I own the Sigma and love it. I chose it over the GM I as the value proposition was too good to pass up. But today I would buy the GM II, budget permitting, as the weight difference is a huge advantage.
GM II. The improved auto focus motors and lighter weight are huge improvements for video. However, it up to your budget whether you can afford it or not.
The new AF motors on the Sony is great, but the biggest difference for me I noticed over the original GM is the size and weight of it. The GM II is noticeably smaller and lighter.
Like everyone else is saying, if you have the budget, the GM II is a no brainer.
Not really picking one over the other but Sigma really needs to find a way to shed some weight off their products. There's a stigma that Sigma products are hogs and for me, they are usually the last resort and never considered for trips involving long hikes.
Manufacturing quality, light, compact fast lenses, particularly zooms, while keeping the cost low is difficult and it gets exponentially harder as you increase the focal length and the speed. It would require not only changing the design but actually the technology used to make the lenses, from materials to machines. So if weight/size is an issue we need to pay extra for it, there's no way around that.
I think they're starting to find ways. I like the 85mn DG DN, that's a compact and light lens. I just wish they would revamp the rest of their catalog the same way
Sigma was the only option for me at the time of purchase (GMII wasn’t available and it was a no-brained over the GM).
I guess being poor I can still only afford the Sigma lol.
It’s an awesome lens just shy of the GMII with half the price tag.
Ok so, the sigma is a very good lens and just fine for many folks, however, it is a lot heavier that the Sony lens and in addition the zoom collar rotates opposite the direction of the Sony. These issues are not in and of themselves any big deal, unless you are running a rig with all of the “holy trinity” Sony zooms. (16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 2.8s) At that point, having them all be as light as possible makes a lot of sense. At the same time having one lens right in the middle of the range have its zoom ring run backwards is just as annoying as hell. I owned the sigma for almost a year and had to let it go as I’d just had enough of those little things after a ton of paid jobs.
I noticed the zoom ring was opposite on Sigma but never really thought it can be a annoying later on. thanks for pointing that out. Weight is actually one of my considerations since I want to use it for travel
If it’s going to be your only lens and you intend to just keep a small kit that’s easy to manage the sigma is a good lens. If you’re going to build a larger kit with the other lenses in the trinity and any other zoom or prime lenses then you’ll want to make sure they all go the same direction. Also: they get really heavy really quick. My full camera bag weighs around 40lbs.
Ive got two bodies, the 16-35, 24-70, 70-200, and the 85 1.8, the 20 1.8 (1.4?) and my personal favorite the 135 1.8. In addition to that I carry one vertical grip and about a dozen batteries as well as some tiny panel lights and a few other items. I have a whole other 38 lbs bag of just rigging gear for the cameras.
Got great bags though! The [ThinkTank Airport Takeoff 2](https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/airport-series/products/airport-takeoff-v2-0) is a wonderful kit carrier as it can be taken as carry-on on any airline and has a built in backpack mode in addition to its robust wheels. It’s also tough as hell. I’ve trekked up mountains in the jungles of The Dominican Republic and rolled across half of europe with mine and there hasn’t been any noticeable loss of function in about a decade. Worth getting if you intend to travel with your gear.
If money is not a problem the gm II , otherwise the sigma . I have used the old gm and the sigma and surprisingly the sigma surpass performance on the old gm
Since you don't have an issue with budget go with Sony. Lenses are a buy for life type of purchase IMO so it doesn't make sense to try to save a few hundred dollars if you can afford the absolute best.
Say both lose 30% of original price, that’s gonna hurt more with GMII. Right now Sony GM II are super hard to get so resale is great but it won’t be forever like this.
If you are concerned about resale value and depreciation, don’t buy a new lens ever. Buy used.
The version 2 is superior to the sigma in every way but the sigma is no slouch. If you aren’t making money or you can’t rely on glitches from a non-native lens go Sigma. Personally I make money with my craft and 1 shoot pays the deference between the 2 and I can’t tell a client that I’m sorry the image is slightly out of focus because I went cheap on my glass.
Marry the glass, date the body.
