Sony FE 16-35 F2.8 GM II Lens Review
Sony FE 16-35 F2.8 GM II Lens Review
The Mark 2 version of Sony's Ultra Wide-Angle Zoom lens offers several performance improvements over the Mark 1 version. This includes improved sharpness at the 35mm focal length. The Mark 2 is also smaller, lighter and faster focusing and features an aperture ring on the barrel of the lens.
In this review I also look at the alternative lens options for someone looking for an ultra wide-angle lens.
Album of Ultra High-Definition images: flic.kr/s/aHBqjASFvS
Pre-order the lens from B&H Photo: bhpho.to/3hyk4qW
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Thank you for your candid evaluation of the new 16/35 GM II
Any time!
When I want a review I always come here for Sony gear. Thanks Mark
Happy to help!
Excellent review video as always !
Thank you! Cheers!
Amazing review Mark
Thanks - you are welcome
Thank you Mark for your concise evaluation of the new 16/35 MkII
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent review
Glad you liked it!
… definitely the actual best zoom for photojournalism. I instantly bought the lens for my work - great review Mark! 👍🏻 Hopefully we will get soon a new 85 GM. It’s time for the M II version.
Great to hear!
Excellent as always
Glad you think so!
Thank you for your post with a comprehensive look at the long-awaited Sony 16-35mm GM II. I was a bit surprised to see Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 A062 missing from the alternative options (which I would have chosen to buy if the 2nd generation had not come out in time). It turns out that PZ 16-35mm F4 G is not for my use because it is too clumsy even for small fingers to operate, more suitable for videography in the first place. This GM II seems to surpass the 1st generation and PZ 16-35mm F4 G in many aspects. I'm looking forward to upgrading to this one.
I wouldn't draw a 20-40 into a comparison with a 16-35, which has been a classic focal range for decades. 20 would not suit it for someone looking for a 16-35.
Thank you for your video. Will be purchasing the new 16-35/2.8 GM II to go with my GM II trinity. Like that my bag is getting lighter. Plan to use it mostly on my A7RV and A1.
Good choice!
I've been using my Canon 16-35 2.8 L USM on my Sony, and have been very happy with it at various shows. I'm interested in the Sony light weight and getting rid of the lens adapter. I'm torn between the 2.8 versus 4.0. I don't seem to use DOF in my shots these days but appreciate having the ability to knock out the background. I've used the Canon lens since my 20D days, so I am comfortable with its heavy weight.
It's difficult to defocus the background when using a wide angle lens unless you are extremely close to the foreground subject. At the 35mm zoom end this is possible but I tend to be using my 35mm F1.4 GM to do this. F2.8 will give you the option to shoot astro and hand-held in locations with low ambient light (that would be more challenging with an F4 option).
I've got the 16-35 PZ and 24 1.4 GM, which I much prefer as a combination to spending so much money on this single 16-35 GM lens. The PZ is great for video, sharp as a tack, focuses just as fast as the GMII since it has the same linear motors. When it is night time, the 1.4 gives even better low light capability and more interesting bokeh. I do agree that carrying 2 lenses is not always easy, but that combination is STILL cheaper than the single GM2! Thanks Mark for another great video
I just said the same thing above. Plus the PZ is an internal zoom so less dust. I also have the 24mm 1.4 and its a dream with both lenses esp the 24mm in low light especially for milky way captures where 2.8 is limiting.
