Sony FE 16-25mm F/2.8 G: A compact powerhouse with a premium price
Sony FE 16-25mm F/2.8 G. Picture: Noel Campion.
The Sony FE 16-25mm F/2.8 G was designed to fill a unique gap in its lineup by offering a more compact and lightweight ultra-wide zoom with a fast aperture. This lens targets professionals and enthusiasts who need a versatile wide-angle zoom for landscapes, architecture, video work, and vlogging. It also benefits from Sony’s native lens advantages, such as full compatibility with high-speed burst shooting and in-camera focus breathing compensation. But is the extra cost justifiable?
Although the 16-25mm F/2.8 G doesn’t carry Sony’s flagship label, it is a premium lens. While it’s not a G Master, the build quality is very close. It’s lightweight at 409g and compact, making it a fantastic choice for travel, especially for videographers and those working with gimbals.
The lens features a hard plastic exterior with rubberised zoom and focus rings that feel well-damped and smooth. However, one quirk is its extending zoom mechanism, which extends outward as you zoom wider. I prefer when a lens is at its smallest at 16mm and extends when zooming in, as it feels more intuitive.
Sony has included an autofocus/manual focus switch, a focus hold button, and an aperture ring — a welcome addition for those who enjoy manual control. The aperture ring can also be de-clicked, making it great for smooth adjustments in video work.
The 67mm filter thread is standard, making it easy to find compatible filters. The lens is fully weather-sealed, with a rubber gasket at the mount, ensuring it holds up well in harsher conditions.
Sony has done an exceptional job with optical performance. The lens delivers crisp, detailed images across the zoom range, even wide open at f/2.8. Sharpness is excellent corner-to-corner, with no noticeable softness, making it a solid option for landscapes and architecture.
While autofocus on an ultra-wide lens isn’t as crucial as a tele lens, I couldn’t fault the lens's performance. The lens locks on instantly and accurately, whether in photo or video mode. Even in low-light conditions, it had no problem tracking subjects using Sony’s real-time eye AF. Unlike some third-party alternatives, this lens supports burst rates over 15fps, but you’ll hardly be using it to shoot high-speed action.
Like many ultra-wide lenses, the 16-25mm F/2.8 G shows some barrel distortion at 16mm, but it’s well-controlled and easy to correct in post. Vignetting is present at f/2.8 but disappears by f/4. Fortunately, Sony’s in-camera lens correction profiles handle these issues automatically.
The lens impresses with minimal chromatic aberration, even in high-contrast scenes. Sony has also done a great job controlling lens flare and ghosting, which is crucial for shooting in strong sunlight.
While bokeh isn’t a primary focus for an ultra-wide lens, the f/2.8 aperture provides decent background separation at 25mm. The bokeh balls are mostly round but show some cat’s-eye effect towards the edges.
One of the most significant advantages of choosing a Sony native lens is the focus breathing compensation feature available on their recent cameras. Even with the option turned off on my A74, the 16-25mm F/2.8 G showed no focus breathing, making it a top choice for video shooters.
Although I couldn’t test it, it should balance well on gimbals, and its smooth focus transitions make it ideal for professional video work.
While the lens lacks Sony’s ‘Optical Steady Shot’ stabilisation, it performs better with Sony’s Active Stabilisation than third-party lenses. If you’re using Dynamic Active Stabilisation (as found in the ZV-E1), all lenses perform similarly, but for regular active stabilisation, the Sony lens is the clear winner.
Flare control is fantastic, maintaining strong contrast even in backlit conditions. Thanks to its 11 aperture blades, it produces pleasing sun stars when stopped down.
The Sony FE 16-25mm F/2.8 G is a stellar performer. It’s razor-sharp, fast, lightweight, and packed with features that benefit photographers and videographers. The autofocus is flawless, focus breathing is virtually non-existent, and the image quality is superb. It’s a compact powerhouse that delivers professional-level results — if you’re willing to pay for it.
€1,400 www.sony.ie
