Sony 12-24mm F4 G Long Term Review | SUPER Ultra Wide Hidden Gem

[@azvisuals]

Let me know your thoughts on this lens and if you guys have any questions! Should I make a comparison video between the 12-24 G and Tamron 17-28?

[@jrprophotography5961]

A comparison with the Tamron 17-28 and the Sigma 14-24 2.8 DG DN will be a very great help. Apparently the Sigma has a very impressive sharpness corner to corner and cheaper and can use rear filter.

[@nosignal7156]

At 5:15 I actually love this type of circular flare this lens produces. A comparison with the Tamron sounds good, but if the Tamron can't produce the same type of flare as this one, then I will go for the Sony G lens.

[@davidkatsmam]

Please make a comparison!

[@criticaltinker]

I own this lens. It's my workhorse for real estate photography.

[@azvisuals]

That's awesome! Glad there are others who also love it

[@XricheeX]

This is a comment i was looking for! I’m considering this lens but I have two other lenses one is a g and the other is a gm. The gm is much better imo but the 12-24 gm 2.8 is way out of my budged (im considering this lens for real estate too btw)

[@davidkatsmam]

I also own this lens. This is the best ultrawide I have used so far. Light and balanced enought to use on gimbals. Really usefull for indoor architecture photography and creative landscapes shots.

[@Thomas-hj8kj]

Just ordered it yesterday, cant wait to start shooting with it.

[@azvisuals]

Nice! This lens always gives such a unique look at 12mm

[@andrewpolloni1080]

Been after one of these for a while, found a used mint version, over the moon with it. Contemplated the 2.8, just didn't want to lug almost a kilo of glass around, this f4 version is brilliant. Being light, it stays in the bag and is used more than I ever imagined, love it.

[@josephjohn3560]

This lens it's on my to get list, thanks for the review.

[@azvisuals]

No problem! Hope you enjoy it 🙂

[@vintagevic4593]

I have this lens. I love it. It is my daily walk around lens. Stopped using the 16-35 after I got it.

[@azvisuals]

Nice! Thanks for your feedback. I rarely ever see anyone else with it. Do you miss the reach of 35mm?

[@thewildernesshiker-howtose4438]

I love that lens. My best photos are with that lens. Thanks. I use it for KZbin videos as well as photography. There is so much that can be done with video from this. Crop, zoom, and pan in post.

[@azvisuals]

Hey thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree it is a great and versatile lens that gets overlooked for the 16-35. 12mm is simply magical and while it's not for every day shooting, it's awesome to have that as an option and not be limited by 16mm

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thank you for this video. Took this lens in trade because I wanted to give it a try but really haven’t spent real time with it yet. Your video renewed my interest. Take care.

[@ParkerHarrington]

Thanks for the great review, I saw one pop up on Craigslist and was contemplating buying it. I think this looks like it'll be perfect for real estate photography. After watching this review, I'm sold.

[@azvisuals]

Write nice! I think it'll work great for real estate and bonus if you're getting a good deal

[@JoseHernandez-ir2sm]

I own this lens and I am very happy; it is a great one since I notice sharpness across the entire frame and zoom range. Tempted to go for the new f 2.8 but reviews have mentioned quality variability among them and being send back. Also the size and weight of the new lens are a disadvantage for travel photography. The rear filter mount is also a gimmick that a few will use, so decided to keep the f4 12-24mm Sony. The f 2.8 version is already dropping in price telling me that is not selling well.

[@azvisuals]

Thanks for adding your experience! I too was tempted by the new 2.8 version but it just costs way too much and it's too big and heavy like you said. 12mm is still special and it is so wide that 2.8 won't really matter. Just pump up the ISO a bit and that is fine with me!

[@Eddie896182]

I just picked one up and look forward to using it after watching your review.

[@azvisuals]

Nice! It's really an underrated gem of a lens.

[@duongho1903]

Thanks for your review. I’m considering this 12-24g lens for video or vlog. Do you think it’s a must to use variable ND instead of the rear fixed-stop ND, for video shooting?

[@the.sigma.artist]

Compared to the Sigma 14mm-24mm f/2.8? Are they similar in performance?

[@3flyte_3flyte]

I always thought it was underrated. I have one and it surprises me every time i use it. As far as vignetting goes, a good software to use is Photolab. It handles vignetting very well

[@azvisuals]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I def don't use it as often as I would like, but like you said every time I do I am just amazing with the rendering and that 12mm POV is special

[@pcphotography9108]

Just picked this lens up in a trade for my GM 100mm 2.8 STF. Excited to take it around during my trip this memorial weekend.

[@AristeidisSfakianos]

I am thinking of the 16-35 G master and to be fair I didn't even have this one in mind. Have you tried it for vlogging? Is it usable?

