Rokinon AF 24-60mm f/2.8: The Best Budget Zoom Lens for Sony E

Rokinon (or Samyang, depending on your location) has introduced a new product that aims to provide top-notch quality at a reasonable cost. Meet the Rokinon AF 24-60mm f/2.8 designed for Sony E-mount. This lens has an interesting focal length that sets it apart from the more common 24-70mm zooms. It sacrifices a bit of telephoto reach but gains significantly in terms of portability and features.

If you’re a Sony photographer, you know how important it is to find a great, versatile lens, one that won’t leave your neck aching after a long shoot.

Mastering Light: Constant f/2.8 Aperture Performance

When you’re out taking photos, having a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture really makes a difference. Rokinon provides this across the entire zoom range of 24mm to 60mm.

A constant f/2.8 aperture allows you to use faster shutter speeds and keep your ISO lower, whether you’re shooting a vast night cityscape at 24mm or focusing on a subject for a portrait at 60mm. For photographers working in diverse low-light situations, this reliability is a real benefit you’ll appreciate during every shoot.

Moreover, Rokinon AF 24-60mm f/2.8 has a nine-blade circular diaphragm. When you open it up to f/2.8, these blades help produce the smooth, rounded highlights that make your subject stand out against the background. This adds a professional touch to your images, turning an ordinary scene into a compelling story. If you enjoy portrait photography or want to enhance your lifestyle photos, this quality of background separation will be beneficial.

Versatile Zoom Range: Your New 24-60mm Go-To

The 24-60mm focal length is definitely something people will notice. While you may be accustomed to a 24-70mm lens, this slightly shorter range might actually lead you to a more deliberate and minimalist approach.

Starting at the 24mm wide end, you get a generous 84.1° angle of view, which is ideal for capturing vast landscapes or fitting an entire scene in your frame. This makes it suitable for travel photography or documentaries, where showcasing the environment is crucial.

When you move the zoom ring to the 60mm telephoto end, the angle of view narrows to 39.6°, perfect for more focused shots. This means you can easily transition from a wide-open shot to a close-up portrait without needing to change lenses. Rokinon suggests this range keeps your subjects and their surroundings well-balanced, making it an excellent option for anyone doing street, travel, or studio photography. Personally, I think this range is reasonably practical. How often do you really need the extra 10mm to reach 70mm when this lens is lighter and more compact?

Getting Up Close: Detailed Close-Ups and Near-Macro

How close can you focus with the Rokinon AF 24-60mm f/2.8? It allows you to get extremely close to your subjects.
When you’re at the wide 24mm setting, the minimum focusing distance is just 7.1 inches (0.18m), which is fantastic. Even at 60mm, you can still focus on something as close as 12.6 inches (0.32m).

This means you can do some near-macro photography, with a maximum magnification of 0.27x. If you love food photography, still life, or product shots, this is a great feature. It appears that Rokinon has designed this lens to be versatile, making it perfect for a wide range of applications, from vast landscapes to intricate tabletop scenes.

Optical Excellence: What’s Under the Hood

This lightweight barrel houses impressive engineering. Rokinon put a lot of thought into the glass used. It features an optical design comprising 14 elements arranged into 11 groups.

To ensure clear and detailed images, the design includes several specialized pieces: three aspherical elements, two extra-low dispersion elements, and three high-refractive elements. This careful combination helps reduce problems like distortion, colored fringes around sharp edges, and lens flare. Rokinon claims that this setup is designed to keep images sharp and minimize distortion, even in low light at wide apertures.

Fast Focus and Modern Features

When you want to focus on a fast-moving subject or record smooth video, you need an autofocus system that is both fast and quiet. Rokinon has added a high-performance Linear STM (Stepping Motor) to this lens.

Rokinon states that this motor provides quick, accurate, and nearly silent autofocus. For those who take both photos and high-quality videos, this is a significant advantage. It allows for smooth tracking of subjects in photos and quiet focus shifts in videos. This means you can focus swiftly and quietly in various settings, including low-light areas, without distracting focus sounds ruining your video.

In addition to these key features, the lens includes some excellent modern touches:

• Custom Button: A programmable button is located on the lens barrel. You can easily set this up for different camera functions, depending on your Sony model and personal preferences, which helps speed up your workflow.
• USB-C Port: A handy feature. The lens has a USB-C port for quick firmware updates. This ensures your lens remains current, compatible, and optimized for new Sony camera models and features.

You also have a dedicated MF/AF switch on the lens barrel, allowing you to toggle between manual and autofocus settings easily. It’s a small but functional detail you’ll appreciate when you need a quick adjustment.

Compact Design and Trusted Durability

The Rokinon AF 24-60mm f/2.8 is popular mainly because it’s small and lightweight. Made from a strong aluminum alloy, it has a sturdy feel while being just 17.4 ounces (493g). Its compact design, around 4 to 5 inches long, makes it easy to carry, fitting well on smaller Sony cameras without being too heavy in the front.

Rokinon also highlights that this lens is built to last. It has a weather-sealed design that protects it from dust, light rain, and snow. With an IP5 dust resistance rating and a Hydro Shield coating that repels water and oil, it helps keep the front element clean, reducing the accumulation of dust, moisture, and fingerprints. This means you can keep shooting outdoors, even if it’s drizzling or a bit dirty.

Additionally, the lens features a 72mm front filter thread, which is a relatively standard size. This size makes it easy to attach polarizers, ND filters, or other accessories without needing to search for different adapters.

Pricing and Availability

You can now preorder the Rokinon AF 24-60mm f/2.8 lens for Sony E for $899.00.

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[Image credits: Rokinon]

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