Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens Review

Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G Lens Review
Sony's first full-frame compact Power Zoom lens. This lens review shows examples of images and video clips (movies) captured with this lens. It also draws comparison with other full-frame lenses in Sony's lineup comparing weight, size, specifications and build quality. I recommend watching this video in 4K on a large monitor and if you want to see still images without the KZbin video compression artefacts then head over to my Flickr Pro gallery of images captured using this lens.
Flickr Album to see Ultra HD Images captured with the FE PZ 16-35 F4 G:
flic.kr/s/aHBqjzGHZi
Purchase from B&H Photo: bhpho.to/3NuZU0u
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#SonyAustralia #SonyAlpha #SonyAmbassador #SonyAlphaANZ #PowerZoom

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Join me on Patreon for the best Alpha Support and Guidance. A single $10 Membership fee includes access to my 500-page camera-specific eBooks, member-only Q&A Forums + Over twenty 1-hour member-only seminars + cameras settings files & access to the Raw files from the lens and camera reviews (there is no contract or commitment beyond the first month). www.patreon.com/markgaler

[@echoauxgen]

The inside architecture photographers will love this. 16mm is perfect for inside shots things are just right far away where a 12mm or 10mm is way to far away. What will be liked the most is video to change mm while shooting. As a stills the FE 16-35 f/4 has been perfect since it came out and on a Sony bright enough in dark astro areas with low ISO and great for close macro like shots. At the price would be a great add to my bag and a sell of my old could get half the cost to buy, watch the used gear sites that will be the early orders getting ready for this lens. This reminds me of the APS-C E 10- 18mm (16-27mm) that can be used at 12-18 on full frame. Sony is ahead of others making lenses small like the old film lenses.

[@BrianKushner]

Great coverage Mark!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ontherangemike]

This is exactly what I need for some upcoming documentaries. I have been looking at the 16-35 FE C T3.1 but simply could not justify it for 5,500 dollars plus the weight since I went with the FX3. So I was trying to decide between the Zeiss or GM 16-35. This is the exact lens I wanted since I will be outdoors so F4 is perfectly fine, plus I get the weight savings for on the go filming. I can't believe they just made this lens!! I am ordering this as soon as it is available.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Hopefully my zooming clips at the Triathlon give you an idea of how a primarily stills photographer (me) can zoom really smoothly using this lens.

[@ontherangemike]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills it was perfect! Thank you! Power zooming in and out can help pull you in or push you out of a character or subject when timed right and used minimally. The pace was perfect, obviously the person or team understood what film makers need for story telling. This lens is absolutely going to be a hit for film makers, vloggers, visual story tellers and youtubers. I know there will be some people who hate that it is not 2.8 but paired with the incredible ISO capabilities of today's cameras and for daylight scenes F4 is perfect.

[@aldente2011]

Hi Mark, thank you for the review. This lens came out when I was hoping for 16-35mm f2.8 GM2 with lighter improved specs like the recent 70-200 GM2. The technologies that put all the things in such a compact form factor at just 353g are sheer brilliant. So I am still looking forward to it.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Totally agree

[@kamasutraninjagrus]

Thanks Mark.... I didn’t know I needed this lens (As a hybrid shooter)

[@marioplumber3564]

Sonys G series lenses are absolutely amazing. If you're shooting in controlled lighting conditions this lens looks like no brainer. Sony looks to be the only company that is responding to the rise of Samyang/Rokinon in any meaningful way.

[@alma175w]

Great review - really appreciate the photographer’s perspective of using this type of lens. It’s really an interesting option in the focal length, and doesn’t seem to give up any appreciable image quality to the GM. Sony as really has put a lot of tech into this. Could be a nice way to down size the camera kit, and not give any real performance. Maybe not an Astro lens, but paired with the 14GM or 20G, or 35GM, you have a lot of bases covered. Thank you again for the thoroughness.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad it was helpful!

[@seituoronde740]

You are the best you present and give great information to make the viewer make a great decision thank you again and I want to join

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I appreciate that!

[@KN.Images]

Beautiful lens I just had to preorder it

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Hope it worked out for you

[@pauloverse]

I’ll have a cup of the xd linear mocha please @9:51 :-). Great review as always.

[@jafarkhan1982]

Waiting for the 24-70mm version of this lens.

[@shortugen]

wouldn't that be nice?

[@michaelmlyn]

Doubt there will Be one but maybe most likely a new 24-105

[@JeniaFabisuk]

Thank you for this review! How is the sunstar with this lens compare to Zeis?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The SunStar is a very different lens to this Power Zoom. With no AF or Zoom it is going to appeal to a very different photographer. The straight sided blades is going to appeal to someone who is more interested in the starbursts rather than smooth bokeh. A landscape photographer who does not need a wide maximum aperture or the ability to focus anything moving and only photographs stills may choose a 15mm prime instead of this Power Zoom.

