Go Wide with the New Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM and 12-24mm F/4 G

Sony 16-35mm F/2.8 GM

Professional video creators and filmmakers have been eagerly anticipating the release of a wide-angle G Master lens, and the wait is finally over. The Sony 16-35mm F/2.8 GM promises sharpness across the zoom range and throughout apertures, with Sony promoting the extreme aspherical (XA) element – the largest Sony has ever created – to achieve the greatest resolution and lowest image distortion. The Nano AR coating also is supposed to reduce the unwanted flare and ghosting that often plague wide-angle shots.

Eleven aperture blades promise a pleasing circular bokeh, even when shooting at the minimum focus distance of 28cm, where lower-end wide-angle lenses struggle with creating depth and maintaining sharpness.

Two direct drive SSM systems handle the auto-focusing capabilities, working with the floating focus configuration to achieve fast and precise results while remaining quiet in operation, thus catering for both photography and video applications.

Weighing in at only 680g, the lens is lighter than the Canon equivalent, but a little more expensive: the Sony FE 16-35mm F/2.8 GM will have an expected price of around $2,200, and will be shipping in August 2017.

Sony FE 12-24mm F/4 G

Sony also announced the ultra wide FE 12-24mm F/4 G lens for full-frame E-mount cameras, offering a unique perspective for filming and video. Weighing in at only 566g, could this be a go-to choice for gimbal shooting?

Again, Sony have focused on optical quality to reduce wide angle distortion through one super ED element, and three ED elements to reduce chromatic aberration. The Nano AR coating has also been applied here to reduce flare and ghosting.

The lens also features a DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic Motor) to achieve fast and precise auto focusing, white remaining quiet in operation.

The Sony FE 12-24mm F/4 G lens will start shipping in July 2017, with a competitive pricing of $1,700.

Can you see the new G master or G wide angle lenses being a part of your lens collection? What would you use these lenses for? Leave your thoughts in the comments.