NEW Sony 16-25mm F/2.8 G - Better than the G Master?

Sony just released the brand new Sony 16-25mm f/2.8 G. It's a compact wide-angle lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture, rich feature set, and fantastic optics. It's geared towards travel, everyday carry, and video creators to be the perfect wide-angle lens for the Sony full-frame system. Today we're going to check out the performance and see how it stacks up against the alternatives.
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Presets, Templates & Free Stuff: bio.meshna.com
CAMERA GEAR
Main Camera for Photo (Sony A1): geni.us/Mesh-A1
→ Budget Version (Sony a7IV): geni.us/MESH-A7IV
The Camera I Film These Vids With (Sony FX3): geni.us/Mesh-fx3
→ Budget Version (Sony FX30): geni.us/Mesh-FX30
All Time Favorite Lens (24-70): geni.us/2470GMII
→ Older Version: geni.us/Mesh-2470GM
Favorite Wide Angle Lens (16-35): geni.us/1635GMII
→ Older Version: geni.us/Mesh-1635GM
Best Budget Sony Lens: geni.us/Mesh-2070
Favorite Prime Lens (35mm): geni.us/7H2j3
Astro Lens (20mm): geni.us/Mesh-20G
Telephoto Beast (100-400): geni.us/Mesh-100GM
Portrait / BRoll Lens (50mm): geni.us/Mesh-50-14
STUDIO SETUP
Main Key Light: geni.us/Mesh-300B
Cheaper Light Option: geni.us/Mesh-200x
My Studio Microphone (w/ cloud lifter): geni.us/Mesh-SM7B
Travel Tripod: geni.us/Mesh-PDTripod
BUDGET OPTIONS
Budget Sony Mirrorless: geni.us/Mesh-6400
Budget Canon Mirrorless: geni.us/g1SL1
Vlogger Camera: geni.us/Mesh-ZV1
0:00 - Intro
0:37 - Build & Features
1:43 - Auto Focus
2:42 - Performance
3:36 - Close Focusing
4:09 - Wide Angle Issues
4:35 - Corner Sharpness
5:27 - Vignetting and Distortion
5:49 - Flaring
6:20 - Is it the best wide angle?
7:15 - Stupid Things With This Lens
8:25 - Limitations
8:42 - Price
9:03 - Comparison vs Tamron & Sigma
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Note: I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases when you click the links above. This is a no cost to you, but helps me to keep the lights on and making great videos for your eye holes.

[@kylemeshna]

Correct price is $1199. Not $1099. My apologies

[@keiroog]

Awesome review! Maybe you could do a video (or a short) showing how you assembled the POV Snorricam style rig around the 7:19 mark. Or if that's too much, could you maybe try explaining it once again in a comment? (I didn't fully understand it from what you said in the video, sorry!) Just really loved that shot!

[@canmtb4676]

Great review ! I'm wondering if you can share the camera setting, shooting mode (assuming "M") , shutter speed, aperture , iso, of the great picture @4:28. I'm a really beginner and that information would be very helpful for taking my camera to a graduation ceremony of one of my family member. Thanks in advance.

[@ItsJFox]

Finally someone reviewing the new Sony 16-25mm also recommends the 16-35mm GM ii if you can swing it.

[@Equilion]

Hi, nice and informative video! Did you have the chance to get a lens profile for Lightroom yet? If not, do you use another lens's profile or correct it yourself? Thank in advance.

[@JessDemant]

I am curious if next time, for example, there will be a 50-100mm.f.2.8 lens in the same size as the first two in the series?

[@Fotogoscar]

Wonder how this lens performs for Astro. I currently have Zeiss Batis 18mm but there are times I wished a had a wide angle zoom. Currently pair it with 24-105G for landscape.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thank you for the video. I’m really considering adding this lens to pair with the Sony 24-50/2.8 G I already bought and have. Already have the 16-35/2.8 GM II and even the Sigma 16-28/2.8 DG DN but I’m pairing this my compact C A7CR and A7CII for a travel kit. The larger GMII and G primes I use on my full size full frame A1 and A7RV. If I do buy it the Sigma 26-28/2.8 and 28-70/2.8 will go up for sale to someone who will use them. Take care.

