A few months ago, I switched systems, mainly due to future work-related requirements. The system I’m switching to is Sony, specifically the a7R IV, so I need a versatile lens to start with so I have time to save up for another lens once I’ve paid off my bank account.
After reading many reviews and watching countless YouTube videos, this is the lens I chose to use Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS lens. A versatile and reliable Swiss Army lens according to the reviews, so how did I get on with this lens and is it worth considering in my opinion?
Quality construction
The lens feels solid in your hand with a sturdy construction that is dust and moisture resistant. Measuring 113.3mm when closed, the lens has a 77mm filter thread and weighs only 663g. The lens itself features Sony Nano AR coating to eliminate flare and ghosting, with the front element fluorinated to help resist fingerprints and dust. 
This lens is made up of 17 elements in 14 groups, including 3 ED elements, 2 aspherical elements, and 2 advanced aspherical elements, and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.38 m.
The lens body features a focus hold button that can be programmed via menu for other functions, an AF/MF switch, and an OSS on/off switch for further image stabilization on the camera. Both the zoom ring and focus ring are very well damped so you can make precise adjustments with precision.
Efficiency
The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS lens does not disappoint in this regard. With a focal range that covers everything from wide-angle to mid-telephoto, this lens is perfect for landscapes, portraits and street photography. The f/4 aperture may not be the widest but it’s adequate for most situations, in my case mainly landscapes. Additionally, built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization helps you take steady photos even in low light conditions. With this in mind, I can now comfortably shoot at 1/20th of a second if I need to with some images, and very few breaths can be captured at 1/6th of a second. This is not what I intended to do; that’s what a tripod is for, but I enjoyed the challenge nonetheless. Autofocus is fast, silent, and works well with eye tracking for photos and videos.
Sharpness is good throughout the zoom range, and distortion and chromatic aberration are minimal. Sure, the GM lens will be sharper, but for the price you get a very good lens that you can use in a variety of situations, and one that handles them very well. For landscapes at the widest focal length, the corners can be a bit soft. Having said that, however, I haven’t found it to be detrimental to the photos I’ve taken so far. This is a more general-purpose all-purpose lens, so any softer edges at 24mm aren’t a deal-breaker. 
You can leave your other lenses at home with this versatile lens and still be prepared for any situation. This I found very useful on hikes and higher altitudes where weight can be an issue when carrying several different lenses. I’ve brought two lenses on recent hikes, this lens being one of them, and not once did I wish I’d brought a different focal length. It allows me to take wider shots and then zoom in to get more distant subjects. Additionally, with the 35mm zoom lens on the Sony a7R IV, I can extend the shooting range by another 52mm.
Advantage
- The f/4 aperture is constant throughout the range
- Sharp
- Light
- flexible
- The cost is relatively low compared to what you get for your money.
Defect
- After a few months of use, I can’t really say I’ve found anything that affects my photography.
- There will be some cheaper lenses that have a similar focal range
Final thoughts
It’s sharp at every aperture, it’s a lens that can do it all, and it’s great for just taking one lens on longer hikes as it holds up the goods and performs so well. It won’t match the quality of GM lenses and that’s why you pay more for them; They do this job very well
You can’t go wrong with that Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS lens? I don’t think you can. For $1,198, you get a versatile lens that can cover a wide shooting range, plus it’s not big or heavy so it fits easily in your camera bag. I brought lenses, one Sony a7R Vand a Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 lens in my Peak Design Everyday Sling v2 and there is still plenty of room for hiking and quite a bit of elevation. The lenses returned the images I wanted on these hikes, and they worked well because I didn’t need to carry a tripod. The Steadyshot feature in the lens, combined with in-body image stabilization, meant I didn’t have to worry about the shutter speed dropping in some shots; although this is something I want to practice.
So far, it has proven to be the Swiss army knife of lenses as some reviewers have mentioned, and for the photos I take, I can be a little more comfortable saving up for other lenses. These reviews are accurate in terms of versatility and sharpness, so if you’re considering this lens while also pulling your hair out at the G-Masters’ price, I’d buy this lens. Sure, the GM lens would be better, but this one performs surprisingly well and costs less.
