Sony 20-70mm F4 G Review

The Sony 20-70mm F4 G has an incredible useful zoom range, from ultra-wide to short telephoto. What if any compromises have been made to achieve this? Chris and Jordan went to Kananaskis to find out!
Music provided by BeatSuite.com
www.beatsuite.com
Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store
www.thecamerastore.com
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Design and handling
1:13 - Sample images
1:46 - Closeup performance
2:13 - Autofocus
2:25 - Flare and sunstars
2:52 - Video performance
4:06 - Bokeh
4:24 - Chromatic aberration
4:43 - Sharpness
5:32 - Conclusion
-----------------------
DPReview.com is the world's largest digital camera review website. Welcome to our KZbin channel! Subscribe for new feature videos, reviews, interviews and more.
Discover the world's most in-depth digital camera reviews at www.dpreview.com

[@Skipsul]

Love that you’re still weighing lenses in Nocts.

[@sgtLPH]

Please never change

[@briansmith8507]

Same!

[@mjsvitek]

The Noct was formally added to the metric standard in 2021

[@jeremytheoneofdestiny8691]

They finally reviewed a noct a few days ago!

[@Skipsul]

@@jeremytheoneofdestiny8691 And it weighed exactly 1 Noct. That's impressive.

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

Love that Sony is adding aperture rings on most of their new lenses

[@davidmarquesneves]

The best gear review channel! I suggest comparing the 20-70 f/4 with the 24-105 f/4!

[@future62]

A worthy and long overdue replacement for the less than good 24-70 F/4 ZA. Rumors said it would be $1700 so I am thoroughly impressed by the actual price and value. A real knockout.

[@zegzbrutal]

1100 USD

[@JeanV1986]

1600€ in Europe 😭

[@janwedek]

@@JeanV1986 yikes!

[@gong9901]

24 Million Canadian

[@mnkwazi]

@@gong9901 So true haha

[@winstonllamas5163]

You guys are great. Your reviews tend to cost me money though. In a good way. Keep up the great work!

[@jan-hendrikbussmann4644]

I know that feeling. Chris, Jordan and Dustin Abbott have cost me dearly.

[@zodiacmanan]

Excellent review. Could you please do a shoot-out of all the 24-105 lenses out there? Its a very useful range and most casual photographers would own this lens.

[@ShawnPBruce]

I have the Panasonic 20-60mm. I wish they would have made it a constant aperture. Props to Sony for putting this together.

[@Revan89]

This is a perfect travel lens

[@mightymikex]

Perfect for travel light for both stills and video, after 3 years of Pandemic. Thank you for the fresh review!

[@crimlarksSteve]

Always love your videos, guys. This lens sounds like a winner

[@pmc7105]

I like this trend of Sony re-doing lenses and making them lighter and higher quality. Hoping for them to re-do the 24-240mm to get my kit down to just two lenses (along with an ultrawide). Was a bit disappointed that they didn't push the wide end a bit more on the 16-35mm the recently re-did; plus, an ultra-wide going up to 35mm is a lot of wasted overlap with a lens like this or the 24-105mm. Hopefully they make something like Nikon's 14-30mm that takes filters.

[@harrison00xXx]

I dont see the overlap as too bad, i use a lot a 17-55 2.8 and a 28-135 3.5-5.6 (on APS-C), both lenses are somewhat compact (the 28-135 even more than the 17-55) and they are basically the lenses i use the most (beside wildlife where i use a 150-600 or 800mm prime) 28-135 give me mostly all i need plus a bit tele range especially in 4k60 crop mode on the R7 (390mm!) and the 17-55 2.8 is my regular, better kit lens if i really need wider angle or the 2.8 aperture/low light The 28-135 i use the most at the widest end with the possibility to zoom in a lot if needed, the 17-55 is pretty much used on every focal length, just the 55mm are more used sometimes as "nifty fifty replacement" since i sold the 50 1.8 already with the full frame camera. I mean sure, for people like you using and wanting some unattractive zoom lenses with very limited zoom range overlap is bad, but my main zoom lenses are all together at least a 3x, more towards 4-5x zoom factor and for anything else i have faster primes. Also, the overlap i see as real advantage (as having 2 lenses for the same purpose/focal length but totally different quality/price so the usecases can differ from a "i dont care lens" as the cheap 28-135 to a lens i better care about as the 17-55.