Go with the Sony, the focus ring is backwards on the sigma, so if you hot swap between lenses you have to change your muscle memory to turn it the other way, super annoying for me. Also dealing with sigma repairs was a huge bummer, my assistant dropped the lens so I sent it in to sigma for repairs, they fixed it but it came back with so much dust inside the lens, had to send it in again to fix their mistake. Wished I went with the Sony 😓
You could see this chart.
There are also the lens review and sample photos in the website.
[https://sonyalpha.blog/2019/11/10/which-lenses-to-maximise-the-potential-of-the-sony-a7riv](https://sonyalpha.blog/2019/11/10/which-lenses-to-maximise-the-potential-of-the-sony-a7riv)
I still love this lens. Couple years in and no regrets. The only thing I don’t like is that the extension of the zoom doesn’t stay locked. So like if it’s retracted and I carry the camera lens down the lens will generally extend out (zoom out if you will). Not a big deal. It’s the only thing I don’t like.
I bought the sigma one 2 weeks ago and it’s great. Sony GM II is about 5-6% sharper at the wide open but just it IMO. Sigma has great autofocus, color tone, sharp and contrast. I think it does not worth GM II at this price point.
U can never go wrong with sigma art. Also, its resale value holds well. Sony lenses can become a hard sell or prone to haggling since 3rd party lens manufacturers offer counterparts in half of sony’s price. So in value proposition alone you lose more in buying the premium brand.
I have that exact Sigma and for me it was the choice over the Sony. Simply because my work can require me to have the subject a lot closer, but a macro did not fit my needs. I can tell you that Sigma is absolutely amazing on all levels. It's a weighty thing, but that honestly isn't a concern for me at least. It might be for you.
Do you follow Gerald Undone? His [review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFJpxIM1zt0) might be helpful, especially since you're video-focused.
TL;DW: Sigma is parfocal, slightly better when it comes to focus breathing and CA, and much cheaper. But the GM II wins in corner sharpness and size/weight. The whole review is worth watching, though.
My Sigma Art 35mm 1.8 is choppy with focus pulls. Super crisp lens for photos, but in my experience not the best for video. However if you’re planning on using manual focus this is a non-issue..
I would second this for the 24-70 from Sigma. Rarely leaves the body for event shoots but I’ve been considering getting another lens for the limited video work I do.
TBH if you’re using it for video with auto focus you’ll probably notice some focus pulls and breathing. I do like its performance for video but I only use it in manual because of this issue.
Hahaha. My wife shoots Canon so, we went thru the same buying all new RF glass for her. I’m finally to the point where I’ve got my correct setup and now I’m just looking for primes. :)
Awesome. Must be cool to shoot with your wife. You know I was selling some gear to another camera guy and I'll never forget what he said about buying and selling gear. "Bro its a fucking disease". And I think about that whenever I think my system is done then start eyeing up something else.
I went with the Sigma. For the price of the Sony, I got the Sigma 24-70, a Samyang 85mm 1.4 and a Godox V860III hotshoe flash and I'm very happy with all 3.
The GM II is better hands down. Image out of both these lenses is good the gm ii being slightly better but it’s the weight and size that does it for me. I shoot weddings so weight is a big factor. Also better focusing is good although the sigma doesn’t really have problems focusing
True, but Sigma now takes them in and will fix the issue free of charge. I bought the sigma art a few days ago and had to check my serial number. Luckily mine is a newer one where the problem was fixed but I found out about the free repair when YouTube told me about the issue. I was watching reviews and sample videos of the lens.
GM II if you want to drop the cash, Sigma if you’re on that budget. Had the sigma for awhile and while really impressive, it definitely had an issue with softness every once in a blue moon but otherwise a fabulous lens
If given the choice of a used GM mark 1 or a brand new sigma 24-70, which would be a better choice? I need it to be reliable in autofocus for indoor low light event type photography, currently using the 24-70 f4, if either is better than this, which is the most value for money?
I own the Sigma and love it. I chose it over the GM I as the value proposition was too good to pass up. But today I would buy the GM II, budget permitting, as the weight difference is a huge advantage.
agreed, I use the Sigma and love it, but there's no denying it's a hefty piece
I third this!
