Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm
Sony
62 Overall Score
vs
Viltrox Air 20mm F2.8 FE 20mm
Viltrox
85 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm
78 out of 100 high confidence 124 reviews
The Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens earns strong praise for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful rendering, and versatile focal range, making it a favorite for landscape, astro, and event photography. Users consistently highlight the excellent build quality and fast autofocus, though many note the high price. A minority of owners report autofocus failures or hot pixel issues, and some feel the premium over competitors is not fully justified. Overall, it is widely regarded as a top-tier wide-angle zoom that delivers prime-like image quality.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness corner to corner
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Excellent build quality
- Versatile 16-35mm range with f/2.8
- Beautiful rendering and bokeh
Cons
- Very expensive
- Autofocus failure issues reported
- Some hot pixel problems
- Heavy and front-heavy on camera
- Minor distortion and vignette at 16mm
Build quality 12
Sharpness 25
Autofocus reliability 3
Price 14
Distortion vignetting 4
Versatility 10
Viltrox Air 20mm F2.8 FE 20mm
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Street
Macro
Portrait
Budget
Video Cinema
Professional
Landscape
Travel
Wildlife Sports
Specifications
| Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm | Viltrox Air 20mm F2.8 FE 20mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 20 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 20 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 10 |
| Groups | 12 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 5★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | Nano AR Coating II, Fluorine coating | multi-layer nano-MC coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓★ | — |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.55 kg | 0.16 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 82 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | XD Linear Motors★ | STM |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 220 mm | 20 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.32x★ | 0.17X |
Pros & Cons
Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong versatility (75th percentile)
- Strong build (67th percentile)
- Below average aperture (21st percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
Viltrox Air 20mm F2.8 FE 20mm
- Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong build (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm0.023score per dollar
vs
Viltrox Air 20mm F2.8 FE 20mm0.333score per dollar
Viltrox Air 20mm F2.8 FE 20mm offers 14.5x better value for money
Verdict
Winner: Viltrox Air 20mm F2.8 FE 20mm
Scores 85 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
