Cameras Ranked

16–35 Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM

The Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM is a zoom lens for Sony E-mount (Full frame) that covers 16-35 mm at f/2.8, weighs 680 g and focuses as close as 0.28 m. Heaviest (680 g) of the 10 full frame Sony E-mount zoom lenses in its focal range. If you want something lighter to carry all day, look at the Tamron 17-50mm F4 Di III VXD.

  • f/2.8widest aperture
  • 680 gweight
  • 51bodies it fits
To one scale. Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM: length 121.6 mm, diameter 88.5 mm, filter thread 82 mm.121.6 mmø88.5
To scale from the maker's length and diameter, the mount on the left and the filter thread in yellow at the front. The rings are drawn, not measured.

Compare it with the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXDAll Sony E-mount lenses

To one scale. Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM: length 121.6 mm, diameter 88.5 mm, filter thread 82 mm.121.6 mmø88.5
To scale from the maker's length and diameter, the mount on the left and the filter thread in yellow at the front. The rings are drawn, not measured.

Where it sits

10 lenses

Full frame Sony E-mount zoom lenses in its focal range that state each value, this one included. Each tick is one; the thick one is this one.

Bodies it fits

51 bodies

All cameras, by maker and mount

Compared with

2 comparisons

Specifications

Focal length
16-35 mm1
Widest aperture
f/2.81
Closest focus
0.28 m2
Maximum magnification
0.19x2
Stabilization
No
Mount
Sony E-mount2
Covers
Full frame
Type
Zoom
Weight
680 g2
Length
121.6 mm2
Diameter
88.5 mm2
Filter thread
82 mm2
Elements
162
Groups
132
Aperture blades
112
Hood
ALC-SH1492
Announced
May 17, 20171

Sources

  1. Wikidata, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  2. Sony Japan lens specifications (sony.jp), checked Oct 6, 2026

Worked out by code, not stated by a source

  • Read from the lens name: each maker marks the sensor size a lens covers (Sony FE/E, Canon RF/RF-S, Nikon DX, Tamron Di III/Di III-A, Sigma DG/DC); every Fujifilm X lens is APS-C and every Micro Four Thirds lens is Four Thirds.
  • Read from the lens name: Sony marks optically stabilized lenses OSS, Canon IS, Nikon VR, Fujifilm OIS, Panasonic O.I.S., Tamron VC and Sigma OS; a lens from these makers without the mark has no optical stabilization.
  • Prime or zoom, read from the focal length in the lens name.

Each value is checked automatically against the source it links, on the date shown. How we build these pages

† The makers' own tables, row by row, with labels in our plain words (translated where the maker's page isn't in English); each row's numbers are checked against the page it links.

More

Full specifications†

Show all 25 rows
Full specificationsSony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM2
Product nameFE 16-35 mm F2.8 GM
Model numberSEL1635GM
Lens mountSony E-mount
Compatible sensor size35mm full size
Focal length16-35 mm
Equivalent focal length24-52.5 mm (APS-C sensor)
Lens construction13 groups, 16 elements
Angle of view83°-44° (APS-C format)
Angle of view107°-63° (35mm format)
Maximum apertureF2.8
Minimum apertureF22
Diaphragm blades11
Circular diaphragmyes
Minimum focusing distance0.28 m
Maximum magnification ratio0.19
Filter size82 mm
Teleconverter compatibilityno (1.4x teleconverter)
Teleconverter compatibilityno (2.0x teleconverter)
Hood typepetal-shaped bayonet type
Dimensions88.5 x 121.6 mm
Weight680 g
Included hoodALC-SH149
Included front capALC-F82S
Included rear capALC-R1EM
Included casesoft carrying case

How the pick works

  1. Widest aperture3

    Lower wins once they are 0.3 apart.

  2. Weight2

    Lower wins from a 12% gap.

  3. Focal length (longest)2

    Higher wins from a 15% gap.

  4. Focal length (widest)2

    Lower wins once they are 2 mm apart.

  5. Optical stabilization1

    Having it wins.

  6. Closest focus, wide end1

    Lower wins from a 15% gap. Compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest).

  7. Filter thread0.5

    Lower wins once they are 5 mm apart.

  8. Lead for a pick1

Our pick or our take adds up the importance of each real difference, with these importances and thresholds: a gap smaller than its row's threshold is too close to call and counts as the same. They are our editorial choice, not a measurement, the same on every page, and they never read prices, sales or who sells it.

Paid placements0

How we rank, in full