Sony announces two new super wide angle lenses for their ‘e’ mount with full frame coverage. Both are zooms; a 16-35/2.8 which is a faster version of this lens, and the other one was a bit unexpected, a 12-24mm F/4.
The 16-35mm F/2.8 ‘G Master’ is a 16 element in 13 group design, which looks to be significantly more complicated than the F/4 Zeiss version with a configuration of 12 elements in 10 groups.
Pluses for this lens; lightweight for a fast zoom, focus hold button, 11 blade circular aperture, (I prefer 6-8 straight blades for more defined sunstars, but that’s just me), dual DDSSM focusing, and dust and moisture resistant.
Now on the downside; no OSS, or optical steady shot; huh? Super expensive at $2200, 82mm front filter also expensive.
I have the Sony FE 16-35mm F/4 OSS, (review here), and like it a lot, so this new faster version will have to be quite a bit better for me to buy it. I’ll do a comparison as soon as I can get my hands on one.
Sony FE 12-24mm F/4
The Sony 12-24mm F/4 ‘G’ is a 17 element in 13 group design. The lens hood is permanent, so you can’t use a traditional threaded lens filter, and no word yet as to whether Sony included a filter slot at the rear mount. This lens had a 7 blade aperture, focus hold button and is relatively lightweight at 20oz, or 565g. No OSS. Price is $1700!!
