What’s Changed? The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II marks a substantial update to its predecessor, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM. It has improved control and video capabilities; a faster four-motor autofocus system; a new, dedicated aperture ring that you can de-click; and a revised optical design.

Full-Frame E-Mount. As a part of the FE line of lenses, the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is designed for Sony full-frame cameras. It’s also fully compatible with APS-C cameras, on which it’ll provide a 36-105mm equivalent focal length.

Working Photographer’s Bread and Butter. When used on a full-frame camera, the FE 24-70 GM II provides a fast-aperture, wide to short-tele focal range that’s perfect for portrait and event photography. The fast f/2.8 aperture offers shallow depth-of-field capability and lets you shoot in low light. A newly developed aperture-drive system is particularly fast and quiet, while the new aperture ring has switchable on/off clicks and an iris lock, all of which makes this lens well-suited for video applications.

Advanced Optics. The FE 24-70 GM II features five aspherical elements and two extra-low dispersion elements—including two “XA” extreme aspherical elements and two Super ED elements—for minimizing chromatic aberrations and distortion throughout the zoom range, and for producing clear, high-contrast images. The lens’s rounded eleven-blade aperture diaphragm gives images smooth out-of-focus areas when you desire a shallow depth of field.

XD Linear Motor Autofocus System. This improved internal focusing system uses four Extreme Dynamic Linear Motors to provide fast, nearly silent, and highly accurate autofocus performance that’s great for still and video use. This autofocus system is up to four times faster than the one found in the original 24-70. You also get a dedicated focus hold button and AF/MF switch that help tailor focusing to your shooting needs. Finally, there’s a function ring with Preset Focus and Function settings.

G-Master Series Quality. The GM series is Sony’s premium lens offering. What sets it apart from other Sony lenses is an emphasis on an extremely high resolving power of fifty lines per mm, out-of-focus “bokeh” quality, and a robust, weather-sealed body.