In this blog I will give you my first impressions of the Thypoch Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8. This is a very unique zoom lens from Thypoch for two reasons: it’s autofocus, and it has full internal zoom. For transparency, this lens was sent to me ahead of release, and I get to keep it after the blog is published. This blog isn’t a review as I’ve only used it for a few weeks, instead think of it as a detailed first look.

Concept

This is a rather unique lens, and in my opinion is one of a kind. The 24-50mm focal length was seen before in the Sony 24-50mm f/2.8 zoom, a lens that forms the core part of my photography kit. I praised that lens for the reversible design and the compact size. By that I mean the lens is at its most compact when at 50mm, with the whole package being no bigger than a prime. You can read more about it here.

The Thypoch follows the same concept of a compact 24-50mm package, with the overall footprint being the same as or smaller than most f/1.4 primes. However, there is one huge difference which puts this lens in a category of its own. The zoom is 100% internal. Whether you’re at 24mm or 50mm, the lens does not change size, and nothing visible occurs when zooming in or out. In my opinion, this is the game changer feature that has taken this lens from a mere “looks ok” to a “this has a high chance of replacing my Sony 24-50”.

Cost & Value

This is the most interesting bit… this lens will cost £489 in the UK. This makes it incredibly affordable and less than half the price of the Sony version.

Build Quality

The build quality is outstanding. It feels premium, well put together, and like it would take a beating. The finish has a matte feel that feels smooth but grippy. The rubber material on the focus and zoom dials feels great too. The aperture dial feels solid and sounds premium, even the sound of the function button is nice. Initial impressions are great, however this may differ from long term opinions after extensive use.

Ergonomics

The internal zoom is a game changer. I’m so used to other zoom lenses extending, that at first this felt weird. Now that I’m used to the internal zoom, I don’t think I can go back to a traditional zoom. It’s nice not having the centre of gravity change when you zoom between 24 and 50mm.

This lens feels at home on bigger bodies such as the A7V, however it’s still fine on the smaller systems like the A7C. I would say that on the A7C you feel the weight shift to the front, while on the bigger A7V it feels perfectly balanced. The aperture ring feels nice, the AF/MF switch feels solid, the aperture dial is tactile, and overall I am very happy with the ergonomics of this lens.

Features

I like that this lens is minimal in design and only has the essential features. You get a custom function button that can be programmed to anything you like. I personally have it set to manual focus hold which allows for manual focus operation when the button is held down. This helps me adjust the focus manually when shooting reflections or in difficult situations.

The lens is not only weather resistant, but it has an actual IP rating. It’s IP52 as it comes, and IP53 when fitted with a filter. While you can’t take it in the shower with you, it would withstand most shooting conditions.

The last feature I like is how you update the firmware. You have a USB-C port on the back which connects to your laptop, and the lens is recognised the same as a hard drive. You then go on the Thypoch website which will automatically update the lens if needed.

Image Quality

We are at the stage now where I feel like a broken record talking about image quality. It’s good, that’s it. I’ve been trying many different lenses from different companies and at various price points over the last few years, and I can confidently say that anything around the £400 mark is excellent. Sure, you can pixel peep and study edge sharpness or fringing, or various other imperfections, but for the most part you’re splitting hairs. The lens is sharp at all aperture values, the colours are great, and the image looks good. There is one thing I noticed, and that’s the interesting looking lens flare when shooting into the light without a lens hood. See samples below.

AF Performance

The AF is on par with other third party lenses that use STM motors. It’s fast, reliable, and sticky. If you compare it to the Sony version, which uses linear motors, there are two differences. The Sony lenses are silent, while the Thypoch makes a small sound as the STM motors do their thing. Also, the Sony lens focuses faster due to the linear motors. Overall the AF on this is good and will be suitable for 99% of shooting scenarios. After a couple of weeks of street photography, I haven’t had any focus related issues. I used this lens on the A7CR as well as the A7V. There is a clear performance difference, but that’s down to the A7V being a more modern camera. I have spoken to Thypoch about the slower AF, and they noted that this will be addressed in subsequent firmware updates.

Integration

During my time with the lens, I have noticed an integration bug that I have highlighted to Thypoch. When shooting on my Sony A1ii or A7V, the manual focusing isn’t smooth or precise. It’s a little jerky and feels like a communication issue between the lens and the camera. On the A7R5, I don’t have this issue. This was highlighted to Thypoch and they confirmed a firmware update will be coming to fix this. I suspect this is due to this being a new product and a first of its kind for Thypoch, so it’s not a concern for me at all.

Learn More

To learn more about this lens, head over to their page - https://thypoch.com/en/voyager/24-50mm