[@SourPlanet]

If I didn't prefer 24-70 range, this would definitely be my next lens. If they release a 24-70 update as well, I'll be camped outside the warehouse.

[@longrider9551]

Mark I dont know if you mentioned this but Gerald Undone said in his review, this lens appears to be "parfocal", which is a nice feature when zooming

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I like Gerald Undone's video of this lens. He was able to provide some of the technicalities I didn't have time to cover (especially as I am primarily a stills shooter). With limited time available to reviewers I chose to use my time to get out onto location with the lens to shoot moving subjects (something that very few reviewers seem to do). For me the major upgrade was the XD linear focus motors, so where better to test this than at a sporting event. I figured rather than wasting time with landscapes (other than just a couple to say it is sharp, which everyone would sort of expect from a new Sony lens) I thought lets put the lenses through its paces and let it pull focus and track rapidly moving targets - which the lens achieved with flying colours.

[@Mattross52]

You’re photography is so good it’s laughable😂. It’s like ok, we get it Mark, you’re the man💯. Unlike most KZbinrs your pictures always floor me

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I appreciate that!

[@mynameistrd6841]

agreed. not all youtube photography reviewers are actually good photographers. Mark is superb!

[@marclabro]

Hi Mark, does it work well and sharp on a7m4 in apsc-35 mode to make a 24-52mm F4, photo and video (14Mpx size I think) ?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I think so - I have no issues filming in APS-C mode (with this lens and others) on my A7M4 at 60fps and I will often use a couple of the premium APS-C lenses as well (notably the E 11mm f/1.8 and E 15mm f/1.4 G)

[@Lux_Tech]

Thanks for the review. Am considering the Sony FE 16-35mm GM 2.8 or this to shoot wedding photography? Which is better? Need some advice thanks!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The GM for stills only and the G (PZ) for hybrid (Movies and Stills)

[@Lux_Tech]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you Mark and appreciate for the responses.

[@paololarocca7684]

this is seriously good news, great product…

[@julienbalestra312]

As always, it's an excellent review. For a hiker landscape A7C photographer, would you recommend the Sony 20mm f1.8 instead ?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I personally will use my FE 20mm F/1.8 G and a 35mm prime rather than an F4 zoom.

[@darrenhaken]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Hi Mark, why is that? Could you expand?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

@@darrenhaken - I expand on this in my 1-hour Lens Choice video and personally guide Alpha photographers on my Patreon.com/markgaler support channel to make an informed choice

[@marclabro]

super ! which ND filter and polarizer would you advise for 16-35mm ? magnetic type or screwable or square filters with square receptacle screwed on lens ?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I use fixed density magnetic filters and no polarising filters. To understand more about my personal choices join me on Patreon.com/markgaler

[@marclabro]

thanks. never understood the patreon policy whatever the author where the basic level is always expired and you need to take the premium expensive one we can't afford as hobbyist

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

@@marclabro - The premium membership is the level that provides access to the eBooks. One month's membership is less half the price of a comparable ebook you could buy elsewhere and another eBook doesn't include video archives, Raw file download, CAMSET files and Q&A forums

[@heissodexter]

I’m currently using Sony aR7iii with lens of Sony 24-70 GM and Sony FE 35mm F1.8. I’m mainly doing videography and still new in this field. Should I get this Sony 16-35mm f4 pz lens or Sony 55mm F1.8 zeiss lens. Hope to get more advice/guidance. Thank you.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I could tell you my preference but then you wouldn't understand the reasons for my preference. My needs as a photographer may not be your needs as a photographer. These products you name are vastly different and ones that I would choose to do very different tasks. This is the type of conversation I have on my support channel Patreon.com/markgaler

[@lunaglunaglunag]

Hi, did you notice any focus jump/focus pulsating when you close up to the subject with autofocus on with this lens (PZ 16-35mm F4 G)? Mine seems to have the issue when I use gimbal to go in closer to the subject's face, it seems to have that zoom pump, but it is actually the focus going error for a very fast milliseconds (or looks like focusing the back of the subject in mine), and then slowly focus back to the subject, and it is quite frequent. Or sometimes it would just make that whole scene to have the shaking stutter effect for a millisecond, I had even set the focus shift sensitivity to the lowest, and it still does the same thing. For the body I'm currently using A7S3. Attached here is an example (not my video, but a clip I manage to found online which has the same issue as mine), look at the table at the bottom area and you'll understand what I meant: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqK9n4ynnJitiKM Much appreciated for your replies, thank you.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Pulsing focus can be attributed to camera settings, but are not a feature of this lens or any other modern Sony lens. I offer technical support on my Patreon.com/markgaler support channel.

