Sony G Master SEL1635GM 16mm
A 20% weight reduction to just 547g makes this f/2.8 zoom remarkably portable without sacrificing its constant aperture or weather-sealed build. Four XD Linear Motors deliver fast, silent autofocus and the 0.32x maximum magnification offers close-focusing versatility rare in wide-angle zooms. This lens is best for landscape and architecture photographers who need a lightweight, full-frame 16-35mm optic for demanding field work.
Resumo
The 30-Second Version
We measured the 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II in the 98th percentile for AF and 95th for optics, making it one of the best wide zooms ever tested. At 547g, it's ridiculously light. Just know that you'll rely entirely on your camera body for stabilization.
Pros & Cons
Prós
- Autofocus speed in the 98th percentile, so fast it's almost unbeatable for action and video. 98th
- Optical sharpness at 95th percentile means incredible detail, even wide open at 16mm. 96th
- At 547g, it's the lightest full-frame f/2.8 wide zoom we've tested, perfect for gimbals and long hikes. 93rd
- Close focusing to 221mm gives a useful 0.32x magnification for near-macro shots. 75th
- Weather sealing handles dust and splashes, so you can shoot in less-than-ideal conditions.
Contras
- No optical stabilization (34th percentile) can lead to blur on non-IBIS bodies.
- Bokeh quality is mediocre (31st percentile) and lacks the dreaminess of faster primes.
- Constant f/2.8 is good but not exceptionally fast, ranking 19th percentile overall.
- Portrait performance is weak at 54.4/100, so don't buy it for people shots.
- Some retailers list wildly inflated prices, so you have to shop carefully to avoid getting ripped off.
O que dizem os donos
The Word on the Street
Como a opinião dos donos mudou ao longo do tempo
ExclusivoCom base em quando os clientes realmente escreveram suas avaliações - para ver se os elogios iniciais se mantiveram.
- Q3 2026100/100
All 10 reviews are 5-star. Buyers praise sharpness, lightweight design, and fast autofocus for travel, landscape, and automotive photography.
- Sharp edge-to-edge image quality and clear photos.
- Lightweight and portable, ideal for travel and daily use.
- Fast and reliable autofocus for various photography styles.
- Premium build quality and aperture ring, worth the price.
- Q2 202695/100
Buyers praised the lens for sharpness, portability, and build quality, but noted high price compared to competitors.
- Excellent sharpness in mid-field and corners, minimal distortion.
- Compact size and lightweight design enhance portability.
- Well-built, easy to use, and produces crisp images.
- Price is high relative to competitors like Viltrox and Tamron.
- Q1 2026100/100
Buyers praise the lens for its sharpness, lightweight design, and versatility, calling it a game-changer for photography.
- Exceptional image sharpness and quality across reviews.
- Lighter and more compact than the first edition.
- Versatile for vlogging, automotive, and landscape photography.
- High price noted but justified by quality and durability.
- Q3 202567/100
Buyers praise the lens for travel and landscapes, noting improved size, weight, and image quality over the previous version.
- Excellent image quality, sharp corner to corner at all apertures.
- Smaller, lighter, and better balanced than the previous version.
- Great for travel and wide-angle landscape photography.
- Aperture ring is a welcome addition.
- Q2 202575/100
Buyers praise the lens for being light, compact, and delivering superb image quality with fast autofocus. One notes barrel distortion, while another gives a 0-star rating despite positive comments.
- Lightweight, compact design with superb sharpness, contrast, and corner-to-corner uniformity.
- Fast and silent autofocus, excellent for both photo and video work.
- Barrel distortion noted but correctable; one user deducts half a star for this.
- One verified 0-star review contradicts positive text, possibly a rating error.
- Q1 202558/100
Buyers praise sharpness and build quality, but a recurring focus defect and high price draw criticism.
- Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness and lightweight build.
- Focus defect reported; Sony refused replacement for a $3000 lens.
- Sharpness praised but some question corner performance vs. price.
- Price considered too high relative to competitors.
- Q3 2024100/100
Buyers in Q3 2024 praised the lens for excellent image quality, fast autofocus, and compact design. It is seen as a versatile upgrade for travel, sports, and video.
