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Sony Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 Review

Posted May 1st, 2009 by cgarrard

Sony Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 Review

May 2009, Carl Garrard

Sony Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 Lens Continuing to introduce professional grade optics to the Alpha lens lineup, Sony introduced the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar 16-35mm f/2.8 lens on the same day the Alpha A900 DSLR was announced officially last year, to which we are finally getting a chance to review. The Sony 16-35mm Zeiss joins the lineup as the most expensive Zeiss offering yet as a professional grade ultra-wide angle alternative covering a full frame sensor. A relative brother to the extremely popular and industry leading Sony Zeiss 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, both lenses look almost identical in design and include many of the same specifications. While the 24-70mm f/2.8 is a more standard zoom by focal length comparison, the Sony Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 fits a more specific niche category aimed at wide landscape and architecture photography. The lens boasts Sony's SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) auto focusing technology, internal zoom and focus, focus hold button, AF/MF switch, and a constant and bright f/2.8 aperture. Retailing currently for $1,899.00 the price should command more serious photographers who demand the highest optical quality available for the Alpha Mount, or for enthusiasts fortunate enough in these times to have extra cash to plunk down for the best name in lens design.