[@azvisuals]

Yes I actually had the 16-35GM and sold it for the Tamron 17-28. The 12-24 was just too good for the 12-14mm range. It could work for vlogging but you only get to 24mm which might still be too wide sometimes if you want to zoom in on certain shots.

[@thebeardedgeordiephotography]

im debating the lens for astro and wold like to know what others have had in the way of results

[@azvisuals]

Maybe the 12-24 2.8 GM is better suited for astro but it costs considerably more

[@thebeardedgeordiephotography]

Yeah and budget is a factor for me.

[@nikonalpharand]

Getting this week, luv your review. cant wait to try this out on some planned locations with A7RIV

[@azvisuals]

That is a killer combo!! You will love it.

[@IVENtures]

Thanks for the review gonna buy this one

[@Symptomix]

12mm is just so more fascinating or unusual than 16mm so of course i want that. bought it used yesterday and sold my sigma 16-28 2.8 for a few bucks less. this sony is also sharper, i love it. dont think many people need the 2.8. i shot a lot wide open when i started photography but now i care about lighting and composition more.

[@Poramgrapher]

Compare this with sony 12-24 f2.8 g master

[@lindonpaul9140]

I second that request! Would love to see a comparison...I love the 12-24 f2.8 but don’t think I can afford it 😭

[@aroubin]

What do you think about the new Sigma 14-24 f2.8 DG DN vs this lens?

[@azvisuals]

I think it's a great middle ground between the 12-24 G and Tamron 17-28. I'll have to double check the specs but I think it's much heavier than both, so I'd much rather have a lighter compact travel kit. I also have no issues with image quality and sharpness from any of the lenses so Sigmas rep for superior image quality is also not a huge selling factor. It may be worth it for someone who doesn't have a super ultra wide yet and doesn't need the 12mm

[@Creative7inc]

Awesome tutorial Alex! Great to see your thoughts on it after using for a good amount of time

[@azvisuals]

Hey man, thanks a lot. I'm happy you liked it!

[@siddharthreddy8868]

Alex, can we use back filters on f4 lens just like GM lens?

[@azvisuals]

Good question! Unfortunately not. They didn't put that feature in the f4 version.

[@mruthulviswanath5234]

This lens use for ronin SC 2 with a7s3?

[@azvisuals]

Yep it should work! The lens is pretty light and compact

[@eViperRabbit]

Do you use the 77mm filter hack that you mentioned briefly in your video? If so, how does it work?

[@azvisuals]

I do! It helps to get long exposures and works pretty well. I didn't show it because it looks really ugly but I am able to use 14mm with slight vignetting and clears up by 16mm. It depends on how thick the filter is, and how thick the "padding" tape is.

[@eViperRabbit]

@@azvisuals Thanks for the prompt reply. Can you show pictures of the filter hack?

[@azvisuals]

@@eViperRabbit yeah sure, I will take some photos when I get home. I will also make a video about it and will be released early next week :)

[@azvisuals]

@@eViperRabbit hey check out these photos! imgur.com/a/tYGqASY You can see the tape around the edge of the 77mm filter. I did a poor job but you can make it a lot cleaner. It tucks right into the lens hood of the 12-24mm And doesn't fall out even upside down.

[@Schroeder3000]

@@azvisuals you can get rear filters for the 12-24 g from Haida kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZiQgpqFr7dsncU&ab_channel=HaidaFilters

[@rickevertsz]

My favourite lens until recently, when I got the Sony 24mm f1.4, but the f1.4 lens is still in its honeymoon period, so who knows? With video at 12mm, you have to move slowly even on a gimbal to avoid a weird jello effect on the edges. Not surprising I guess; it's so wide that the movement on the edges is really magnified.

[@azvisuals]

Yes you are right at 12mm certain movements are magnified but I find that it's pretty stable overall and looks stabilized even if it's not. Wow, the 24 is one hell of a lens! It is on my list but I feel like the focal length is in a weird spot where it's too wide for some shots yet not wide enough for others. Do you find yourself shooting with it often?

[@davefarmer8775]

I bought this lens along with the 24-105/4 when I got the A7iii. It's by far the best ultra wide I've had, and very small and light for its specs. I love it, but I do wonder if I may have been better off with a 12mm prime (Laowa for instance?) as I use the 24-105 down to 24 and tend to use this lens mostly at 12mm for the exaggerated perspective.

[@krishnacheran7510]

Does it crop on 4k???

