Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM: the first G Master zoom in 2026

Sony announced the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM (SEL2470GM) on February 3, 2016 as one of the first lenses in its G Master line, for $2,200. Its 18 elements in 13 groups include three aspherical elements, one of them an XA (extreme aspherical) element, plus ED and Super ED glass to keep colour fringing down. Nano AR Coating cuts flare, and a 9-blade circular aperture keeps out-of-focus highlights round.

Focusing is handled by a Direct Drive SSM motor that Sony describes as smooth and quiet, so it works for video as well as stills. It focuses down to 0.38 m for 0.24x magnification and takes 82 mm filters. It's a substantial lens at 886 g and 136 mm long, with no optical stabilization (it relies on in-body stabilization where the body has it). The controls are practical: an AF/MF switch, a focus hold button and a zoom lock that stops the barrel creeping. The design is dust- and moisture-resistant, and Sony's US store still lists it.

Our gallery comes from six photographers: Bow Lake in Banff National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge in mist over 181 seconds, the European Central Bank towers in Frankfurt, a stray cat at El Morro in San Juan, spring leaves in Lisbon and Hallstatt at dusk over 65 seconds. The bodies range from an a7R II to an a7R IV and an a9. Still worth it in 2026? Yes, for stills shooters who want a G Master f/2.8 zoom and don't need the GM II's lighter build or closer focus.

Sony announced the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM on February 3, 2016 with its new G Master brand, saying it would be available in March for $2,200 (Sony Electronics, via PR Newswire).

Sony introduced the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II in April 2022.

Six photos taken with the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM on Sony full-frame bodies by six photographers, shared on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain. Each caption gives the settings the file records. Select a photo to enlarge it. More samples from Sony