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 pros and serious enthusiasts who want the definitive Sony wide-angle zoom and will use the full 16-35mm range for landscape, architecture, events and video. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

4.6

$989as of Jun 7

The Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary delivers surprisingly few compromises for a Contemporary-line lens, leading with high sharpness across the frame in a light, internally-zooming 450g body. It starts a true 16mm wide, takes 72mm filters, and undercuts the Sony GM by more than half. The main caveats are mount-only weather sealing and heavy uncorrected vignetting and distortion at the wide end.

Strengths

— Superb center sharpness with very impressive borders and corners across the range
— Light and compact at 450g with an internal zoom that does not change length
— Starts at a true 16mm, a millimeter wider than the Tamron rival

Watch-outs

— Weather sealing is limited to a gasket at the lens mount only
— Strong vignetting at f/2.8 (3+ EV) at the wide end before correction
— Around 4.5% barrel distortion at 16mm that needs correcting

$989 · 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

$2,598as of May 29

Sony's second-generation 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master completes the pro f/2.8 zoom trinity for E-mount and sets the bar for the class. It is dramatically lighter than its predecessor, delivers some of the most consistent wide-angle sharpness reviewers have tested, and focuses almost instantly. The price and some flare-related ghosting are the only real reservations.

Strengths

— The most consistent wide-angle zoom optical performance reviewers have measured, sharp corner-to-corner from f/2.8
— About 20% lighter than the Mark I at 547g, the world's smallest and lightest full-frame f/2.8 wide zoom at launch
— Quad XD linear motors deliver essentially instantaneous, near-silent autofocus on Sony's better bodies

Watch-outs

— At $2,298 it is far pricier than the Tamron and Sigma f/2.8 alternatives
— Complex barrel distortion at 16mm needs a heavy correction profile (around +24)
— Ghosting and purple blobs can appear shooting toward bright light sources, even stopped down to f/8

$2,598 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

It is the value rival to the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD, starting a millimeter wider at 16mm and taking 72mm filters versus Tamron's 67mm, while weighing a touch more at 450g. Like the Tamron it undercuts the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II by well over $1,000 but gives up that lens's reach to 35mm and full weather sealing. It offers zoom flexibility the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM and FE 20mm F1.8 G primes lack.

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

It is the sharpest and best-built option here, but at $2,298 it costs more than twice the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD or Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary, which deliver most of the optical quality for far less. Unlike the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM and FE 20mm F1.8 G primes, it covers a flexible 16-35mm range in one lens.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary	Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Focal Length	16-28mm	16-35mm
Max Aperture	f/2.8 (constant)	f/2.8 (constant)
Mount	Sony E (full-frame)	Sony E (full-frame)
Weight	450g	547g
Filter Thread	72mm	82mm
Stabilization	None (relies on in-body IS)	None (relies on in-body IS)
Optical Construction	16 elements in 11 groups	—
Aperture Blades	9	11
Minimum Focus	—	0.22m

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