Cameras Ranked

24–70 Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM vs 28–70 Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM

Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM vs Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM: our pick for most people is the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM. Pick the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM if you want a wider view at the short end (focal length: 24-70 mm vs 28-70 mm). Pick the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM if you shoot in low light or want a blurrier background (widest aperture: f/2.8 vs f/2). Too close to call (weight: 886 g vs 918 g; filter thread: 82 mm vs 86 mm).

To one scale. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM: length 136 mm, diameter 87.6 mm, filter thread 82 mm; Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM: length 139.8 mm, diameter 92.9 mm, filter thread 86 mm.136 mmSony 24–70886 g139.8 mmSony 28–70918 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.
To one scale. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM: length 136 mm, diameter 87.6 mm, filter thread 82 mm; Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM: length 139.8 mm, diameter 92.9 mm, filter thread 86 mm.136 mmSony 24–70886 g139.8 mmSony 28–70918 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.

The pick, in points

Lead for a pick: 1

Sony 24–70

2points

Wins on focal length (widest).

Sony 28–70

3points

Wins on widest aperture.

Each real difference scores its importance for the side that wins it; a lead under 1 is “it depends”. How the weights work

The Sony 28–70 on its ownThe Sony 24–70 on its ownAll Sony E-mount lenses

Where they differ

4 of 17 specs

Each bar is the gap as a share of the smaller value, on one scale from 0 to 100%; an arrow end is a gap past 100%. The dashed tick marks where a gap starts to count.

  1. Widest aperture

    Importance 3

    Sony 24–70f/2.81Sony 28–70f/22

    0.8 apart (40%), to the Sony 28–70

    3points

  2. Focal length (widest)

    Importance 2

    Sony 24–7024 mm1Sony 28–7028 mm2

    4 mm apart (16.7%), to the Sony 24–70

    2points

  3. Weight

    Importance 2

    Sony 24–70886 g3Sony 28–70918 g4

    32 g apart (3.6%), under the 12% bar

    0points

  4. Filter thread

    Importance 0.5

    Sony 24–7082 mm3Sony 28–7086 mm4

    4 mm apart (4.9%), under the 5 mm bar

    0points

Also different, no weight reads them6

  1. Length

    Sony 24–70136 mm3Sony 28–70139.8 mm4

    3.8 mm apart (2.8%)

    Not weighted

  2. Diameter

    Sony 24–7087.6 mm3Sony 28–7092.9 mm4

    5.3 mm apart (6.1%)

    Not weighted

  3. Maximum magnification, wide end

    Sony 24–700.24x3Sony 28–700.23x4

    0.01 apart (4.3%)

    Not weighted

  4. Elements

    Sony 24–70183Sony 28–70204

    2 apart (11.1%)

    Not weighted

  5. Groups

    Sony 24–70133Sony 28–70144

    1 apart (7.7%)

    Not weighted

  6. Aperture blades

    Sony 24–7093Sony 28–70114

    2 apart (22.2%)

    Not weighted

Side by side, to scale

Focal length on one log scale

Focal length on one log scale: Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM: 24 to 70 mm; Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM: 28 to 70 mm.Sony 24–70Sony 28–70−4 mm1624355085
The focal lengths each maker states.

Specifications

SpecificationsSony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GMSony FE 28-70mm F2 GM
Focal length24-70 mm128-70 mm2
Widest aperturef/2.81f/22
Maximum magnification0.24x30.23x4
Weight886 g3918 g4
Length136 mm3139.8 mm4
Diameter87.6 mm392.9 mm4
Filter thread82 mm386 mm4
Elements183204
Groups133144
Aperture blades93114
HoodALC-SH1413ALC-SH1824
AnnouncedFeb 3, 20161Nov 19, 20242

Same on both

  • Closest focus 0.38 m3
  • Stabilization No
  • Mount Sony E-mount3
  • Covers Full frame
  • Type Zoom

Full specifications, side by side†

Show all 18 rows
Full specifications, side by sideSony 24–703Sony 28–704
Model numberSEL2470GMSEL2870GM
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
Compatible sensor size35mm full size35mm full size
Focal length24-70 mm28-70 mm
Equivalent focal length36-105 mm (APS-C sensor)42-105 mm (APS-C sensor)
Lens construction13 groups, 18 elements14 groups, 20 elements
Angle of view61°-23° (APS-C sensor)54°-23° (APS-C sensor)
Angle of view84°-34° (35mm format)75°-34° (35mm format)
Maximum aperture2.8F2
Minimum aperture22F22
Diaphragm blades911
Circular diaphragmyesyes
Minimum focusing distance0.38 m0.38 m
Maximum magnification ratio0.240.23
Filter size82 mm86 mm
Hood typepetal-shaped bayonet typepetal-shaped bayonet type
Dimensions87.6 x 136 mm92.9 x 139.8 mm
Weight886 g918 g
Rows only one maker lists: 14

Also on the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM spec page3

Product nameFE 24-70mm F2.8 GM
Teleconverter compatibilityno (1.4x teleconverter)
Teleconverter compatibilityno (2.0x teleconverter)
Included hoodALC-SH141
Included front capALC-F82S
Included rear capALC-R1EM
Included casesoft carrying case

Also on the Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM spec page4

Product nameFE 28-70mm F2 GM
1.4x teleconverter compatibilityno (1.4x teleconverter)
2.0x teleconverter compatibilityno (2.0x teleconverter)
Included hood modelALC-SH182
Included front cap modelALC-F86S
Included rear cap modelALC-R1EM
Included case typesoft case

How the pick works

  1. Widest aperture3

    Lower wins once they are 0.3 apart.

  2. Weight2

    Lower wins from a 12% gap.

  3. Focal length (longest)2

    Higher wins from a 15% gap.

  4. Focal length (widest)2

    Lower wins once they are 2 mm apart.

  5. Optical stabilization1

    Having it wins.

  6. Closest focus, wide end1

    Lower wins from a 15% gap. Compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest).

  7. Filter thread0.5

    Lower wins once they are 5 mm apart.

  8. Lead for a pick1

Our pick or our take adds up the importance of each real difference, with these importances and thresholds: a gap smaller than its row's threshold is too close to call and counts as the same. They are our editorial choice, not a measurement, the same on every page, and they never read prices, sales or who sells it.

Paid placements0

How we rank, in full

Sources

  1. Wikidata: Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  2. Wikidata: Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  3. Sony Japan lens specifications (sony.jp): Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM, checked Oct 6, 2026
  4. Sony Japan lens specifications (sony.jp): Sony FE 28-70mm F2 GM, checked Oct 6, 2026

Worked out by code, not stated by a source

  • Read from the lens name: each maker marks the sensor size a lens covers (Sony FE/E, Canon RF/RF-S, Nikon DX, Tamron Di III/Di III-A, Sigma DG/DC); every Fujifilm X lens is APS-C and every Micro Four Thirds lens is Four Thirds.
  • Read from the lens name: Sony marks optically stabilized lenses OSS, Canon IS, Nikon VR, Fujifilm OIS, Panasonic O.I.S., Tamron VC and Sigma OS; a lens from these makers without the mark has no optical stabilization.
  • Prime or zoom, read from the focal length in the lens name.

Each value is checked automatically against the source it links, on the date shown. How we build these pages

† The makers' own tables, row by row, with labels in our plain words (translated where the maker's page isn't in English); each row's numbers are checked against the page it links.

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