Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens DxOMark Review: Best Wide-Angle Zoom Lens!

DxOMark has completed their full review of the new Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens. Tested on the Sony a7RII, the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens achieves the highest overall score of 42 points in the category of wide-angle zoom lenses, with a combination of 34 P-Mpix Sharpness, 2.9 TStop Transmission, 0.5% Distortion, 6 EV Vignetting and 5μm Chr.aberration. The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens is the best wide-angle zoom lens DxOMark has ever tested!

Overall lens image quality

The new Sony FE 16-35mm lens reaches new scoring heights in the category of wide-angle zoom lenses, as well as a category record score for Sharpness — both when compared to other E-mount lenses and to what is possible with high-end lenses for other mounts. When shot on the Sony A7R II body, it scores 42 Overall, with a Sharpness score of 34. Obviously some of the strength of its results is due to the quality of the Sony A7R II body we used for testing, but it requires a top-of-the-line lens to bring the best out of a top-notch camera body.

Image quality compared to its competitors

The Sony’s Overall score of 42 puts it 6 points ahead of its nearest competitor, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM, while its Sharpness score of 34 is a remarkable 10 points ahead:

Conclusion from DxOMark:

With the new Sony EF 16-35mm f/2.8 lens, you are simply getting better quality images for about the same price you would pay for many of its f/2.8 wide-angle zoom competitors. Obviously this comes with the caveat that it helps you only if you are shooting with E-mount Sony cameras, especially their latest high-end models.

Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens: $2,198 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens: $2,498 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Sony a7RII: $2,898 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Read more: Best Sony Full Frame E Mount Lenses.

You can read the full review at DxOMark.