[@ValentinA-nx9wm]

I would always choose a 35mm over the 30mm. Doenst change so much with the weight and the 35mm can be very handy when you dont wanna change lenses

[@adamharika269]

I just want to point out another perspective about this review video production on that stunning view. I really like how Jordan is framing more on the landscape beauty in this video and Chris is focused his pictures on the details and unique angle just as a street photographer do and he did it best

[@lannncan]

Just wanted to thank you both for talking about the additional crop with all the compensations. It helps me see the picture (or video haha) more clearly to make a decision for my needs.

[@rng1160]

Would love a shootout with the 24 105 oss which shares many of the shortcomings and features. Also at this price the Tamron/sigma standard zooms are a real threat too

[@IanHobday]

Thanks for dropping the text review earlier today, letting us all see things a bit in advance! :D

[@benjamin5126]

I already have this lens since about 3 weeks and I love it! The only thing I miss is that camera manufacturers should cooperate more with Adobe (as Nikon seems to do so), since there is no distortion correction available for LR up to date. When a lens is designed to require correction it is really a must to have the profile in the most used editing softwares from day one.

[@xenonozhid3383]

Great review - very useful, thank you.

[@herrlehmann6855]

Your lense and camera reviews are allways definitly one of the 3 best ones on the internet in any aspect from the technical and practical view regarding the lenses itself but as well from the aspect of very nice entertainment! There are only Gordon Laing's and Christopher Frost's reviews on the same great level, these 3 channels are all I need to know about a new lense!

[@n3cph0en1x]

Don't forget Gerald Undone. Good to watch him too.

[@coreymullins]

This would be an incredible and a wise choice to package as a kit lens option for most Sony bodies. I love the 20-60 that came with the S5 (and now S5ii) but still has a variable aperture (but no focus breathing, as with most Pany lenses). Sony with another victory 😅

[@aldolega]

That's not really a direct comparison though- the Sony costs nearly twice what the Lumix lens does. Sony would be smart to do the 20-70 as a "premium kit" lens instead of the 24-105... same price bracket and most people will get a lot more use out of 20mm than 105mm.

[@BoxxyFan]

This isn't a budget 20-60 like the Panasonic

[@ErwinvanAsperen]

As a Fujifilm shooter I am quite jealous of this lens focal range, its just such a great range! @Fujifilm please make us something like a 14-50mm f2.8-f4 lens 😇

[@Nicole.Sisson]

Thank you for this video! I didn't get the chance to actually test out the lens but It was on one of the display cameras and I loved that it was super lightweight. Do you know if they are coming out with the G2 anytime soon?

[@cesarm8811]

Excellent review on this new lens.

[@OdiumTV]

The aperture ring is a really delicious addition

[@drzak0o1]

Perfect review and nice shots. One q - how much sharper would be the 24-70 f2.8 GM M2 (considering it's twice the price)? Also, there're some notes comparing it to the 24-70 2.8 M1 in terms of sharpness, would you estimate that would be accurate? THanks!

[@wtfnahmean]

Dear sony, it's time to make the 24-105 mark ii. Make it lighter, smaller, and DEFINITELY keep the OSS, it'd be the killer lens for general purpose video. I'm 100% buying it

[@thegorn]

Make it 20-105mm and get rid of OSS as IBIS is good enough now.

[@DrClumber]

I have a 20mm prime on my wish-list as I don't have anything wide angle yet. This may well replace it though as I don't have a zoom lens under 70 either... This would complement my favourite 35mm and 55mm Zeiss primes very nicely by adding in the 20mm focal length!

