High-end new f/2.8 G Master lens rated
£2,300/$2,200 A better, faster 16-35mm for Sony E-mount cameras
It’s not often you can call a Zeiss lens a poor relation but, compared with the Zeissbadged 16-35mm VarioTessar T* zoom in Sony’s line-up, this new G Master lens is about twice the price. Both are constant-aperture designs, but the new lens is an f/stop faster. As a result, it’s noticeably bigger and heavier, weighing in at 680g compared with the Zeiss lens’s 518g. It also omits the latter’s optical stabilisation, but that’s not an issue if you shoot with a secondgeneration Alpha 7 camera or even an A9, which both have built-in sensor-shift stabilisation.
Build & handling
Typical of G Master lenses, the 16-35mm has impeccable build quality and is supplied with a lens hood and a case. There’s a full set of weather-seals, including a rubber seal around the mounting plate, and a fluorine coating on the front element to repel muck and moisture. Unlike the new 12-24mm lens (opposite), the hood is detachable and the lens has an 82mm attachment thread for easily fitting filters. Enhancements include a pair of XA (eXtreme Aspherical) elements and a better rounded aperture based on 11 rather than seven diaphragm blades. The upshot is smoother bokeh: this can be an important factor given the reduced depth of field compared with the 12-24mm lens, which comes from the longer maximum focal length and wider available aperture.
Performance
Autofocus speed is rapid yet near-silent, thanks to dual DDSSM systems that drive two groups of lens elements independently. Given its modest size for an f/2.8 wide-angle zoom, vignetting is fairly low, even at the shortest focal length. Sharpness and contrast are spectacular and, as with the wider 12-24mm lens, the Nano AR coating does an excellent job of fending off ghosting and flare.