The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS 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 E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS with a length of 30mm, is 84mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS's 65mm 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. Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS weighs 116g, which means it is 784g (87%) lighter than the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM which has a weight of 900g.
Filter Threads
The Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS has a filter size of 41mm whereas the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 41mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM:
Lens Mounts
The Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM has the Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony ZV-E10 II, Sony A6700 and Sony FX30 for the Sony E Mount and Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount.
Focal Range
Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS has a focal range of 16-50mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-75mm 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.
