p.20 #1 · Pre-order Now! Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM and FE 12-24/4 G
It looks better than the Sigma, which is a considerable feat. It seems to be much better with respect to astigmatism, too, so it may be a good candidate for night star shooting... if Sony ever fixes the idiotic Star Eater bug in their image processing.
p.20 #5 · Pre-order Now! Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM and FE 12-24/4 G
Go look at the tests LR did on the 14-24 a while back. My impression is that this 12-24 will beat that handily at the wide end. I don't think I saw results at the 24 end, so it's not clear, but the Sony is quite strong at that end, so it will probably do well out there.
A significant difference is the lower maximum aperture, but that gains you a much smaller lens as well.
This is going to make the decision hard. The 16-35 2.8 is going to have to be really stellar to beat it.
Yep, it's going to be an interesting decision. I'm hoping the 16-35 f/2.8 makes as good an astro lens as the Nikon 14-24 or Batis 18 f/2.8. If so, that'll tip the scales for me I think.
p.20 #8 · Pre-order Now! Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM and FE 12-24/4 G
It woukd be very surprising if the 16-35 wasn't better in absolute terms. After all, it's a 16-35 rather than a lens starting at 12!
Whether it's the best available 16-35 and beats the competition the way this new 12-24 seems like it may is another matter; an interesting one, but not one that would affect a buying decision I would have thought (unless perhaps the f4 version turns to be as good or better at the fls you most care about)
But assuming that the 16-35 is pretty damn good I really can't see small differences in IQ between it and the 12-24 being reasons to choose between such different lenses - the kind of images they can make are different in so many ways. The 12-24 is primarily a hyper wide in most use, with a handy 24mm wide long end. The other is a much more general wide, which includes classic moderate wide lengths like 28 and 35 with enough speed for environmental portraits.
This is going to make the decision hard. The 16-35 2.8 is going to have to be really stellar to beat it.
How much you wanna bet that the 24-70GM beats the 16-35GM above 24 and the 16-35GM beats the 12-24 above 16 -- so you'll have to collect the whole set. Sony ain't no dummy!
p.20 #11 · Pre-order Now! Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM and FE 12-24/4 G
Closely watching how the 12-24 turns out. Finally a zoom that could be made for landscapers. Would love to see how this compares to the CV12 and Lox 21. This could be a game changer!
p.20 #12 · Pre-order Now! Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM and FE 12-24/4 G
Roger's review does compare the Zony 24-70 f4 at 24 and the new ultrawide zoom. There's not much between them... so who knows. I know the sample variation among that lens is a notorious condition, but Roger's sampling smooths a lot of that.
Still... 24 on the 24-70 GM is damn good. Going to be hard to beat.
We're starting to suffer from an embarrassment of riches at the wide end with this system. If the GM 16-35 hits it out of the park I can easily imagine a dozen good ways to go with a loadout.
Parariss wrote:
How much you wanna bet that the 24-70GM beats the 16-35GM above 24 and the 16-35GM beats the 12-24 above 16 -- so you'll have to collect the whole set. Sony ain't no dummy!
p.20 #14 · Pre-order Now! Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM and FE 12-24/4 G
^per Roger's pre-review (if I can call it that) I've pre-ordered the 12-24mm. We're headed to Glacier Nat. Park later this season and I think it might be a useful lens there. Which reminds me to get the Tamron 15-30mm on the buy/sell thread.
p.20 #17 · Pre-order Now! Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM and FE 12-24/4 G
Fred Miranda wrote:
So, who is still pre-ordering the 16-35GM after getting the 12-24G?
Cancelled mine already - I hope my incoming 12-24mm is a well-centered copy. If the 16-35mm GM is a superb lens I may still buy it later. A year or so down the road, a used copy will be fine. It is not easy to keep on pre-ordering new items and to find out in a few short months, there are mint copies offered for sale at a sizeable discount. From time to time, it is OK to let others take the first owner's depreciation .
p.20 #18 · Pre-order Now! Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM and FE 12-24/4 G
AGeoJO wrote:
Cancelled mine already - I hope my incoming 12-24mm is a well-centered copy. If the 16-35mm GM is a superb lens I may still buy it later. A year or so down the road, a used copy will be fine. It is not easy to keep on pre-ordering new items and to find out in a few short months, there are mint copies offered for sale at a sizeable discount. From time to time, it is OK to let others take the first owner's depreciation .
I totally understand, Joshua.
You know me -- I usually buy items lightly used, a year or two (or more!) after they debut. This 12-24 was a rare exception for me, but I made the right call and don't regret it. But the 16-35GM? If I were to get it, it would be after I obtain a great copy of the existing 24-70GM. (Insert sounds of clock ticking and calendar pages flipping . . . )
- I hope my incoming 12-24mm is a well-centered copy. If the 16-35mm GM is a superb lens I may still buy it later. A year or so down the road, a used copy will be fine. It is not easy to keep on pre-ordering new items and to find out in a few short months, there are mint copies offered for sale at a sizeable discount. From time to time, it is OK to let others take the first owner's depreciation 
.