Do You REALLY Need An Ultra Wide Angle Lens? Sony 16-35mm GM II

The Sony 16-35mm GM II is an ultra wide angle lens making it able to capture big amounts of views for photography. It is also now the world's lightest wide angle zoom lens making it very convenient to carry. A wide angle lens is often called a "landscape photography" lens because it is commonly used to photography grand views, and the question is do you really need to own one?
On this landscape photography vlog, I recently bought the Sony 16-35mm GM II to replace my old mark 1 version after it broke down for about 6 months. After missing a wide angle lens perspective in my photography, I started missing those stretched distortions this type of lens gives. I head out to hike a reservoir in Hong Kong because of dull grey skies and talk about the unique properties of a wide angle lens, and do the first impressions of the Sony 16-35 GM II.
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Website: www.shotsbykei...
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The Gear I Use:
Main photo camera: Sony A7iii amzn.to/3QM3KFx
Daily street camera: Ricoh GR IIIx
Standard Zoom lens: Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II amzn.to/3UXXInZ
Wide-angle lens: Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM amzn.to/3QDIOk7
Astro lens: Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM amzn.to/3wygAAo
Vlogging camera: Sony A6400 amzn.to/3UFYLqX
Telephoto lens: Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM amzn.to/3UGUhAq
New Portrait lens: Sony 50mm f/1.2 GM amzn.to/3ULGB7A
Portrait lens: Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA amzn.to/3wtEP2J
Microphone: Comica CVM-VM10 Microphone
Drone: DJI Mavic Air 2 amzn.to/3wtSHtR
Gimbal: DJI Ronin-SC
Action camera: DJI Osmo Action amzn.to/4beZ2Iu
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#photography #sony #lens #sel1635gm2

[@keithguppy]

Hi Keith, I love my 17-40 Lens so much I barely use my telephoto, I think like you mentioned the foreground is the key to a good photo. I need a faster Lens for astro photography, looking at your images really makes me want to go and shoot some night shots. Great video and photos as always

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Actually you can still take night sky images even without a fast lens (not the best, but passable). I was able to shoot one before with a crop sensor + kit lens combo and it was acceptable 😁 most important is to have a dark sky! Thanks for watching Keith.

[@shawnheppenstall3258]

Hi Keith. Great video again. I did have a wide angle lens, but hardly ever use it. Always enjoy your photos. Hope your well mate. Take care, Shawn.

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thanks Shawn! Glad you enjoyed 😁

[@JorisVanDeuneghem]

You are changing dude, you always want more and more. when will it be enough? 😂 great purchase Keith. it wasn't indeed the best light to shoot, but I understand you. great video and amazing explanation. I the editing on the photo of the bridge.

[@CluelessYoutuber]

It will never be enough, as you know 😂😂😂 haha I didn’t intend to buy this lens originally since I had the Mark I version 😅 the image quality is a small upgrade optically, but then it broke down and when I had the quote it was almost the same as replacing the lens. This is fantastic though! I really love how lightweight it is. Excited to shoot more. Glad you enjoyed dude! 😁 and that I sort of copied your and Nigel Danson’s title since it suited the video the most 😂

[@JorisVanDeuneghem]

@@CluelessKZbinr 😂 yes you told me a while ago your lens broke, but I forgot it. I hope you get a lot of views, because it’s a great title 😂

[@iCanoe_]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your unique thoughts on shooting wide.

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thank you for watching! Really glad you liked it

[@glenblaven]

Wonderful video. Lots of very useful tips and engaging edit. Thank you for sharing. 👍🙏

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thank you for watching and I’m glad you found the tips useful 😁

[@AccessiblePhotography]

Good video. Glad you got to the foreground point. It’s the key thing for wide angle use. Ie, I have a burning question I’ve wanted to ask first ages. Are you monitoring your sound with the headphones?

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thanks! I wanted to be concise but still cover a majority of the points about using the wide angle. Nah, I usually just listen to music when I hike because HK hikes can be crowded (especially this trail is moderately easy and paved) so I won’t get that peaceful tranquil mood. Most of the time I just forget taking them off when I vlog 😅 but the noise cancelling helps me block out or notice the people around me less and won’t be too distracted with talking.

[@focusphotonsfrugally6644]

It is so true what you say about wide angle lenses. It is all about the foreground and the sky, if it's interesting enough. but, like you say messy foregrounds and stray drinks cans are the nemesis of the wide angle lens.