[@aus935]

I like the focal length, size and weight, but I really wish there was OSS and internal zoom for video

[@rgeorgek42]

Was surprised by the aperture controls on lens as well

[@MyBMAN69]

Great lens review, but I was pleasantly distracted by the beautiful video footage recorded from the Lumix S5 ll. Waiting with anticipation for my pre-ordered S5 ll to arrive by the end of Jan/Feb!

[@ChristopherMarshburn]

Love that this video was shot on the Panasonic S5 II 😊

[@ZaneSherif]

great review/lens/acid wash jeans!!

[@kimlog7476]

I'm still using my D810, but I must say Sony looks very tempting if I was to move to mirrorless. That's an intriguing lens from a landscape perspective.

[@briansmith8507]

Chris what bag is that? Looks nice!

[@noenken]

That's the one! That will be my only zoom. It does exactly everything I want and nothing more.

[@heathwirt8919]

This would be a perfect walk around lens, 20 MM on the wide end is perfect. 70 MM on the long end plus decent macro capability make it quite versatile. The size is just right but F4 is a bit on the slow side, the fact that the lens requires a significant amount of in camera distortion correction is a negative but the resulting images are really good. Overall a very desirable lens and a great addition to the Sony lens lineup.

[@jackryder6732]

How is for indoor video and pictures on sony a7iii. Great video

[@dirkstadil8621]

Great lens! I love 20mm and a 20-70mm... Very tempting! I don't shoot Sony, but this makes the system really interesting.

[@danny3303]

The intro shots are really nice, especially at 0:35 - what lens was paired with the S5 II to film that?

[@dpreview]

The opening talk was shot on the Panasonic 85mm F1.8. We also used the Panasonic 24mm F2.8 for several shots.

[@florinG]

I honestly love the 20mm angle there's been many times when I wished my 24 was wider.

[@steventhomas231]

Super versatile focal length. That extra 4mm at the wide end is really handy. I wish Nikon would think more outside the box and come up with something like this. Nice and light too.

[@lsaideOK]

Unfortunately, Nikon releasing a 20 to 70 standard zoom would now be inside the box!

[@ValentinA-nx9wm]

@@lsaideOK maybe a 18-50 oder somthing like this. Wider and less tele but same size and weight

[@lsaideOK]

@@ValentinA-nx9wm those are for crop sensor

[@ValentinA-nx9wm]

@@lsaideOK for FF it would be out of the box. That's what I meant

[@lsaideOK]

@@ValentinA-nx9wm but still wouldn't make sense as you would need to crop it to avoid the vignetting. Some ultra wides don't vignette on full frame at certain focal length

[@kerbyzhao]

Love this lens, traded my GMII for it. So light, so versatile, so sharp.

[@JohnDennery]

If I was just starting out I would go with this lens and the 35 1.8 and just be done with buying lenses. Looks like a really great option for people who prefer a simple kit and are happy with f4!

[@jimmysaul2899]

so what the 35 f1.8 is used for sir?

[@JohnDennery]

@@jimmysaul2899 for fun! The joy of a tiny, bright prime lens is not to be underestimated ☺ I'm happy with f4 MOST of the time but having the option to open to 1.8 definitely makes the kit feel more complete for me

[@DavidTwomey3]

Hey man! I’m about to purchase the 24mm f1.4 GM for landscape and Astro and now I’ve seen this video and your comment I’m thinking a bit too deep. Would I be wise to continue with the prime and add the lens in the video later on?

[@kmahsan]

What lens is used in video? S5 ii video is looking great.

[@ruff1draft]

Jordan is Enjoying the Panasonic S5 Mark ii

[@rerewewrwrwrw]

No testing of vignetting or distortion at 20mm?

