Why it's in the kit
If I could only carry one lens, this is it. f/2.8 across the whole range means I never have to decide between a wide establishing shot and a tight portrait, I just zoom. The II is meaningfully lighter than the original, which matters on long shoot days.
How I run it
Lives on the A7 IV full-time. UV filter up front, lens hood always on, this is the default focal length for every talking-head setup.
What I almost bought
- Sony 24-70 f/4 : Too slow for indoor interviews at f/4 without cranking ISO.
- Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 : Lighter and cheaper, but softer at the long end where I shoot portraits.
Skip it if
If you shoot mostly on a prime, a 35mm f/1.4 will give you more character for less money.
Strengths
- + Constant f/2.8, no exposure jumps mid-zoom
- + Sharp wide-open on a 33MP sensor
Trade-offs
- − Heavy investment for a single focal range
