Sony has announced the FE 24-50mm F2.8 G standard zoom lens , which is compatible with Sony’s α Alpha cameras. The 72nd addition to the full-frame E-mount lens lineup is compact and lightweight yet maintains high-resolution performance.
The lens features a constant F2.8 maximum aperture, a versatile 24mm to 50mm focal range, and a compact form. factor.
Think of the 24-50mm f/2.8 G as a more compact and lighter version of the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, but with a slightly shorter maximum focal length.
The thinking behind the 24-50mm f/2.8 G was to try and find some middle ground in terms of size and weight to sort of position it between the heavier 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II and lightweight 20-70mm f/4 G.
25-50mm is an ok range, but I think some Sony users may have preferred to have seen a faster F stop, at the expense of the lens being heavier. A F2 or F1.8 version of this lens would be pretty interesting, even if it ended up weighing as much as the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II.
Key features
- Full-Frame
- Constant f/2.8 Maximum Aperture
- Lightweight 15.5 oz
- Compact 3.6″long
- Linear AF Motors & Internal Focusing
- Aperture Ring & Aperture De-Click Switch
- Focus Hold Button & Mode Switch
- Dust & Moisture-Resistant Design
- Rounded 11-Blade Diaphragm
Controllability and Reliability
The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G has intuitive controls with features including a customizable focus hold button, aperture ring, aperture click ON/OFF switch, and a focus mode switch.
The lens’ front element is fluorine coated, which is claimed to effectively repel and help eliminates fingerprints, dust, water, oil, and other contaminants. This dust and moisture-resistant design makes it a reliable option for any environment.
Size & Weight
The Sony 24-50mm f/2.8 G weighs 439g / 15.5 oz and it is only 9.14cm / 3.6″ long. So how does that weight and length compare to the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM and 20-70mm f/4 G? Well, below you can see.
| WEIGHT | LENGTH | |
| 24-50mm f/2.8 G | 439g / 0.96 lb | 9.14cm / 3.6″ |
| 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II | 695 g / 1.5 lb | 15.2cm / 6″ |
| 24-70mm f/2.8 GM | 886g / 1.9 lb | 16.7cm / 6.6″ |
| 20-70mm f/4 G | 488 g / 1.07 lb | 9.9cm / 3.9″ |
The 24-50mm f/2.8 G is slightly lighter than the 20-70mm f/4 G, and 256g lighter than the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II.
Optical Design
The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G’s design is compact with a filter diameter of φ67 mm, maximum diameter of 74.8 mm (about 2.94 in), length of 92.3 mm (about 3.63 in), and weight of approximately 440 g (about 15.52 oz). Despite its compact size, the lens maintains exceptional image quality throughout all focal lengths. This is made possible by the incorporation of four aspherical lenses and two elements of Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass. These advanced elements effectively minimize chromatic aberrations, resulting in high-resolution performance that remains consistent from the center to the corners of the frame.
The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G’s 11-blade circular aperture and well-controlled spherical aberration creates the beautiful, smooth bokeh known to the G lens series. Painstaking optical optimization has achieved impressive close-up performance at all focal lengths. It has a minimum shooting distance of 0.19 m (AF) at the wide end, and a maximum magnification of 0.30 x (AF) for detailed shooting.
Responsive Autofocus Capabilities for Both Stills and Video
The lens has two linear motors to achieve fast, precise, and quiet focusing with AF (autofocus). It also supports high-speed continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking of up to 120 frames per second, a feature offered on Sony’s newest full-frame mirrorless camera, the Alpha 9 III.
The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G’s AF capabilities should also be good for video production, especially when shooting in high frame rates like 4K 120p or FHD 240p movie recording. It supports in-camera Active Mode Image Stabilization for fast-paced shooting and is compatible with the Focus Breathing Compensation feature native to select Sony Alpha cameras. In addition, the Linear Response MF offers intuitive and precise manual focus adjustments, a feature beneficial for filmmaking.
Competition
There isn’t any direct competition for this lens, but below, you can see what some other full-frame Sony E-mount zooms cost.
| PRICE | |
| Sony 24-50mm f/2.8 G | $1,099.99 USD |
| Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II | $2,298 USD |
| Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM | $1,698 USD |
| Sony 20-70mm f/4 G | $1,098 USD |
| Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens | $1,099 USD |
| Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 | $899 USD |
| Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II Lens | $2,298 USD |
Price & Availability
The new FE 24-50mm F2.8 G will be available in May 2024 for approximately $1,099.99 USD and $1,499.99 CAD.
