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Samyang

AF 24mm F1.8 FE

Sony E Mount

AF 24mm F1.8 FE — 24mm f/1.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the samyang lineup.

$399

Launch price

Released Sep 2020

vs
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

Sony

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

Sony E Mount

The ultimate standard zoom — incredibly sharp, exceptionally compact, and built for professionals.

$2,299

Launch price

Released Apr 2022

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is 1.6 years newer.

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Wins

5categories

AF 24mm F1.8 FE

Sports & ActionPortrait

Wins

2categories

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

LandscapeSports & Action

1 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

AF 24mm F1.8 FE wins 4 categories·FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II wins 1 categories
  • AAF 24mm F1.8 FE has lower Weight (230 g vs 695 g)
  • BFE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II has higher Max magnification (0.32 × vs 0.13 ×)
  • AAF 24mm F1.8 FE has lower Length (70.5 mm vs 120 mm)
  • AAF 24mm F1.8 FE has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)
  • AAF 24mm F1.8 FE has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)

Key specs at a glance

AF 24mm F1.8 FEFE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Focal Length24 mm24-70 mm
Max Aperturef/1.8f/2.8
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight230 g695 g
Min Focus25 cm21 cm
Filter Size58 mm82 mm

Size and weight, to scale

AF 24mm F1.8 FE

65 × 71 mm

230 g (0.51 lb / 8.11 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II shown to scale

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

88 × 120 mm

695 g (1.53 lb / 24.52 oz)

AF 24mm F1.8 FE is 50mm shorter and 23mm narrower than FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II.

AF 24mm F1.8 FE is 465 g lighter than FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II.

Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseAF 24mm F1.8 FEFE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Portrait
6.0Good
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
3.5Limited
5.0Fair
Landscape
5.0Fair
7.0Good
Travel
5.0Fair
5.5Fair
Wildlife
1.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
3.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the AF 24mm F1.8 FE

  • Special elements

    Adds 2 Aspherical, 1 HR, 1 ED

  • Weight

    230 g vs 695 g — lower is better

  • Length

    70.5 mm vs 120 mm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.8 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.8 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Diameter

    65 mm vs 88 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

  • Special elements

    Adds 2 XA (extreme aspherical), 3 Aspherical, 2 ED…

  • Weather sealing

    Only FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II supports it

  • Control ring

    Only FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II supports it

  • Max magnification

    0.32 × vs 0.13 × — higher is better

  • Min focus distance

    21 cm vs 25 cm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

AF 24mm F1.8 FE

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day
  • Native Sony E mount compatibility

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

Pros

  • Outstanding sharpness across the entire zoom range
  • Remarkably small and lightweight for an f/2.8 zoom
  • Four XD Linear focus motors provide blazing-fast AF tracking
  • Excellent close-up magnification
  • De-clickable aperture ring and customized function buttons

Cons

  • No built-in optical image stabilization (relies on body IBIS)
  • High launch price
  • Aperture ring can be easily bumped if not locked

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the AF 24mm F1.8 FE and FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

AF 24mm F1.8 FE
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Focal length (Min)
24 mm
24 mm
Focal length (Max)
24 mm
70 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
f/2.8
Elements
8
20
Groups
6
15
Special elements
2 Aspherical, 1 HR, 1 ED
2 XA (extreme aspherical), 3 Aspherical, 2 ED, 2 Super ED
AF 24mm F1.8 FE
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Min focus distance
25 cm
21 cm−4 cm less
Max magnification
0.13 ×
0.32 ×2.5× more
Autofocus motor
Linear STM
4 XD Linear Motors
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
AF 24mm F1.8 FE
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
AF 24mm F1.8 FE
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Weight
230 g−465 g less
695 g
Length
70.5 mm−50 mm less
120 mm
Diameter
65 mm−23 mm less
88 mm
Filter thread size
58 mm
82 mm
Weather sealing
No
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
AF 24mm F1.8 FE
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.