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Lenses

First Impressions: Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE (Sony E Mount, Full Frame)

Chris Gampat
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05/17/2017
3 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony 12-24mm f4 lens first impressions samples product images 4

The Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE is designed to compete with the options from Sigma, Canon, etc. So why would Sony design a lens like this, you wonder? I wondered the same, exact thing–and then I saw it and held it in person. The Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE is incredibly small and for the first time, I’m very glad to say that Sony has made a zoom lens that doesn’t make me cringe in terms of size in relation to a mirrorless camera. It’s also go weather sealing built in though Sony says that it isn’t to the spec of the G Master series.

Tech Specs

Specs taken from the Press release

A uniquely designed ultra wide-angle zoom lens, the new FE 12-24mm F4 G lens produces outstanding image quality in a compact, lightweight design, weighing in at approximately 20 oz. Sony’s widest full-frame E-mount lens, it offers a dynamic perspective for landscape, architecture and interior photography, and is well-suited for both stills and video shooting.

The lens features an innovative optical design with four aspherical elements that ensure excellent corner to corner sharpness and resolution. Additionally, the lens has three ED glass elements and one Super ED glass element that minimize chromatic aberration throughout the entire image, and also includes Sony’s original Nano AR coating.

The new FE 12-24mm F4 G lens includes a DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM) for fast, quiet and precise AF performance, plus a customizable focus hold button and focus mode switch. It is also dust and moisture resistant 1.

Ergonomics

The Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE is characterized not only by its small size but also its controls.  When you look at the lens, you mostly see the zoom ring and the focusing ring.

When you turn to the Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE you’ll spot the AF/MF control in addition to the focus hold button.

Turn to the front of the Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE and what you’ll spot is the bulbous front element. In fact, the hood doesn’t come off and the lens cap goes on top.

Build Quality

With the Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE, the company states that the weather sealing isn’t as durable as the G Master lineup. During one of our tests, horses were kicking up a lot of dirt and the lens shrugged it off. But again, my favorite thing about this lens is that it is so incredibly small and nice to hold in the hand. In fact, I’d mount it to the camera, carry it around all day, and it may never leave my camera.

Ease of Use

Just like with other wide angle zooms, this lens is an autofocus wide angle zoom. So you’re essentially always going to get something in focus unless you’re focusing very closely and wide open. Lots of hobbyist photographers will seriously appreciate this lens.

Autofocus

So the autofocus: well, again it’s great. With the Sony a7r II and the Sony a9, the Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE focuses pretty quick. I didn’t get a chance to test it on the original Sony a7.

Image Quality

In terms of image quality, I really don’t have anything major to complain about again. I spent a few hours with the lens and the distortion, colors, etc are pretty nice. But like with the 16-35mm, I want more flare.

First Impressions

So far, I’m liking the Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE. But I need to spend a whole lot more time with it to give a better evaluation. I really like the small size and though I’m finding the 16-35mm f2.8 to be sharper, I think that modern post processing can fix that in Capture One 10.

a7 autofocus ergonomics flare image quality sharpness sony Sony 12-24mm f4 G FE
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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