Head-to-head · Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary vs Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.8). The gap is mostly about working professionals (weddings, events, commercial) who need a versatile constant-f/2.8 wide zoom with G Master quality — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

4.6

$899

The Sigma 16-28mm is the value zoom with the same 16mm wide end as the Sony GM II. At 450g and $899 it competes directly with the Tamron 17-28mm — and the deciding factor is usually filter compatibility and the matter of an extra millimeter wide vs an extra few millimeters tele. Inner zoom design is a real advantage for gimbal users. Image quality is excellent throughout the range, sharper than expected at the corners.

Strengths

— 450g weight with inner zoom design — center of gravity stays constant for gimbal use
— 16mm wide end matches the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II
— Five FLD elements and four aspherical lens elements for sharpness

Watch-outs

— 16-28mm range is narrower than the Sony GM II's 16-35mm
— Shorter zoom range than the Tamron 17-28mm by 1mm at each end (effective)
— Sigma's Contemporary line is positioned below the Art line in build quality

$899 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

4.8

$2,298

The 16-35mm GM II is the Sony flagship wide-zoom — sharpest, fastest-focusing, lightest in its class, and the obvious pick if budget isn't the constraint. 547g of weight for a constant-f/2.8 16-35 zoom is genuinely category-leading. The price is the catch — at $2,298 it's more than 2x the Tamron 17-28mm or Sigma 16-28mm. For working pros covering events, weddings, or commercial assignments where wide-zoom versatility matters daily, the GM II earns the premium.

Strengths

— World's smallest and lightest full-frame F2.8 wide-angle zoom — 547g, 4.5 inches
— Four original XD Linear Motors deliver ~2x faster AF than the original GM
— G Master optical quality — sharp from corner to corner at f/2.8

Watch-outs

— Premium pricing — by far the most expensive pick here
— 82mm filter size is wider than competing third-party lenses
— F2.8 max aperture isn't as bright as the Sony FE 14mm or FE 20mm primes for low-light/astro

$2,298 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

Direct competitor to the Tamron 17-28mm at the same price. Wider on the short end (16mm vs 17mm), narrower on the long end (28mm). Inner zoom design is the differentiator vs the Tamron for video and gimbal work. Less expensive than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II by ~$1,400.

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

Sony's premium wide zoom. Beats the Tamron 17-28mm and Sigma 16-28mm on zoom range (16-35 vs 17-28/16-28) and autofocus speed. Less wide than the Sony FE 14mm GM prime; less bright than the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G. Most expensive pick by a wide margin.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary	Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Max Aperture	f/2.8 constant	f/2.8 constant
Weight	450g	547g
Zoom Design	Inner zoom (constant length)	—
Elements	5 FLD + 4 aspherical	—
Focal Length	16-28mm	16-35mm
Filter Size	72mm	82mm
Mount	Sony FE (full-frame)	Sony FE (full-frame)
AF Motor	Stepping motor	4x XD Linear
Min Focus Distance	0.25 m	0.22 m

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