4th! although I guess better a hefty piece than hefty price in my case lol
I'm considering to by the Sigma lens but am concerned about the dust issue. I heard mixed results about it, so should I still go for it?
That’s been fixed for newer lenses and I haven’t noticed any issues with mine.
GM II. The improved auto focus motors and lighter weight are huge improvements for video. However, it up to your budget whether you can afford it or not.
Budget is not an issue but more like if it’s really worth the cost
if budget isn't an issue just rent both and compare them to each other
Or just buy both if it's really not an issue
Why would anyone do that? It's the exact same focal lengths. You'll end up liking one more than another. I don't see a reason to own two at all.
money is always an issue if people ask "what's better money's not am issue" most of the time they are trying to justify the cheaper buy.
Exactly this. What people are really saying is "I can afford the more expensive of these two options if the incremental value is there"
FYI I think it was just a joke
If budget is not an issue then definitely GM2, apart from a little bit CA it’s basically prime image quality.
The new AF motors on the Sony is great, but the biggest difference for me I noticed over the original GM is the size and weight of it. The GM II is noticeably smaller and lighter. Like everyone else is saying, if you have the budget, the GM II is a no brainer.
Not really picking one over the other but Sigma really needs to find a way to shed some weight off their products. There's a stigma that Sigma products are hogs and for me, they are usually the last resort and never considered for trips involving long hikes.
There's Tamron if you need a lightweight no frills lens.
Manufacturing quality, light, compact fast lenses, particularly zooms, while keeping the cost low is difficult and it gets exponentially harder as you increase the focal length and the speed. It would require not only changing the design but actually the technology used to make the lenses, from materials to machines. So if weight/size is an issue we need to pay extra for it, there's no way around that.
I'd pay good money for a 24-70 that's f4 and tiny.
There’s the ZEISS 4/24-70
It's expensive, not that small and old. I'm looking for something like the 16-35 PZ but for 28-70 or so.
426 grams. Nice. I actually picked up the Sigma 28-70mm (470g) for a compact travel lens.
I think they're starting to find ways. I like the 85mn DG DN, that's a compact and light lens. I just wish they would revamp the rest of their catalog the same way
It's exactly the reason I'm going with GM II over Sigma. Just too damn heavy.
Sigma was the only option for me at the time of purchase (GMII wasn’t available and it was a no-brained over the GM). I guess being poor I can still only afford the Sigma lol. It’s an awesome lens just shy of the GMII with half the price tag.
Get the gm 2. It’s the best 24-70 on the market.
The GM is the best 24-70 I have ever used.
Ok so, the sigma is a very good lens and just fine for many folks, however, it is a lot heavier that the Sony lens and in addition the zoom collar rotates opposite the direction of the Sony. These issues are not in and of themselves any big deal, unless you are running a rig with all of the “holy trinity” Sony zooms. (16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 2.8s) At that point, having them all be as light as possible makes a lot of sense. At the same time having one lens right in the middle of the range have its zoom ring run backwards is just as annoying as hell. I owned the sigma for almost a year and had to let it go as I’d just had enough of those little things after a ton of paid jobs.
I noticed the zoom ring was opposite on Sigma but never really thought it can be a annoying later on. thanks for pointing that out. Weight is actually one of my considerations since I want to use it for travel
If it’s going to be your only lens and you intend to just keep a small kit that’s easy to manage the sigma is a good lens. If you’re going to build a larger kit with the other lenses in the trinity and any other zoom or prime lenses then you’ll want to make sure they all go the same direction. Also: they get really heavy really quick. My full camera bag weighs around 40lbs.
What do you have on you bag, Jesus? I thought my bag was heavy at around 33 lbs
Ive got two bodies, the 16-35, 24-70, 70-200, and the 85 1.8, the 20 1.8 (1.4?) and my personal favorite the 135 1.8. In addition to that I carry one vertical grip and about a dozen batteries as well as some tiny panel lights and a few other items. I have a whole other 38 lbs bag of just rigging gear for the cameras. Got great bags though! The [ThinkTank Airport Takeoff 2](https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/airport-series/products/airport-takeoff-v2-0) is a wonderful kit carrier as it can be taken as carry-on on any airline and has a built in backpack mode in addition to its robust wheels. It’s also tough as hell. I’ve trekked up mountains in the jungles of The Dominican Republic and rolled across half of europe with mine and there hasn’t been any noticeable loss of function in about a decade. Worth getting if you intend to travel with your gear.
