Image courtesy: Cengiz
According to Sony Canada and Amazon Japan the new Zeiss 16-35mm FE lens will start to ship from tomorrow. And SAR reader Cengiz sent us that 16-35mm FE Stock image from a Hong Kong Store. You can check the shipping dates here:
USA/Canada at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Sony Store US, Sony Canada.
Europe at Sony DE, UK, ES, IT, FR, CH, AT, NL, BE, FI, SE, NO, PT.
Australia and Asia at Sony AUS, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.
There is also a new full review written by Colby Brown:
Not only was Sony and Zeiss able to engineer a small and lightweight ultra wide angle lens, they were able to do so without sacrificing image quality. I was impressed with the corner to corner sharpness (although it doesn’t de-thrown the Nikon 14-24 f/2.8) as well as how it handles sun stars and can be used hand held with its built in OSS (optical stabilization), especially with the a7s.
Feel free to post your 16-35mm FE unboxing and test pics/videos on our SonyAlphaForum!
0 Responses
expensive..
it is… but i will still buy it..
What price did you expect for a UWA Sony Zeiss zoom lens? 😉
I find it rather “cheap”.
True, but you’re not going to get a cheap premium zoom from Sony Zeiss…
Wait for an year or buy it from Asia.
Fun if the lens has issues and one need to send it all the way back…
Don’t cry baby …
Indeed….too expensive
Translates to “I don’t have enough cash”
The word “expensive” does not necessary mean “can’t afford”. Can be a price/quality ratio or just a value of the product for a consumer.
Yes ….
Some L lenses are expensive and of low quality.
Read the topic – we aren’t taking about the L lenses here.
Yep. It’s expensive if it isn’t that great. It’s not expensive at all but rather cheap if the quality is even near the FE 55 (since it’s a zoom and a WA).
Dear Admin,
Do you have any information about flash sync cable or flash trigger for the multi-interface shoe? I though these accessories are necessary for any mature camera system, but now the only option seems to be F20M, which is quite expensive! Thanks for you reply in advance.
Regards,
ZM
Hi ZM,
I am using the Yongnuo RF-603 (Nikon Version) on my A77M1. So the
trigger has the ISO shoe. I tried to put the trigger on my RX100m2 and it didn’t
work at all. When I put 2 adapters in between Camera and trigger (so
iso-to-Minolta and again Minolta-to-Iso) it worked.
BTW. If you need a good Manual flash to work with these triggers, try
the Yongnuo 560M3.
Olaf: You might want to check to make sure it’s properly seated in the shoe, as I use that trigger (though it’s the Canon version) on my A99, which has the same shoe, with no problems.
ZM: Yeah, Sony’s native options aren’t really the best; it’s the same limitations the A-mount shooters have been dealing with for years.
The 603 II works without any modifications and adapters. For $30 it’s a real bargain!
I think flashes are the last thing on Sony’s mind. “Let’s develop a selfie camera. Who cares about flash triggers for the shoe that we invented two years ago…”.
Ranting aside, my thought was to buy a decent flash like Metz 44 or 52 and use it as a trigger. Once the triggers appear for real, i could use that flash as an off-camera flash as well.
I got mine yesterday. What an incredible lens! It’s super sharp on the A7r, I can’t really see a difference to my other FE 35 and 55 primes! And it’s actually much lighter than it looks like, but still the built feels great like always.
Can’t wait to take some landscapes at the weekend 🙂
glad to hear it. where did you preorder from? no word from b&h yet.
In Asia in a store, no preorder
BRB. canceling my preorder and flying to asia real quick.
If any of you have further questions about the lens or this review, please feel free to leave them as a comment on my blog. I am happy to answer questions and concerns.
Hi Colby. Firstly, thanks for taking the time to write a review, nobody seems to thank reviewers these days…
The main question I have is to do with corner sharpness at wider apertures. If you could provide corner samples at f/4 of a brick wall (or anything where the frame is covered by an object the same distance away) when you’ve focused at the centre and at the corners it would be useful. Both to know what the corner sharpness is like and to know whether there are any field curvature issues.
Thanks again 🙂
Hey @disqus_aiHg1hIhqu:disqus, you are very welcome, however just so I don’t have to answer the same questions repeatedly, could you please write your question on the review itself so others know it was requested already? You can even copy and paste if you want. Will be working on an f/4 corner focus test today and hopeful update the review by tonight.
