Sony FE SEL1635Z 16-35mm
The constant f/4 aperture and ZEISS T* coating with 5 aspherical elements ensure edge-to-edge clarity and controlled flare, while the built-in Optical SteadyShot stabilizes handheld shots at 16-35mm. At just 518g with a 72mm filter thread, it’s highly portable, though this international model may bundle non-US accessories. It’s best for landscape photographers who need a lightweight, stabilized wide-angle zoom with 0.19x close-focusing for foreground details.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong stabilization (94th percentile) 94th
- Strong optical (91th percentile) 91th
- Strong social proof (88th percentile) 88th
- Strong versatility (75th percentile) 75th
Cons
- Below average bokeh (17th percentile)
- Below average aperture (26th percentile)
- Below average macro (32th percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 93 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 16 |
| Focal Length Max | 35 |
| Elements | 12 |
| Groups | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 5 |
| ED Elements | 3 |
| Coating | Carl Zeiss T* coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | 22 |
| Min Aperture | 4 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 72 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Auto Focus |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4.5 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 280 |
| Max Magnification | 0.19x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sony FE SEL1635Z 16-35mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 | Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 16-35mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-200mm | 16-85mm | 18-135mm |
| Max Aperture | 22 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Fuji X | L-Mount | Nikon F | Canon EF-S |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | true | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 518 | 615 | 92 | 413 | 59 | 515 |
| AF Type | Auto Focus | HLA | VXD linear motor | Autofocus | AF-S | STM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | macro | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony FE SEL1635Z 16-35mm | 54.8 | 16.5 | 65.3 | 31.5 | 90.9 | 25.6 | 75.3 | 88 | 94.4 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.8 | 86.5 | 57.7 | 86.5 | 98.9 | 79.8 | 99.6 | 77.9 | 99 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98 | 78 | 96.2 | 88.4 | 73.5 | 79.8 | 99.2 | 83 | 80.6 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Compare | 54.8 | 80.8 | 73.6 | 89.5 | 90.9 | 74.5 | 95.7 | 62.7 | 99.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Compare | 54.8 | 78 | 98.5 | 59.7 | 64.1 | 79.8 | 94.3 | 88 | 92.3 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Compare | 85.5 | 78 | 45.8 | 32.7 | 79 | 79.8 | 96.1 | 77.9 | 92.3 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
