a lot on paper it really dramatically changes what you can do with the lens going from 24 to 20 millimeters for example at 20 millimeters you can get this much of the scene in and at 24 millimeters you get this much and if you go into an interior Space obviously by comparison you can get much more in the frame so essentially what it does is it kind of Blends both a wide-angle Zoom with a standard zoom into one lens and for many people 20 millimeters is going to be wide enough to basically serve pretty Much all of their wide-angle needs and so if you paired this lens, for example, with the new 70 to 200 F4 macro G you have of an incredible Optical performance all the way from 20 to 200 millimeters at a very compact size and weight which makes this a very attractive combination.
Size and Weight
Now, a maximum aperture of f4 in the standard Zoom is probably not going to excite anyone too much, but I think depending on your photography style this lens is going to work perfectly fine for your needs. So who is this lens best suited for? Find out with me as we explore it after a word from our sponsor.
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As noted we do have a compact size here, this lens is very reasonable in terms of its size and it is just a little bit bigger and heavier than the older Zeiss 24 to 70 millimeter F4. However, it goes considerably wider 24 versus 20 millimeters is a radical difference particularly when it comes to engineering for wide-angle and then to a longer focal length. Tamron, for example, has a 20 to 40 millimeter zoom, and I think that that Zoom is very intriguing but you know 40 millimeters limit there’s an extra 30 millimeters here to work with so obviously you’re going to be able to do a lot of different things with this lens that you can’t do with the Tamron and so overall I think that the size is really reasonable for what we’ve got here.
It is 78.7 millimeters in diameter giving you a 72-millimeter front filter thread and I love 72 millimeters because it’s not as common as either 67 millimeters or 77 millimeters but there are a number of Lenses that do share that filter size. The lens is 99 millimeters in length so that’s 3.1 inches by 3.9 inches and it weighs in at 488 grams or 70 17.2 ounces so you’ve got under 500-gram weight means this is easy to carry around. I did a lot of just carrying around as a part of my travels. I had zero issues with that the overall combination is still really, really lightweight.
This is an externally zooming lens as you can see here the zoom action is really, really good very, very well-damped, very smooth, there’s no wobble or anything, and there is no kind of tendency towards zoom creep which is good because there actually isn’t a zoom lock which is kind of surprising when you don’t have an internally zooming lens. So about four centimeters of barrel extension there at 70 millimeters.
It does have a variety of features. I found that Sony’s lenses have become increasingly more feature-rich and that’s definitely true here. It starts with a lot of ways to control aperture. You have the ability to use an aperture ring, and you can use it with clicks with one-third stop to the tense throughout and those detents are actually quite strong, it’s very definite, you’re going to feel those a little bit maybe almost too much but there is a d-click option so that gives you the option to kind of smoothly go throughout the various aperture options and also For video allows you to do aperture racking which could be an essential part of your video capture, thank you. You also obviously have the ability to lock it into an A or automatic mode if you don’t like using an aperture ring, you know, aperture ring, and there is an iris lock on the left side of the lens that allows you to either lock it into the manual aperture ring or lock it out of the manual aperture ring depending on kind of your preference if you don’t like a manual aperture ring at all no problem just use that aperture lock and you’re never Going to have to worry about inadvertently choosing aperture through the manual aperture ring.
I only have one complaint about the execution of that and that is the d-click option it is down on the right side and it’s quite low and so what happens is that the grip of the camera actually interferes with Getting at it, it’s in a really kind of a difficult position ergonomically, so I don’t love that execution though obviously at the same time, this is not a switch you’re going to be reaching for constantly either. Other features include an afmf switch and along with two Focus hold buttons. Now those are redundant as you know anytime you have more than one Focus hold button the purpose of it is to allow you to access it when you’re shooting in different orientations you know portrait orientation versus landscape orientation the function of that Focus hold button can be programmed through the camera body itself and so you can choose a wide variety of different functions.
Just gives you another control point on the lens itself I will also point out that we have a very thorough weather sealing here there’s about 14 seal points as I count in this diagram flooring coating on…
Frequently Asked Questions – Sony 20-70mm F4 G Review
1. What is the focal length range of the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens?
The Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens offers a versatile zoom range from 20mm wide-angle to 70mm standard zoom.
2. Is the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens suitable for both wide-angle and standard zoom photography?
Yes, this lens is designed to cater to both wide-angle and standard zoom photography needs, making it ideal for capturing various types of subjects, from landscapes to portraits.
3. What is the maximum aperture of this lens?
The Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens has a constant maximum aperture of F4 throughout its focal length range.
4. Does the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens produce high-quality images?
Yes, this lens is part of Sony’s high-end G series, known for their exceptional optical performance. The lens incorporates advanced optics and elements to deliver sharp and high-resolution images.
5. Is the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens compatible with Sony E-mount cameras?
Yes, this lens is designed specifically for Sony E-mount cameras, ensuring seamless compatibility and optimal performance.
6. Does this lens have image stabilization?
Yes, the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens features built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, which helps to minimize camera shake and allows for sharper handheld shots, especially in low-light situations.
7. Can I use filters with this lens?
Yes, the lens has a front filter thread with a 67mm diameter, allowing you to attach various compatible filters such as UV filters or polarizers.
8. Is the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens weather-sealed?
Yes, this lens features a dust and moisture-resistant construction, ensuring its durability and allowing you to use it in various outdoor shooting conditions.
9. Does this lens have a silent autofocus motor?
Yes, the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens is equipped with an internal autofocus (AF) motor that is not only fast and precise but also operates silently, making it suitable for both photography and videography.
10. What is included in the package when purchasing the Sony 20-70mm F4 G lens?
When you purchase this lens, it typically comes with lens caps (front and rear), a lens hood, and a soft carrying case for protection and portability.
I hope you find useful my article Sony 20-70mm F4 G Review | Wide Angle Meets Standard Zoom, I also recommend you to read my other posts in my blog at this link.
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