[@scuba_lens]

I have the A7CII and the 20-70 and would like something wider and faster. Also for astro. Would you rather take the 16-25 or the 14 mm GM?

[@BackcountryExposure]

Do you like this as a companion lens to the 20-70 f4? I’m on a A7C with the 20-70, and love it, but do want something wider at times, but love the 70.

[@kylemeshna]

Definitely a great combo

[@alansarpy]

killer for real estate photo and video!

[@Amcacs5654]

Buying it for that exactly. Looking to get into real estate photography and was going to get the sigma 14-24mm. But this is so much smaller and lighter and takes regular filters. Plus I want to use it for video as well. Some Astro and landscape too! Hyped.

[@alansarpy]

@@Amcacs5654 I shoot both video and photo for real estate.. I'm thinking of picking this lens up as well

[@sashinger5230]

Looks like a really good lens. I currently have the Sigma 16-28 and it's ok but I love what Sony did with the G line lately. A Sony lens on a Sony body is a whole different story... Already have the 20-70 G and the 70-200 f4 G II Macro and they are both excellent. Would love to see Sony dropping a few more G primes like an 85mm f1.8 G, a 35mm f1.8 G or a 16mm f1.8 G. Will be interesting to see how vignetting and distortion is being handled on the 16-25 as soon as the LR profile will be released. Thx for the video! ✌

[@kylemeshna]

Would be a great combo with that setup for sure! Took this one on a backpacking trip since publishing this video and shot almost everything on it. Turned out fantastic

[@sashinger5230]

@@kylemeshna That's nice to know! Your comparison table was a bit of an eye opener for me in terms of the overall value... Love the low min focus distance and the 11 aperture blades for the sunstars they're able to create. Will have a look when it's available over here! ✌

[@SibiVenkatesh-vk6gn]

It's better than the original 16 to 35 Gm i ?

[@alvinbartolome1239]

Great series review of the new Sony G zooms 16-25/2.8 ,24-50/2.8, and the 20-70/4 (I watched all) Which among the new Sony G zooms suits best as I have the bigger Sony A7IV and the ff lenses Samyang 24/1.8, Sigma 35/1,4, DG DN Sony 55/1.8 Sigma 85/1.4 DG DN or should I go for a second camera body instead? (Sony A7Cii is waving!) I am a serious hobbyist and somehow looking for the flexibility of zoom when I go out with the family. Thanks. subd

[@kylemeshna]

If I was forced to choose only one I would go with the 20-70 for versatility

[@alvinbartolome1239]

Is it really that good for a standalone lens?

[@JamesHarding-rg4mx]

Would you recommend something like this for vlogging / talking head videos ?

[@kylemeshna]

Definitely great for that yes! It’ll be a bit on the wider side for taking head, but I think it makes it feel more personal

[@navpreetsingh8156]

The picture quality is not G master, its bettered by the Tamron 17-28, it uses a lot of camera corrections to hide distortion and vignetting

[@kylemeshna]

You just saying that or have you tested both side by side…?

[@CarlosGarcia-so8tr]

Primero 🔥🔥✨✨

[@NathanHassani-kr4bh]

25 HAS NO REACH

[@kylemeshna]

It’s a wide angle lens. It’s not supposed to have reach

[@NathanHassani-kr4bh]

I know, but look at all the sony lenses, there's not one ( do it all lens) not a single one available in a useful focal length, a lot of people only want to use one lens, and there simply isn't anything available in the sony lineup that can do that, either not wide enough, or not enough reach, there's one lens that comes close, 20-70 G 2.8 but at f4, wish sony would give us a 16-55mm or something, it would sell like crazy.

[@kylemeshna]

That’s not a Sony problem though… that’s a physics problem

[@CocoKoi321]

​@@NathanHassani-kr4bh this is a full frame lens not apsc dude