Huge-angle zoom lenses make up one-third of the ‘Holy Trinity’ lens lineup and show endlessly helpful for a number of functions, together with landscapes, structure and astrophotography. Usually, a normal 24-70mm zoom lens is not fairly huge sufficient to shoot a selected scene, so having a wide-angle lens in your equipment bag permits you to fill the hole under 24mm.
Huge-angle lenses are favored in astrophotography as a result of they seize a wider portion of the sky and let extra mild in than customary and telephoto lenses sometimes do (which, whenever you’re taking pictures at the hours of darkness, is essential). On the entire, prime lenses are thought-about one of the best lenses for astrophotography as a consequence of their wider apertures, however you possibly can fairly simply use among the best zoom lenses at f/2.8 to get some unbelievable astro photographs. Nonetheless, the benefit of utilizing a zoom lens over a chief lens is the flexibility of adjusting the focal size to shoot totally different types.
The Sony vs Canon debate is ongoing, and ultimately, it usually comes down to non-public desire. Nonetheless, we will probably be trying on the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II and the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM, evaluating their specs and the way we discovered their efficiency once we examined them each. Should you’ve already purchased into both system, then the selection will probably be a simple one, however for any customers trying to put money into their first full-frame digital camera and lens system or enthusiastic about switching from one other model, preserve studying to see how these two lenses evaluate in opposition to each other.
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
Sony’s up to date ‘holy trinity’ customary zoom has improved on what was already a unbelievable lens, making it a must-buy for any Sony photographer.
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Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is crazy-sharp and makes taking astro pictures even simpler due to its easy design and 5 stops of picture stabilization.
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Specs
Header Cell – Column 0 | Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM |
---|---|---|
Date first launched | September 2023 | August 2019 |
RRP on launch | $2299.99 | $2299.99 |
Kind | Full body huge angle zoom | Full body huge angle zoom |
Focal Size | 16-35mm | 15-35mm |
Aperture | Fixed f/2.8 | Fixed f/2.8 |
Lens mount | Sony E | Canon RF |
Picture stabilization | None | 5 stops customary, as much as 8 stops with a appropriate Canon RF digital camera physique |
Aperture ring | Sure | No |
Minimal focusing distance | 0.73 ft / 0.22 m | 0.92 ft / 0.28m |
Most magnification | 0.32x | 0.21x |
Aperture blades | 11 | 9 |
Filter thread | 82mm | 82mm |
Climate sealed | Sure | Sure |
Weight | 1 lb 3 oz / 547g | 1.85 lbs / 840g |
Dimensions | 3.45 x 4.39-inches / 87.8 x 111.5mm | 3.48 x 5.25-inches / 88 x 133.4mm |
Similarities
- They have been the identical worth on launch, however the Canon is barely cheaper as a consequence of its age.
- Each lenses have a continuing f/2.8 aperture.
- Each lenses have an 82mm filter thread.
- Each lenses are weather-sealed.
Variations
- The Canon is a large 4 years older than the Sony.
- The Sony is 21.9mm shorter and 293g lighter than the Canon.
- The Canon has an additional millimeter of focal size on the broader finish.
- The Canon has as much as 8 stops of picture stabilization — the Sony would not have any in any respect.
- The Sony has a barely shorter minimal focusing distance and better magnification.
- The Sony has 11 aperture blades, the Canon solely has 9.
Causes to purchase Sony
Again in September 2023, Sony launched this up to date model of their 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens with a complete host of upgrades and new options. The unique model got here out approach again in 2017, so it was lengthy because of the Mark II remedy. When paired with among the best mirrorless cameras, this lens is a pressure to be reckoned with.
One of many extra engaging traits the Sony lens has over the Canon is the dimensions and weight distinction. The Sony is 35% lighter than the Canon with a weight distinction of 293g, and it is 21.9mm shorter, making it far more pleasing to make use of for longer intervals with out getting arm or neckache. And should you’re touring or taking it with you as half of a giant lens lineup, the overall weight of all of your gear provides up, so having lighter lenses is an enormous plus. In our full Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II evaluation, we talked about that we have been shocked by how light-weight it was for such a good-quality lens.