Thanks for sharing
Yes got both those too and the 14mm GM, so arguably I don't need the mkii GM f2.8 trinity zoom either. But, strangely I want one. I'm lucky that I can afford to buy one, but will wait a few months for the 'must have now' rush to ease and discounts to appear (eg BF, NY or trade show deals). I already own more Sony glass than I can carry on any one occasion, so for me it's a case of picking the 'best tool' for the task in hand. I also own both the other trinity mkii GM zooms, both outstanding, so that's why I'm interested in this. For travel and street I can see that the convenience and versatility make it attractive. But, I like to buy 'smart so will wait. I managed to sell my original mk 1 16-35GM recently at a good price too. Although the PZ f4 is good (especially for videography) it's not great for lower light street or 'blue hour' use and it's not always ideal to use with a prime for low light (14, 20, 24 or 35mm). If I'm doing astro landscape then forsure a prime 14 or 20 makes more sense. The f2.8 mkii GM at circa 16mm would do 'astro' at a push but not the f4 PZ. Equally a 50mm f1.4 (one prime not yet bought) might mean I could travel lighter, leaving my 24-70 at home. I don't feel my best shots come from the 'normal mid zoom and find I typically make more dramatic images with wider or more tele options.
I will be buying this lens. I never liked the original lens at 35mm. I regarded it as a 16-28mm lens where it was excellent in that range. I always used my 24-70 if I wanted to shoot at 35mm. Hopefully the new lens will be great throughout it's entire focal range.
I found that to be the case
I deliberately opted for the FE PZ 16-35 F4 G shortly after release. I really don't feel the need for f/2.8 in an ultra-wide, and the size and weight savings are worthwhile. The power zoom is useful for video. I take your point about the trinity - I've just upgraded my FE 70-200 F2.8 GM (mark 1) to the FE 70-200 F2.8 GM II, and I've bought the FE 24-70 F2.8 GM II. However, I think I will be keeping my hand in my pocket this time; I certainly will not be placing a pre-order at full price. If I spend any more money on wide-angle lenses in the next two years, I will probably buy the FE 20 F1.8 G to use alongside my FE PZ 16-35 F4 G.
The FE 20mm F1.8 G is one of Sony's bargain lenses, in my opinion, and opens the door for low light photography and Astro with low noise, all in a compact and lightweight form factor.
@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you for confirming my thinking. I was not surprised to see the FE 20 F1.8 G featured in the comparison section of this video. I have seen some excellent astrophotography shots taken using the 20mm prime and it is excellent value for what it offers. Thank you for continuing to push out great content, Mark; I'm glad to be one of your Patreon supporters.
Really I like the FE 16-35 F2.8 II ❤
A good update to the MK1
So sharp.
Exactly what we would expect from a GM lens from Sony
Thanks so much for this review. I’m switching from Nikon to Sony and I’m hesitant between the 12-24 f2.8 and this one. I’m a landscape photographer. I own the Nikkor Z 14-24 f2.8 from Nikon (a monster), however it’s a bit big. Thanks so much
Glad I could help!
I own the 12-24 2.8 GM. I use it rarely (for astro, I prefer the gorgeous 14mm GM), but the 12-24 still is a phenomenal lens (but weight). Highly recommended if you find it at a good price (the Mark II version seems to be ante portas)... .
Dear Mark, thx for this video. May i ask you the following? thx: What is the sweet spot of the 16-35 gm 2. If i am shooting with f8 or higher it looks less sharp as expected. A specialist told me, it will be something inbetween 4 - 5.6. for best results but that cannot be, can it be? Thx for answering me. Greets Peter from Germany.
I will choose an aperture for preferred depth of field rather than maximum optical sharpness - which can usually only be appreciated when zoomed to 100%, viewing on an 8K monitor or a 1.5 metre wide print. I would wait for someone such as lensrentals.com to bench test 10 sample units and produce an MTF chart to see where maximum sharpness resides. I only upload ultra high-definition images to Flickr and Raw images to my Patreon support site for users to assess sharpness.
@@AlphaCreativeSkills thx for answering, greets peter
Hi Mark! I need help! I want to shoot a remote camera for sports but I don’t have pocket wizards in my country, I would like to know an alternative for Sony cameras, to trigger the second Camera with my first one, using radio triggers
It's the Sony commander that can trigger a second Sony camera. You will also need one receiver mounted to the second camera. You are advised to join my Patreon.com/markgaler support channel for pro support rather than asking question on my lens review videos. Thanks
Lot of work thanks
Most welcome
is it sharper than the 12-24GM at overlapping ranges?
