SEL1635GM Review by Darren Soh
In February 2016, Sony announced the launch of a new range of FE lenses – the G Master. Designed with almost no compromises, the G Master lenses are meant to be the top performing lenses for Sony FE full frame cameras.
The first three lenses in the G Master range were the SEL2470GM, SEL70200GM and the SEL85F14GM. Professionals often speak of a “trinity” series of zoom lenses that all professional camera brands must offer, the 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 2.8 fast zooms. With the announcement of the SEL2470GM and the SEL70200GM, we knew it was a matter of time before Sony would announce the SEL1635GM as well.
The first three lenses in the G Master range were the SEL2470GM, SEL70200GM and the SEL85F14GM. Professionals often speak of a “trinity” series of zoom lenses that all professional camera brands must offer, the 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 2.8 fast zooms. With the announcement of the SEL2470GM and the SEL70200GM, we knew it was a matter of time before Sony would announce the SEL1635GM as well.
In May 2017, Sony announced the SEL1635GM and from that day onwards, the Sony “trinity” lens lineup was complete.
The SEL1635GM is the lightest 16-35mm f2.8 lens in its class. In fact it is the same weight as a competitor's 16-35mm F4 lens but is one full stop brighter. Add the weight of comparable camera bodies and the difference is weight becomes slight to very noticeable.
Sony α7R III 657g
Sony SEL1635GM 680g
(1337g)
Canon 5DSR 845g
Canon 16-35 2.8 III 790g
(1635g)
Nikon D850 915g
Nikon 1635 f4 680g
(1595g)
For someone who photographs scenes that contain alot of detail from one corner of the frame to the other, I can appreciate the sharpness and resolving power of the SEL1635GM above and beyond the non GM zoom lenses.
Fine micro-details in the buildings that form a cityscape are all amazingly rendered by this lens.
Sun-stars at f11 are also sharp and contrasty with a 22 point star from the 11-bladed round aperture on the lens.
Minimal vignetting even wide open at f2.8, almost none at f11.
For a far-field subject, shooting at f2.8 (largest aperture) gives a sharp image even in the corners. Comparatively, the SEL1635Z isn't as sharp in the corners at f4 (largest aperture for the ZA). I own a SEL1635Z and while it is an excellent lens for its price point, it never sharpens up as well as the SEL1635GM especially in the corners, and even at F11. But because the SEL1635GM is a GM lens, it is nearly twice the price of the SEL1635Z (SGD 3399 vs SGD 1799)
Personally, because of the kind of work I do, I very seldom have a need to use the SEL1635GM at f2.8, usually shooting at the most optimal (sharpest) apertures of f8 or f11 instead. However, there sometimes arises the occasion when I need to do some candid or street photography and the big aperture does come in handy, especially at the 35mm end.
If you are a working professional that requires a ultra wide angle zoom lens with almost no compromises and that can go to f2.8, there is no better candidate.
In fact, I would even go as far as to say that the 1635GM rivals some prime wide angle lenses in terms of sharpness and resolution at the same focal lengths and apertures. It is that good.