We additionally actually preferred the addition of the clickable aperture ring on the lens. This can be a useful characteristic should you’re utilizing a digital camera physique that solely has two management dials. You’ll be able to set these to ISO and shutter pace after which change the aperture on the lens itself. This prevents you from losing time wading by the menus whenever you wish to change settings rapidly.
The Sony additionally has extra aperture blades than the Canon, that means probably rounder and smoother bokeh. It additionally has a decrease minimal focusing distance and better magnification, which permits for higher close-up photographs. We have been very impressed with the picture high quality — all our pictures have been pin-sharp and in focus after testing totally different apertures at a variety of focal lengths. We solely observed a slight drop-off in sharpness on the corners when utilizing the decrease apertures (which is to be anticipated).
We thought it dealt with astrophotography very nicely and we barely observed any coma or barrelling within the pictures. Devoted astro shooters would probably go for a chief lens, however for extra common photographers who solely do the occasional little bit of astro, we predict the Sony FE 16.35mm f/2.8 GM II will serve you nicely. We did not embrace it in our greatest lenses for astrophotography information as a result of in terms of wide-angle zoom lenses, we predict the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM might be barely higher suited to astro taking pictures — though it’s also dearer.
Causes to purchase Canon
When evaluating the 2 lenses, the Canon lens has three important benefits over the Sony, however how related these variations are depends upon your taking pictures setup and elegance.
The primary is that the Canon has a normal 5 stops of picture stabilization and as much as 8 when paired with a appropriate Canon digital camera physique. In distinction, the Sony lens would not have any picture stabilization in any respect. We will perceive why, because it’s an already costly lens and most Sony cameras have in-body picture stabilization, however 9 instances out of ten, it is at all times good to have picture stabilization within the lens as nicely, particularly if you find yourself utilizing a digital camera physique that does not have any picture stabilization. Should you do a variety of video or handheld taking pictures and picture stabilization is vital to you, the Canon lens would be the extra engaging possibility right here.
Throughout our Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM evaluation, we cherished its glossy and easy design, which aids in its portability, despite the fact that it is bigger and heavier than the Sony. We predict the Canon is definitely ‘prettier’ than the Sony, however that is purely a private opinion.
One other benefit of the Canon is an additional 1mm focal size on the wider finish. This maybe will not be wildly noticeable usually, however it might show useful in astrophotography photographs the place you’ll want to let as a lot mild by as attainable. Utilizing the five hundred rule, this additional 1mm means you possibly can set your shutter pace for just a few seconds longer than with the Sony.
Lastly, the Canon can also be barely cheaper. It isn’t probably the most important worth distinction, however we do not know anybody who would flip down the possibility to save lots of $200. It appears to have stood the check of time and held its worth exceptionally nicely, a testomony to its total high quality and efficiency even at over 4 years outdated. We named it one of the best Canon RF lens in our greatest lenses for astrophotography information, so it is definitely an funding, however we predict it is definitely worth the cash.
Verdict
Winner | 2nd place |
---|---|
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM |
★★★★½ | ★★★★½ |
The Sony specs are simply that bit higher. | Stood the check of time, however newer fashions are beginning to eclipse it. |
It was a really shut name between two distinctive lenses and never the fairest battle because of the age distinction. We predict if Canon had launched their 15-35mm f/2.8 lens similtaneously the Sony 16.35mm f/2.8 and managed to shave off a number of the weight and enhance its specs ever so barely in step with the Sony, the end result might’ve gone the opposite approach. Who is aware of—perhaps Canon will come out with a Mark II sometime.
Whereas the Canon has some notable benefits over the Sony, the Sony lens has extra benefits than the Canon does concerning total practicality and day-to-day use.