Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM vs GM II

Two generations of Sony's G Master f/2.8 standard zoom for full-frame E-mount. Both take 82 mm filters, are dust- and moisture-resistant and have no optical stabilization. The GM II, from 2022, is 191 g lighter and 16 mm shorter, focuses closer, uses four XD Linear Motors and adds an aperture ring and video features.

The black Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens standing upright without its hood on a patterned carpet — **Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM**886 g · launched at $2,200 in 2016Photo: PantheraLeo1359531 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)

The black Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens with its hood fitted, standing upright on a dark reflective surface — **Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II**695 g · launched at $2,300 in 2022Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Side-by-side specs

	Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM	Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Construction	18 elements in 13 groups	20 elements in 15 groups
Special elements	3 aspherical (1 XA), 1 ED, 1 Super ED	5 aspherical (2 XA), 2 ED, 2 Super ED
Coating	Nano AR Coating	Nano AR Coating II; fluorine front coating
Aperture blades	9, circular	11, circular
Minimum focus	0.38 m	0.21 m (24mm) / 0.3 m (70mm)
Max magnification	0.24x	0.32x
AF drive	Direct Drive SSM	Four XD Linear Motors; floating focus
Aperture ring	None	Yes, with click on/off and iris lock
Other controls	AF/MF switch, focus hold button, zoom lock	AF/MF switch, two focus hold buttons, zoom smooth/tight switch
Stabilization	None in the lens	None in the lens
Filter	82 mm	Same
Size (diameter × length)	87.6 × 136 mm	87.8 × 119.9 mm
Weight	886 g	695 g
Sealing	Dust- and moisture-resistant design	Dust- and moisture-resistant design (not guaranteed 100%)
Launch price	Feb 3, 2016; $2,200 (US)	Apr 27, 2022; $2,300 (US)

Specs from Sony Japan's SEL2470GM and SEL2470GM2 specifications pages, Sony's US store pages and Sony's February 3, 2016 and April 27, 2022 releases; US launch prices from Sony. ✓ = advantage; blank = tie or not directly comparable.

Sample photos

Four photos taken with the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM and four with the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II, shared on Wikimedia Commons under open licenses.

Sample photo 1 of 8 taken with the Sony a7R IV — Taken with the Sony a7R IV. Photo: David Zhang via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 2 of 8 taken with the Sony a7R IV — Taken with the Sony a7R IV. Photo: David Zhang from Canada via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 3 of 8 taken with the Sony a9 — Taken with the Sony a9. Photo: Lorie Shaull from Washington, United States via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 4 of 8 taken with the Sony a7R V — Taken with the Sony a7R V. Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE (resized)

Sample photo 5 of 8 taken with the Sony a7R IVA — Taken with the Sony a7R IVA. Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 6 of 8 taken with the Sony a7R IVA — Taken with the Sony a7R IVA. Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 7 of 8 taken with the Sony a7R IVA — Taken with the Sony a7R IVA. Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 8 of 8 taken with the Sony a7R IVA — Taken with the Sony a7R IVA. Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Who should buy which

Buy the GM if…

You shoot mostly stills and don't mind carrying 886 g.
You want a G Master f/2.8 standard zoom with XA, ED and Super ED glass and a quiet Direct Drive SSM motor.
You don't need an aperture ring or close-ups beyond 0.24x.

Buy the GM II if…

You carry the lens all day: 695 g vs 886 g, and 16 mm shorter.
You shoot close-ups: 0.32x vs 0.24x, focusing to 0.21 m at 24mm.
You shoot fast action or video: four XD Linear Motors, an aperture ring with click on/off and Breathing Compensation support on compatible bodies.

Both lenses are constant-f/2.8 G Master zooms with 82 mm filters, dust and moisture resistance and no optical stabilization, so the choice is mostly weight, close focus, AF drive and video controls. See our full GM review and GM II guide, or all comparisons.

Where to buy

Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM

GM · lens (new)

Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM: Launched at $2,200 in 2016 (Sony's announced US price, February 3, 2016).

Check price
Read the full Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM review

Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

GM II · lens (new)

Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II: Launched at $2,300 in 2022 (Sony's announced US price, April 27, 2022).

Check price
Read the full Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II guide

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