The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 and the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM 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 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM is the longer of the two lenses at 114mm. The Sony DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 with a length of 81mm, is 33mm shorter. On the other hand, there is no difference between the max diameters of these lenses, both coming at 83mm.
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. Sony DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 weighs 360g, which means it is 540g (60%) lighter than the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM which has a weight of 900g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Zoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
Both the Sony DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 and the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 and the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58.
Focal Range
Sony DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 has a focal range of 11-18mm and
1.6X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
16.5-27mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM 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.