Exciting New Wide-Angle Zoom Lens from Sony: FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G

Sony, one of the world’s leading mirrorless camera and lens manufacturers, has done it again with the release of a very exciting new wide-angle lens. I’m talking, of course, about their brand-new, lightweight, and compact FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G Lens. Third-party manufacturers such as Sigma and Tamron beat Sony to the punch when it comes to a zoom lens at these focal lengths, but Sony has more than caught up and released their own, very impressive version.

Let’s get right into it and take a look at this exciting new offering from Sony!

Specs:

• Price: $1,198 USD

• Full-Frame | f/2.8 to f/22

• Fast, Lightweight, Wide-Angle Zoom

• De-Clickable Aperture Ring

• Focus Hold Button, AF/MF Switch

• Rounded 11-blade Diaphragm

• Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction

To start things off, this lens has been anticipated and wanted for a long time by Sony users. It is designed to perfectly accompany the very popular FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G Lens and is a great choice for Sony shooters in search of a nice wide-angle zoom that won’t break the bank.

Of course, Sony offers their optically superior FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II Lens, and as previously mentioned, third-party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron offer their own competing lenses for the FE mount, but this brand-new lens strikes the perfect balance between price and performance. If you want the absolute best optics then opt for the G Master and pay the price, or if you want to save money and still achieve decent optics opt for a third-party option. But if you want something that strikes the perfect middle ground between the two then this just might be the lens for you.

And while we’re talking optics, this thing very much holds its own. Even when comparing it to G-master glass this brand-new lens has very sharp and crisp optics throughout the entire field of view, even at wider focal lengths. When you open the aperture all the way up to f/2.8 you can achieve stunning bokeh and soft backgrounds that fade nicely into razor-sharp subjects in focus. As a fast wide-angle lens, the FE 16-25mm f/2.8 excels in low-light situations and can even excel when used for astrophotography.  For the price point and size/weight, this lens is optically very good!

Speaking of form factor, this lens is quite compact and lightweight making it easy to travel with and carry for long periods of time. The 16-25mm f/2.8 G weighs a mere 0.9lbs (409g) which is 40% less than the 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens and it will easily pack away into any camera bag occupying less room than competing options. If weight and packability are of high importance to you, then you’re going to love this lens.

Additionally, this new lens from Sony is built quite well. Of course, you won’t have the superior build quality and weatherproofing of a G-Master lens but again, for the price point, it holds its own. The lens is weather-sealed, so you won’t have to worry about using it in mist, or light rain and snow, and a fluorine coating on the front element will repel any moisture and help to prevent stains or marks. On top of that, Sony has featured a de-clickable aperture ring allowing users to manually control their aperture settings with ease. The lens also features two other control rings allowing users to manually change focus and zoom of course.

All in all, this is a very exciting new lens from Sony and I think it will be quite popular with users of the brand. Not only does this lens offer great optics and performance at an approachable price point, but it also has filled a niche that Sony users have been waiting for. The brand-new FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G Lens has allowed Sony to not only catch up with offerings from Sigma and Tamron but surpass them when it comes to performance. If you shoot on the Sony system and are in the market for a great wide-angle zoom that strikes the perfect balance between price and performance then this is the lens for you!