Which Wide Angle Lens to Buy

[bonaprof]

I've had my Sony a7 for about a year and a half. I rely on my FE 55mm lens as my go around lens. I also have the FE 70-200mm, which I usually use on "serious shoots" or wildlife. I am an advanced amateur photographer, who has had some photos in judged shows and has sold a few prints. I mostly shoot landscapes, abstract designs and wildlife. I wish Sony would bring out a tele converter to increase the 70-200 lens, but I also need a wide angle lens.

 

The three wide angle lenses that most interest me are the

 

Sony FE 16-35 mm, a bit pricey and seems to have some problems especially around the edges although all reviews say the problems are minor and can be easily fixed.

 

SONY FE 28mm, very reasonably priced and generally rated from good to very good, but not the very best glass.

 

Zeiss Batis 25mm, pricey, but probably the best of the lot. One of those few truly top-notch lenses. I probably would choose this one because I generally like prime lenses, especially those that are rated excellent+ However, the price of the Sony 28mm, at a third the cost of the Zeiss 25mm, is very attractive and the Sony 16-35 fills in the size between a wide angle and my Sony 55mm lens.

 

I am interested in reading your thoughts. 

 

Thanks,

 

Ed

[oneand0]

Ed,

 

I think no matter what lens you pick, you will end up being very happy. I can't tell you which lens is better, but I can tell you I have stood in the same spot in Lake Tahoe, using my 21mm ziess Distagon mounted with EF Metabones adapter using the Sony A7RII. Then selling it and going back  a few weeks later using my new 16-35mm f/4, hoping that it would be somewhat close to the quality of my Canon EF ziess prime. What I saw with my own eyes when blowing them up in lightroom, took me by total surprise. The 16-35mm @ 21mm @ 5.6 outperformed the ziess 21mm @ 5.6 clearly. 

 

I also shoot with the 55mm and the 70-200mm and love those lenses. Combined with the 16-35mm I feel it's perfect for me. I still have the metabones adapter with a set of Rokinon primes for video projects, but for landscape stills I take those first three mentioned in my bag every time.

 

Here is the shot with the 21mm ziess and A7RII I was talking about. I never did process and post the second shot using the 16-35 from the same location. https://www.flickr.com/photos/1and0hound/21202800175/in/photostream/

[Mike7]

Well, you say that you prefer primes over zooms (so do I). The 55mm is your go to lens. In that case don't doubt and invest in the 25/2 Batis. You will not regret it. In fact, it will probably become your new go to lens!

[andyfowlie]

I am absolutely in love with the images I get with my Batis 25mm (on A7Rii) and have been ever since I received it 5 months ago. I also have the 55mm and 70-200mm and they make a great set. Out of the 3 I have the feeling (from looking at thousands of my pictures in lightroom) that the Batis 25mm has the best image quality of the three, better even than the 55mm, but I freely admit that to be a purely subjective thing, more feeling than fact.

[andyfowlie]

I never really know whether example pictures help anything, because you can get great pictures with less good lenses, and terrible pictures with fantastic lenses, but in case it is interesting here are some Batis 25mm examples from the last months.

 

https://500px.com/photo/127907047/river-reflections-by-andy-fowlie

 

https://500px.com/photo/125777287/mustekala-by-andy-fowlie

 

https://500px.com/photo/124042239/crusell-bridge-by-andy-fowlie

 

https://500px.com/photo/136910993/private-pool-in-paradise-by-andy-fowlie - this one is a stitched panorama made from multiple 25mm images.

 

Andy