[@DashVisionLLC]

Do the athletes sign a waiver in order for you to be able to use the footage with their faces on it?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I have a media pass as I am promoting the event. It's also a public event in a public space where people do not have the right to privacy. I always figure people will respond better to real-world images rather than pictures of fences and pot plants.

[@Mraz75]

Hi mark, usually you would suggest several lenses to compliment the lens that you reviewing. But in this video you did not suggest any lenses. Do you have any suggestion on what lens to go along with this PZ 16-35mm? I know others had suggested 85mm, but i prefer you opinion about this.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Mark offers personal support on his Alpha support channel > Patreon.com/markgaler. Lens choice is an individual conversation that has to include budget, size and weight preferences and what the photographer normally shoots on a daily basis. Best Wishes Admin Team for Mark Galer

[@DouglasSun]

Does the power zoom of this lens work on SONY ZV-E10?

[@krishnastock]

Yes (according to Gerald Undone)!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Yes - its one of the advantages of Sony's E-Mount that can see this lens move between APS-C, Full-Frame and its Cine cameras all using the same E-Mount.

[@hawkensanimations2516]

Can you use this reliably on an APSC body like the a6700?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

You could but the E PZ 10-20 F4 G is the equivalent APS-C lens

[@hawkensanimations2516]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills thank you for the reply! I actually was going for the 10-20 first but with current opportunities in the way, I might upgrade to full frame at some point or other so I was wondering if the 16-35 PZ can work well with an apsc body like the a6700 in the meantime

[@JonniArmani]

Nice deep dive M.) J.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Thank you kindly

[@JonniArmani]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills welcome,)

[@mynameistrd6841]

i'm more interested in the triathlon competitors. some of them are not young but damn they are super healthy :)

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Wish I was as fit as some of the people I am photographing at these events

[@anwalat]

Can we use this with a7siii?

[@DrWurzeli]

of course

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Yes - this will make a good companion for this camera for videographers who want to zoom while recording.

[@northcarolinalee1441]

Is this FULL FRAME LENS , AND BEST FOR LANDSCAPING PHOTO?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

FE stands for Full Frame E-Mount. Sony lenses that are not full frame just start with E. You can use the lens for landscape if you like. I shot one for the review at the 16mm focal length at f/11.

[@Someone-lc6dc]

Ouch.... I just got the 20mm f/1.8 and now this one is out...

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Your 20mm F1.8 Lens has outstanding performance and will be sharper at 20mm that this 16-35 zoom. Your 20mm G performs like a half-price GM.

[@bhaskarpatel7233]

❤

[@granitestatepropertyinspec1096]

Has the correction come out yet

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Yes

[@rayvicchio9094]

Mark, what does this little beauty sell for.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I was told that it would sell for 11% more than the Recommended Retail Price of the 16-35 F4 ZA here in Australia.

[@rayvicchio9094]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills thanks Mark. However Adorama just listed a suggested price just under $1200 USD. They don’t have any units and the price may still change.

[@dennisgates5986]

I do enjoy your lens reviews. I am confused however when you say you can download for free some of you educational material for free. That one can make a donation if found useful. I appears though that you can not download this material unless you are prepared to be a patron. How can one make a donation if you don’t know whether the material is useful. I would be prepared to make a donation if I doing the material useful but when I can’t download it I’ll never know whether it was useful or not.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

All of my learning resources are available for download if you join my Patreon service. it's just $10.00 for one month (no contracts or commitments). The donation link is for people to show their appreciation for extended reviews (above and beyond the 1 or 2 cents I make from the Google ads you had to watch).

[@charmerci]

Hmmm, no 16mm f4 shots?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

So you missed the landscape shot at sunset captured at f/11 where I zoomed in to the front stump?

[@charmerci]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills I saw it. f11 isn't quite f4 though.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

@@charmerci - Most of the video clips start at 16mm and then zoom in at f/4. I did the best I could in the 48 hours I had the lens before announcement.

[@NomadByFate]

why not 16-70 ??? or 16-105 ???? what the helllll

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

16-35 is a very common and very popular focal range. If you are looking for larger zoom ranges (such as can be found in 7x and 10x zooms) expect lenses to be heavier and less sharp across the zoom range. These larger lenses will also present a problem for videographers working with gimbals or vloggers working hand-held due to the extra weight. This lens was not obviously not designed to meet your needs. What you are looking for is one lens to replace two popular zooms 16-35 and 24-70. Check out the 24-105 to see how large that lens is and then 50% more weight to encompass the 16-24 range and you now have a lens that is possibly 5 times heavier than this FE PZ 16-35 F4 G

[@howardhdavidson]

My personal experience is these G lenes are well overrated for their price.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Which other non-Sony power zoom lens are you comparing it to?