The Sony 20-70mm f/4 G lens was just announced and it's packed with many of the features Sony has been using in their best lenses. A select group of creatives received the lens in advance to take it for a test spin. See some of their first images taken using the new lens below and read what they have to say about its performance. Photos by Allison Anderson, Sal D’Alia, Jason Frankle, Stan Moniz, Tiffany Nguyen, Miguel Quiles, Mahesh Thapa and Erick Urgiles. See more and order the new Sony 20-70mm f/4 G HERE.
A select group of creatives took the Sony 20-70mm f/4 G for a test spin. See some of their first images taken using the new lens and read what they have to say about its performance.
“I put the 20-70mm f/4 G lens through its paces, in and out of the water in both photo and video. Its focus speed was astounding, capturing precise clean shots of surfers and empty waves while zooming in and out throughout the entire zoom range at a second’s notice. While shooting on land and slowing things down the advantage of that extra 4mm came in clutch! The difference between 20mm and 24mm might not seem like a big difference on paper but trust me when you see it first hand in person it will come as a shock. It’s a lens that will shake up the standard zoom world.” – Stan Moniz
Photo by Stan Moniz. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G.
"This is likely one of the very best walk-around lenses that I’ve ever used. Being able to go wide for video and location portraits is great. I used it on full frame but can see using it on APS-C as well. The AF performance was unstoppable. Paired up with the Alpha 7 IV I didn’t have to worry about keeping my subject in focus no matter what focal length I used. It was silent which I really enjoyed. The versatility of this lens paired with those things makes this a no-brainer." – Miguel Quiles
“Oddly enough, the thing that stood out to me the most about this lens was that I didn’t notice it much at all - in the best way. It wasn’t heavy, I was never waiting on the AF, and the focal length accommodated everything I wanted to shoot. There was never a time where I was wishing I had a different lens, or waiting on this lens to work the way I wanted it to. The best lens is one that allows you to effortlessly get your shots without thinking much about it.” - Allison Anderson
Photo by Allison Anderson. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/800-sec., f/4.5, ISO 1250
“I loved shooting with this lens. It’s a lens I’ve been waiting for for a long time now and I think it’s exactly what my kit has been missing. It’s lightweight and compact enough for any occasion while still being able to capture high quality photos and videos without having to sacrifice on quality. I was really impressed that a lens this lightweight can capture such tack sharp images. Having those extra few millimeters to work with in the focal range really makes a huge difference when I’m capturing a dynamic scene.” – Tiffany Nguyen
Photo by Tiffany Nguyen. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/125-sec., f/4, ISO 100
"This new 20-70 range has allowed me to keep a wide focal length for architectural and levitation imagery and expanded the zoom for incredibly sharp Angle Studies. I didn't think I could find a lens that does both (As I'd normally need a 16-35 AND a 24-70 to these three photo styles). I love the lightweight - and very well constructed - body. Especially for its price point. It will become the lens most will carry on an adventure if they could only carry one lens." – Erick Urgiles
Photo by Erick Urgiles. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/2-sec., f/4, ISO 100
"I think it’s a brilliant lens overall, because now I truly have a single lens that will cover most of my landscape photography needs. It’s very well-built and balances perfectly on both full frame and APS-C bodies. I love its focal length coverage from ultra wide to standard, constant f/4 aperture and compactness. I’m a huge fan of f/4 lenses, and this is the best one yet!" – Mahesh Thapa
Photo by Mahesh Thapa. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/100-sec., f/8, ISO 100
"I took some nice portraits – sharp, very milky bokeh and great skin color. My favorite thing about it is having the 20mm focal length in a zoom. It's sharp and there's no distortion at 20mm. The AF motors and the 20mm focal length are the two best selling points of the lens." – Sal D'Alia
Photo by Sal D’Alia. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/160-sec., f/4, ISO 125
“One of the main standout aspects of the Sony 20-70mm for me was the extra range at the wide end, which allowed me to capture wide angle shots with a 20mm focal length. This was handy for capturing landscapes, cityscapes and other scenes with a wide angle of view. The AF motors were incredibly fast and responsive, making it easy for me to capture moving subjects. The lens was also sharp and provided excellent image quality throughout the focal range. The 9-blade circular aperture creates a soft bokeh which creates a nice background blur when capturing narrow depth of field images. The lens is well built and feels solid. It’s compact and lightweight making it easy to carry around and use in different situations and I found it to be very quiet for video recording.” – Jason Frankle
Photo by Jason Frankle. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 30-sec., f/5, ISO 100
“What stands out first and foremost about this lens is its compact size. In my opinion, the 20-70 is a travel-size companion that will be the workhorse lens that hybrid shooters have been waiting for.” – Stan Moniz
Photo by Stan Moniz. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G.