[@HoomanBhr]

It perfectly matches for A7iv. it will fix 4k60 crop and active steadyshot at 20mm

[@SebastianWorldwide]

Great video, thank you very much! I have recently acquired the Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G lens. However, one thing is bothering me or rather I would like to clarify whether it is a general issue with this lens or whether it is a defect specifically with my lens. The lens makes a noise when focussing (with autofocus). By the way, the volume of the noise varies depending on the aperture setting. At f/4 the noise is very minimal, almost inaudible. From f/4.5, however, it is clearly audible. And the higher the aperture number (for example f/13), the longer it takes to focus and the longer the noise lasts. However, these differences are small. I am not yet familiar with focusing noises from lenses recently released by Sony. For example, the new Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G and the new Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II are 100% completely silent. The older Sony FE 18mm f/1.8 G, on the other hand, also makes the noise described above, if I remember correctly. Does your lens also make this noise? Many thanks in advance!

[@shaikhulud1989]

Terrific review, as always. My current 24-105 is always on my camera (it's so good!) but I'm seriously considering this lens for my second A6400. And even on my FF body, those 4mm and aperture ring sure are useful.

[@Xyronium]

20mm is not that wide on APS-C. I think Sony 18-105 f4 or Tamron 17-70 f2.8 will be much better as all around lens for APS-C cameras.

[@shaikhulud1989]

@@Xyronium It still something around 28-30 and I'll use this lens on my A7 III, so fine by me.

[@rng1160]

You can also consider 16 35 /4 g pz, which is meaningfully wider

[@fatherofximingze]

I have 24-105 and am quite satisfied with it. I'm not considering the switch as I do like the longer reach of 24-105 and more importantly, IBIS. I do have the 20mm F1.8 which is perfect for vlogging and landscape (even at night). 16-35 PZ appears to be a great option for 24-105 owners

[@nwmi23]

@@Xyronium the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 is also am excellent choice for APS-C.

[@classicboy97]

Does this have a smooth-tight switch like on the 24-70 gm ii?

[@63MacGuy]

I want it for my A7iv when shooting 60p and for the FX-30

[@woodiemoore]

I'd love to see a head to head between the Sony 20-70mm and the Tamron 28-75mm.

[@stevenguzy570]

I don't quite understand the loss at the wide end, from 20mm to 24mm. Is that with just video when using IBIS? Can you explain that to me in a little more detail? Thanks!!!

[@richarddenise3886]

Good job!

[@실망한중대장]

Is this top of top Travel lense???

[@lorenzo4262]

and in comparison (in the focal range) with tamron 20-40 f/2.8?

[@ziginox]

Oh damn, that's less than I paid for my APS-C 2.8/16-55 G! Maybe it's time to step up to full frame, after all... The decision between this and the 24-105 is going to be very tough.

[@tsizzle]

This or the Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8? Which one would you choose?

[@wc9760]

How would you rate this vs the Tamron 20-40mm?

[@bwest6275]

I like that Sony is producing more unique lens designs. I just wish they would incorporate OSS to all lenses moving forward. I don't mind paying more, as it will make these lenses even more desirable for cinema work with an FX series camera such as the FX6 that I use. This would almost be perfect for a standard "compact" cinema lens. I will have to wait for the 24-105 F4 II OSS which hopefully comes out soon.

[@loro.h9612]

What is wrong with the existing 24-105 OSS? It is a very versatile and decent lens in my opinion.

[@Peterogen]

Thank you :)

[@nikoforu]

Cool lens.

[@ytr8989]

Do they make one like that for Nikon?

[@MeAMuse]

definitely interesting, but I think I would choose either a 24-105, or a 24-70 F2.8 over this.

[@yokken]

Ohhhh man! Sony has been reading my Fujirumors comments! I've been wanting a 20-50mm f/2.8 (FF) for quite some time as an ultrawide to short telephoto. It could replace a 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm lens. If Sony had a higher megapixel 4K120 body that wasn't the A1, I'd very heavily consider jumping ship to Sony. I guess I just need to wait for Fuji (or Canon...!) to follow suit. Very excellent work here Sony!!

[@Alesscamera]

Ultimate Travel, landscape and vloger lens

[@DavidDatura]

Other reviewers of this lens have showed that with electronic lens compensation switched off, there’s a heck of a lot of vignetting and distortion at 20mm.

