Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II vs Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Huge-angle zoom lenses develop up one-third of the ‘Holy Trinity’ lens lineup and present incessantly precious for several functions, including landscapes, structure and astrophotography. In most cases, a weak 24-70mm zoom lens isn’t reasonably wide enough to shoot a particular scene, so having a wide-angle lens on your kit accumulate allows you to just like the gap beneath 24mm. 

Huge-angle lenses are liked in astrophotography on memoir of they capture a great wider portion of the sky and let more light in than normal and telephoto lenses in most cases stop (which, while you happen to’re taking pictures in the darkish, is incredibly essential). On the whole, top lenses are regarded as the true lenses for astrophotography as a result of their wider apertures, but it’s possible you’ll presumably well reasonably with out disaster utilize one of many actual zoom lenses at f/2.8 to glean some impossible astro pictures. Then again, one of the best thing about the usage of a zoom lens over a top lens is the versatility of fixing the focal dimension to shoot totally different kinds.

The Sony vs Canon debate is ongoing, and finally, it always comes all the manner down to private desire. Nonetheless, we are in a position to be having a stare upon the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II and the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM, evaluating their specs and the design we learned their efficiency when we examined them both. Whenever you happen to could presumably well even like already bought into either machine, then the desire shall be a in point of fact easy one, but for any users having a gaze to make investments in their first fleshy-frame camera and lens machine or fascinated with switching from one other impress, retain discovering out to gaze how these two lenses compare in opposition to every other.

Specs

Similarities

• They had been the same tag on release, but the Canon is a microscopic more cost effective as a result of its age.
• Each and every lenses like a fixed f/2.8 aperture.
• Each and every lenses like an 82mm filter thread.
• Each and every lenses are climate-sealed.

Variations

• The Canon is an enormous four years older than the Sony.
• The Sony is 21.9mm shorter and 293g lighter than the Canon.
• The Canon has an additional millimeter of focal dimension on the wider extinguish.
• The Canon has up to 8 stops of portray stabilization — the Sony doesn’t like any the least bit.
• The Sony has a pretty shorter minimal focusing distance and increased magnification.
• The Sony has 11 aperture blades, the Canon simplest has 9.

Causes to aquire Sony

Aid in September 2023, Sony launched this updated model of their 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens with a total host of upgrades and contemporary aspects. The authentic model came out methodology support in 2017, so it used to be long as a result of the Tag II treatment. When paired with one of many actual mirrorless cameras, this lens is a power to be reckoned with.

One of many more stunning traits the Sony lens has over the Canon is the dimension and weight distinction. The Sony is 35% lighter than the Canon with a weight distinction of 293g, and it be 21.9mm shorter, making it great more elegant to utilize for longer durations with out getting arm or neckache. And while you happen to’re traveling or taking it with you as piece of a huge lens lineup, the total weight of all of your gear provides up, so having lighter lenses is an enormous plus. In our fleshy Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II overview, we mentioned that we had been greatly surprised by how lightweight it used to be for the kind of honest-quality lens. 

We also in point of fact liked the addition of the clickable aperture ring on the lens. Right here is a to hand aim while you happen to’re the usage of a camera physique that simplest has two retain a watch on dials. You may want to well presumably well living these to ISO and shutter tempo after which change the aperture on the lens itself. This prevents you from wasting time wading by the menus while you happen to would favor to interchange settings expeditiously.

The Sony also has more aperture blades than the Canon, which implies doubtlessly rounder and smoother bokeh. It also has a decrease minimal focusing distance and increased magnification, which permits for greater end-up pictures. We had been very impressed with the image quality — all our photos had been pin-sharp and in focus after testing totally different apertures at a unfold of focal lengths. We simplest seen a exiguous tumble-off in sharpness on the corners when the usage of the decrease apertures (which is to be anticipated).

We thought it handled astrophotography totally and we barely seen any coma or barrelling in the photos. Devoted astro shooters would seemingly saunter for a top lens, but for more classic photographers who simplest stop the occasional little bit of astro, we mediate the Sony FE 16.35mm f/2.8 GM II will inspire you nicely. We did not include it in our finest lenses for astrophotography guide on memoir of by methodology of wide-angle zoom lenses, we mediate the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM also can very nicely be a microscopic greater suited to astro taking pictures — even supposing moreover it is more costly.

• Read our fleshy Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II overview

Causes to aquire Canon

When evaluating the two lenses, the Canon lens has three essential benefits over the Sony, but how linked these differences are depends upon on your taking pictures setup and model. 

The first is that the Canon has a weak five stops of portray stabilization and up to 8 when paired with a suitable Canon camera physique. In disagreement, the Sony lens doesn’t like any portray stabilization the least bit. We’re going to present you with the option to brand why, as it be an already costly lens and most Sony cameras like in-physique portray stabilization, but 9 times out of ten, it be incessantly magnificent to like portray stabilization in the lens as nicely, especially while you happen to turn out the usage of a camera physique that does not like any portray stabilization. Whenever you happen to prevent heaps of video or handheld taking pictures and film stabilization is critical to you, the Canon lens shall be the more stunning option here.

One day of our Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM overview, we liked its graceful and straightforward originate, which aids in its portability, even supposing it be higher and heavier than the Sony. We mediate the Canon is certainly ‘prettier’ than the Sony, but that is only a private thought. 

Another finest thing about the Canon is an additional 1mm focal dimension on the wider extinguish. This probably also can not be wildly noticeable in most conditions, on the different hand it can presumably well present counseled in astrophotography pictures the place it be essential to let as great light by as possible. The usage of the 500 rule, this extra 1mm skill it’s possible you’ll presumably well living your shutter tempo for just a few seconds longer than with the Sony.

Sooner or later, the Canon is also a microscopic more cost effective. It be not essentially the most essential tag distinction, but we do not know someone who would turn down the possibility to put $200. It appears to be like to like stood the take a look at of time and held its tag exceptionally nicely, a testament to its general quality and efficiency even at over four years extinct. We named it the true Canon RF lens in our finest lenses for astrophotography guide, so it be certainly an investment, but we mediate it be rate the money.

• Read our fleshy Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM overview

Verdict

It used to be a extremely end call between two distinctive lenses and never the fairest fight as a result of the age distinction. We mediate if Canon had launched their 15-35mm f/2.8 lens similtaneously the Sony 16.35mm f/2.8 and managed to shave off seemingly the most most burden and toughen its specs ever so a microscopic in step with the Sony, the consequence could presumably well’ve long gone the unsuitable methodology. Who knows—perchance Canon will reach out with a Tag II sometime.

Whereas the Canon has some critical benefits over the Sony, the Sony lens has more benefits than the Canon does relating to general practicality and day-to-day utilize.

Kimberley Lane is a panorama & seascape photographer residing in South Wales. At the foundation the usage of pictures as a technique to take care of health disorders, she objectives to painting a sense of nonetheless and peace by her photos. Her work has been featured in a desire of nationwide pictures magazines.