Cameras Ranked

16–35 Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

The Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS is a zoom lens for Sony E-mount (Full frame) that covers 16-35 mm at f/4, weighs 518 g and focuses as close as 0.28 m. Next to 9 other full frame Sony E-mount zoom lenses in its focal range, it suits you if your body has no in-body stabilization or you shoot handheld video. If you carry it all day or travel light, or you shoot in low light or want a blurrier background, every other one that does better on weight, or brightness gives up stabilization.

  • f/4widest aperture
  • 518 gweight
  • 51bodies it fits
To one scale. Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS: length 98.5 mm, diameter 78 mm, filter thread 72 mm.98.5 mmø78
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 Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GMAll Sony E-mount lenses

To one scale. Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS: length 98.5 mm, diameter 78 mm, filter thread 72 mm.98.5 mmø78
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

1 comparisons

Specifications

Focal length
16-35 mm1
Widest aperture
f/41
Closest focus
0.28 m2
Maximum magnification
0.19x2
Stabilization
Yes2
Mount
Sony E-mount2
Covers
Full frame
Type
Zoom
Weight
518 g2
Length
98.5 mm2
Diameter
78 mm2
Filter thread
72 mm2
Elements
122
Groups
102
Aperture blades
72
Hood
ALC-SH1342

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.
  • 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 24 rows
Full specificationsSony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS2
Product nameVario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS
Model numberSEL1635Z
Lens mountSony E-mount
Compatible sensor size35mm full size
Focal length16-35mm
Equivalent focal length24-52.5mm (APS-C sensor)
Lens construction10 groups, 12 elements
Angle of view83°-44° (APS-C format)
Angle of view107°-63° (35mm format)
Maximum apertureF4
Minimum apertureF22
Diaphragm blades7
Circular diaphragmyes
Minimum focusing distance0.28m
Maximum magnification ratio0.19x
Filter size72mm
Optical stabilizationIn-lens optical stabilization
Hood typePetals bayonet type
Dimensions78 x 98.5mm
Weight518g
Included hoodALC-SH134
Included front capyes
Included rear capyes
Included caseSoft 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