The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 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 II is the longer of the two lenses at 114mm. The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM with a length of 88mm, is 26mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM's 81mm 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 DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM weighs 577g, 33% (295g) lighter than the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II's weight of 872g.
Filter Threads
The Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM 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 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Focal Range
Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II 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.
On the other hand, the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM 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.