Conclusion

When it was released way back in 2019, the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM instantly wowed photographers and reviewers alike. Until this week, this was the only standard zoom lens that we've ever reviewed with a maximum f/2 aperture.

Now Sony have joined the party with the launch of the FE 28-70mm F2 GM, and in true Sony style they've made it smaller and lighter whilst being tack sharp throughout the zoom range and at all apertures.

The Canon version weighs in at a whopping 1430g and measures 14cm in length, which for extended periods of time can prove tiring. This new Sony equivalent is slightly smaller but crucially a lot lighter at just 918g, an amazing technological achievement that means you can use it all day without too many aches and pains.

Having said that, it is by far the heaviest standard zoom within the Sony Alpha eco-system. The flagship Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II weighs 695g by comparison, a significant saving, and it offers a wider angle of view to boot.

So you really need to decide if you'll benefit from shooting a lot with this lens wide-open at f/2, as otherwise you'd be better off choosing an f/2.8 alternative that will be smaller, lighter and wider.

Once you've tried this lens, though, there's no getting away from the very appealing fact that you can shoot at f/2 at any focal length and get buttery-smooth bokeh as a result of the 11-blade aperture and that maximum aperture which is one-stop faster than most zooms of this type. 

Whether using it as 28mm, 35mm, 50mm or 70mm, it delivers tack-sharp images both in the centre and at the edges of the frame, with no need to stop down to get acceptable results, so it could conceivably replace four f/1.8 primes in your kit bag.

Slight vignetting at wide-open apertures, a little barrel distortion at 28mm and some pincushion distortion at 70mm are the only real issues of note from what is otherwise optically an incredible lens.

It produces some very nice bokeh effects thanks to the 11-blade iris diaphragm, vignetting is not too evident, and chromatic aberrations are almost non-existent. Even the close-up performance is great, which adds a lot to the lens' versatility.

Auto-focusing proved to be very quick on the equally new Sony Alpha A1 II that we tested the lens with, and it offers a near silent experience that will suit movie shooters and candid street photographers alike.

Build quality is top-notch, and Sony have included an excellent lens hood with a filter window and a quality soft case with strap in the overall package. It is also very usefully weather-proof thanks to seals around all the buttons and switches and a rubber gasket around the lens mount.

The aperture ring is a very welcome inclusion, especially as it can be de-clicked for video and also locked into place. With two focus hold buttons and a dedicated switch for changing the torque of the zoom ring, this is a very well featured lens indeed.

This lens still doesn't have a built-in optical image stabilisation system, though, instead relying on Sony's in-camera system, which will be fine for everyone except those who own a first generation Alpha camera (which don't have built-in OIS).

Finally, we come to the price of the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM. Whilst £3200 / €3600 / $2899 is an incredible lot to pay for a standard zoom, you do get a quite remarkable lens for your money in return, and to be fair to Sony it's on a par with the Canon version (£3079.99 / $2999.99).

Ultimately, pro photographers with deep pockets looking for the ultimate in image quality in a single lens need look no further than the new FE 28-70mm F2 GM.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	5
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	5
Value for money	4