I always say that it is as sharp as the Ultra High Definition Images I share with these reviews or the Raw images I share with Patrons. To say it is sharper than another lens I would have to wait for a company like lens rentals to bench test 10 units, then take an average to eliminate sample deviation so that we can compare it to the 10 units of another model they have tested in the same manner.
Everyone always forgets about the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8. Not as much reach obviously, but as many people already carry a standard zoom anyway, the extra 2mm on the wide end may make the sacrifice on the long end worth while. And bonus, 14mm really is ideal for astro, if that’s something that matters to you. Sort of a compromise between the regular 16-35mm and 12-24mm Sonys, at a substantially lower price. Super sharp and with typically excellent Sigma Art build quality. Worth a look, perhaps.
Not forgotten, but with its fixed lens hood, no acceptance of screw-on front filters and 40% extra weight over and above the 16-35 GM II I would compare the Sigma 14-24 with the Sony 12-24 F2.8 GM
I own the sigma 14-24 lens and it will be the first one that I sell. Sigma’s optics are fine but the excess weight of their lenses, with the exception of the 18-50 for APSC, means I rarely if ever use it.
Different strokes…just mentioning it so people know it exists and it’s an option. It offers a different set of advantages/disadvantages from other wide zooms. Might work for some, and not for others…but you can’t argue with the quality.
Mark I have a camera question. My a7riii is stuck in a 10 second self timer mode. The toggle wheel menu window won't show up anymore, for an instant photo. I looked in the regular menu settings to see if I could change it back to instant shutter. No luck. Any suggestions. Whether I use A M or S priority now, the timer kicks in 10 seconds before the shot. Note- memorized settings I have still activate the shutter instantly upon shutter button press. But if I just go to aperture priority or shutter priority or manual, the timer kicks in and I can't defeat it.
Sound like your control wheel is malfunctioning - unfortunately you will need to book this camera in with Sony for a service.
@@AlphaCreativeSkills thank you for your response. After playing with it I've confirmed that I cannot change the drive mode anymore with either toggle wheel or the on screen regular setting menu. It's stuck on the 10 second timer. Fortunately the 3 memorized setting buttons gives me the drive modes that I set with them. Was thinking about the Sony A7iv. I guess it is time.
I have recently purchased a Sony 70-200 f2.8gm2. On its first outing with the A7r3 I was unimpressed with the results. I have done a focus test & found it is focusing in front. If I pair it with my A7r4a it's fine. I have checked my other 2 Sony lenses & found similar issues. I have looked on the Sony website at the AF Micro adjustment which both my bodies have in the menu. But the adjustment part is greyed out. the menu shows 0 (zero). So I assume from the Sonys unclear help info I have to register each lens with each body before I can make an adjustment. Please can you explain how I can register & correct the focus in the micro adjustment??
Mirrorless cameras cannot back or front focus because the focus points are on the sensor and therefore on the plane of focus (hence the menu is greyed out). The adjustment you speak of is for adapted lenses where the focus is in the LA-EA4 adapter. If you feel your lens has a focus problem please contact Sony. The 70-200 GM II is an excellent performing lens (as evidenced in my lens reviews an ultra high-definition examples I have posted to support the review). You can gain a greater understanding of your Sony gear from my Patreon.com/markgaler support channel.
Why do they have two buttons on the lens , but the Sony menus only recognises the buttons as one button. This means you can only assign one function eg, focus hold to both buttons. It would be really nice if you could set each button separately so you could for example have camera set memory 1&2 . Or am I missing something?
It’s so that when you are holding the camera in vertical orientation the button is still sitting directly underneath your thumb
This one or 24-70 gm ii for street/travel - what is your opinion Mark?
