Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM vs Sony FE 16–35mm F2.8 GM II

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FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM compared with FE 16–35mm F2.8 GM II

	SonyFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM	SonyFE 16–35mm F2.8 GM II
Overview
Released
Released	July 2017	September 2023
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	16–35 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	Sixteen elements in thirteen groups; floating focus mechanism with independently driven groups	15 elements in 12 groups; Amateur Photographer gives 11 groups in its specification table, so the maker count is used
Special elements
Special elements	Five aspherical elements in total including two XA elements; two ED elements	Five aspherical elements including three XA; one Super ED and two ED elements
Coatings
Coatings	Sony Nano AR coating and front-element fluorine coating	Nano AR Coating II; fluorine coating on front element
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Eleven rounded blades	11 rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	107°–63° full frame; 83°–44° 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; 24–52.5 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C	Full-frame coverage; 24–52.5 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C. Photography Blog labels the APS-C angle range as full-frame; maker ranges are used.
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Not compatible with Sony E-mount teleconverters	Not compatible with SEL14TC or SEL20TC
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.28 m	0.22 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.19×	0.32×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Two direct-drive SSM units drive the floating focusing groups	Four XD linear motors; floating focus; Linear Response MF
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	0.28 m minimum focus distance	Minimum focus 0.22 m at both ends of the zoom
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	0.19× maximum magnification	–
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No optical stabilisation; compatible camera body stabilisation can be used	No lens stabilisation; compatible bodies provide stabilisation
Video features
Video features	Constant F2.8 maximum aperture and quiet direct-drive SSM focusing	Optical design suppresses focus breathing, focus shift and axis shift during zoom
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	82 mm	82 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	88.5 mm	87.8 mm
Length
Length	121.6 mm	111.5 mm
Weight
Weight	680 g	547 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Manual-focus and zoom rings, AF/MF switch and customisable focus-hold button; hood release button	Aperture ring, click on/off switch, iris lock, AF/MF switch and two focus-hold buttons
Zoom design
Zoom design	–	Barrel extends towards the 16 mm setting
Filter detail
Filter detail	82 mm front filter thread	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and moisture resistant design with rubber mount ring; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress	Dust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proof
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 680 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded	Approximately 547 g lens; separately supplied hood, caps and case excluded
Lens hood
Lens hood	ALC-SH149 petal bayonet hood, supplied	ALC-SH177 petal-shaped bayonet hood
In the box
In the box	ALC-SH149 hood, ALC-F82S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap and soft carrying case	ALC-SH177 hood, ALC-F82S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft case and case strap
Release detail
Release detail	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	Sony UK announced on 29 August 2023 with September 2023 availability and an approximate £2,400 list price; first-sale precision remains the month