The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE and the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS is the longer of the two lenses at 99mm. The Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE with a length of 61mm, is 38mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS also has a larger diameter of 78mm compared to the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE's 64mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE weighs 145g, which means it is 373g (72%) lighter than the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS which has a weight of 518g.
Filter Threads
The Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE and the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS has the same Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony E lenses are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V.
Focal Range
Samyang AF 18mm F2.8 FE is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 18mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
27mm.
On the other hand, the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS has a focal range of 16-35mm and 2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 24 - 52.5mm.
