To give you a wider context of how the Sony 24mm f/2.8 G performs, I’ve compared it against other 24mm to 28mm prime lenses available today, not just from Sony but also from Nikon and Canon. Here’s how it measures up.
Sony 24mm f/2.8 G vs Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM
We’ll start by comparing the performance of the FE 24mm f/2.8 G against Sony’s other 24mm prime lens, the FE 24mm f/1.4 GM:
As expected of the higher-end, GM-series lens, the 24mm f/1.4 GM blows the 24mm f/2.8 G out of the water. The biggest differences are in midframe and corner sharpness, where the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 is well ahead. It’s not until f/16 that the two lenses are back to a similar level.
Sony 24mm f/2.8 G vs Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
For the sake of comparison, I wanted to see how the Sony 24mm f/2.8 would hold up against a high-end f/2.8 zoom like the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 at the 24mm focal length. Note that this comparison is against the first version of the 16-35mm f/2.8 as I have not yet tested version 2 in the lab.
In this comparison, the 24mm f/2.8 comes out ahead in the center of the frame, although generally by less than 10% (as measured in MTF50 LW/PH). Midframe sharpness, however, starts out evenly but quickly favors the 16-35mm f/2.8 zoom. As for the corners, they are meaningfully sharper on the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM throughout the aperture range, although the differences at f/16 are no longer significant.
Sony 24mm f/2.8 G vs Nikon Z 26mm f/2.8
The Nikon Z 26mm f/2.8 is one of the most similar lenses to the Sony 24mm f/2.8 G that you’ll find on the market today, although it goes even another step further down the road of portability (in exchange for losing features – for instance, the Nikon Z 26mm f/2.8 lacks any buttons or switches whatsoever). How do they compare in sharpness?
This time, the Sony lens is generally ahead overall, with better central sharpness at every aperture, especially at f/4 and f/5.6. The midframes go back and forth depending upon the aperture, but the two lenses are mostly even. Meanwhile, the corners favor the Nikon lens by a small amount throughout most of the aperture range.
Sony 24mm f/2.8 G vs Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8
The Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 is still a small lens, but it’s a bit bigger than the 26mm version. (Of the two, the 28mm f/2.8 is my typical recommendation to most Nikon Z photographers, partly because the $300 price is a great value). How does the Sony 24mm f/2.8 G compare?
It’s a pretty interesting comparison this time. The Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G is clearly ahead in the center at most apertures, especially f/2.8 and f/4. Midframes also favor the Sony 24mm f/2.8, largely because the Nikon Z lens has some wavy field curvature that robs sharpness in the midframes. However, the corners are clearly in favor of the Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8. So, the “winner” here depends upon which portion of the frame you prioritize.
Sony 24mm f/2.8 G vs Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro
Canon has a 28mm f/2.8 that I have not tested in the lab yet, so I am unable to compare it here right now. However, Canon also has a 24mm f/1.8 Macro lens that is the same price as the Sony 24mm f/2.8 G ($600) and still lightweight at 270 grams / 0.60 pounds. Here’s how the two compare.
Although the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 has very weak corners wide open, the story is different if you look in the shared aperture range of these two lenses from f/2.8 onward. There, the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro is ahead in central and corner sharpness at almost every aperture, with midframe sharpness being relatively even. It’s only by f/11 (and really f/16) that the two lenses are performing at the same level again.
Summary
The Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G is at about the same level as other pancake/muffin lenses in sharpness – which is to say, decent but not groundbreaking. If you want to maximize your image quality at this focal length, there are better ways to do it. However, if you want to maximize your portability, it’s hard to beat the FE 24mm f/2.8 G.
The next page of this review sums up everything and explains the pros and cons of the Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G. So, click the menu below to go to “Verdict”:
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