The Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G Lensoffers a bright, expansive maximum aperture within a compact and portable design, making it an adaptable mid-range zoom lens ideal for daily use. Its exceptional image quality enhances the experience for both still and video photographers, delivering high resolution and pleasing bokeh effects.

Image Quality and Optical Design

This zoom lens incorporates 16 elements organized into 13 groups, with optics meticulously optimized to enhance resolution, clarity, and bokeh quality. The constant f/2.8 aperture enables users to capture images effectively in low-light environments while achieving a shallow depth of field. Coupled with its 11-blade circular aperture, the lens produces a large and aesthetically pleasing bokeh effect.

To mitigate spherical aberrations and distortion, four aspherical elements are included, which also help to minimize the occurrence of ‘onion ring’ bokeh. Additionally, two extra-low dispersion elements are employed to significantly reduce chromatic aberrations and color fringing, thereby improving overall clarity and color accuracy. The lens also excels in close-up photography, featuring a minimum focusing distance of 7.1 inches and a maximum magnification of 0.33x.

Autofocus

The newly designed focusing system offers several advantages, including quicker focusing performance, enhanced capabilities for close-up photography, and greater control. The linear motors within the autofocus system play a crucial role in achieving superior focusing performance, resulting in autofocus that is not only faster and quieter but also more accurate, making it suitable for both video and still images. The improved autofocus allows for better tracking of fast-moving subjects, with support for shooting at rates of up to 120 frames per second with the Sony a9 III. Full autofocus functionality is preserved even when the aperture is stopped down, and focus tracking remains effective during slow-motion recording at 4K 120p and Full HD 240p.

Improved Control and Video Capabilities

The evolution of camera design has increasingly catered to the preferences of both photographers and videographers, and this lens has similarly been enhanced with features tailored to the requirements of video professionals. It offers support for Dynamic/Active Mode image stabilization in compatible camera models. Additionally, it includes the Breathing Compensation function for select cine-line and Alpha cameras. The manual aperture ring can be modified for silent operation, and the smoothness of the zoom can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of torque.

Compact, Lightweight, and Robust Design

The lens features a bright maximum aperture of f/2.8, combined with a compact and lightweight design, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. It is also constructed to be weather-sealed and durable, allowing for reliable performance in challenging environments. Equipped with a manual aperture ring, users can achieve precise exposure control. This ring can be adjusted to allow for smooth and silent adjustments of the iris or can be locked in the ‘A’ position for automatic aperture control via the camera. Additionally, the lens includes a programmable focus hold button and a focus mode switch, facilitating intuitive focus management. Its dust- and moisture-resistant construction ensures functionality in adverse weather conditions. The front lens element is treated with a fluorine coating that effectively repels water, oil, and other contaminants, simplifying the cleaning process. Furthermore, the included lens hood has been redesigned to enhance the lens’s elegant appearance by minimizing both its diameter and length.