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

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II vs Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

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 (4.8 vs 4.7). 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.

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 →

Ranked #3 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

4.7

$899

The Tamron 17-28mm is the value champion. At $899 it's less than half the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II's price, with image quality that holds up at every focal length except the missing 28-35mm range. For landscape, astro, and architecture shooters who don't need the GM II's edge-case features, this is the right Sony E-mount wide zoom buy. Lighter than the Sony GM II by 127g and far cheaper than every other pick in this lineup.

Strengths

— 420g — 23% lighter than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II at less than half the price
— 67mm filter size accepts standard filter kits (vs Sony GM II's 82mm)
— Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness with virtually no color fringing

Watch-outs

— 17-28mm range is narrower than the Sony GM II's 16-35mm
— RXD motor is slower-focusing than Sony's XD Linear motors in the GM II
— Build quality feels less premium than the Sony GM lenses

$899 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

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.

Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

Best value pick. Narrower zoom range than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II (17-28 vs 16-35) but at less than half the price. Compared to the Sigma 16-28mm, slightly less wide on the short end but similar pricing and build philosophy. Less focal flexibility than the Sony GM II but lighter and cheaper.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II	Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Max Aperture	f/2.8 constant	f/2.8 constant
Weight	547g	420g
Filter Size	82mm	67mm
Mount	Sony FE (full-frame)	Sony FE (full-frame)
AF Motor	4x XD Linear	RXD
Focal Length	16-35mm	17-28mm
Min Focus Distance	0.22 m	0.19 m
Length	—	99mm

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