From Fog to Downtown: Testing the Sony 24-70mm f/4 Zeiss on the a7C in San Francisco
I finally pulled the trigger on a new lens—well, new-to-me. I scored the Sony 24-70mm f/4 Zeiss on Facebook Marketplace for a steal. It’s got a little wear on the outside, but honestly, who cares when the glass is solid and it’s Zeiss? I wanted something versatile to walk around San Francisco with, and this lens has been on my list forever.
So of course, first stop was Ocean Beach on a foggy morning, then I made my way into the city to test it out downtown. Between the endless mist, seagulls, street cars, and classic San Francisco architecture, I got to see what this lens can really do paired with my Sony a7C.
First Impressions
The Sony 24-70mm f/4 Zeiss Vario-Tessar is compact, lightweight, and feels balanced on the a7C. It’s not as heavy as the f/2.8 version, which is a win for walking around all day. The zoom range is the biggest draw: 24mm gives you that wide context shot, while 70mm lets you punch in for portraits or details.
*The Zeiss T coating really helps with foggy, low-contrast situations*, and the colors straight out of camera already have that pop without feeling overcooked.
Ocean Beach in the Fog 🌫️
This lens got baptized by Karl the Fog, and I couldn’t have asked for a better test.
Ocean Beach is already moody and cinematic, but this lens handled it like a champ. f/4 gave me enough depth while keeping things light, and I could quickly switch between wide landscape shots and tighter details.
Downtown San Francisco Shots 🌆
Here’s where I appreciated having the zoom. 24mm gave me the full streetscape, while 70mm let me capture details without physically stepping into traffic (always a plus).
Pros & Cons of the 24-70mm f/4 Zeiss
Pros:
Versatile range: wide → portrait in seconds.
Compact/light compared to the f/2.8.
Zeiss colors + contrast, especially in foggy or overcast light.
Sharp edge-to-edge when stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8.
Cons:
f/4 isn’t the fastest in low light.
At 70mm wide open, sharpness dips a bit compared to primes.
Not cheap new (but a used one = best deal).
Who This Lens Is For:
Travelers who don’t want to swap primes all day.
Street + city shooters who need flexibility.
Anyone who shoots in moody conditions (like SF fog) and wants consistent color rendering.
If you’re a wedding or portrait shooter needing bokeh-on-bokeh, f/2.8 might serve you better. But if you’re like me and want something portable for both city walks and beach fog adventures, this Zeiss zoom is a winner.
Final Thoughts
For me, the Sony 24-70mm f/4 Zeiss is the lens that finally bridges my love for street photography, landscapes, and everyday shooting. From Ocean Beach fog to cable cars downtown, it delivered. Sure, it’s not the fastest lens out there, but I’ll take the portability and flexibility over lugging heavier glass.
If you’re shooting on a Sony a7C or any full-frame Sony, this is easily one of the best walkaround zooms you can pick up —especially if you snag it secondhand like I did.
Want to see more of my San Francisco photo adventures? Check out my Instagram or my portfolio at PeteMuniz.com/portfolio