Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

I had to return this lens because it was far too large for my NEX. Don't get me wrong though, the combination produced stunning photos that popped. Its just that the lens is heavy and removes the size advantage that you get with the NEX. However, if you dont mind the size and weight, it's the lens to go to. In the mean time, I will be sticking to primes.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

This lens is so sharp it amazes me every time I look through photos taken with it. The bokeh is very pleasing as well.

The lens is very heavy, but is to be expected. You will definitely get a good workout shooting with this all day!

Auto-focus is very fast and accurate, as would be expected from a 2.8 lens of this quality.

I see people complaining about the mixed use of plastic/metal here and there, but honestly it feels very good. The plastic is very high quality, and it helps keep the weight down from using an all-metal construction.

I would recommend this to anyone who can spend the extra money on it, very worth it!

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

I love this lens! I've been wanting to "step up my game" and I've finally done it by purchasing and using this lens. It's significantly increased the quality of my photos. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to upgrade, the price is worth it.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

This lens is a good enough reason to choose Sony as your DSLR system.
Yes, the weight will be a shocker regardless of how many times you will see it in the reviews. Fast lens are heavy and this one is especially front heavy, do not underestimate this statement. Standard neck straps are a waste of time; get a Black Rapid or a similar strap and then the weight is not an issue anymore.
Does the performance outweigh the weight? In my opinion, absolutely yes. The color rendering is truly beautiful and unique and the center focus is nothing short of breathtaking. I am glazing at many images I take realizing there is no real improvement I can gain at the PP stage of my RAW images, its near perfection out of the lens.
In my opinion, the outcome is close enough to dedicated great primes.
Corner sharpness is great. From my experience, the lens has a shallow DOF up to f4.5 or even f5 so as long as the objects are in the same plane you will start getting wonderful corners at a relatively wide aperture (4 and even wider).
Focus is blazingly fast, and I mean fast!
No product is perfect; flare could be better controlled.
You never know what the future will bring your way. You can buy APS-C Sony/Zeiss lenses that are slightly slower but are much cheaper. However; with Sony revolutionizing the FF market by bringing affordable top notch FF bodies this fast lens keeps all the options open although it comes at a price.
The build quality seems great but I haven't had It long enough to properly report about it. It is reasonable to assume that if there were issues they would surface by now at the relevant owners' forums.
By the nature of the zoom range (24-70) this unique top-notch lens is likely to be your most used lens, if you can live with the size and weight take the plunge.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

If you had to buy one lens in the Sony line up it would be this one. The best general lens in it's class. Nothing touches the image quality of the Zeiss 24-70 2.8. I've used this lens for 4 years and have taken more than amazing photo's with it. Took it on a trip to the Grand Canyon and WoW. Even dropped it while mounted on my A900 from shoulder height on concrete. Hit the ground, bent the filter and actually cracked the front glass element. My stomach was sick at the sight. Unbelievably, the lens still functioned perfectly and continued taking top notch photo's. Then the real test came. People speak of dust sealing, and outdoor use, but few actually know what this means. I've worked in Iraq for over a year and while here I've of course put this lens to use on my A900. I never actually brought the lens out into a sandstorm which occurs at least once a month, but would use it regularly. Now the thing is with Iraq you can look out across the horizon during the day and not really see the dust. Then you take a flashlight during the night with no change in weather, point it towards the sky, and it's like holding a "StarWars Light Saber". Millions of particles of dust. You don't see them during the day but realize at night exactly what your lungs and lens are constantly exposed to. Remember, I said this is during a normal day. NOT during a sandstorm. Well as I'd been using this lens on my second trip to Iraq after about 2 months of use I begin to notice a squeaking sound during the autofocusing. Not a pleasant sound when coming from a lens that's over $1500. It wasn't a week later after noticing this sound that the lens stopped focusing beyond 4 ft. I almost cried and rightfully should have. One thing that must be taken into account is the sealing. 1. the lens moves in and out changing length when adjusting focal length. 2. while doing so, and focusing there is a suction affect occurring pulling air into the cracks around the extending front portion of the lens. This will pull in dust. Dust that you can't see with you eye's. Excessive dust I believe will cause what has laid fate to my wonderful lens. Pictures I've taken with this lens are incredible. I currently own and use here in Iraq the Zeiss16-35 f2.8, Zeiss 24 f2.0, Zeiss 85 F1.4, Zeiss 135 f1.8, 50macro f2.8, and sigma 15 F2.8 fisheye on my A900. Notice the Primes listed. The 85, and the 50macro are the only ones that change actual size during focusing. I've now carefully cut and taped over every crack in every one of these lenses except the 50macro, which does not allowing me to use manual focus. So I now rely solo on autofocus and the MF hold buttons when shooting. So far so good with current lenses. Sadly the 24-70 zeiss is sitting in my locker as I await a conclusion on what to do with it. I hope there's a way to repair it. If not, I'm 100% going to buy it again so that I'll have the 16-35, 24-70, and the 70-200G to keep by my side at all times for any moment that arrises. I don't dare mail out my 70-200G f2.8 for the dust situation. Oh and I forgot to mention. I have the 16-35 out here, but it's not came out in dust yet. I'm not going to until I take vacation and it comes with me. I'm sticking to the primes while in this sandbox. Would I recomend the Zeiss 24-70. 100% worth every penny.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

I use this product to take child and family portraits. I love the sharp images it produces. It is also very quiet when you are using the autofocus. The only real con I have with this lens is the weight of it...it is pretty heavy. This is a great addition to my sony camera/lens collection!

