The new Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G Zoom Lens is a fantastic landscape photography lens, which delivers so much quality in a very small and relatively affordable size! In this video, I’ll review its image quality and take some landscape photos in both Wales and England.
Comparison photos: https://bit.ly/3fMjt8m
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0:00 – f/2.8 vs f/4 intro
1:00 – Using it in the field
3:24 – Investigating an edited photo
4:50 – Size difference
5:24 – Using it in the field
8:17 – Wide-angle lens issue
9:00 – Using it in the field
11:33 – Focus breathing
13:44 – Sharpest apertures at 16mm
16:03 – Nigel’s advice
17:52 – Image quality, f/2.8 vs f/4
19:00 – Should you get the Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G?
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50 Comments
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Great video. I just bought a Sigma 24-70 Art and because the is so good (Better then the 24-70 GM I) i like to stick to the ART lensen. But @sigmaglobalvision should hurry up, because at some point it takes to long.
This is great news for me as I dallied over the way more expensive 16-35 f2.8 up to now. I use the Tamron 17-28 f2.8, which I find is of excellent quality, but lacks the extra focal length. I also use the Tamron 28-200 (as you do) as my "bred and butter" lens for landscape photography. What do you think Mads: Is it a point to think about switching to the sony 16-35 f4 just becaus of the extra focal length between 28 and 35mm, where the 28-200mm lens shows signs of weakness in terms of optical quality? Excellent video as ever. Thanks!
Mow Cop is just down the road from me, I would love to meet up with Nigel but it's so so hard to meet you bigger guys. I have been up there many times its great on New Years eve watching all the fireworks all over the land.
For me a deal breaker would be if the cheaper f4 lens has weather sealing or not?
I don't even own a Sony but it was still a great video.
Awesome Review Mads, I was thinking this lens to replace my older Sony 16-35 f4 Zeiss
For the Nikon Z users, there's a 14-30 f/4S – it's a great lens and you've really got to need that tiny bit of extra sharpness to lug around the 14-24 f/2.8S. Huge advantage of the 14-30 is that the front element is flat 82mm which makes filters much simpler than the rounded 14-24.
100% agree Mads… I use to own an F4 version but when I went mirrorless I chose the 2.8 version for Astro.
Two things will keep me with my 16-35mm GM, better sunstars and less distortion(before correction). I think the new lens is pretty nice though and it would be a great way to reduce bulk and weight. Plus having the aperture ring is nice.
Hi. I have already compared my 16-35/4ZA with the new PZ just outside of a camera shop on a7riv on tripod. I was a bit surprised that the ZA was actually quite strong at the wide end except near corners where PZ was just slightly better (distortion correction reduces resolution on PZ a bit). At 35mm the ZA was weaker everywhere. Overall, I liked lower weight and improved image quality, power zoom operation was ok. I did not buy it right away but I plan to. That is because I have excellent 20/1.8G which is as wide as I need most of the time and it doubles as astro lens. I would be at odds whether to bring the 20 or PZ for a landscape trip. In mean time I was able to reduce weight of my bag with Tamron 50-400mm. I did a comparison review with focus on landscape use with old Sigma 100-400 and 100-400 GM on my page here https://jtra.cz/stuff/review/tamron-50-400/ I put my later images with it with notes here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1777027/0
I shoot Canon and just got their RF 14-35 F4L to replace my DSLR lens, the EF 16-35 F4L. I, too, have no need for F/2.8; thus, no need for the extra weight and expense. So far, so great. I would expect no less from the Sony equivalent.
As a bonus, my "unholy trinity" of 14-35, 24-105, and 100-500 all take 77mm filters. One polarizer to rule them all!
Thanks for doing this video. Really helpful information Mads! From your experience, how frequently do you use the 16-20 mm range?
I'm asking because I'm debating whether I would go with sony 16-35 or Tamron 20-40 mm lens.
Your perception of that ruin vs Nigel's reminds me of how jaded I am about New York City architecture, while tourists come from all around the world to gawk at our skyscrapers. I definitely need to shoot around town more often, using the eyes of a tourist.
