Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II (Version 2) is the second iteration of Sony's premium G Master (GM) series wide-angle zoom lens. Designed specifically for Sony's full-frame mirrorless cameras, this lens brings major upgrades over its predecessor, combining exceptional optical performance, improved autofocus, and a more compact and lightweight design. As a lens that caters to landscape photographers, videographers, travelers, and architectural photographers, it promises to deliver high-quality images, whether shooting wide vistas, tight interiors, or dynamic video content.

With a fast f/2.8 aperture and the versatility of a 16-35mm zoom range, the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II offers both ultra-wide coverage and low-light performance while maintaining exceptional sharpness and bokeh quality. Let’s dive into the details of the features, performance, and overall user experience.

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Features / Specifications

Focal Length: 16-35mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8 (constant)
Lens Type: Zoom
Lens Mount: Sony E-mount (full-frame)
Optical Design: 16 elements in 14 groups
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.28m (11 inches) at 16mm, 0.28m (11 inches) at 35mm
Maximum Magnification: 0.19x at 35mm
Filter Thread: 82mm
Weight: 547 grams (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions: 83.4mm x 119.6mm (3.28 in x 4.71 in)

Build Quality

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is built to Sony's renowned G Master standards, ensuring exceptional durability, rigidity, and reliability. It features a weather-sealed design, protecting it from dust, moisture, and light splashes, making it ideal for outdoor shoots or unpredictable environments. The lens feels solid and premium in hand, with the added benefit of being slightly more compact and lighter than its predecessor, which makes it a great option for travel photographers or those needing to carry a high-performance lens for long periods.

The lens is constructed with a combination of high-quality metal and polycarbonate elements that ensure a robust feel without compromising on portability. The focus ring is smooth and responsive, with a tactile feel, while the zoom ringprovides precise control for zooming through the 16-35mm range.

Like other G Master lenses, this model features Sony's XA (extreme aspherical) lens elements, which contribute to high-resolution imagery across the frame. Additionally, it incorporates Nano AR coating II, which reduces ghosting and flare, particularly in high-contrast or backlit scenarios. The front lens element is coated with fluorine to help repel dust, fingerprints, and moisture, keeping the lens cleaner during shoots in challenging conditions.

Size, Weight, and Dimensions

The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is relatively compact and lightweight for a wide-angle zoom lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture. Weighing 547 grams (1.21 lbs) and measuring 119.6mm in length and 83.4mm in diameter, it is noticeably lighter and smaller than its predecessor, the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM (Version 1), which makes it more appealing for those looking to travel light while still benefiting from excellent optical performance.

Despite its smaller size, the lens maintains a premium feel in both build and handling. The 82mm filter thread is standard for wide-angle lenses and provides easy compatibility with a wide range of filters.

Image Quality

The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II delivers outstanding optical performance, improving upon its predecessor in several key areas. This lens is designed for photographers who demand exceptional sharpness, contrast, and color fidelity, as well as minimal optical distortions.

Sharpness

Center Sharpness: The lens excels in delivering sharp, detailed images across the entire zoom range, even when wide open at f/2.8. Whether shooting at the wide 16mm end or the 35mm zoom range, the center sharpness is impressive. Stopping down to f/4 or f/5.6 further improves resolution, but even at f/2.8, this lens competes with the best in the class.
Edge Sharpness: One of the standout features of this lens is its ability to maintain edge-to-edge sharpness, even at wide apertures. At 16mm and f/2.8, the sharpness remains excellent throughout the frame, which is especially important for landscape and architecture photographers. The lens performs especially well in minimizing optical aberrations like chromatic aberration and field curvature, which can plague other lenses in the same category.

Bokeh

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II produces smooth, attractive bokeh at its maximum aperture. The lens is equipped with an 11-blade circular aperture, which helps achieve rounded and soft background blur, especially at 35mm. While the bokeh is softer compared to telephoto lenses, it still delivers pleasant subject isolation and separation from busy backgrounds. This is especially beneficial for portraiture or close-up shots, even at the wide-angle end of the zoom range.

Flare, Ghosting, and Chromatic Aberration

Flare and Ghosting: Thanks to the Nano AR coating II and aspherical elements, the lens effectively minimizes flare and ghosting, even in challenging lighting conditions such as backlighting or direct light sources in the frame. The lens maintains high contrast and clarity, even in high-contrast environments, which is a significant improvement over earlier models.

Chromatic Aberration: The chromatic aberration (CA) control is exceptional, with minimal color fringing even at wide apertures and the widest focal length (16mm). This is a key feature for landscape photographers who frequently shoot in high-contrast lighting conditions, such as sunsets or architectural scenes with sharp lines against bright skies.

Autofocus

The autofocus performance of the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is fast, accurate, and almost silent, thanks to its dual XD linear motors. The autofocus system is ideal for both stills and video, with smooth and reliable tracking even in low-light situations. This makes it perfect for shooting moving subjects or for capturing dynamic moments without worrying about focus issues.

Performance in Photography and Videography

Photography

The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II excels in various photographic scenarios:

Landscape Photography: With its wide focal length and incredible edge-to-edge sharpness, this lens is a top contender for landscape photographers. Whether you’re capturing sweeping mountain vistas or shooting at twilight, the fast f/2.8 aperture allows for impressive depth of field control and sharpness even in low-light conditions.

Architecture and Interiors: Its low levels of distortion and minimal chromatic aberration make this lens highly suitable for architecture and interior photography, where precise lines and accurate color reproduction are critical.

Astrophotography: The f/2.8 aperture allows for long exposure shots of the night sky, while the excellent sharpness across the frame helps produce detailed star fields and crisp Milky Way images.

Videography

For videographers, the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is a fantastic option:

The lens benefits from fast, smooth autofocus, with minimal focus breathing, which is essential for smooth focusing transitions in video.
The silent linear motors and reduced optical distortion ensure that the lens is both quiet and precise, making it an excellent choice for run-and-gun videography, where autofocus performance is crucial.
Its weather-sealing also makes it more versatile for on-location filming in unpredictable weather conditions.

Use Cases

Travel Photography: Lightweight, compact, and versatile, this lens is perfect for travel photographers who need wide coverage in a compact form.
Landscape & Nature Photography: With its excellent sharpness and ability to render intricate details, this lens is ideal for landscape photography in both bright daylight and low light.
Videography: The lens is well-suited for filmmaking, whether shooting interviews, documentaries, or cinematic scenes, thanks to its smooth autofocus, minimal focus breathing, and weather-resistant design.
Street Photography: The fast aperture and wide focal lengths make it a solid choice for street photography, offering flexibility and great image quality in changing lighting conditions.

Price

The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II sits at the premium end of the market, with a price that reflects its high-end build, optical performance, and autofocus capabilities. It is an investment for professionals who require the best in wide-angle zoom performance, but it is also priced competitively compared to other premium zoom lenses such as the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM.

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II builds upon the success of its predecessor by improving upon every critical aspect. Its outstanding image quality, coupled with fast and accurate autofocus, makes it a standout choice for both photography and videography. It offers excellent performance in a compact design, making it a must-have for landscape, travel, and architecture photographers, as well as filmmakers.

Conclusion

Rating

Our overall rating: 9.4/10

The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is a premium wide-angle zoom lens that offers outstanding optical performance, excellent build quality, and highly reliable autofocus. It’s a top choice for professionals seeking the best in class for wide-angle photography and video work.