Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G Review: A Power Zoom Built for Video and Gimbals
The Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G is a wide zoom with a motor. Sony announced it on March 22, 2022 at about $1,200, and it weighs 353 grams, about 30% less than the older Zeiss 16-35mm F4 it replaces.
The “PZ” stands for power zoom. Besides a normal zoom ring, there’s a lever that zooms smoothly at variable speeds, and the zoom is internal, so the lens never changes length. For gimbal and video work that’s a big deal: the balance stays put from 16mm to 35mm.
Wide zooms like this are for architecture and travel video: a long hospital facade on a river, a slow push across a square, a pan along a building that’s too big for one frame.
Photo: Media Instances
Gordon Laing compared it with the Zeiss 16-35 ZA it replaces.
Video review: Gordon Laing
Design
The optical formula is 13 elements in 12 groups, including two advanced aspherical, one aspherical, one Super ED, one ED and one ED aspherical element. The aperture has seven blades, and the filter thread is 72mm. Four XD linear motors run the zoom and two drive the focus.
Close focus is 24cm at 35mm, for 0.23x magnification. There’s an aperture ring with a click switch and an iris lock, a focus hold button, an AF/MF switch and the zoom lever. It’s dust and moisture resistant with a fluorine front coating. There’s no optical stabilization, so it relies on in-body stabilization. Camera Labs timed a full zoom sweep at about 2 seconds at full lever and 14 seconds with a gentle push.
How it performs
Camera Labs, Photography Blog and SLR Lounge all found it sharp across the frame and the zoom range. Focus breathing is minimal, and the smooth power zoom was the highlight of every review. Photography Blog found color fringing and flare low.
The power zoom is also the main complaint for stills. It’s slower and less direct than a mechanical ring, and the ring has no markings. SLR Lounge found the rings easy to bump and noted the zoom position resets when the camera turns off. Vignetting and distortion at 16mm need correction, Camera Labs found the bokeh busy, and f/4 limits low-light work.
Who should buy it
Sony video shooters and hybrid creators who use gimbals or want smooth zooms in a shot. It suits the Sony FX3A, FX30 and ZV-E1, and it’s a light travel lens on the A7C II.
For stills, the Sony FE 16-25mm F2.8 G costs about the same, is a stop brighter and has a normal zoom ring. The Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 is cheaper and brighter but less wide. The FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is the pro option at about twice the price. For a prime, the Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G gathers far more light.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.