[@azvisuals]

It depends on your camera, not the lens. You should be able to get the full 12mm wide perspective if your camera can record 4k no crop

[@krishnacheran7510]

@@azvisuals myne is Riii sir

[@azvisuals]

@@krishnacheran7510 a7riii has 1.5x crop in 4k so this lens will be roughly effective to 18-36mm

[@krishnacheran7510]

@@azvisuals tq sooooo much siir :))

[@Tarkinx]

Do you advise this lens for interior photography ? Or should i get the 16-35 f/4 ? I‘ve seen some guys using this lens in crop mode to get a 18-36 mm if needed. It looks very appealing to me with 18MP of the crop mode on A7Riii. The aperture is not a problem because you shoot always between f/7.1 and f/13

[@azvisuals]

If you have the money, this is the lens I would go for. Like you said, the versatility of basically having 2 lenses on the camera at once is amazing! The 16-35 F4 I had was also pretty soft so I sold that quickly and my copy of the 12-24 is super sharp. There is also the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 to consider.

[@Tarkinx]

Alex Zhang thanks for your answer Alex ! I have the 24-105 f/4 G, so I think they complement each other ! The Tamron looks also good :-)

[@azvisuals]

@@Tarkinx Oh yeah! Then the 12-24mm is a no brainer. Those 2 lenses will make a killer minimal travel kit that gets you 12-157mm on the A7R series.

[@Tarkinx]

Alex Zhang yes 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@nerdyandy3101]

You'll know the answer when shooting a narrow bathroom… In most cases you can get away with 14mm, and I hear the new Sigma 14-24/2.8 for hybrid is a winner, but forget about 16mm ! 12mm will give you the edge in those cases. Distorsion and wigneting are there, but nothing one cannot fix. The Samyang 14mm/2.8 is a great value for price but moustache distorsion makes you suffer. Not so with the Sony !

[@arthurgphotography]

I have this and the Laowa 12mm "Zero-D" f2.8 lens whch has nearly zero distortion, sharp edge-to-edge, and brighter. It However lacks the zoom range and is manual focus only. Considering selling my copy of the 12-24. Have you tried the Laowa?

[@azvisuals]

I have not tried that lens, but I always hear good things a bout their Zero-D line. If the Laowa fits your shooting style, I would sell the 12-24 because theres tons of really great 24mm primes as well!

[@arthurgphotography]

@@azvisuals I own the 24 1.4 gm as well

[@azvisuals]

@@arthurgphotography Wow nice! Then I think you should be covered there. I am saving up for the 35 gm since I dont shoot at 24 too often.

[@arthurgphotography]

@@azvisuals I have the 35, severe focus breathing but razor sharp and creamy bokeh. For video work the 1.8 might be better as it does not have the focus breathing issue.

[@azvisuals]

@@arthurgphotography good to know. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@howardhdavidson]

One of the few Sony lenses I’m not disappointed with.

[@azvisuals]

Which ones are you disappointed in? I find most of them to be decent with some stronger offerings in the GM line

[@gardenst4398]

How does it compare to 20mm f1.8 for low light examples like inside hotels, church, cafe, bar etc. Please make a video on it & at what iso..it would be really helpful.

[@azvisuals]

F4 vs F1.8 the F1.8 will let in much more light so that is the one you want for low light. However, it doesn't go nearly as wide so there is always a tradeoff.

[@rickevertsz]

Perhaps my favourite lens. 24mm f1.4 GM is a tie. Quality is up there, but what I love most is the form factor. So small and light, yet optically more than adequate for what I shoot (A7siii).

[@azvisuals]

Yes!! The 24 is also amazing. And it still blows my mind how sony was able to create a 12-24 lens this light

[@Sakriya1999]

Thanks for info

[@azvisuals]

No problem! Thanks for watching

[@jojos-yt-adventures]

How does it look in super 35 or with clear zoom around 35mm? Is It usable? Thinking to get the tamron 17-28(so I can use it even as a 35)but this 12mm seems tasty too, nice vid gg

[@azvisuals]

It depends which camera you are using. For video, it works great in APSC crop and I often crop a lot of my photos in post for a better composition.

[@jojos-yt-adventures]

@@azvisuals a7iii, most of the time for videos 🤟 thanks

[@alanwaggitt8566]

how do add 100mm square filters to this lens

[@JeanMarcLavoie]

What do you think about this lens vs. the Sigma 14-24 f/2.8?

[@deepankarrai3384]

Hi! A beginner interior and architecture photographer this side. Just bought this lens today on a 25% Discount for $1364. Thanks for the guide.

[@azvisuals]

That's a great deal! Definitely underrated lens but great for architecture

[@azvisuals]

That's a great deal! Definitely underrated lens but great for architecture

[@siddharthreddy8868]

Can F4 work at night? I have 2 choices, Sigma 14-24mm, pro f28, corn weight Sony 12-24mm, pro weight and 12mm reach, corn f4 Please suggest

[@azvisuals]

Great question. I shoot with a7iii and a7riv and bump up the ISO and don't mind the noise at all. So F4 at night is fine for me. Ideally I'd like 2.8 but with how small and compact the 12-14 is, I'd chose that over the heavier and bigger sigma. I like to keep my kit light.

