If you compare this ZA version of Sony 16-35mm vs the GM version , you can clearly see the resolution difference in the edges and corners , even in the very central part of the image at any aperture setting, but if you do compare printed images from these two FE 16-35mm zooms , you can hardly see any resolution difference, you can still see color and overall rendering differences , though.
I think the GM produces much cleaner images even at image level, the ZA produces too much lateral CA in the edges especially high contrast areas.
Also at the 35mm and even 28mm , the resolution difference is very clear, sometimes even striking.
Compared to the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 at f4 or f5 at 28mm , I think this ZA is slightly better in the very central part of the frame and in the edges and borders they are almost identical.
At f8 or so the ZA Sony edges out the Tamron in the corners.
So , after testing a several copies of these lenses , I think the GM is worth the price. I still have both the Tamron and the GM now , I was selling the GM but decided to cancel it.
I dislike the build quality of the FE16-35mm f2.8GM but it is sharp and optically a very good zoom. And most importantly it works great for my type of shooting at least for my weather documentary series.
So I may have to stick with the GM for now , I think until the FE16-35mm f2.8GM mark 2 released. And I think it will be about a couple more years or so away from now. I have heard a few rumors about the new version of 24-70mm f2.8 GM , and Sony seems to think it is the main priority and most important release for them as they want to get into the PJ market.
Well I think it is the right thing for them to do now as their current 24-70mm f2.8 GM is really a weak lens by their current lens quality standard, compare that mediocre lens to their recent releases like the new FE35mm f1.4GM (which is almost flawless lens at least resolution wise) or the FE135mm f1.8GM, it is really glaring. The FE24-70mm f2.8GMm the FE85mm f1.4 GM and the FE70-20mm f2.8GM are the current worst Sony lenses and now they really need to update these three terrible GM lenses.
I really want to see the highly anticipated FE85mm f1.4GM MK2 in the size of the Sigma 85mm f1.4Dn or a bit smaller.
I think they can do it now , and if they do that it will be a huge hit for sure. For me a set of great 85, 28mm (35mm may work too, but I prefer a great 28mm f1.8 or 1.4), 20mm primes are really important , now we have a set of great 35, 135, 105mm, 100, but we do not have any good 85 , 28 and 200mm primes.
I think Sony really needs a good 200mm f4G or f2.8GM or G, a great 150mm macro, 17mm f4 TS, 45mm f4 TS, 135mm or 120mm f4 TS, and 15 or 14mm f2.8GM(I prefer f4 for a tiny bit smaller barrel size but I know many lens snobs prefer f2.8).
I think the Tamron is overrated , it is not as good as the GM and might even be a bit worse than the best copies of the FE16-35mm f4ZA(which is not really bad). If you do not need f4 and shoot always stopped down then the FE16-35mm f4ZA is actually a better lens than the Tamron.
The zoom range of the 16-35mm is much more versatile than the Tamron 17-28 and these two cheap wide zooms are optically identical.....very close. Optically I loved my FE12-24mm f2.8 GM but it had a huge bulbous front element and that really made it a bit risky lens to use in the field.
So I returned it. I really want to get a good 14 or 15mm GM prime without the annoying bulbous front element design.
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