Hailing from South Korea and based in Singapore, OlivePage is an Alpha Professional and lens reviewer who specialises in portrait, landscape and nature photography. He has published a book on flower photography and was the editor of a photography magazine.

Sony's 71st and newest lens, the FE 20-70mm F4 G (SEL2070G), is a highly versatile zoom lens with a 20mm ultra-wide-angle perspective. This is uncommon for a lens of its calibre. It’s also capable of 70mm telephoto shots and has a very high 0.39x magnification. As such, you’ll have an ultra-wide, standard, telephoto, and macro lens in one compact package! 

• Focal length: 20-70mm
• Angle of view (35mm): 94°-34°
• Max. magnification ratio (X): 0.39
• Min. focus distance: Wide 0.3m, Tele: 0.25m

Although a difference of 24mm and 20mm may not seem like much, an increase of even 1mm makes a significant difference in your final shot. In fact, a 20mm focal length has an angle of view that’s 130% wider than a 24mm focal length, making the difference between 20mm and 70mm even more dramatic. If you like the 16-35mm and 24-70mm lens but struggle with portability, the SEL2070G is a great alternative.

The SEL2070G’s close-up performance is incredible. An extremely high magnification of 0.39x allows the lens to get right in front of the subject. Even this close, the image quality remains remarkably sharp.

• Aperture: F4~22
• Aperture blade: 9 (Circular type)

The aperture maintains a maximum opening of F4 across all focal lengths. The 9-blade and circular aperture design also allows for beautiful bokeh.

Type: XD Linear Motor

Sony's newest motor, the XD Linear Motor, delivers the best performance for both stills and video. The magnetically-driven motor moves in a straight line, making it quiet, fast and accurate.

• Size: 99 x 78.7mm
• Weight: 388g
• Filter diameter: 72mm

The SEL2070G is surprisingly small in size for a fixed-aperture lens. It has a focus, zoom and aperture ring for intuitive operation. It also has a customisable Focus Hold Button, an AF/MF switch and an Iris Lock switch.

When paired with the Alpha 7R V – Sony's latest high-resolution camera, the SEL2070G forms a compact shooting system for professionals, bringing out the Alpha 7R V's true power in ultra-high 61MP resolution.

Not only is the SEL2070G compatible with the Alpha 7R V, but it’s also the ideal standard zoom lens for any camera body. If you shoot with the FX3 or Alpha 7S III, you're all set for vlogs, interviews, and YouTube videos.

Flowers

A close-up magnification of 0.39x brings you many surprises. Even if your subject is as small as a thumbnail, the SEL2070G allows it to fill up the whole frame.

The SEL2070G also gives you beautiful bokeh, keeping the circle of confusion intact all the way up to the corner of the frame.

Typically, lenses lose image quality when shooting close-ups, but the SEL2070G maintains an exceptional resolution even at close ranges.

Landscapes

A 20mm focal length captures more in your shot. From the staircase in front of you to the quaint mansion beyond, it almost feels like you're in the scene.

If you're worried that your wide-angle shot is telling too many stories, try zooming in. The scene will be more focused on your main subject.

The SEL2070G is also great for capturing colourful night scenes, with crisp image quality in every corner of the frame.

If a focal length of 70mm isn't enough for your desired shot, try using Crop Mode on your Alpha. If you shoot in APS-C mode, you'll get the same results as a 105mm lens.

Portraits

Although the SEL2070G may just be one lens, you can capture completely different moods at different focal lengths, making it especially useful when travelling.

When shooting portraits, the SEL2070G gives you more freedom to play with the framing of your picture. You may capture crystal-clear backgrounds through a 20mm focal length or place the spotlight on your subject with creamy bokeh through a 70mm focal length.

The versatile SEL2070G is perfect for daily shooting scenarios, regardless of your preference for taking photos or videos. No matter what you capture, you’ll be guaranteed spectacular image quality throughout its broad zoom range.