Sony Launches Ultra-Wide Power-Zoom Lens

2022.03.22

This morning Sony delivered a surprise announcement adding an ultra-wide Power-Zoom lens for their series of Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Cameras. Joining a rare few Power-Zoom lenses among all platforms and the only the second such Full-Frame lens.

The new Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F/4G is truly compact ultra-wide zoom for Full-Frame E-mount digital cameras. It spans a 63-107° angle-of-view while maintaining a constant F/4 moderate maximum aperture throughput its 16-35mm focal-range. The Power-Zoom feature gives users indirect and steady control over the focal-length which is desirable while filming. Equally important for video work is a declickable aperture-ring provided by this lens.

Sony created a completely internal lens with quad linear-motors driving an internal focus system and even the optics for zooming. The result is a zoom lens that exhibits minimal focus breathing and keeps it compact size at all times. It measures barely 8.8cm long and is 8cm wide, accepting common 72mm screw-on filters. Even with its weatherproof body, the PZ 16-35mm F/4G weighs just 353g.

The compact lens is exceptionally feature-rich. It provides 3 seprate adjustment rings. Both the focus-ring and zoom-ring are fly-by-wire types with customizable response. An additional zoom slider also controls the power-zoom mechanism with steady speed that is configurable in fine steps. The aperture-ring either works in 1/3-stops or continuously, when the slider on the back of the lens is set to Declick. Additional AF/MF toggle switch and customizable function buttons are also present.

The optical design of the Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F/4G focuses down to 28cm at wide-angle or closer to 24cm at telephoto. This provides it a relatively close maximum 0.23X magnification.

This new Full-Frame Power-Zoom lens is expected to arrive in June for $1200 USD or $1500 CAD.

• Lens