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Definitely the nemesis, can imagine the difficulty if I try this out in my street shots 😂 a challenge for another day! Thanks for watching.

[@yasminshikingmission]

Great tips and great photos 😊 I’d like a wide angle lens like that

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thanks Yasmin! It’s a great lens but also very budget dependent 😂

[@SetForAdventures]

Hay Keith some great points here (always an education) ATB Simon 🤠👍

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thanks Simon! 😁

[@mauriciolee7349]

Thank you for such an INFORMATIVE video. I love your saying "If your photo is NOT GOOD enough, it's because you're NOT CLOSE enough!". WOW, it's SO EFFECTIVE and yet I have not heard of it before. I wish you mentioned at least one specific disadvantage of this lens, Sony 16-35mm GM II f2.8. In reality, NOTHING is PERFECT. It's very helpful when you mention the disadvantage of all wide angle lenses. That is the middle ground is usually empty. There's nothing there and that makes the photo less interesting.

[@CluelessYoutuber]

I’m glad you found the video informative and helpful! Honestly, the only disadvantage I can think of is the price, it’s not a lens for everyone, but if you can justify the cost for your own use cases, it’s amazing.

[@mauriciolee7349]

@@CluelessKZbinr I agree with you its price is SKY HIGH. That's why I have not bought it yet!

[@karlgames247]

hi, are you using your headphones to check your audio when vlogging?

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Hello, not at all. I just always have music playing in the background while going out to block all the city noises 😅

[@Skipullgacha]

Great video, As a landscape photographer, what do you think of the new Laowa 10mm zero d lens?

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thank you! I haven’t taken a look at the lens until now, but I can find very few use cases for me in shooting that wide. 😅 and f2.8 is also something I won’t consider fast, if I were to use it for astro. I’d probably prefer a wider aperture like an f1.8 or f1.4 than a “wider than wide” lens.

[@Skipullgacha]

@@CluelessKZbinr oh okay, your reply made me to hold off getting that laowa lens. Im trying to get into landscape too but i was torn between 16-35 pz or the gm2 because many ppl said the pz already enough

[@CluelessYoutuber]

@@Skipullgacha I have a very specific use case for the f/2.8 mainly because I do astrophotography and want to grow in it too. :) if I didn’t, f/4 is more than enough for me in landscapes. The PZ is a great lens!

[@Skipullgacha]

@@CluelessKZbinr what about night cityscape? Is f4 enough? Thanks

[@PhilipOlsen11]

Great video Kieth. Good explanation of the pros and cons of the wide angle. The $2290 cost is a con for me 😳, but a very impressive Lens if you’ve a spare kidney 😂

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thanks Phil! Definitely not for everyone 😅 I probably should hold off buying anything for a while 😂 make my kidney grow back.

[@forced_perspective]

Always enjoy your meticulous planning and photos. With that G master lens even the rubbish on the edges will look good lol

[@CluelessYoutuber]

It’s gonna be high definition rubbish 😂 thanks James! Glad you enjoyed 😁

[@forced_perspective]

@@CluelessKZbinr haha

[@LordScorpio74]

I just got mine and I sooo get it about the kidney 😂. I am in love with it, though.

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Don’t worry, for lenses we have unlimited kidneys 😂 yep it’s a fantastic lens! 😁 thanks for watching buddy

[@siretobytv2.0]

Second❤❤❤

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thanks

[@GuidoVanDeWater]

I like the shot with the person in it much in better but next time take the girl again as a model...would have been much better 😉😅 I have the olympus 7-14 f2.8 witch is almost the same focal range as your lens. I bring that lens on every trip that I take and it was one of my most expansive purchases. Als because what you mentioned as a landscape photographer you just need a wide angle lens. That Said I have to admit that I just freaking hate that lens! I take it all the time, spend lots of money on it and I barely ever use it. Maybe it's because of the extremely flat country that I live in or something. The only times that I use it is at spots in different country's. But somehow I will never sell it or never leave it at home. Because I will kill myself if I come across a scene for witch I would need It 😅 grt guido

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Haha I should find more models to pose for me! I feel the same, in my general landscape shots I find I use the wide angle a lot less now that I have the telephoto and standard zoom. But it’s an absolute stunner when everything aligns and you find a use case for it. I’ll probably do a fun test on the distortion with streets, and of course looking forward for more astro opportunities. Thanks for watching!

[@michaeljohndadd545]

First comment

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Thanks