Still, no one willing to provide corner sharpness samples below f8, which looks on par with other options. Still waiting on “full” review.
Reviewer states focus is “buttery smooth”, but doesn’t mention if it is fly-wire or not. My experience with fly-wire is that lens will not focus at all when manually turned very slowly. This makes critical focus challenging. Can anyone here with this FE lens comment on that please?
Will work on providing a f/4 corner sharpness test to the review later today. I still don’t get why people complain about a review and not ask the author (in this case me) for what they want to know. Maybe one day “the internet” will get it 🙂
What about the fly-wire questions? Would appreciate your input on that addressing specific questions about it above.
Thanks.
Sorry, your web site requires that I log in or start an account. No can do.
No problem, although I use the exact same commenting system as Sony Alpha Rumors (Disqus). Either way, happy to answer your questions.
I will work on confirming fly by wire focusing by reaching out to Sony for an official answer, but I can tell you that I have no issue with finite focusing with this lens. Move the focus ring a quarter of a cm and I see the focus changing in my live view. To me it doesn’t seem to have any of those issues, but as I said, I will work on confirming.
That’s interesting. SAR doesn’t require a sign in. Can post as guest.
Perhaps my 55/1.8 FE was defective, thus returned. Slowest turning on focus ring didn’t make any changes at all. Plus, I didn’t like the fact there were no end stops to either end of manual focus range. Ring just spins and spins like a game controller. Wish it had a focus scale. So different than the way I’m used to working. You kids are growing up in a new era of photography that us old blokes aren’t familiar with.
Thanks for the review.
When I say “kids”, I mean “talented” kids. Many who are taking photography to an entirely new level.
Meanwhile you’re taking complaining to an entirely different level.
No no… THIS is an entirely different level…
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHER asked for fly-by-wire focus?
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHER asked for no focus ring stops?
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHER asked for an accellerometor on their lens?
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHER asked for no distance scale on their lens?
Will Sony ever be able to say “based on user requests, we’ve developed…”?
Thank you “HopingFor” imitator. Your continued trolling my real questions has allowed this thread to receive much more attention than it ever would have without you. I am forever in your debt. Although your Sony Masters prefer none of these questions be asked, I thank you for doing your part to bring these real issues extra notice!
BTW… If you’d like to answer the questions, I’d love to hear it. Otherwise just keep accusing and avoiding the issue. Says a lot friend.
It might be my settings on the review, I will double check about allowing “Guest” posts.
As for your 55 f/1.8, I just tried mine and it worked similar to the 16-35 although maybe a fraction of a second slower in terms of focus changing as I move the focus ring. As for the end stops, I am right there with you. When I was a Canon shooter, the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 ZE was one of my favorite lenses not only because of insane sharpness, but infinity was true infinity. No guessing for night photography, just move it to the end and shoot. As for the focus scale, the a7 series have that but it is electronic. When you move the focus ring you get the distance scale in your viewfinder or the rear LCD. Maybe not the exact same as a true focus distance scale, but pretty close in my experience.
Things have certainly changed over the years and will continue to do so. While I totally understand the challenges that come with the evolution of photo technology but I generally tend to focus on the fact that taking photos is now more accessible than ever to everyone and that is a good thing. Even my 3 year old has a Canon point and shoot that he loves taking photos with. How crazy is that? 🙂
I’m with both of you guys on the hard stop for infinity focus. That’s one thing that drives me batty about e-mount lenses. When I do astro stuff, for example, I really appreciate that true-infinity hard stop, as I find it’s usually more accurate than I am at nailing it. Even if I make the full switch to E-mount, I think I’ll hold on to a few of my A-mount primes to use with the adapter for that very reason.
Which a mounts have true infinity focus @RFonkert:disqus? I just have a few a-mount lenses but even the Sony 16-35 f/2.8 ZA doens’t have true infinity as the focus ring keeps spinning and its sharpest point isn’t when the need rests over the infinity line, it is actually half a cm back the other way.
The same works for fe lenses but I do it electronically looking at the point on the screen where the virtual distance meter is moving to.
Actually, you’re right. I’m thinking of some of my old Minolta lenses that have that; the newer Sony ones don’t.