[@TheSilverbravo]

If you dont use the 12mm the sigma was tested sharper than the 12mm-24mm f2.8 . I have the 12mm-24mm f4 and its great. for night is best to use a f2.8 , the sigma 14-24 f2.8 its the Best all around and the price is half the price of the sony 12-24 f2.8.

[@ChenteTV1959]

JUST GOT THIS LENS SATURDAY

[@JapanLovers]

I dont mind pin cushion distortion but i hate the “Gopro” distortion. You made some good points and have got some great pics with it 👌

[@azvisuals]

I didn't do a good job of showing examples of the rectilinear views. The distortion is a lot better controlled compared to gopros. But can't deny that the perspective is indeed unique. Even the new iPhone 11s are adding a 13mm lens!

[@JapanLovers]

@@azvisuals Yeh really keen to check that wide angle lens on the iPhone 11. This video has inspired me so thanks brother! I've just purchased the new 18mm Samyang prime & it's in the mail. Tune in for the review :)

[@azvisuals]

@@JapanLovers oo awesome! Looking forward to that 😊

[@TheJohnnyBAkilla]

I'd love to see this compared to the new Sigma. Even throw in that Tamron 17-28 since the price range is closer.

[@azvisuals]

Yep that would be an interesting comparison. If I can get my hands on the Sigma I will try to do a comparison!

[@dallasprince8315]

This is the last lens in my buy list of 24-240, 50 f1.8 and 200-600

[@azvisuals]

Nice gear list! You will be set from 12mm-600mm!

[@Tonellacam]

I was going to buy this but not having an easy nd filter is annoying !!

[@riparianlife97701]

It's hard for me to justify buying the GM, and I don't see f2.8 being worth almost twice as much. I love shooting architecture, but my 24-70 GM2 isn't anywhere near wide enough, and I'm always crashed against that 24mm stop.

[@azvisuals]

Agree, 2.8 isn't really that necessary for wide lenses since higher ISOs are pretty clean on modern bodies. F4 should be more than enough for architecture and usually you would probably want to stop down anyway

[@riparianlife97701]

@@azvisuals I got to put the 12-24 f4 on my camera in Mexico City this week. I was amazed at how little distortion there was at 12mm.

[@azvisuals]

Yeah it really is a underrated gem! Often gets overlooked

[@georgeesho]

I have this lens, this is the best ultrawide I have used, I stopped using the 16-35 after I got it.

[@jmackultra]

I'm thinking about buying this for 900 or saving a little more and getting the Sigma 14-24 f2.8

[@azvisuals]

Sigma is much heavier, but the 2.8 will def help in low light. Depends on what your needs are!

[@Savannacabana]

I'm considering buying it for real estate photography but that price range, ouch.

[@azvisuals]

Check out the tamron 17-28. I also have a review on it. It's not as wide as 12mm, but much cheaper and 17mm is still plenty wide!

[@roccofalzone9369]

Anyone use this for RE video? Does it need to be rebalanced on the gimbal for different focal lengths?

[@azvisuals]

No the weight doesn't shift that much to need rebalancing. However keep in mind there's no filter thread for video

[@damianbereza6901]

Let me know if you use it for interior photography.

[@azvisuals]

Yep it's great for interiors! Just use a tripod and mind the perspective distortion

[@damianbereza6901]

@@azvisuals Thanks:D

[@techsavvyre4208]

Like many here in the comments I own this lens for real estate photography and video. It's super sharp and although I do tweak in Lightroom you can produce beautiful shots without any post at all. I am definitely looking to get more creative with some street photography soon.

[@azvisuals]

Nice! Thanks for adding your experience. Seems like you can't go wrong with this lens

[@elvispresley2542]

Bought it today

[@azvisuals]

Awesome!! Enjoy it

[@dankuettel5063]

My Rokinon sucks in comparison to this one. Im getting the G Master as soon as possible

[@azvisuals]

Damn that sucks. But the G Master is going to be an awesome upgrade!

[@mihimarugt520]

This lens would be perfect if the minimum focusing distance is improved, and the close focusing capability is increased.

[@nikibilson1646]

$1,700, I wish it was g Master. Thanks

[@azvisuals]

Honestly there is nothing about this lens that isn't G-Master quality. This is one of the lightest zoom lenses in this focal range. 12mm is INSANE!

[@PhotoTrekr]

I have a Sony 16-35mm GM. But, I'd like to go wider just for fun. But, I can't decide on a lens. I tried the 12-24mm G, but the lens flare is horrible. The 12-24mm GM is extremely expensive. And the Sigma 14-24mm isn't much wider than 16mm. Right now I'm thinking about the 12-24mm G until the 12-24mm GM comes down in price.