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Sony Zeiss 24-70mm Review and Image Sample Galleries

Posted April 1st, 2008 by cgarrard

Sony Carl Zeiss 24-70mm f2.8 SSM SAL-2470Z

Built like an Artillery Shell, Sharp as Silk Image Quality

24-70-review-main

April 2008, Carl Garrard

(A very special thanks to Matt Davids at AlphaLensRental.com for the review copy of the lens!)

The Sony Zeiss 24-70mm f2.8 SSM large aperture lens is a professional's tool, from the price to its overall performance. Complete with a fast 2.8 max aperture thru the entire zoom range, Zeiss *T Coatings, two Aspherical and two ED glass lens elements that help eliminate flare and CA distortions, and a super fast and ultra quiet internal focusing motor, all add up to one serious lens. The Carl Zeiss 24-70 was tested on the Sony A700 and the Sony A350(See our image sample galleries).

Sony Zeiss 24-70mm Review - Table of Contents

 

Introduction

Sony Lenses and Cameras

The Sony 24-70 f2.8 SSM is one of the new SSM lenses in the "to be announced lineup" Sony teased us with in the press photo last year (next to the A700 in the picture above). The Sony 70-300 G SSM is the next at bat (standing next to the 24-70), and as soon as we have a copy we will review that lens as well. The Sony 24-70mm SSM f2.8 is fast, accurate, quiet, and very well built, even down to the aluminum lens hood (that is lined with felt). Basically, this description sums up this awesome lens from an operational and build standpoint.

Trying this lens out at PMA was nothing compared to using it for my first full day out (wow what fun!). At 995 grams (about 2.2 Lbs) this lens makes a statement (and works your bicep). Although heavy, it still feels like a lens that you can walk around with on short trips. I recommend using a good comfortable neck strap on your Alpha or KM body if you plan to use this lens in this manner. Much different in build than the Sony Zeiss 16-80, bigger, heavier and with tighter tolerances, you can feel where the $1,749.00 (USD) price tag has gone too. Complete with a focus hold button and AF/MF switch on the side (like the 70-300G coming soon), aluminum lens barrel and distance scale, the Sony 24-70 leaves little to be desired.

This lens promises to cover a wide range of photographic subjects. From Portraits to Landscapes there seems to be little this lens cannot do well. Though the Zeiss is rather expensive compared to other lenses, in theory it can do as much as two lenses in your kit, and do it better. So lets see how well it did in my evaluation of it overall.

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