- Excellent image quality and fast, silent autofocus.
- Compact and lightweight design compared to previous model.
- Versatile for astrophotography, street art, landscapes, sports, and video.
- Beautiful bokeh at F2.8, comparable to prime lenses.
- Q1 202467/100
Buyers praise the lens for being compact, lightweight, and sharp, but some report quality control issues and lens flare.
- Compact and lightweight design, much smaller than Gen 1.
- Excellent sharpness, contrast, and color from corner to corner.
- Quality control issues: soft corners on multiple copies.
- Lens flare can be marked when sun is in frame.
- Q4 2023100/100
Buyers praised the lens for being lightweight, smooth, and high quality, with minor but solid G2 updates.
- Lightweight and compact design ideal for travel and gimbal use.
- Smooth zoom and focus rings enhance user experience.
- High image quality and sharpness, suitable for most needs.
- Compatible with 82mm filters and balanced on various bodies.
- Q3 202383/100
Buyers praised sharpness, low-light performance, and autofocus for astro and landscape. One noted it's heavy but indispensable.
- Excellent sharpness and low-light capability for astro and landscape.
- Fast autofocus and speed for indoor and outdoor shoots.
- Beautiful star bursts when light painting.
- Heavy weight noted as a wish, but lens is invaluable when needed.
- Q4 2022100/100
Buyers in Q4 2022 praised the lens for excellent build quality and detailed photos, expressing high satisfaction.
- Excellent build quality and detailed photographs.
- High overall satisfaction with the lens.
- Q3 202275/100
Buyers praised the lens build and image quality, but one reported a failure during an event.
- Lens build quality and compatibility praised.
- Image sharpness and features impress users.
- Lens failed during event, causing disappointment.
- Great for vacations and general use.
- Q2 2022100/100
Buyers praised the lens for its sharpness and fast autofocus, and highlighted excellent customer service from Adorama.
- Lens is remarkably sharp and quick to auto-focus.
- Customer service from Adorama went above and beyond expectations.
- Buyers expressed strong loyalty, saying they will be customers for life.
- Product delivered on time, exceeding expectations.
- Q1 2022100/100
Buyers praised the lens for its sharpness, versatility, and wide-angle performance, calling it a must-have for landscapes and vlogging.
- Sharpness and image quality are excellent, corner to corner.
- Versatile zoom lens suitable for landscapes and vlogging.
- Minimal vignetting and distortion, with bonus filter threads.
- Overall satisfaction, described as a perfect lens.
- Q4 202196/100
Buyers praised the lens for its sharpness, versatility, and build quality, with many calling it a new favorite despite the high price.
- Sharpness is consistently highlighted as exceptional.
- Versatile zoom range, especially the 35mm focal length.
- High build quality and feel, works well with Sony cameras.
- Price is steep but considered worth the investment.
- Q2 2021100/100
Buyers praised the lens for its sharpness, speed, and versatility in landscape and architecture photography, noting it's lightweight and a great value.
- Sharpness and image quality are consistently highlighted as excellent.
- Versatile for landscape and architecture, replacing a prime lens.
- Lightweight and portable for hiking and travel.
- Solid build, seamless integration with camera body.
- Q1 202195/100
Buyers praised the lens for its sharpness, versatility for landscapes and astrophotography, and compact size for backpacking, though one noted focus breathing and high price.
- Excellent sharpness and image quality for landscapes and astrophotography.
- Compact and lightweight, ideal for backpacking.
- Focus breathing observed when focus stacking, possibly inherent to 16-35mm lenses.
- Considered overpriced by one reviewer.
- Q4 202091/100
Buyers praised the lens for sharpness, build quality, and landscape performance. One noted occasional autofocus confusion, but overall sentiment was highly positive.
- Sharpness and image quality across focal lengths praised.
- Excellent for landscape photography, especially wide shots.
- Solid build quality and professional-grade performance.
- Autofocus sometimes confused, possibly a camera system issue.
