Purchasing a brand new mirrorless camera, such as the premium Sony Alpha range, means buying into an exciting new system. As an owner, you are spoilt for choice when selecting camera accessories and lenses to enhance your user experience and branch out into various types of photography.
As a new owner, it can become tricky to decide which camera lens is best for your digital camera — which is where Ted's lens showdowns come in. Today we discuss two Sony wide-angle zoom lenses, the FE 12-24mm f4 G and the FE PZ 16-35mm f4 G, in an attempt to find the perfect option for your camera bag.
In this article:
- Where are these lenses similar?
- Sony FE 12-24mm f4 G
- Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f4 G
- Which Sony lens should I get?
Where Are These Lenses Similar?
As mentioned, these two high-quality optics fall into the wide-angle zoom lens category, meaning they are both great for capturing expansive, wide-ranging views. Popular uses for wide-angle lenses include landscape, travel photography and architecture.
Both of these Sony lenses are Sony FE lenses, which means they are full-frame compatible. They can be used to their full potential on the Sony A7 range of cameras, including the wonderful Sony A7 Mark IV and the flagship Sony A9 III.
Sony FE lenses can also be mounted on Sony APS-C models, so if you are looking for a Sony lens for the A6400 you are in luck — but keep in mind that these models will provide a more magnified view, resulting from crop factor.
Here are some other similarities between these two Sony lenses:
- Both lenses have wide-angle fields of view
- Both lenses are zoom lenses
- Both lenses have a fast, constant f/4 maximum aperture
Sony FE 12-24mm f4 G
While the difference is not substantial, the Sony FE 12-24mm f4 G lens offers a wider field of view. This extra width comes in handy when standing before the most expansive views that the world has to offer, or when working in crowded interiors and similar situations. With its constant f/4 maximum aperture, this lens is a solid option for low light photography, and it crucially offers the same excellent depth of field control whether you are using the widest or longest zoom option.
A highlight of this Sony zoom lens is its brilliant optical design, which includes four Aspherical, three ED and one super ED element, resulting in good corner-to-corner image sharpness — crucial when producing a premium wide-angle lens. The lens also features Sony's Nano AR coating, reducing internal reflections and delivering images with eye-catching colour and contrast.
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Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f4 G
While not as wide as the 12-24mm lens, the Sony FE PZ 16-35mm lens offers more reach at the telephoto end. What does this mean in real-world terms? You can zoom in a bit more with this lens, achieving a tighter crop if necessary — this can help to produce more interesting compositions with your camera.
This lens too offers a constant aperture of f/4, which means you can harness the same level of bokeh control at all settings. A key feature is its fast and accurate AF performance, courtesy of XD linear AF motors, and a quick and simple power zoom lever is included to make use of this focus performance.
This lens is a portable and lightweight option, so if you need a Sony zoom lens for vlogging or everyday photography, this should be high on your wishlist.
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So, Which Sony Camera Lens Should I Get?
One obvious factor when comparing these two impressive Sony lenses is their different price points. The 12-24mm f4 G lens offers excellent build quality with aluminium alloy materials and a range of premium optical elements, which results in its heftier price tag.
The Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f4 lens is a more compact option, a good fit for vlogging and everyday photography with enthusiast-level mirrorless cameras, and is just as usable on smaller-format models as it is on full-frame releases.
If you are looking for premium build quality and wide-angle optics for landscape photography, we lean towards the 12-24mm f4 G. If you want a more versatile option with an emphasis on portability, the 16-35mm f4 G gets our vote.
Put Together Your Dream Camera Lens Collection with Ted's
Putting together your photography kit is an exciting time and it shouldn't be stressful. Ted's photography blog provides product reviews, gear advice and hints and tips to guide you down your photography path with ease. If you would like to chat with someone, our in-store staff are happy to help.