The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM 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 F2.8 GM is the longer of the two lenses at 122mm. The Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS with a length of 99mm, is 23mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS's 78mm diameter.
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Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM and Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
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 FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS weighs 518g, 23% (162g) lighter than the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM's weight of 680g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Zoom Lenses in Sony E Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Sony E Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM has a filter size of 82mm 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 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM 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 A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
16-35mm but while Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM has the fastest aperture of
F2.8, the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS's widest aperture value is
F4.0.