Sony FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM vs Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM

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FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM compared with FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM

	SonyFE 12-24mm F2.8 GM	SonyFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
Overview
Released
Released	July 2020	July 2017
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	12–24 mm	16–35 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	17 elements in 14 groups	Sixteen elements in thirteen groups; floating focus mechanism with independently driven groups
Special elements
Special elements	Three XA extreme-aspherical elements, one aspherical element, three ED and two Super ED glass elements	Five aspherical elements in total including two XA elements; two ED elements
Coatings
Coatings	Nano AR Coating II; fluorine coating on front element	Sony Nano AR coating and front-element fluorine coating
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine rounded blades	Eleven rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	122°–84° full frame; 99°–61° APS-C	107°–63° full frame; 83°–44° APS-C
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Sony E	Sony E
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Image circle detail
Image circle detail	Full-frame coverage; 18–36 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C	Full-frame coverage; 24–52.5 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Not compatible with SEL14TC or SEL20TC	Not compatible with Sony E-mount teleconverters
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.28 m	0.28 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.14×	0.19×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Four XD linear motors, two per floating focus group; internal focusing	Two direct-drive SSM units drive the floating focusing groups
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum focus 0.28 m throughout the zoom range; Linear Response MF	0.28 m minimum focus distance
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum magnification 0.14×	0.19× maximum magnification
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No lens stabilisation; compatible bodies provide stabilisation	No optical stabilisation; compatible camera body stabilisation can be used
Video features
Video features	–	Constant F2.8 maximum aperture and quiet direct-drive SSM focusing
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	–	82 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	97.6 mm	88.5 mm
Length
Length	137 mm	121.6 mm
Weight
Weight	847 g	680 g (better)
Controls
Controls	AF/MF switch, one customisable focus-hold button, zoom and focus rings; no aperture ring	Manual-focus and zoom rings, AF/MF switch and customisable focus-hold button; hood release button
Filter detail
Filter detail	No front filter thread; rear holder accepts cut sheet filters, with cutting template supplied	82 mm front filter thread
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proof	Dust and moisture resistant design with rubber mount ring; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	–	88.5 mm maximum diameter × 121.6 mm maker length; lens extends at wider zoom settings (Photography Blog and OpticalLimits)
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 847 g lens with integral hood; separate caps excluded	Approximately 680 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded
Lens hood
Lens hood	Fixed petal hood integrated into the lens	ALC-SH149 petal bayonet hood, supplied
In the box
In the box	Locking front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft carrying case and filter template	ALC-SH149 hood, ALC-F82S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap and soft carrying case
Release detail
Release detail	Sony Australia specified late July 2020 availability; Sony UK specified August for Europe and Japan specified 7 August, separate from 14 July pre-orders. Main date uses the earliest maker-confirmed July precision. TechRadar’s 24–48 mm APS-C equivalent is inconsistent with maker18–36 mm; Photography Blog’s focal-range section uses the APS-C angles, with maker full-frame angles retained here. Review distortion and corner-darkening differences are preserved	Sony Canada announcement dated 17 May 2017 initially specifies August; revised Sony Japan maker release of 14 July brings Japan sale forward to 28 July 2017. Main date uses July, exact first global day unconfirmed. Two independent full reviews read: Photography Blog Mark Goldstein and OpticalLimits Klaus Schroiff, both Alpha 7R II. Differing edge sharpness, autofocus speed and balance assessments retained; OL sample centring good. OL optical table undercounts asphericals, maker five total including two XA used; Blog full-frame angle mistakenly uses APS-C83–44degree figures, maker107–63 used. No inferred predecessor link