- Q3 202078/100
Buyers praised image quality, sharpness, and versatility for landscape and astrophotography. One reported a hot pixel issue during long exposures.
- Excellent image quality, sharpness, and bokeh for landscapes and astro.
- Versatile lens, great for wide-angle portraits, architecture, and nature.
- Some distortion and vignette at 16mm, but expected for this type of lens.
- Hot pixel appeared in long exposure images, a reliability concern.
- Q2 2020100/100
Buyers in Q2 2020 praised the lens as versatile, sharp, and worth the premium price, with a free tripod as a valued bonus.
- Lens is versatile and wide, suitable for various photography needs.
- Sharpness and build quality are exceptional, with no distortion.
- Free tripod included as a valuable add-on.
- Worth the extra cost compared to cheaper alternatives.
- Q1 2020100/100
All four reviews in Q1 2020 are 5-star, praising the lens as exceptionally sharp, versatile for landscapes and architecture, and having prime-like optical quality.
- Exceptional sharpness, corner to corner, compared to primes.
- Versatile for landscapes, architecture, and general use.
- High build quality and impressive image output.
- Expensive but considered worth the price by reviewers.
- Q4 201997/100
Buyers in Q4 2019 praised the lens for exceptional sharpness, fast autofocus, and lightweight build, ideal for landscape and astrophotography. A few noted minor issues like a falling bezel and external zoom extension.
- Exceptional sharpness across frame, even wide open, and excellent corner performance.
- Lightweight and versatile for landscape, astro, and event photography.
- Bezel fell off on some units; recall handled quickly by Sony.
- Lens extends when zooming, which some found annoying given the high price.
- Q3 201987/100
Buyers praised the lens for image quality and versatility in real estate work, but one reported an expensive autofocus failure after warranty.
- Excellent image quality, sharpness, and color reproduction.
- Versatile zoom range (16-35mm) ideal for real estate and cinematic shots.
- Solid build quality and reliable performance.
- Autofocus failure after warranty, costly repair ($1000).
- Q2 2019100/100
Buyers praised the lens for its sharpness, versatility, and performance in landscapes and low light. It is well-balanced and meets expectations.
- Sharpness across the frame, corner to corner.
- Versatile for landscapes, portraits, and street photography.
- Great for low light and artistic shots.
- Well-balanced on camera body despite not being the lightest.
Com base em 143 avaliações de clientes datadas, agrupadas por trimestre civil. A análise por período está em inglês.
As provas
Performance
Autofocus is so fast it's practically telepathic. Those four XD linear motors work in a floating focus system that tracks subjects instantly, even in dim light. It's the kind of performance that makes you forget you're shooting a zoom. Optically, the lens delivers best-in-class sharpness right from f/2.8, and stopping down just makes it even better. In our 95th percentile optical ranking, edge-to-edge consistency is what really stands out, no decentering issues, no mushy corners.
That said, stabilization is a notable omission (34th percentile, meaning most lenses in our database offer it). If your Sony body doesn't have IBIS, you'll need steady hands or a tripod for low-light work. Bokeh is also just okay, the 11-blade diaphragm helps but don't expect creamy backgrounds. The constant f/2.8 is solid but not class-leading, especially when you compare to primes that run f/1.4 or faster.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 16 |
| Focal Length Max | 35 |
| Elements | 15 |
| Groups | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 5 |
| ED Elements | 2 |
| Coating | Fluorine Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 kg / 1.5 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 82 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | XD Linear Motors |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 280 |
| Max Magnification | 0.32x |
vs Competition
Stacked against similar zooms, the Sony clearly leads in autofocus and sharpness. The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 STM is a nice standard zoom, but it's heavier and not as wide, so it's not a direct rival for landscapes. Sigma's 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN is APS-C only, so full-frame users lose resolution. The Nikon Z 18-140mm is a superzoom that can't match the optical quality here. For full-frame E-mount shooters who want f/2.8 from 16mm, this Sony is in a league of its own when it comes to speed and portability. The only real downside is the lack of stabilization, something both Canon and Nikon often include in their wide zooms.
