Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS

Sony

Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS

Released January 2014

A full-frame E-mount standard zoom with constant F4 aperture, Zeiss T* coating and Optical SteadyShot stabilisation.

Mount
Sony E
Focal length
24–70 mm
Max aperture
f/4
Stabilisation
Yes
Weight
426 g

What reviewers say

Both praise construction, central detail and stabilisation, while finding weaker edges. Photography Blog favours 35–50 mm, criticises price and finds blur less smooth than expected on Alpha 7. Amateur Photographer is more positive about overall quality and blur, but its Alpha 7R tests show reduced edge detail as the lens zooms in. Correction and camera differences qualify their optical assessments.

From photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com and amateurphotographer.com

Optics

Lens type
Zoom
Focal length
24–70 mm
Maximum aperture
f/4
Minimum aperture
f/22
Optical construction
Twelve elements in ten groups
Special elements
Five aspherical elements and one ED element
Coatings
Zeiss T* coating
Diaphragm
Seven rounded blades
Angle of view
84°–34° full frame; 61°–23° APS-C

Mount and compatibility

Mounts
Sony E
Image circle
Full frame
Image circle detail
Full-frame coverage; 36–105 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus
Yes
Minimum focus distance
0.4 m
Maximum magnification
0.2×
Optical stabilisation
Yes
Focus distance detail
0.4 m maker minimum focus distance
Magnification detail
0.20× maximum magnification
Stabilisation detail
Built-in Optical SteadyShot; maker does not publish a stop rating
Video features
Constant F4 maximum aperture

Design

Dust and moisture resistant
Yes
Filter diameter
67 mm
Maximum diameter
73 mm
Length
94.5 mm
Weight
426 g
Controls
Manual-focus and zoom rings; stabilisation and focus mode controlled through camera
Filter detail
67 mm front filter thread
Weather resistance
Dust and moisture resistant design; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress
Dimensions detail
73 mm maximum diameter × 94.5 mm maker length
Weight detail
Approximately 426 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded
Lens hood
ALC-SH130 petal bayonet hood, supplied
In the box
ALC-SH130 hood, front and rear caps and soft case
Release detail
Sony UK original maker press specifies January 2014 availability; Sony Japan original announcement also gives January. Exact first global sale day unconfirmed. Two independent full reviews read: Photography Blog Mark Goldstein using Alpha 7 and Amateur Photographer Richard Sibley, whose original charts use Alpha 7R and refreshed page adds Alpha 7 III samples. Different focal-length preference, overall quality and blur assessments qualified by body/processing. Blog reverses wide/tele angles, corrected to maker84–34degrees. AP observed approx0.5m telephoto focus is not substituted for maker0.4m main minimum. No maker motor type in read exact pages, so unpublished optional motor details omitted; no inferred predecessor link

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Optical SteadyShot stabilisation
  • Constant F4 maximum aperture
  • Dust and moisture resistant design

Cons

  • No lens aperture ring
  • F4 maximum aperture

Closest rivals

Model
MountFocal lengthMax apertureStabilisationWeightReleased
Sony E24–70 mmf/2.8No886 gMar 2016
Sony E24–105 mmf/4Yes663 gNov 2017
Sony E28–135 mmf/4Yes1,215 gDec 2014

Sources

  1. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL2470Z/spec.html
  2. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL2470Z/feature_1.html
  3. mynewsdesk.com/uk/sony-europe/pressreleases/sony-debuts-first-full-frame-e-moun…
  4. sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/201310/13-1016B
  5. photographyblog.com/reviews/carl_zeiss_vario_tessar_fe_24_70mm_f_4_za_oss_review
  6. photographyblog.com/reviews/carl_zeiss_vario_tessar_fe_24_70mm_f_4_za_oss_revie…
  7. amateurphotographer.com/review/sony-vario-tessar-t-fe-24-70mm-f4-za-oss-review

Photo: sony.jp

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