Sony launches the small but mighty 16-25mm f/2.8 G "mini-trinity" lens
(Image credit: Sony)
Love the speed of a trinity lens, but hate the size? If you tend to shoot at the widest end of your wide-angle lenses, Sony might have the perfect solution for you: the Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G.
This is the companion lens to the recently released Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G. In both cases, Sony has taken the two most popular trinity lenses (the 16-35mm and 24-70mm) and focused on the widest end in order to maintain the speed but drastically reduce the size – and cost.
In the case of the Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G, that results in a lens that measures just 91mm in length, weighs 409g and costs £1,250 (US and Australian pricing to be confirmed).
Compare that to the full-fat Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II – measuring 111.5 mm, weighing 547g and costing $2,299 / £2,299 – you can see that there are immediate advantages to this new "mini trinity" full-frame lens strategy (not least that Sony now claims to make the smallest and lightest f/2.8 standard and wide-angle zooms).
The optical formula features three aspherical elements (to minimize aberrations), three extra-low dispersion elements (to suppress chromatic aberration), and an extra-low dispersion aspherical element (to simultaneously correct chromatic and spherical aberration).
(Image credit: Sony)
It boasts 11 aperture blades, for smooth circular bokeh, and the lens is weather-sealed, with a fluorine coating on the front element. It also features the same 67mm filter thread as the 24-50mm, making them an excellent tag team.
The 16-35mm possesses distinct focus, zoom and aperture rings – the latter of which can be de-clicked for use in video, where the lens supports focus breathing compensation. It is also fully compatible with the 120fps burst speed of the Sony A9 III.
The lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.18m at the widest end in autofocus mode, and 0.17m when focusing manually. It offers a maximum magnification of x0.20 in auto and x0.23 in manual focus.
"This is a little lens that delivers a big punch," said my colleague Matthew Richards in his Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G review, which contains sample images and full lab tests.
"Sharpness is very impressive and there’s only minimal color fringing, although there’s an increasingly typical heavy reliance on in-camera correction for distortion. Ultimately, image quality is excellent and I like that the lens is compact and lightweight enough to take anywhere and everywhere."
The Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G is set to ship this month and will cost $1,199.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