[@pointzerophoto]

then...don't turn it off? Modern lenses are built this way, it's just one of the variables that allows the balance of smaller, lighter lenses

[@ying20000818]

Ouchie, was literally about to shift my Sigma 28-70 2.8 for a tamron 20-40 2.8 but now having second thoughts 😅 Sell off my sigma 28-70 and 24-105 for this? Tempting...very tempting...

[@narendrabhongale4509]

What about zoom extends lense and that's not good for video on gimbal.

[@aldolega]

DAT S5II COLOR

[@mrmdpgh]

Looks like a nice lens but seems too short for useful macro. For my personal shooting style a 24 - 120 is more useful than a little bit more on the wide end. For some it may be a selling point. I was wondering about focus breathing with this lens?

[@80-80.]

It breathes a lot at the wide end and not too much at 70 mm, unlike the excellent breathing controlled, stabilized 24-105.

[@mrmdpgh]

@@80-80. I thought that would be the case. Thanks.

[@markymarkreviews]

Been with Sony since 2014 and the A7R which I still own but hardly use. Now have the A7R3. The 24-70 /f4 Sony Zeiss I bought it with was one of the worst lenses that I have ever owned at any price and was a massive disappointment although its handling was excellent. (Compact and well balanced on the A7R body).This new 20-70/f4 has superseded that lens once and for all! And on the latest high megapixel bodies makes the otherwise excellent 24-105 a hard sell as bigger, heavier, and probably not quite as sharp. Any loss at the top end can be sorted by a mild crop after the event with this lens. Just missing OSS which is not really needed on something like the A7RV and any forthcoming Sony bodies.

[@bernieemmons3973]

As much as I'd like to have this 20-70 lens, I recently purchased a new 24-70 f/4 ZA for around half the cost of the 20-70. I know the world thinks the 24-70 f/4 a terrible lens, but mine is pretty good !! Distortion at 24mm needs to be corrected in post, and 70mm f/22 is soft. But the range of f/5.6 through f/16 is very sharp at all focal lengths. It is what it is.

[@charruaporelmundo]

70 at f22?…when will you use a lens at f22?

[@jlwilliams]

So here we see Chris striding down snowy trails, crouching behind his tripod in a river, etc. and yet by the end of the segment his clothes and shoes are still perfectly clean and dry. Just some Canadian knack?

[@TMM6900]

Dam. Now that's interesting

[@lsaideOK]

24 mm is a great focal length for full frame. But, the problem is that many zoom lenses are not at their best at the widest focal length. In this case, 24 mm is enough beyond 20 mm so that barrel distortion and other issues may have disappeared. One might say it is an ideal 24 to 70 lens.

[@HamidReza-qh4fw]

the focal length is awesome if the aperture was 2.8 it would be great

[@Reno_T]

Really cool... until I saw the price here in Belgium/France 1600€ 😱

[@Someone-lc6dc]

I wonder… what’s a better combination… Sony G 20mm + Tamron 28-75 + Sony GM 70-200… or… Just this F4 plus the GM?

[@ZekeWeeks]

The two deciding factors for me would be “what portion of my time is spent around 30-70mm” - where f/2.8 has a fundamental advantage - and “do I mind carrying 3 lenses and swapping them to go wider than 28mm?” I think this lens is the better fit for landscape photogs and video-biased shooters. For more all-around work I think more is possible with f/2.8 zooms.

[@ASMROW]

What's the point if not fast? Any lens can be made at f4.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Small, light, good focal range🤷‍♂️ if it was 2.8 it would be twice the price.

[@Riskbreaker2009]

Sony 20-70 f4 G vs Nikkor Z 24-120 f4 S?

[@TerminatoR99]

epic lens o.o

[@pilarpsp127]

Canon RF where are you with a lens like this...

[@loldart]

Solid offering. I already have 24-70mm f2.8 GM mkii and the A7rV. Honestly if I didn't have the mkii this would be one of my top picks for single lenses travel.