There is no quick answer to that question and there is no one 'best lens'. Some will choose primes rather than zooms. Some will choose lightweight G zooms instead of GM zooms. Some will even choose APS-C camera and/or lenses. Some will be restricted by their available budget. Check out my 'Lens Choice' video on this channel or get individual support on Patreon.com/markgaler. Before I can tell you which lens I need to have a conversation to work out who you are and what your priorities are.
Everytime after I watch your lens review.. I'll have the urge to buy one.. But I shall not because I just purchase the 14 GM .. 2 months ago.. Meanwhile I'm still using the 16-35 F4 zeiss.. So... I'll probably wait until the GM III then will purchase in a heartbeat.. If.. I'm still taking pictures.
Sometimes we can admire a lens design without the need to own it. The 14 GM is a great choice.
@@AlphaCreativeSkills exactly.. technology is always interesting.
Not worth the extra $ IMO over the ultra-sharp PZ 16-35 which is much lighter and smaller. Also, the PZ can be used for smooth transitional video capture. F2.8 is becoming less of a need these days as post processing noise reduction software is top notch. Lastly, the PZ offers a much easier and productive experience if you gimbal mount. With this Gen. 2, the weight distribution will require re balancing. The PZ with an internal zoom will eliminate most dust. Minimal focus breathing is also a plus. : )
I was keen to point out the alternatives towards the end of this review (including the PZ 16-35). There are now many excellent choices if you don't need an F2.8 maximum aperture or zoom. Some GM users will prefer to invest in a lens that is free from distortions without using lens profiles to correct distortion (found in the Raw images when using the PZ). Some may choose the GM II just because it allows them to shoot Astro while others will choose it to complete their Trinity of GMs. There is no 'best' lens as there is no 'best' camera.
@@AlphaCreativeSkills Agree, but there is the law of diminishing returns and best bang for the buck. I completely understand the way in which you do your reviews. Some of the best around.....But my comment (And some others on here) can offer a more comparative perspective to let viewers think long and hard about what they would gain vs lose in spending 2.3x more. I said the same thing about the Sony 85 1.4 vs the 85 1.8.
Perspective is always good which is why I am keen not to rubbish the MK1 versions
there is a PZ version?
As mentioned in this review Sony have an FE PZ 16-35 F4 G. Check out the review on my KZhead channel.
Dear Sony, give us first: A 1 II oder A1 FirmwareUpdate with better VideoFunction like Nikon Z8/Z9 ! VideoStabi, VideoAutofocus, 8K 60 fps
This is not a Sony forum. Sony do not read the comments made on this channel.
What is the app you used for calculating hyper focal distance? Thanks
Go to cambridgeincolour.com and search for the depth of field calculator and then enable the advanced options. Increase the default size from 10 inches to something like 26 inches as most of use are most critical when viewing images on our 4K desktop monitors at close viewing range. Check out my Landscape Masterclass video tutorial and/or consider doing me on my Patreon.com/markgaler support channel. I have four decades worth of commercial photography and lecturing experience to impart to my Patrons.
LOVE how light this is compared to my version 1!!!! Definitely noticeable throughout a wedding day 😅 My copy’s zoom barrel is extremely easy to twist especially from 35 towards 16. Just picking it up to shoot after each time I put it down/holding the lens turns the barrel. My version 1 copy was nice and didn’t easily turn so I didn’t have to worry about it not staying in the right focal length during the event. Do you notice the zoom barrel being like this or should I exchange my copy? 🙌🏽🤔🥲
We are very lucky to have aligned ourselves with a company that make the finest sensors and are now proving they can also make the finest lenses.
Comparisons of Sigma 16-28mm and Sony 16-35mm f2.8 version1 show the Sigma overall SHARPER than the Sony.... Maybe now the NEW Sony version 2 recoveres a bit of this....... Check it out....
Please add the link so I can “check it out”
Mark I and Mark II not much different 😅
Aperture ring, faster AF motors and better optically beyond 24mm than the MK1