Sony’s updated premium wideangle zoom promises high-end optics in a compact package, but does it deliver? Andy Westlake takes a close look
With a five-year head start over its rivals in building up its full-frame mirrorless system, Sony is now replacing its older lenses with updated versions. Following hot on the heels of the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM II and FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II, the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II completes the firm’s second-generation trinity of pro-spec zooms. With its wideangle view, it should be useful for subjects such as architecture, landscapes, and interiors. It costs £2,400.
Compared to its 2017 predecessor, the new lens promises improved optics and superior operability in a smaller, lighter package. It’s 1cm shorter and 133g lighter, and while its high-end rivals from Canon, Nikon and Sigma are all larger still, they offer wider angles of view in return. It’s worth noting that Sigma’s 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN and the Tamron 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD are both smaller, lighter, and considerably cheaper, but don’t have the same pro-level build and handling.
We’ve been extremely impressed by Sony’s updated 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses, so does their 16-35mm sibling follow suit?
Features
Sony’s GM (or G Master) series lenses come with a no-holdsbarred approach to optical quality. In this case, the design employs 15 elements in 12 groups, with a cornucopia of special elements to minimise aberrations. This includes no fewer than 3 extreme aspherical (XA) lenses, along with 1 aspherical, 2 extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, 1 ED glass aspherical, and 1 Super ED glass element. The idea is to provide excellent sharpness all the way across the frame, along with attractively blurred out-of-focus backgrounds. The latter is aided by an 11-blade aperture.
Four XD linear motors are used for focusing, two each for the two focus groups. This delivers a floating focus mechanism that promises to maintain high levels of sharpness over the full distance range, all the way in to its 22cm minimum. At this point, the lens delivers 0.32x maximum magnification, which is handy for close-up shooting. Sony says the autofocus supports 30 frames per second shooting on the Alpha 1, along with 4K video recording at 120fps.
As befits a pro-level optic, the lens features dust- and moistureresistant construction. A fluorine coating is applied to the front element, which helps to resist water splashes and fingerprints. Like its 24-70mm f/2.8 sibling,
