20-70 f4 lens to be announced January 2023

[MrFotoFool]

This just up on SonyAlphaRumors: https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/rum...sharper-than-the-first-generation-24-70mm-gm/
Next week Sony will announce a new 20-70 f4 lens, which is reportedly sharper than the current 24-70 f4, in spite of having an extra 4mm reach on the wide end. Extending the wide end is hugely appealing to me. As I posted elsewhere I am having an internal debate about whether to get an A7rV to go all in with Sony or to get a Nikon Z9 (or wait for a rumored Z8) and go all in with Nikon Z. (Currently I am half Nikon F and half Sony E). This lens could sway me in the direction of Sony. I mean honestly I don't know when I have been this excited about a lens announcement.

 

[MrFotoFool]

When I first saw the announcement I thought it said sharper than 24-70 f4 (which I am sure it is). But re-reading it I see it actually says sharper than 24-70 f2.8 GM lens (version 1, but not necessarily version 2)! I so want this!

 

[Deleted Member 5045]

Looks pretty attractive. I'd certainly be happier to get the extra on the wide end over the long. Wouldn't be surprised if this is the same size as the 20mm G either.

 

[MrFotoFool]

I accidentally mistyped the thread title as 20-40 instead of 20-70. It is now corrected.

 

[Stormbringer]

That sounds like a great lens

 

[Deleted Member 5045]

And the GM II 16-35MM will be in close proximity too...

 

[MrFotoFool]

And the GM II 16-35MM will be in close proximity too...

If they shave weight off like they did with the GM II versions of the 24-70 and 70-200 that will make the decision harder. Does someone buy the 20-70 f4 and have one lens or buy a lightweight 16-35 AND 24-70 for two lenses but with a wider range and an f2.8 aperture? First World problems!

 

[Deleted Member 5045]

If they shave weight off like they did with the GM II versions of the 24-70 and 70-200 that will make the decision harder. Does someone buy the 20-70 f4 and have one lens or buy a lightweight 16-35 AND 24-70 for two lenses but with a wider range and an f2.8 aperture? First World problems!

I won't be upgrading, I like my version one just fine. But what I do know is that you definitely need to be able to go wider than 20mm when the situation calls.

Tell you another thing I have a bit of a pet hate for mate, aperture rings on zoom lenses. I love it on a prime because it makes it look a bit workman like, but on a zoom I think it looks cluttered and cheap, it makes it look like a kid designed it to me. What do you think of that?

 

[AlphaWorld]

I want to love this for the short end, but 70 is too limiting on the long. I've heard a rumor they plan to improve the 24-105, that's the more likely choice for me.

What I REALLY want is a 20/24/28-135.

There is already a 28-135mm, but it's a big lens (even at f/4). (It annoys me because it doesn't come with a lens cap.) It looks like it was designed for video use - has geared zoom and focus rings.

 

[AlphaWorld]

Like I said, it’s a big lens! Even bigger with its massive lens hood (has a huge rectangular opening that one could use as a matte box, I guess).

Your photo makes me remember the days when lens barrels were shiny black (painted metal), and focus and zoom rings were knurled. My Voigtlanders still are, but I don’t recall any of my Sony G or GM lenses being - all matte finishes and rubber.

 

[Cαscαdian]

Hopefully the 20-70 is well enough corrected that the post shot auto-fixes need not do much processing. I'm not a fan, but plenty of folks let such things slide. That's not a Sony slam, μ43 is as bad or worse when checking opticallimits' tests w/ no corrections.

 

[AlphaWorld]

I bought it sight unseen - imagine how I felt!

I still own it, but I don’t think I have used it for at least three years. I keep thinking “maybe I’ll use it for some video” - haven’t yet. It sits next to the Rode microphone I bought at a very good price 6 or 7 years ago

 

[AlphaWorld]

Yep, and it doesn’t come with a 95mm lens cap, either! All it has is a ginormous lens hood and a plastic cover that goes over the front of that. Yuck!

 

[AZHeaven]

What's confusing is the focal length. SAR has been saying it's a 24-70 f4. Now he wrote it's a 20-70 f4. Then changed back to 24-70. So can anyone confirm the focal length?! Also SAR is saying it's smaller than the 24-105 which is confusing in every way imho.

 

[MrFotoFool]

What's confusing is the focal length. SAR has been saying it's a 24-70 f4. Now he wrote it's a 20-70 f4. Then changed back to 24-70. So can anyone confirm the focal length?! Also SAR is saying it's smaller than the 24-105 which is confusing in every way imho.

I just looked and his latest post (today Jan 16) is I think a typographical error in the headline. It says 24-70 but if you read the body of the text it says 20-70. It is going to be 20-70 I am sure, the latest headline is a simple (but confusing) mistake. I will see if there is a way to contact them right now to change it.

 

[MrFotoFool]

SAR has now corrected the title to read 20-70.

 

[AlphaWorld]

I just looked and his latest post (today Jan 16) is I think a typographical error in the headline. It says 24-70 but if you read the body of the text it says 20-70. It is going to be 20-70 I am sure, the latest headline is a simple (but confusing) mistake. I will see if there is a way to contact them right now to change it.

No one can tell you true or false, because Sony's security is pretty good - you won't find someone on a forum who has inside knowledge. Heck, I don't expect SAR to know the truth, either, not since the Japanese source dried up.

 

[MrFotoFool]

The news of a third party autofocus lens is interesting, though I am generally hesitant to trust third party. Someone in the replies to the above announcement said they already saw it on DPreview with a price of $1100, but when I looked (both news and forums) I could not find anything. However it should be officially announced shortly.

 

[MrFotoFool]

It is officially announced just now. I was going to provide the link to SonyAlphaRumors, but it is taking too long to load on my computer, which means A LOT of people are looking at their site right now (other pages load instantly on my computer). When I got a brief glimpse at their overall page they also had a post stating DPreview unintentionally leaked it. B&H already has it as the top post on their main page: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/videos/photography/sony-20-70mm-f4

 

[MrFotoFool]

Specs on 20-70:
$1098 (USA price on B&H)
17.2 ounces (488 grams)
3.9 inch (99cm) long (presumably when not zoomed out)
72mm filter
constant f4 maximum aperture
physical aperture ring, can be set for continuous smooth or 1/3 stop clicks

 

[Matthias]

In their Instagram post on the 20-70mm f/4, they also mention a 300mm f/2.8 will be coming next year!
Link to Instagram - Sony Alpha

 

[MrFotoFool]

In their Instagram post on the 20-70mm f/4, they also mention a 300mm f/2.8 will be coming next year!
Link to Instagram - Sony Alpha

I have been wondering why no one makes a mirrorless 300 2.8 . Glad to see someone finally getting there.

 

[AlphaWorld]

It is officially announced just now. I was going to provide the link to SonyAlphaRumors, but it is taking too long to load on my computer, which means A LOT of people are looking at their site right now (other pages load instantly on my computer). When I got a brief glimpse at their overall page they also had a post stating DPreview unintentionally leaked it. B&H already has it as the top post on their main page: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/videos/photography/sony-20-70mm-f4

I’d link to a more reputable site than SAR - something like DPreview, perhaps. I don’t think SAR deserves the clicks these days.

I don’t know why, but I was expecting it to be cheaper - maybe because it’s constant f/4.