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 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 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II is the longer of the two lenses at 114mm. The Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS with a length of 99mm, is 15mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II also has a larger diameter of 83mm 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 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II 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, 40% (354g) 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 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 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 FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS:
Lens Mounts
The Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II has the Sony Alpha lens mount whereas the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS has the Sony E lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount and Sony A9 III, Sony A7C Mark II and Sony A7CR for the Sony E Mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
16-35mm but while Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II has the fastest aperture of
F2.8, the Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS's widest aperture value is
F4.0.