Your sharpness comparison illustrates the difference between "acceptably sharp" and "tack sharp". With a big DOF and important elements in both the foreground and background, I prefer to focus stack so both areas are tack sharp. If I don't really need everything that sharp, but just the main subject, one exposure at F/8 to F/11 will do.
Very timely. I've been thinking about replacing my 16-35mm GM with the PZ 16-35mm G lens. I'm sure that Sony will replace the 16-35mm GM with a GM II in the future. But, until then, I might try the PZ 16-35mm G which looks like an excellent lens.
I want that lens for my imaginary Sony camera
I wish I had know you were going to wales I would of popped down to meet you and say hello and also if you don’t want the 16-35 2.8 I will gladly have it 😊
Oh are you planning on coming to Northumberland while your in the UK ?
👍
2.8 will make difference for astro. Actually, 16-35mm is the most popular astro lens. Anyway what I had observed on GM and G is a difference on chromatic aberration and edges distortion. But mostly no big difference
If you don't need 2.8, this is a no-brainer. From an image quality perspective, the PZ beats the GM in some areas and matches it everywhere. I currently have a ZA and I love it.. but it's garbage at 35mm. Gonna sell it off for dirt cheap and pick up the PZ. It's just too good to ignore.
Hey, Mads, what about landscape astrophotography? Isn't the 2.8 feels more appropriate for both of the tasks? And yep, we're waiting for a new starry night landscapes from you!)
The f4 won’t be as good for Astro or Aurora photography……
best landscape photographer reviewing one of the best lenses on market! I absolutely expected this from you!
Thanks again for a Very Nice video. I like sunstar for sun and light. I like the sunstar from the GM that have 11 Aperture blade v.s 9 in the PZ lens.
Thank you for the comparison 👍🏼
I own the 16-35 GM since 2017 and will keep it for some reasons: Milky Way Photography and the fact I photograph often without a tripod on longer hikes in the mountains during difficult light conditions. And F 2.8 is lowering the ISO, a simple fact.
I'm kind of in a similar situation to Nigel. I live about 15 minutes from Niagara Falls, and in the last 10 years of being a photographer, I've probably gone there… 5 or 6 times? Not even once a year.
Great video Mads. I wonder how it compares to the Tamron 17-28? They should be about the same weight.
This kind of reviews in the field are very pleasant Mads. I‘m very happy with my 12-24 f2.8 gm. It does an excellent job in all kind of situations (ultra wide, astro, sunstars, image quality). For me it is worth it in relation to the weight and the money. Christian
I'd love to see a video (or hear your opinion) on how this compares to the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di II RXD lens.
The 2.8 is just too heavy and big and for Astro I’m reaching for the 14mm 1.8 anyway. I’m happy there’s an F4 available now but I probably won’t buy it because I tend to really enjoy 14mm
It's a great lens for sure! I would sell the Tamron 28-200 and 100-400 GM and replace them both with the Tamron 50-400. You will then cover 16-400 with just two lenses.
Lovely images Mads. A few months ago I had the opportunity to buy the 16-35 GM new for only £100 more than the 16-35 G. I still went with the G, it’s so light and fantastic quality. If I need wider apertures then I’ll use the 24 f1.4 GM.
I completely agree about that lens. I've also gone with the 16-35mm f4 PZ, but in my case to take the place of the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8. And I love it – so sharp edge to edge and even lighter than the already very light Tamron, but with more range. (The f2.8 GM 16-35mm lens is probably due an update soon, but it's hard to imagine the expense and weight will be worth it.) The one thing that bugs me a bit about the PZ is that the zoom ring has no hard physical limit and zoom is reset whenever I switch off the camera. And the reason it is (surprisingly) sharpest at f4 is surely that it is designed for reviews and MTF charts, where almost everyone tests the lens wide open where lens faults are typically more apparent. As a landscape photographer, I wish reviewers would compare lenses at the apertures I'm typically using.
