Introduction
Following the 24-105 F4 G OSS, the Sony 12-24 F4 G was the second lens I purchased for the Sony E-Mount. I’ve owned this lens for two years and it’s been an absolute workhorse, plus compact enough to make it a loyal travel companion.
Disclaimer: Like many, when making a purchasing decision, I have gone down the rabbit hole of MTF charts, subreddits and YouTube reviews.
Here I try to steer away from all those technical specifications as there are already an abundance of great resources to choose from. Instead, I have hand picked a selection of images I’ve captured during my photo walks which I feel capture what this lens is capable of out in the field.
All images shared in this review were photographed using the Sony A7iii in Uncompressed RAW format with minimal retouches in Adobe Camera Raw.
Ultra-Ultra-Ultra-Wide
Originally released in 2017, fast forward 8 years and the Sony 12-24 F4 G still holds the title (alongside the Sony 12-24 F2.8 GM) as the widest ultra wide zoom lens designed for mirrorless full frame cameras.
At the wider end, those 2 additional millimetres can make a meaningful difference in angle of view when working in tight spaces. In the image above, this extra reach allowed me to capture the full essence of this church in the small charming town of Piana, Corsica.
Visible distortion is inevitable at the wide end with just about any lens, while some admittedly do a better job at controlling distortion than others, there has been nothing that simple perspective corrections in Adobe Camera Raw can’t fix.
Rendering
Similarly to the 24-105 F4 G OSS, it produces a modern and clinical image. While I haven’t had the opportunity to test this lens on a higher resolution body (A7R5 – I’m looking at you), this lens feels right at home on the 24 megapixel Sony A7iii.
Alternatives
As of today, there are a number of E-Mount alternatives available to choose from:
- Sigma 14-24 F2.8 DG DN Art
- Tamron 17-28 F2.8 Di III RXD
- Sony 16-35 F2.8 GM II (SEL1635GM2)
- Sony 12-24 F2.8 GM (SEL1224GM)
Sony 12-24 F4 G vs Sony 12-24 F2.8 GM
Now, with full transparency, I have not had the opportunity to use the 12-24 F2.8 GM. At the time of this quick review, the shiny red and white GM badge will set you back at least an additional 1000€.
Unless you’re a professional photographer who makes a living from their gear or an enthusiast who must have the absolute best in class ultra wide zoom for the E-Mount, I think the GM is a hard pass.
Why? Well, my 12-24 F4 G spends most of its time mounted to a tripod between F8 to F11 where I’m more interested in having as much of the scene in acceptable focus as possible than a fast maximum aperture.
Closing Thoughts
This lens is a reliable companion, it delivers on its promise of great image quality without breaking the bank. The real consideration here is whether you have a use case for such an ultra wide zoom lens.
For astrophotography and outdoor landscapes, primes like the Sony 20mm F1.8 G may serve you better with its faster maximum aperture, more compact form factor and affordable price, but for architecture and real estate, the 12-24 F4 G remains a dependable tool that earns its place in the bag.
Until next time,
Alex