"I usually shoot my tight headshots on an 85mm lens or higher, but at 70mm I was surprised to see how well the compression of the image looked. There was a lot of detail in the raw file which is something that I like to see in my work." – Miguel Quiles
Photo by Miguel Quiles. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G.
“The 20-70mm range is incredible. I used to need two different lenses to capture such a wide range, but now I can use a single lens to capture tons of different perspectives wherever I am. I love that a lens this small packs such a big punch. As a photographer that’s constantly chasing light, it’s so valuable to me to be able to use a single lens to capture so many different perspectives rather than having to switch lenses when the light is perfect.” – Tiffany Nguyen
Photo by Tiffany Nguyen. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/320-sec., f/4, ISO 125
“The 20-70mm range combines two of my favorite focal ranges: 16-35mm and 24-70mm. I find that having 20mm on the wide end of this new lens is enough for me to take just one lens with me. I was surprised at how much wider 20mm is than 24mm. Originally, I wasn’t convinced 20-70mm would be much different than 24-70mm, but it really is, and made all the difference in getting some wide shots of buildings.” – Allison Anderson
Photo by Allison Anderson. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/200-sec., f/4, ISO 100
"It's still surprising to me that this lens really zooms in from 20-70! This extra wide range just gives me so many more photo possibilities. Although there is only 5mm of difference between the wide 20mm and 24mm (in the 24-70), this gives me an extra 10 degree angle of viewing difference. All in all, the perfect lens to start as it is highly economical for its wide range of usage. From videos to photography, the lightweight construction makes it a phenomenal day to day lens." – Erick Urgiles
Photo by Erick Urgiles. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/2-sec., f/4.5, ISO 100
"I used the Sony 20-70mm f/4 G lens on the Sony Alpha 7 IV. It's a very compact and lightweight zoom lens. It's sharp and there's no distortion at 20mm. It has great close focus, and the autofocus is smooth and always on point." – Sal D'Alia
Photo by Sal D’Alia. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/60-sec., f/4, ISO 125
“My single favorite thing about the Sony 20-70mm lens is its portable nature. The lens is lightweight and compact, making it easy to bring on the go in different environments without the need to pack a large camera bag. This is especially beneficial for travel photography, where I need to be mobile and ready to capture a variety of shots without the added burden of a heavy and bulky lens. It's great for capturing different types of shots without having to change lenses, this way I can focus more on the moment rather than on the gear and gear changes.” – Jason Frankle
Photo by Jason Frankle. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/125-sec., f/4, ISO 160
"For me the standout aspects of this lens were: 1. 20-70mm focal length. This is my new favorite hiking lens for my type of photography 2. Weather sealing. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I appreciate the ability to shoot this lens in the rain. 3. Compact/lightweight: When on long hiking trips, it’s a pleasure to carry. 4. Sharpness throughout focal range. The most versatile lens is worthless without good optics, and this lens is amazingly sharp!" – Mahesh Thapa
Photo by Mahesh Thapa. Sony Alpha 7C. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/13-sec., f/8, ISO 100
“For someone that travels for work a lot in the field of both photo and video, I'm always shifting gears and re-thinking the way I pack. What’s a must-have? What can I leave behind, and so on. This new standard zoom that extends into the ultra-wide end which will really help me out. That extra 4mm on the wide end is huge!” – Stan Moniz
Photo by Stan Moniz. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G.
"This lens is a game-changer for me. The 24-105 was my everyday walk-around lens for the longest time, but having a lens that starts at 20mm means that I can shoot wider shots for my videos which I prefer more than having the extra focal length." – Miguel Quiles
“The Sony 20-70mm lens will have a regular place in my kit moving forward. Its versatility in terms of focal length range, compact and lightweight design, and excellent image quality make it a powerful tool for capturing a wide range of subjects in different situations. It allows me to streamline my photography work, and the fast AF motors, and quiet operation make it a great choice for still photography and videography. It's a lens I can rely on to capture a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to portraits and detailed close-up shots, making it an essential part of my photography kit.” – Jason Frankle
Photo by Jason Frankle. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/100-sec., f/4, ISO 100
See more and order the new Sony 20-70mm f/4 G HERE.
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