I come from the Canon side of things, but I am a firm believer in f4 lenses for landscape photography. The weight savings alone makes it worthwhile for me and my six decade old back, the price savings are just an added bonus. I do have a 14mm f2.8 prime for astro work (I don't delve any deeper than Milky Way, and hopefully someday Aurora images), but the rest of my kit is f4. As you suggested, Mads, I never have any reason to use f2.8 in the landscape work I do. Frankly, I very rarely even use f4!
Using mine in Faroes now. Mainly video so far.
Wow, Mads. I literally just ordered this lens after watching your video (and then checking out some other reviews). I have the 2.8 GM but to be honest I rarely use it. Partly because I am moving away from always doing "grand scenics". But also because of the size and weight. Though I only do photos, not video, this size, weight and quality of this lens will be a much better fit in my bag and therefore I will more likely have it there when I do need it for a particular composition. My main lenses are my 24-70 II and 70-200 II w/ the 1.4 or 2.0 extender. Those cover 90% of my compositions and fit in the Small Mirrorless insert for my Shimoda Explore 30 V2. Because I will be able to stand this new lens "on end' as I would a prime I expect I will be able to get it to fit as well. We'll see. The cost will be more than covered by selling my 16-35 F2.8 GM which is in great shape. Thanks again. On a separate note, I would be interested in your Photoshop work but to be honest Photoshop intimidates me. I do almost everything in LR except for focus stacking. I just need to be convinced that I am missing out if I don't add PS into the mix.
Mads, that last location looks like a folly to me. Probably designed as a ruin, built by a rich mill owner in Victorian times. I'm not sure where it is but tbh it looks completely contrived.
I have 2.8 through 15-200mm. This has made me think more about the weight on those long hikes. Thanks Mads.
Some great images.
Given the "PZ" designation on the lens, I gather it has power zoom instead of regular manual zoom?
How well does that work for you in practice?
Or can the lens also still work for you as regular zoom lens, without the motorized power zoom feature?
Nice one Mads, I'm currently using the Sigma 16-28 for sheer size & weight on the Sony, have found it amazing and the sharpness is 🥰📷👍
Unusual to see a gear related video from you. It's as good as any of your videos, but I prefer the "go out, find a composition and be happy about life" ones more 😁
I have the Sony 12-24 f4, and while researching for it I was thinking the same thing – do I spend much more money for 2 stops (+ the usual GM benefits)? I am happy I didn't, I hardly ever even use the f4 aperture.
Swapped my canon 16-35 and 24-70 f/2.8’s out for the f/4 versions about 3 years ago and Haven’t looked back since! Thought I’d miss the wider aperture for Astro stuff but it’s not really made any difference! The weight saving alone as worth it! Just need to replace my 70-200 f/2.8 now!
Q mostly for Nigel: Would that Mow Cop be the place I'd be likely to see from the train on the way down South? I think I remember seeing something like that through the train window last November, definitely something up on a hill, and meaning to check it out more closely sometime.
The foreground rocks and the fence seem to isolate the tree AND insure that it is the focus for the comp. You are brilliant!
Hmmm I’ve been tempted to sell my 16-35 GM for the PZ when I can find a used copy. However, I also use it for travel and some candid portraits at 35mm. Although I have recently added the 24-70 GM II so it’s adding extra temptation to get the PZ and where f4 is less important with an UWA. Does anyone have any thoughts about it?
Very interesting video for us Sony camera enthusiast. I have a Sony Zeiss FE 4 15-35mm Lens. I will carryout a similar exercise to see if there is any noticeable difference.
7:44 so wonderful
I bought it a month ago, I am very happy! I had the Sony Zeiss f4 but this new lens is much more better.
Did you find the 16-35 PZ as sharp as the 16-35 GM?
Thanks for the video, I’ve been contemplating for some time whether to buy the G or the GM, this video gives me enough information to finally make a decision. I’ll go for the GM and use the rest if the money to buy other nice stuff! 🙏🏼