The lightweight full-frame Sony 16-35mm f/4.0 FE PZ wide-angle power-zoom lens (SELP1635G) has a constant F4 aperture. Its barrel length remains constant while focusing and zooming, making the lens highly suitable for everything from vlogging and film production to landscape photography. According to Sony, the SELP1635G delivers refined image quality and versatile capabilities for content creators and filmmakers.
Advanced Image Quality
The optical design consists of two AA (Advanced Aspherical) elements, one standard aspherical element, one Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element, one ED glass element, and one ED aspherical element. Chromatic and spherical aberrations are controlled simultaneously to deliver strong optical performance across the entire frame. The AA elements also provide good close-up performance throughout the zoom range.
The lens coating effectively suppresses flare and ghosting for clear images. A circular aperture and carefully controlled spherical aberration create smooth full-frame bokeh.
High-Performance Autofocus
The 16-35mm f/4.0 FE PZ is the first Alpha lens to use six of Sony’s proprietary XD (Extreme Dynamic) linear motors for focusing and zooming, providing fast response and smooth operation. With Sony’s Alpha 1 camera, the lens can focus accurately during continuous shooting at up to 30 frames per second.
Accurate focus is especially important when recording slow-motion, 4K, or 8K video. The 16-35mm f/4.0 FE PZ works with α-series camera bodies to focus reliably and smoothly track even fast-moving subjects.
Imaging, Power Zoom, and Controls for Demanding Filmmaking
Based on feedback from content creators, Sony designed the 16-35mm f/4.0 FE PZ to minimize focus breathing as well as focus and axial shifts while zooming. Focus, zoom, and aperture operation are also quiet, significantly reducing distracting noise and vibration during video recording.
A newly designed Power Zoom system with an XD linear motor provides precise control. A zoom lever with variable speed makes extremely slow, constant-speed zooming easy. Power Zoom minimizes the camera shake that can occur when using a zoom ring. With a compatible camera body, the zoom-ring direction can be adjusted to suit the shooting conditions.
Compatible camera bodies and accessories can also use assigned buttons and controls to operate the zoom remotely. Linear Response MF makes the focus ring respond directly and linearly during manual focusing, while the aperture ring provides precise, immediate, and effortless control.
Mobility, Control, and Reliability
At the time of its introduction, the 16-35mm f/4.0 FE PZ was the world’s lightest F4 wide-angle power-zoom lens, weighing only 353 grams—about 30% less than the SEL1635Z. It measures just 80.5 mm × 88.1 mm and has a φ72 mm filter diameter.
The lens maintains a constant overall length during focusing and zooming. Its consistent balance makes it ideal for filming with a gimbal stabilizer. The focus ring is easy to operate during video recording, and the adjacent focus and zoom rings have different thicknesses so users can distinguish between them while continuing to watch the monitor.
An Iris Lock Switch prevents accidental movement of the aperture-ring setting. The lens also has a customizable focus-hold button for added convenience. Finally, its dust- and moisture-resistant design and fluorine coating on the front element support reliable outdoor use and help repel dirt.
Price and Availability
The Sony 16-35mm f/4.0 FE PZ lens was offered for €1,400. More information was available at Sony.nl.
