The Definitive G Master Wide-angle Zoom
Sony’s G Master lenses represent the state of the art in optical lens design. Take the FE 16–35mm f/2.8 GM, a wide-angle zoom treasured for its unparalleled image quality and fast, constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. With its ultra-to-moderate wide-angle zoom range, compact size, even weight distribution, weather-resistant construction, and optimum resolution at all focal lengths, this versatile workhorse has largely supplanted the conventional collection of wide-angle primes in the kit bags of professional full-frame Sony Alpha shooters who rely on G Master series glass for all their work. Perfect for both photo and video applications, the FE 16–35mm f/2.8 GM incorporates Sony’s innovative Direct Drive SSM focusing system, which employs dual piezoelectric motors to drive two focus groups in a floating configuration to provide fast, precise, and quiet autofocus and full-time manual focus. Featuring Sony’s acclaimed G Master series build quality, the FE 16–35mm f/2.8 GM is sealed against dust and moisture to withstand challenging environmental conditions.
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No-compromise optics and performance
As compared with prime lenses in their respective focal-length ranges, zoom lenses have traditionally forced photographers to sacrifice optical performance, brightness, and portability for the ability to have a range of focal lengths instantly available. But modern technology has changed the game, as the Sony FE 16–35mm f/2.8 GM handily demonstrates. Its constant f/2.8 maximum aperture lends itself to working in challenging lighting conditions; also, it gives you greater control over depth of field and the ability to use higher shutter speeds for handheld shooting. The lens features a sophisticated optical design incorporating several specialized elements, including two XA (extreme aspherical) elements that minimize distortion, astigmatism, coma, field curvature, and other spherical aberrations for enhanced sharpness and rendering accuracy. Additionally, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements are employed to diminish chromatic aberrations and color fringing, enhancing the clarity and color fidelity of your photographs and video. Sony’s Nano AR coating suppresses ghosting and flare to improve contrast and color accuracy when working in bright or backlit conditions, while a fluorine coating has also been applied to the front element to protect against smudges and fingerprints. Lastly, the lens’s rounded 11-blade diaphragm delivers gorgeous, cinematic bokeh — great for shots with sharp subjects and pleasingly out-of-focus backgrounds.
Composing with wide angles
Steven Spielberg achieves the distinctive look of his shots by composing dynamic frames, and wide-angle lenses are a critical tool for creating them. The legendary Academy Award-winning director is known for his use of the wide-angle lens’s innate ability to capture a deep depth of field. To the same end, he also generally eschews the use of large apertures, preferring to stop down to preserve both foreground and background detail in his shots. This allows for fluid frames in which characters can be different sizes (i.e., different distances from the lens), anywhere within the frame. As they pop into the frame and exit the frame in visually stimulating ways — always remaining in focus — the audience’s eyes are drawn to the myriad story elements that artistically populate each frame of a Spielberg movie to advance the narrative. Whether you’re shooting stills or video, the Sony FE 16–35mm f/2.8 GM zoom lens gives you the same compositional freedom over a broad, continuous range of wide-angle focal lengths from a dramatically ultra-wide 16mm to the industry-standard 35mm. And it does so with world-class optical quality and a fast f/2.8 constant maximum aperture — should you desire shallow depth of field.
The wide-angle zoom: a brief history
To design a lens with variable focal length, certain optical elements must be able to change positions within the lens — a concept explored as far back as the 1830s, when the first patents were applied for in England. Not surprisingly, early varifocal lenses were primitive and exhibited significant optical aberrations, but advancements in technology and materials science would continuously improve zoom lens designs throughout the 20th Century. The first commercially successful zoom lens for still 35mm film cameras, the Zoomar 36–82mm f/2.8, went into production in 1959, and from there, zoom lens R&D picked up as new models entered the market. However, wide-angle zooms present additional design challenges, and the first such lenses didn’t come about until the 1970s. Today, leveraging advanced optics and computer-aided design, high-performance autofocus zooms such as those that bear the orange G Master series badge can optically go toe to toe with their prime lens stablemates. They’re also significantly faster and lighter in weight than their predecessors. Sony’s unwavering commitment to ongoing research and development is evident in the FE 16–35mm f/2.8 GM, a lens designed to take full advantage of the high-resolution potential of Sony’s current and future E-mount mirrorless cameras.
Sony: a trailblazer in digital imaging technology
Founded in 1946, Sony boasts a distinguished legacy as a trailblazer in the world of electronics. Over the decades, Sony has been responsible for many significant advancements in consumer and pro audio and video. The Tokyo-based company’s pioneering efforts in digital imaging during the 1980s and partnership with renowned German lens maker Zeiss in 1995 resulted in groundbreaking products such as the widely popular Cyber-shot camera, released in 1996. However, it was the acquisition of Minolta’s camera division in 2006 that would catapult Sony to the forefront of professional digital photography and eventually cement its status as an industry leader in mirrorless camera technology and optical lens design. Sony’s professional camcorders and video decks have long been industry standards in broadcast production, and the company leads the image sensor market with high-resolution sensors designed for industrial, automotive, mobile, and photographic applications, including those powering its high-performance cameras. Whether you’re a photographer, videographer, or multimedia creator, Sweetwater offers a Sony capture solution to match your needs and budget.
Sony FE 16–35mm f/2.8 GM Features:
- Premium G Master series wide-angle zoom lens
- Designed for use with full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras
- Sleek, compact, lightweight design for confident, ergonomic handling
- Professional image quality with optimal resolution at all focal lengths
- Advanced optical design with 2 ED, 3 aspherical, and 2 XA elements
- Bright f/2.8 constant maximum aperture; aperture range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Fast, precise, quiet autofocus performance for photography and video
- 2 DDSM AF motors, Focus Hold button, AF/MF switch, manual focus ring
- Rounded 11-blade diaphragm for beautiful, cinematic bokeh quality
- Nano AR coating suppresses reflections to reduce ghosting and flare
- Fluorine coating protects front element from smudges and fingerprints
- Renowned, dust- and moisture-sealed G Master series construction
- Includes lens hood, front and rear lens caps, and lens case