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

sharp, fast lens. A little heavy, but image is superb.

I got this to use with Sony FS-100 and they have not yet worked out the a-mount to e-mount communication fully, so the iris jumps wide open, then closes as you open up. fine to adjust iris between shots, not while shooting video.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

The images you get from this lens are amazing! The lens performs better than expected. Color and sharpness are beautiful. Buttery smooth bokeh. Great build construction. (I would not call the weight of this lens a Con. Good glass is heavy. If you want this level of quality, the glass is going to be heavy.)

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

not much used but i'm happy about product as I know about Carl Zeiss technologies

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

Very fast, accurate, gentle.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

I bought this lens to replace a Sigma 28-70 zoom that was also a replacement for a Minolta zoom lens purchased with my first Maxxum 9000 back in the 80s. The Sigma was a good lens, but the zoom ring rotated opposite to every other lens I have ever owned and it was never as sharp as I had hoped for. This Sony/Zeiss lens is better than I had hoped for.

It's bright and sharp and the focus is very fast and very accurate on my KM 7D and Sony a900. I am able to easily get quick shots of moving subjects in bad lighting conditions with this lens. The Sigma would have hunted for a second or two in the same conditions.

As you've probably read, it is heavy and expensive. Something I did not expect was the vignetting that occurs with a polarizing filter attached. The corners darken heavily when zoomed out to 24mm with a thick filter like the polarizer. I suppose a UV/Haze filter might be okay, but if you stack two filters you will get some corner vignette. This is, of course, only on a full-frame camera like the a900. APS-C cameras have no such issues.

I now have three favorite lenses: Minolta 85mm/1.4 G, Minolta 70-200/2.8 G, and this lens.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

Used for nature photography.
So quiet I had to turn on the audio focus confirmation.
Focal length change smooth and doesn't change when tipped down.
Solidly built but not light.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

Solid piece of equipment, feels great on a850. Very fast and sharp!

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

The worse thing about this lens is that the exterior barrel is made of plastic, the sections between the rubber grips and the very last section. You can tap on it and hear the hollowness of the plastic, and you can feel the cold steel sections of the front of the barrel and also feel the blandness of the plastic of the rest of the barrel. Since when did anybody ever collect a PLASTIC lens???? The lens petal hood attachment is metal however, I would have no problem with the hood being plastic instead of the body. I would have paid a little more for a fully metal body too. Yes the lens is heavy, but to be honest, bigger IS better for image quality. I would have loved if this lens was 82mm instead of 77mm. So heavyness is not really a complaint. Another thing that is really annoying is that Sony has another Zeiss ZA lens in the 16-35mm range. So with this 24-70mm lens, there is dollars wastages in the overlapping 24-35mm range. why cant they make it 14-30 and 30-85 or so? Such a shame since I love all the zeiss lenses designated "Sonnar" for their low light enhancings. Aside from that, autofocus on this 2470z is very very very fast, and images are very sharp at a few stops above wide open.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

I use this lens as my primary go to lens. I find it to be an outstanding lens for landscape photography as well as portrait and everyday general shooting. I am thrilled with this lens on my Sony A900. The colors and crispness of each shot are truly breath taking.
The only downside is the lens is a bit heavy. I guess that's to be expected from so much high quality glass in a metal housing. I can honestly recommend this lens to anyone. You won't be disappointed.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

i selected this lens to use with my A900and A55. Very good range on the 900 but the wide angle performs as a normal lens on the A55. The lens is very sharp corner to corner on both camera bodies and I would recommend it for either one.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

Best Sony lens to buy.
Absolutely fantastic build.
Beautiful colors and fast silent AF.
This is a must have lens for APS-C or FF
I highly recommend this, its worth every penny.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

I'm an amateur photographer of 20+ years, starting with 35mm film and now enjoying the benefits of digital. My experience is based on owning Minolta and now Sony SLR/DSLR gear. I currently shoot with an a700 and a900 with various old and new lenses.

This lens is silent and fast focusing, but not lighting fast. Definitely faster than most of my screwmount zooms, especially the KM 28-75mm. Low-light focusing is very good with the a900 firmware v2.

Image color is slightly different than the older "Minolta" colors (not negative, just different), and contrast is better while still preserving shadow detail.

Vignetting is not a notable issue when compared to other Minolta/Sony lenses in this range. It's slight at f2.8 at full wide, but easily adjusted in PP if you wish.

My only knock on this lens, and it applies to all Sony/Minolta mount lenses, is the lack of any specific weather proofing/sealing. In a lens of this price/quality, it would be nice. However, users have reported subjecting this lens to very harsh weather and dust conditions without issues.

This is the best medium range zoom for the Sony mount at any price. Best bang for the buck, not really. However, if you can afford it, or your work demands the best zoom in this range, this is the real deal. You will not regret it.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

Feels front-heavy on A55 body.
Tripod mount ring would have been helpful.
Would rate 5-star for A850/900 use.

Comments about Sony SAL-2470Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Autofocus Lens:

Very clear and fast lens. Focus is fast, and works well in low light conditions.