Sony 16-35mm f4 Zeiss Lens
The Sony 16-35mm f4 Zeiss lens is definitely a favourite of mine. It’s one of my most used lenses on my Sony A7iii, and it has accompanied me on many a hike up into the mountains. A lot of my videos over on YouTube have used this lens a lot in their creation, like this one, Winter Camping in Snowdonia.
I took a Sony A7riii and the 16-35mm Zeiss up into the snowy winter mountains of Snowdonia for a couple of days. Hopefully, it’ll give you a bit of a feel for the type of shot that is achievable.
Winter camping in Snowdonia, shot almost exclusively using the Sony 16-35mm f4 Zeiss lens.
***** Sony 16-35mm f4 Zeiss v Sony 16-35mm f4 PZ v Sony 16-35mm f2.8 *****
There are now a few different options for a good Sony 16-35mm lens for Sony Alpha cameras. There is also the bigger, heavier and more expensive Sony 16-35mm f2.8 GM, and the all-new but more expensive and power-zooming little Sony 16-35mm f4 PZ lens.
Sony “ZEISS”
The Sony 16-35mm F4 Zeiss lens is one heck of a wide-angle zoom lens, perfect for Sony's full-frame E-mount cameras. This baby was designed in collaboration with the big shots at Zeiss, a company known worldwide for their impeccable optics, and it features top-notch features and a stunning build.
Design
Let's talk about the design. The lens is made of sturdy metal, and it feels like it could survive a nuclear explosion. Catastrophe aside, it has been proven by me to take a 5ft fall from a big Manfrotto Tripod in strong winds onto solid Welsh rock. That has to be positive. It came away with only minor dents and scratches.
It's weather-sealed too, which means it can handle dust and moisture well. Could it be better? Yes, of course. I’ve been carfeull to keep it out of the rain as much as possible. The only issue I’ve had is some rear fogging after getting caught out in extreme weather in the mountains. I’m not going to write it down for that. It has happened a couple of times, but considering the conditions I throw at it, it has survived remarkably well.
And for a lens that packs so much punch and protection, it's relatively lightweight, which means that most normal people can carry it around without breaking a sweat. It’s the weight and size that originally brought me to choose this f4 Zeiss version over the f2.8 version. I wanted something a bit more tailored towards video, and something that would easily fit in a small gimbal. It ticks those boxes just fine, and I regularly use it on a Sony A7iii in a DJI Ronin SC.
Image Quality
The Sony 16-35mm F4 Zeiss lens is packed with advanced optics that work together to create images that are so clear and sharp you'll swear you can reach out and touch them. The lens has 12 elements in 10 groups, including five aspherical elements and one ED element, which minimize distortion and chromatic aberration. But that's not all – the lens also features Zeiss's T* coating, which reduces lens flare and ghosting, even in challenging lighting conditions. And with a maximum aperture of f/4, you can achieve that beautiful bokeh and shallow depth of field you've been dreaming of.
Is the bokeh less brilliant than that of the f2.8? Well yes, but it’s a different lens with a different goal. It lacks a bit of f stop and bokeh but it easily makes up for it in weight and size savings for anyone more interested in creating video. Also, to say that the f2.8 should be considered for photography reasons is a bit cliche, I’m not sure I buy into that. At least not completely… I guess it depends on the type of photography you like to do. For me, it’s amateur landscapes, so I can’t see myself ever NEEDING to be down at f2.8.
Focus
What good is a lens if it can't focus, right? Well, have no fear because the Sony 16-35mm F4 Zeiss lens has a fast and accurate autofocus system that'll knock your socks off. The lens uses a linear motor to drive the focus elements, which makes it smooth and quiet. I’ve used the autofocus a lot in my gimbal, busy street scenes with lots going on, and it does a fine job while coupled with an A7iii.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Sony 16-35mm F4 Zeiss lens is a no-brainer for anyone who wants a top-of-the-line wide-angle zoom lens.
Its stunning image quality, weather-sealed construction, and fast and accurate autofocus system make it an ideal choice for outdoor photography, landscapes, and any other genre where you need to get up close and personal.
There’s a discussion to be had around whether to choose the f4, the f2.8 or the power zoom, but I can highly recommend the 16-35mm f4 Zeiss for its build, quality and cost. Particularly if you’re more into shooting video, and definitely if you’d like something more affordable that officer image stabilization and the ability to more easily integrate with gimbals, sliders and other camera grips.
If you're a Sony full-frame E-mount camera owner who shoots mostly video and doesn’t yet have a 16-35mm lens in their bag, do yourself a favour and get this lens – you won't regret it.
*** UPDATE - The old trusty Zeiss f4 seems to have been somewhat forgotten about and replaced by the PZ lens. Not to worry, I found it still AVAILABLE HERE. Unfortunately, it lacks availability elsewhere. Shame. Thanks, Chris ***
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