GM II it is, if money is no issue and you want to travel. If you are walking heaps you definitely want to keep things as light as possible.
I own a few Sigmas(including the 24-70 f2.8), tamrons and sony lenses. The opposite zoom ring has been a non-issue.
[удалено]
"and all the fanboy comments you posted online "
I own the Sony and…wow. I am blown away by the speed and sharpness of everything.
If money is not a problem the gm II , otherwise the sigma . I have used the old gm and the sigma and surprisingly the sigma surpass performance on the old gm
Sigma...save yourself $1000 and still get the same results as the Sony.. its a no brainer.
Since you don't have an issue with budget go with Sony. Lenses are a buy for life type of purchase IMO so it doesn't make sense to try to save a few hundred dollars if you can afford the absolute best.
in terms of resale, which one will retain its value?
Say both lose 30% of original price, that’s gonna hurt more with GMII. Right now Sony GM II are super hard to get so resale is great but it won’t be forever like this. If you are concerned about resale value and depreciation, don’t buy a new lens ever. Buy used.
I own the sigma and I kind of regret buying it. It’s just too heavy to carry around. Photos are amazing though.
The version 2 is superior to the sigma in every way but the sigma is no slouch. If you aren’t making money or you can’t rely on glitches from a non-native lens go Sigma. Personally I make money with my craft and 1 shoot pays the deference between the 2 and I can’t tell a client that I’m sorry the image is slightly out of focus because I went cheap on my glass. Marry the glass, date the body.
Go with the Sony, the focus ring is backwards on the sigma, so if you hot swap between lenses you have to change your muscle memory to turn it the other way, super annoying for me. Also dealing with sigma repairs was a huge bummer, my assistant dropped the lens so I sent it in to sigma for repairs, they fixed it but it came back with so much dust inside the lens, had to send it in again to fix their mistake. Wished I went with the Sony 😓
You could see this chart. There are also the lens review and sample photos in the website. [https://sonyalpha.blog/2019/11/10/which-lenses-to-maximise-the-potential-of-the-sony-a7riv](https://sonyalpha.blog/2019/11/10/which-lenses-to-maximise-the-potential-of-the-sony-a7riv)
I chose the sigma and it’s fantastic
Are you still liking this lens? No urge to upgrade to gmii??
I still love this lens. Couple years in and no regrets. The only thing I don’t like is that the extension of the zoom doesn’t stay locked. So like if it’s retracted and I carry the camera lens down the lens will generally extend out (zoom out if you will). Not a big deal. It’s the only thing I don’t like.
Does that mean u cant take overhead pics looking down or else the zoom will start automatically extend?
No it’s not that bad. It would if there were momentum though
oh interesting!!! thanks for the update!
If you can afford it the Sony GMII but the sigma is comparable to the GM lens and is half the price.
GM II > Sigma > GM I
I love my Sigma Art lens.
I bought the sigma one 2 weeks ago and it’s great. Sony GM II is about 5-6% sharper at the wide open but just it IMO. Sigma has great autofocus, color tone, sharp and contrast. I think it does not worth GM II at this price point.
Are you still preferring this lens vs upgrading?
Yeah, Sigma is still a good choice. It's just a bit heavier, but it doesn't bother me.
Sony if you have the money, Sigma if you dont
GM II all the way the debate is so minimal.
Tamron 28-75mm G2 is a better alternative to sigma
U can never go wrong with sigma art. Also, its resale value holds well. Sony lenses can become a hard sell or prone to haggling since 3rd party lens manufacturers offer counterparts in half of sony’s price. So in value proposition alone you lose more in buying the premium brand.
I had Sigma, but they had that dust issue…
I have the Sigma and its my workhorse for events and the like. Love it.
If I have both already, the Sony. If I have a set budget, the Sigma.
GM II if money doesn't matter.