And this is why you go Manual focus.
People need to accept that they’ll be compromises with AF + DMF lenses. The traditional lens with the AF/MF switch might do better but is still not as accurate as a pure manual lens.
Is there anything you won’t complain about?
Sure… Well made lenses that operate the way photographers like myself want them to. There is no reason why Sony had to reinvent the lens to make this lens.
Still waiting and still complaining.
What’s your problem troll? Why is it hard for you to let someone ask genuine questions? Sony Shill… Everything “Hoping For Answers” said is absolutely true. Why are you, and your Sony Masters so afraid of questions asked in truth?
Since this is UWA lens, I doubt the critical focus is challenging 🙂
No E-mount lens is not fly-by-wire. E-mount is certainly the more “Electronic” mount. No aperture ring no hyperfocal markings no focus helical no hard stop no nothing. Lenses should really be selling cheaper since they’re almost certain to be cheaper to make.
many dont want that “slow ” zooms that FE bring
BUT
i think sony do the rigth thing
16-35, 24-70,70-200 at f4 were the perfect fit to a7 series
the trifecta zoom lenses were HALF weigth/price for just one f step less
in old film days, or digital world from 10 years ago, a f2.8 was needed for ligth, but today sensors are better, in fact, sensors had gained at least that step ISO over the last 10 years
plus they had OSS, the DoF loss from a tinier aperture is a small price many would take for having an OSS lenses half the weigth and price of the “faster” brother
besides… if you really want f2.8 there are available with an adapter from A mount
im so happy sony its not making the same mistakes with FE that they do with NEX (as in make 10 versions of 18-200 lenses for example) indeed FE future looks very brigth!
This lens is too big, no it’s too small and it’s too slow, no it’s too expensive and it’s too good. Complaining, let me count the ways.
Troll.
This is Full Frame lens guy not m4/3 format.
F4 enough for landscape and night shot with long explosure.
Zeiss is professional grade like L and Nano lens.
Please use your brain to analysis.
Great review by Colby! I have a quick question for those of us who wants to use this lens for video. Does the lens still have variable focus speed? For example, with the Zeiss 55mm and 35mm, when you quickly rotate the focus ring by one quarter, you cover a longer focus range then when you slowly rotate the focus ring by one quarter. This makes it hard for us video guys who needs to mark focus between two places for video.
Bingo! That accelerometer on FE lenses is a killer for stills too. Hard to predict, and I don’t know if it’s a feature or not, but super slow manual focus turning doesn’t do anything at all. Turn a little faster, and focus is jacked beyond where I want.
Wish they had a true ratio, like all other normal lenses. Sony didn’t have to reinvent EVERYTHING. Don’t mind options, as long as they are OPTIONS. Very hard camera systems for traditionalists to get along with.
Thats why I would use the Loxia Lenses if I ever switch to E-Mount.
This wire-fokus-thing really is a feature they developed in their lab without knowing what the real world needs or wants.
Unfortunately Loxia is manual only and sometimes AF comes in very handy.
It is a typical Sony thing, everything they do they do it only at 95% but the last 5% are the most annoying pieces that they leave for the user to rage about.
Just take the new hot shoe, the flash system, the missing radio triggers for the system, the A-Mount and E-Mount dilemma and many more as an example.
I always wonder how they manage to be so consistent in their failure 🙁
I already know that their next great camera or lens will be great but will leave at least one last annoying thing that will make people want to crash their heads into the next wall…
Why Sony, WHY?
They need to hire me thats why 😛
Yeah, they seem to do many things right and yet do really stupid things at the same time like how I can’t set my buttons to function different in photo viewing mode.
The focus by wire would be great if it allow users to 1:1 or to be adaptive, as in if I move the focus ring fast it’ll move faster, and if I move it slower, it’ll be more precise. How much slower depends on the focal length, eg: macro lens will have a longer focus throw vs a 24mm which isn’t that sensitive in the DoF department.
Oh and focus by wire is not only Sony, Nikon and Canon uses them as well 🙂
I’m thinking about for video to skip the Loxia lenses and get a trio of Rokinon cine lenses:
24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, and 85mm T1.5
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1016629-REG/rokinon_super_fast_t1_5_cine.html
Good review, though I would like to see some f4 performance tests 🙂
de-thrown lolol
Corners!!!