Today, Sony launched a unique ultra-wide zoom lens – the FE 20-70mm f4 G, which for the first time brings an extremely wide focal length to a lens that ends in 70 mm. We have compiled for you all the details about the launch along with first reviews of the lens from around the web.
Besides the new 20-70mm, Sony also announced a pair of new SD memory cards and, surprisingly, the development of a professional 300mm f/2.8 lens. At this stage, there are no details about the lens and it is expected to reach the market according to Sony in early 2024, so there is still a long wait (by the way, Sony is not used to announcements about product developments, unlike other manufacturers, so this announcement is a little different compared to what we were used to in the past – perhaps because there was a great demand for the lens This is from the market itself).
Sony FE 20-70mm f4 G – and the importance of a wide angle
Sony has quite a few wide telephoto zoom-zoom lenses, including the old Sony Zeiss 24-70 F4, the new FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II and also the 24-105mm F4 which can be included in the bunch.
The new lens is different from anything Sony has launched to date and is actually quite unique in the market in general. It starts from an ultra-wide angle (on a FF sensor) of 20 mm and reaches up to 70 mm. And it manages to do all this while maintaining a light weight and a compact body. According to Sony (at the press conference held on the subject of the lens a few weeks ago in which we participated) the lens has great potential not only among still photographers for photographing trips, landscape and more but also in the field of video (vlogging and more).
Sony’s official video about the new lens
Sony FE 20-70mm f4 G – key features
The new Sony has a relatively complex optical structure that includes 16 elements in 13 groups including three ED type elements, two advanced aspheric elements, a combined element (aspheric-ED) and a normal aspheric element (a total of no less than 7 advanced optical elements).
Another interesting feature of the lens is related to zoom. Although it is not a macro lens, it is able to focus from a distance of 25-30 cm (with manual focus 25 cm for the entire length) and its maximum magnification ratio is approximately 1:2.5 – excellent for a lens of its type and definitely useful for photographing objects up close when not A dedicated macro lens is required.
The lens has 9 aperture blades, and two linear XD motors for quiet and fast focusing (Sony claims a focusing speed twice as high as that of the old Sony Zeiss 24-70mm f/4 with an emphasis on object tracking focus).
The lens supports breathing compensation (focus change when focusing) in video with the company’s new cameras and according to the company the breathing of the lens even without compensation is relatively low.
The weight of the lens is extremely light – 488 grams – about the same as that of the Sigma 28-70 mm f/2.8 and it is significantly lighter than, for example, the Sony 24-105 mm. The lens supports a filter with a diameter of 72 mm.
On the body of the lens you will find quite a few control buttons including a programmable focus hold button, an AF/MF button, a button to change the aperture ring (clicks/no clicks) and also an interesting option to lock the aperture ring in position A (for the benefit of those whose ring has moved from this position by mistake).
The Sony FE 20-70mm f4 G – compact zoom with an ultra-wide angle
Prices and availability
The price of the lens abroad will be 1100 dollars and it is expected to be available from February 2023.
Reviews and reviews from around the web
Quite a few first reviews of the new lens have already been published online and we present some of them to you here:
Christopher Frost reviews the new Sony 20-70mm
Tony Northrup on Sony’s new 24-105mm lens
B&H in a video about the new Sony lens
Gerald Undone in our review of the new zoom lens
Chris Niccolls our friend from DPR with the FE 20-70mm f4 G
Ido GnotIdo Gnot is the editor and founder of the Megapixel photography website. He has been covering technology news since the late 1990s and has written and edited for a number of leading international magazines. He has been involved in the field of photography since 2009. Ido is also a co-founder of the production company Shooteat.co.il which is engaged in creating visual content for commercial companies.