Rokinon IO2470AFZ 70mm
The 24-70mm constant f/2.8 zoom and parfocal design, backed by 17 elements with 2 aspherical and 3 ED lenses, deliver sharp, consistent exposure across the range. A linear STM motor provides quiet, precise autofocus, while weather sealing and a 9-blade diaphragm enable rugged use and smooth, circular bokeh. This lens suits video shooters and hybrid creators on Sony E-mount who need reliable parfocal zoom for smooth focus transitions during filming.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Great optics trapped in a body that falls apart. The Rokinon 24-70mm f/2.8 is a ticking time bomb for your Sony.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent optical sharpness for the price 93rd
- Fast, accurate LSM autofocus 81st
- Weather sealed and feels solid at first
- Bright constant f/2.8 aperture
Cons
- Lens mount breaks off due to plastic threads
- Screws strip and fall out within weeks
- Terrible customer support and warranty hassles
- No stabilization and mediocre build quality
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 10 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Optically, this thing punches above its weight. The 17 elements in 14 groups with 3 ED and 2 aspherical elements deliver sharpness that lands in the top tier of our database. Autofocus from the Linear Sonic Motor is snappy and accurate on Sony bodies. But here's the kicker: none of that matters when the mount breaks. Multiple verified buyers report the tiny screws that hold the mount to the lens body strip their plastic threads within days or months. The lens literally falls off the camera. That's not a performance quirk, that's a structural failure.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 24 |
| Focal Length Max | 70 |
| Elements | 17 |
| Groups | 14 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 |
| ED Elements | 3 |
| Coating | UMC Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 1.1 kg / 2.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 82 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | LSM (Linear Sonic Motor) |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 350 |
| Max Magnification | 1:3.7 |
vs Competition
The obvious competitor is the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art. It's sharper, better built, and doesn't have a mount that detaches itself. The Sony G Master is even better optically but costs a lot more. If you need a budget 24-70mm f/2.8, the Sigma is the safer bet. The Rokinon only wins on initial price, and that's a hollow victory when the lens falls apart.
| Spec | Rokinon IO2470AFZ 70mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 24-70mm | 28-300mm | 17-40mm | 18-135mm | 8-18mm | 55-250mm |
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/4 | f/1.8 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Fujifilm X | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Canon EF-S |
| Stabilization | false | true | false | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | false | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 1096 | 590 | 535 | 326 | 313 | 375 |
| AF Type | LSM (Linear Sonic Motor) | VXD linear motor | HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) | Linear motor | 240-fps autofocus drive | STM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rokinon IO2470AFZ 70mm | 53.9 | 25.2 | 34.7 | 64.5 | 93.4 | 21.9 | 0.1 | 80.5 | 5.2 | 34.4 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 97.7 | 83.5 | 62.8 | 83.3 | 96.3 | 70.9 | 92.2 | 97.9 | 50.5 | 79.3 |
| Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Compare | 53.9 | 97 | 66.9 | 72.2 | 96.6 | 95.3 | 98.3 | 75.7 | 94.1 | 34.4 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 97.7 | 81.3 | 70.8 | 37.4 | 78 | 82.7 | 47.9 | 95.8 | 90.7 | 79.3 |
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 Compare | 53.9 | 86.6 | 83.4 | 35.2 | 93.4 | 88.3 | 81.7 | 75.2 | 80.9 | 79.3 |
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Compare | 84.7 | 69.9 | 64.8 | 30.6 | 74.2 | 70.9 | 47.9 | 92.2 | 90.7 | 92.3 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At USD 699 to USD 880 across US listings, the price spread is wide enough to make you pause. The cheapest US listing is the only one worth considering, and even then, you're buying a lens with a documented structural failure rate. In Canada, prices range from CAD 956 to CAD 1,313, and the lower end is the only semi-defensible option. But honestly, saving a couple hundred bucks up front means nothing when you're shipping a broken lens back and fighting customer support for a replacement.
Price History
Read more
Overview
The Rokinon 24-70mm f/2.8 AF for Sony E is a lens that looks great on paper and then falls apart in your hands. Literally. The optical performance is genuinely strong for the price, but a mount that shears off after a few weeks makes this a gamble we can't recommend. If you're buying this, you're betting your lens won't be the one that fails. And based on what owners are reporting, that's a bad bet.
Common Questions
Q: Is this lens parfocal?
No, and don't expect it to be. Autofocus zooms aren't parfocal by design. Some copies might hold focus through the zoom range, but that's luck, not a feature. If you need true parfocal, you're looking at cinema zooms.
Q: How does it compare to the Sony G Master?
The G Master is noticeably sharper and built like a tank. The Rokinon is cheaper and optically decent, but the G Master won't fall off your camera. If you can afford it, the Sony is the obvious choice.
Q: Is the optical quality as good as the Sigma version?
Close, but no. The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is a bit sharper and far more reliable. The Rokinon is good optically, but the Sigma is the better lens overall.
Who Should Skip This
If you're a professional or anyone who needs a lens that won't fail mid-shoot, skip this entirely. Go get the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art or a used Sony G Master. If you're a hobbyist on a tight budget and willing to roll the dice, maybe, but we wouldn't.
Verdict
Don't buy this lens. The optical quality is real, but the build quality is a dealbreaker. Multiple owners report the mount breaking off within months, and Rokinon's customer support makes getting a fix a nightmare. Save up for the Sigma or buy a used Sony. Your camera deserves better than a lens that might drop to the ground mid-shoot.
