Sony FE 16-35mm F/2.8 GM II

Specifications01

MountSONY FE

Focal length16-35mm

Max aperturef/2.8

TypeCinema · Wide · Zoom

Weight547 g

Filter size82 mm

Physical length111.5 mm

Min focus distance0.22 m

Max magnification0.3226

Aperture blades11

Optical elements15

Groups12

Lens hoodPetal shape, bayonet type, supplied

Additional Info02

Category["Sony FE (Full Format)"]

Keywords["E-mount","Sony","Ultra-wide","Zoom"]

Review AuthorKlaus

Review Rating8

Other Featuresfocus hold button, de-clickable aperture ring, dust- and moisture-resistant, fluorine coating, floating system

Review VerdictThe Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II does many things right - if you've got a good copy, at least. It's plenty sharp at the wide end and well into the middle range. At 35mm, there's a drop in quality, so it's best to stop down 1-2 f-stops. Unlike Sony's G wide-angle zoom lenses, the GM has good native distortion control, so auto-correction doesn't have to work quite as hard here. Lateral CAs are well-controlled, and vignetting stays within the typical limits of a lens in this class. The sun star rendering is decent. The build quality is excellent but that's something you expect from a lens in this price class. We only wished that Sony had managed to implement an internal zoom mechanism. The reduced weight and slightly more compact dimensions are always welcomed. The AF is fast and silent. Videographers will appreciate the de-clickable aperture ring as well as comparatively low focus breathing and breathing compensation support. If you are into close-up photography with ultra-wide angle lenses, the impressive close-focus capabilities could also be interesting for you. Overall, the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is a clear improvement over its predecessor - and it's (mostly) worth the high price tag.

Review Criteria{"Build Quality":9,"Optical Quality":8,"Price / Performance":8}

Review Published2024-10-24T07:28:05+00:00

Optical Construction15 elements in 12 groups (3x XA, 1x aspherical, 1x ED aspherical, 1x Super ED, 2x ED)

Field Notes02

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is an ultra-wide zoom for full-frame E-mount, suited to landscape, travel, and low-light work. It has a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range.

AI-assisted summary — verify against linked sources

Catalog note · source: opticallimits