[@unclefart5527]

Anything that saves you changing lenses is a big plus related to sensor contamination.

[@loldart]

100% agree! Like if I was doing events the 24-70mm f2.8 with a second body holding the 70-200mm(or 16-35mm f2.8) For travel an A7riii(or A7rV) with the 20-70mm f4 just seems perfect. Would be a fun walk around the city kind of lenses.

[@mjsvitek]

WoahWoahWoahWoahWoah ..... This is exactly what I've been asking for for years now. A 24-70 but wider on the short end. Maybe a 70-300mm f/4 in the future to pair it with???

[@dylandigby1776]

Certified Sony Moment

[@CoffeeScribe]

I liked that squirrel.

[@Rafaelinux]

Love the focal range!, would've accepted a bit more bulk for a F2.8 or at least F3.5. It'd do wonders for quick music videos!

[@BoxxyFan]

If bulk and size isnt an issue then that option already exist: 16-35/2.8 and 24-70/2.8

[@lenneavy]

I feel the DPRev content lost the slow pace lately. There's still the Jordan/Chris exceptional quality, I just wonder why it happened.

[@jbradford721]

NOCT??

[@hugoparente1908]

It is interesting for those who want to replace the old and bad zeiss 24-70 f4. Personally, I would like Sony to also turn to the ultra wide market with an F4 aperture or even more closed, something like the Laowa 12-24 F5.6...

[@zuberaspirit]

Is it my imagination or is at 70mm the f/4 sharper then the f/8 in the picture of the centre?

[@TechnoBabble]

It's certainly possible, most high end modern lenses are their sharpest in the center at ~f4 and then it slowly get worse from diffraction, usually not noticeable unless on high resolution cameras.

[@nikoolix]

@@TechnoBabble The difference is so small that it's within error of extremely small misfocus. So there's practically no difference.

[@RogerOThornhill]

It looks like a terrific lens but would anyone else feel limited by an f4 in situations where they'd want a zoom? A lot of the times I want a zoom are also the times I need the most generous F stop I can get.

[@dwightsbeetfarms3611]

Just bought 24-70 GM 2 🥲

[@robertcroll6546]

Once the dust settles, the GM is way better. f2 v f4 straight up means no noise ISO. GM resolution... Enjoy

[@SourPlanet]

This lens is putting me in a tough place. I have the 24-105 and love it... but I feel like I might be able to get away with 20 for my wide end. So I could ditch my 16-35 and my 24-105, and whittle my kit down to 20-70 + 70-200. It feels very conveniently placed. 20 is absolutely not 16 tho, and 70 is not 105 lol. Damn you Sony, and your plethora of great options. Make a junky lens so choosing is easy.

[@thedavidbrother2]

Deep riverview TV . :)

[@CoachNation]

The Sony 20-70mm F4 is an intriguing lens as to zoom range, but I'd rather have something at F2.8 or even a little faster. I'm on the hunt for a new lens for my A7R5 that fits in and adds to other lenses I have that this 20-70 touches upon. Among lenses I have in this range are the 20mm F2.8 Minolta A-mount lens via various Sony converters, various primes in the range under discussion (35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 55mm, 75mm) and the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 and Tamron 28-27mm e mounts. Am leaning to complete the Tamron trinity and maybe go for the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8. Or maybe something better (faster) than the Sigma 24-105 Canon mount adapted by the Sigma MC-11 converter. It's the F4 that stops me regarding the Sony 20-70mm.

[@lippylee947]

woooot

[@Lalvarez1223]

This gives the Tamron 28-200 a run for its money, but not for double the price!!

[@Battlem0nk]

Bought a 28-200 couple weeks ago for an upcoming trip. Haven't used it yet and conflicted to return or not as 20-70 is so tempting. Lose the reach but much wider.

[@OkwyUgonweze]

I think I prefer tamron 20-640 2.8.

[@dormeoromeo]

In Germany it is 1600 Euro!!!