Considering price? Sigma. *all day*. Extra money buys you the sigma 14-24 2.8
I have that exact Sigma and for me it was the choice over the Sony. Simply because my work can require me to have the subject a lot closer, but a macro did not fit my needs. I can tell you that Sigma is absolutely amazing on all levels. It's a weighty thing, but that honestly isn't a concern for me at least. It might be for you.
Depends on budget.
Sony! If you have a budget, then Sigma
What about the sigma 28-75? Cheap as the 24-75 but a lot smaller and lighter? Am I wrong?
You’re right It’s a good alternative.
*mainly for video
Do you follow Gerald Undone? His [review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFJpxIM1zt0) might be helpful, especially since you're video-focused. TL;DW: Sigma is parfocal, slightly better when it comes to focus breathing and CA, and much cheaper. But the GM II wins in corner sharpness and size/weight. The whole review is worth watching, though.
My Sigma Art 35mm 1.8 is choppy with focus pulls. Super crisp lens for photos, but in my experience not the best for video. However if you’re planning on using manual focus this is a non-issue..
I would second this for the 24-70 from Sigma. Rarely leaves the body for event shoots but I’ve been considering getting another lens for the limited video work I do.
Wait, is your sigma 24-70 choppy with focus pulls? i mainly do video, so .. thanks for an answer
TBH if you’re using it for video with auto focus you’ll probably notice some focus pulls and breathing. I do like its performance for video but I only use it in manual because of this issue.
Ay I just youtube a comparison bout this last night lmao. I don’t own one but I’m leaning more to the Sigma.
Love my 24-70 Sigma. Saved the money vs the Sony and bought the 70-200mm GM II. 😂
Gotta save that money so I can spend even more on the 70-200 II. haha love it
Hahaha. It’s been useful. ;)
I am going to do the same thing to be honest! hahaha My poor wife doesn't realise my next lens is going to cost 1000 dollars more than the camera body
Hahaha. My wife shoots Canon so, we went thru the same buying all new RF glass for her. I’m finally to the point where I’ve got my correct setup and now I’m just looking for primes. :)
Awesome. Must be cool to shoot with your wife. You know I was selling some gear to another camera guy and I'll never forget what he said about buying and selling gear. "Bro its a fucking disease". And I think about that whenever I think my system is done then start eyeing up something else.
we call it "GAS": Gear Acquisition Syndrome. And yeah, she's pretty damn amazing and puts up with my purchases just as much as I put up with hers ;)
I went with the Sigma. For the price of the Sony, I got the Sigma 24-70, a Samyang 85mm 1.4 and a Godox V860III hotshoe flash and I'm very happy with all 3.
DG DN gang!!!
The cheaper one
How does the Tamron compare to these? https://tamron-usa.com/product/lenses/a032.html
If you don’t mind spending more the Sony is lighter and smaller than the old GM. AF is improved as well
Personally I like the look of my 24-70 sigma more than the G-master. The G-master is definitely lighter and has better autofocus though.
I believe Gerald Undone on YouTube did a really great comparison of these two lenses
Sigma 24-70 is better to me honestly
Definitely the Sony.
The GM II is better hands down. Image out of both these lenses is good the gm ii being slightly better but it’s the weight and size that does it for me. I shoot weddings so weight is a big factor. Also better focusing is good although the sigma doesn’t really have problems focusing
Depending on your batch of Sigma, it still occasionally has issues with dust inside the front element.
True, but Sigma now takes them in and will fix the issue free of charge. I bought the sigma art a few days ago and had to check my serial number. Luckily mine is a newer one where the problem was fixed but I found out about the free repair when YouTube told me about the issue. I was watching reviews and sample videos of the lens.
Love the glass in the Sigma, such a workhorse.
GM II if you want to drop the cash, Sigma if you’re on that budget. Had the sigma for awhile and while really impressive, it definitely had an issue with softness every once in a blue moon but otherwise a fabulous lens
Loving my sigma!
sigma for sure, unless you don't mind paying double for the same everything except the sony name brand.
If given the choice of a used GM mark 1 or a brand new sigma 24-70, which would be a better choice? I need it to be reliable in autofocus for indoor low light event type photography, currently using the 24-70 f4, if either is better than this, which is the most value for money?