Sony FE 16-25 F2.8 G Lens Review

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Informative and thorough review, thank you Mark!

Thanks for this thorough review!

Many thanks for the excellent review and detailed information.

Very comprehensive and very well presented. Enjoyed the video very much.

Another great video. This lens is my plan but went with the FE 24-50/2.8 G first since it was a bigger size and weight savings of my GM II 24-70 and GM II 16-35. These are all planned for my A7CR travel kit. Your videos are always so comprehensive and are best in class. Only feature I’d like to see Sony adopt is complete internal zoom like the Sigma 16-28/2.8 I bought for my A7C and still have until I get this lens. Take care.

Superb overview once again. I particularly value your hands-on perspective on how this lens may fit in with other Sony and non-Sony lenses. My only minor point of critique would be the omission of the Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 in the lens comparisons. Keep up the good work

Thank you, Mark, for yet another outstanding review. My two-lens, travel set-up will be this new 16-25 f/2.8 and a Tamron 28-200mm or Tamron 28-75 lens (all with very small form factors for their range). With an a7rV and an a7rc, I can easily go from 16 to 37mm via APS-C mode on the long end with the new 16-25 lens from Sony.

Thanks, again for your excellent review. I love my 20-70 G + 70-200 G + 1.4 TC combination. It’s in my bag most of the time. In a pinch, I can squeeze the 14mm GM in or swap out the 70-200 G for a 100-400 GM. If the 16-35 G were available, I would have bought it over the 16-35 GM. Another combination to consider for those needing a longer reach, and willing to carry more weight in a bigger bag is the 16-35 G + 24-105 G + 100-400 GM. That said, the 24-105 could stand to go on a diet.

Love your vintage G/S❤

Excellent! Thank you, Mark! This looks like a very attractive option for many photographers. In your chart I noticed on small detail, since I have owned the 16-35mm f4 ZA OSS, the filter thread is 72mm (you have 77mm). I actually prefer lenses with the 67mm filter thread. I don't know if the OSS really makes a lot of difference on a wide angle zoom, but it's there, nevertheless. Despite the 72mm and it's age, I actually like the rendering of the older lens, though I'm sure performance on the newer lens is better and it is smaller and lighter. This new G lens is something to consider down the road, though I find the Tamron 20-40mm f2.8 also attractive, though it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the G lenses and of course, is also a different focal length. The Tamron 17-50mm f4 might also be an option for some, especially is combined with the Tamron 50-400mm lens for 2 lens travel kit. In any case, the enormous lens selection available for Sony E mount make it part of the reason I would never personally consider anything else!

This fits what ive been waiting for. I have the 24-70 GMII which isnt exactly small so i didnt eant to take a 16-35GM II on top of that lens in my kit so I was looking at a 16-35 f4 PZ but this is even better because i could use the extra light more than 35mm and I do stills more so the non PZ is also better. And yes, the weight and price is worth it 100% over the 16-35GM to me.

Hey Mark, amazing review! I’m looking to get a lens for my A7Cii, I travel for work and I do vlogging, landscape, city shots. Would you consider the new 16-25 still better than the 16-35 GM ii for an only one lens and pairing with the A7Cii?

24-35 & 24-50 in MD & A mounts is a Minolta heritage; lenses I've been using since the 80's. Both Minolta & Konica already employed floating elements in their 17's many yrs ago. Bought the Tamron 16-28 f/2.8 E-mt ( over the newer Sigma ) in Sept 2023 just months before Sony/Minolta introduced (so many) wide angle zooms (but only few months after the 20-70 G). Love the Tamron's internal zoom/focus (just like the Leitz-Minolta zooms in 80's); great lens , I only miss an aperture ring.

I usually travel with two A7C bodies, one with Tamron 17-28 f2.8 and the other with Tamron 28-200 f2.8-f5.6 and a 35 f1.4 GM in the bag. 17-28 is a surprisingly practical range so I think this 16-25 is a good choice assuming it’s small and light. Just came back from Melbourne, she’s a beautiful city, I would visit again next year.

Exelent review

Thanks for the review. In the primes comparison you forgot to mention the Viltrox 16mm f1.8 which is a good lens only at $540...

Nice overview Mark. The A7Cx with 16-25, 24-50 and Sigma 90 would be an ideal travel kit for me. CORRECTION at 26:31, you show an image of the 16-35PZ, not the 16-25G

Thanks for your excellent reviews. I have a question -not specifically related to this lens, but maybe you can help: I saw in your review of the A7RII (I own a A7RIIIA) that it is no longer necessary to keep the custom button half-pressed to get eye-AF. How can you do that? Is it associated to face detection ON, or other setting? Thanks in advance, I would really use this feature.

great review. I already have a7rv and 16-35 PZ F/4 and 20mm F/1.8 and 24-70 F/2.8GM2. Do you find 16-25 better sharpness,... than PZ ? do you often work on 2.8-4 with 16-25 range ? for urban, street photo, landscapes, we are often F/4..F11 isn't it ?