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Sony has finally announced a fast wide zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The Sony FE 16-25mm F2.8 G is the lightest in its class for full-frame cameras, offers superior performance through an advanced optical design, and features dual autofocus motors.
In addition, the lens turned out to be very compact, but at the same time functional. There are three adjustment rings: focus, aperture, and zoom.
The body also has a button for switching the focusing system operating modes: automatic/manual. Next to it is an additional programmable button. The “G” series marking signifies that the lens boasts top-tier engineering with premium elements and is weather-resistant.
So, the Sony 16-25mm F2.8 G lens received 16 elements in 13 groups. Of these: three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements and four aspherical elements, including one low dispersion aspherical glass.
The company equipped the Sony FE 16-25mm F2.8 G lens with an 11-blade aperture to create a more spectacular bokeh. The minimum focusing distance is 18 cm.
Sony also says that focus breathing is also minimized. After a firmware update, the Sony A1 and A7S III cameras will independently compensate for this effect.
One of the advantages of the new Sony wide-angle zoom lens is its autofocus performance. This is achieved by using two autofocus drives at once.
Sony clarifies that due to two linear motors at once, the new FE 16-25mm F2.8 G will be able to provide high-quality automatic focusing even with the Sony A9 III camera, which takes a series of pictures at speeds of up to 120 fps. The second option for using the autofocus capabilities of the lens at full power is to shoot video in 4K 120 fps. Sony promises tenacious autofocus without misses.
Sony FE 16-25mm F2.8 G price and release date
However, the two competing lenses from Sigma and Tamron have one distinct advantage over the new Sony FE 16-25mm F2.8 G. As you might have guessed, it’s price. The new wide-angle lens is available for pre-order on Bhphotovideo.com and Adorama.com for $1,198. The Sigma 16-28mm F/2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens costs 75 thousand rubles, while the Tamron 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD lens costs 67 thousand rubles.
Comparison:
The new lens weighs 409 grams. For comparison: the Sony FE 16-35mm F/2.8 G-Master II weighs 547 grams. But there are also direct competitors: Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary.
The competitor from Sigma weighs 450 grams. At the same time, the lens does not have a programmable button, as well as an aperture adjustment ring, unlike the new product from Sony.
The second alternative is Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD. This lens weighs 420 grams, which is only 11 grams more than Sony’s new lens, but it also does not have an aperture ring or a programmable button. Moreover: there is no switch for the operating mode of the focusing system on the body.
By the way, Tamron has an interesting Tamron 20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD lens. It provides both a fairly wide angle and a focal length closer to portrait in the telephoto position than all of the above lenses. And it is more universal.
Sony says the new Sony FE 16-25mm F2.8 G lens is perfect for outdoor, documentary, family, and street photography. It can also shoot high-quality video even in low-light conditions.
In general, judging by all the characteristics, the new lens is very well suited for video shooting. It is lightweight, compact, and fits well into stabilization systems as a kit with the previously released Sony FE 24-50mm F2.8 G lens, with which it has the same dimensions and balance.