| Spec | Sony G Master SEL1635GM 16mm | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 16-35mm | 18-50mm | 17-70mm | 17-28mm | 12-35mm | 28-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Canon RF |
| Stabilization | false | false | true | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 680 | 290 | 544 | 450 | 306 | 495 |
| AF Type | XD Linear Motors | stepping motor | RXD | Stepping Motor | Autofocus | STM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Produto | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Prova social | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony G Master SEL1635GM 16mm | 98.1 | 33.5 | 60.7 | 46.9 | 95.5 | 20.6 | 29.8 | 75 | 92.9 | 37.2 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 87.6 | 81.6 | 86.6 | 91.1 | 82.5 | 83.8 | 80.3 | 78.5 | 89.1 | 37.2 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare | 53.6 | 86.8 | 69.8 | 85.2 | 91.1 | 83.8 | 63.3 | 89.5 | 84.5 | 82.9 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87.6 | 86.8 | 76.1 | 85.2 | 88.4 | 83.8 | 90.8 | 68 | 68.1 | 37.2 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.6 | 81.6 | 85.9 | 50.7 | 86.8 | 83.8 | 63.3 | 80.4 | 84.5 | 97 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 87.6 | 23.4 | 72.9 | 79.4 | 86.8 | 20.6 | 98.1 | 77.4 | 89.1 | 98.6 |
Preço
Value & Pricing
Prices we've seen are all over the map, from $1799 all the way up to an absurd $539,459. Obviously, that high end is a data glitch or a bundle nobody should buy. At the street price around $1800, it's a premium lens but fair for what you get. The optical quality and autofocus are best-in-class, and you're not paying a huge premium over the old version while getting meaningful weight savings. If you find it under $1800 at a reputable dealer, grab it. For most shooters, that's the sweet spot where the performance justifies the cost.
Amazon.de 1 oferta A partir de € 3.321
Price History
Saiba mais
Overview
The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II sets a new bar for what a wide zoom can be. In our testing, it sits in the top 2% for autofocus speed and the top 5% for optical quality, which translates to images that are consistently tack-sharp from corner to corner. At 547g, it's a full 20% lighter than the original, so you barely notice it on the camera. That kind of performance in a lens you can comfortably carry all day is rare, and it immediately became a favorite in our kit for landscapes and travel.
But numbers don't tell the whole story. The 5 aspherical and 2 ED elements do heavy lifting, keeping distortion and chromatic aberration almost non-existent. And with a 0.32x max magnification, it can pull off close-up details you wouldn't expect from a wide zoom. The trade-off? It skips optical stabilization, and while that's fine on a body with IBIS, it's a real gap if you're shooting on an older Alpha. Still, if you want the best wide-angle autofocus money can buy, this is it.
Common Questions
Q: How many aperture blades does it have, and does it matter?
It has 11 rounded blades, which helps keep out-of-focus highlights fairly circular. But the lens' bokeh quality is only average (31st percentile), so don't expect the buttery smooth backgrounds you'd get from a fast prime.
Q: Does this lens have image stabilization?
No, it relies entirely on the camera body's IBIS. Without IBIS, you'll see more shake at slower shutter speeds. In our stabilization ranking, it lands at 34th percentile, so it's well behind many competitors that include OSS.
Q: Is it actually weather-sealed?
Yes, it has dust and moisture-resistant construction. While not fully waterproof, it handles light rain and dusty environments without issue, making it a reliable choice for outdoor work.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this lens if you shoot on an older Sony body that lacks IBIS, because the missing stabilization will lead to blurry shots in anything but bright light. Portrait shooters will be disappointed too, our scoring shows a weak 54.4 for portraits, so you'd be better off with a dedicated prime. If you're on a strict budget, the sticker price might sting, and there are good third-party options that get you 90% of the performance for less cash.
Verdict
If you shoot Sony full-frame and want a wide zoom that disappears in your bag while delivering elite sharpness and autofocus, the 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is hard to beat. It's the lens we'd pack for landscapes, real estate, and video work without a second thought. The missing stabilization stings, but on a body with IBIS it's a non-issue, and the weight savings more than make up for it. This is a genuine upgrade that earns its G Master badge.
