Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA
Optical design
Bright lens thanks to the high aperture value Has 9 aperture blades, with this amount of aperture blades you will be satisfied with the result.Physical characteristics
114 mm long, requires consideration if you want to carry in the camera bag. Weights 900 grams so it is a heavy lens, consider using its own lens bag. With a lens filter diameter of 77 mm this lens deserves a good quality filter, this is commonly filter size, presents numerous filter possibilities.Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA purchase historyTrending down 2.7%/mo
Prices have been easing around 2.7% per month — sellers are flexible, aim for deals below $298.00.
Best deals
395 of 783 tracked sales (50%) closed at or under the $298.00 fair value.
- Apr 14, 2025$39.00$-259.00 / typical
- Jun 6, 2025$39.00$-259.00 / typical
- Jun 24, 2025$75.00$-223.00 / typical
- Feb 27, 2025$81.00$-217.00 / typical
- Jun 29, 2025$83.00$-215.00 / typical
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Reviews
Great Lens for the Young and Strong. I have wanted a Zeiss 16-35mm A mount lens for quite sometime, but the price was just too high. So having found one for below $600.00 I bought it. Image quality is very good, focus is fast and build quality is great. Down side the weight!! I currently have a Konika - Minolta 17-35mm which I have had for years. I does a great job with a far amount of barreling, which you can correct in post. The Zeiss does not have the excessive barreling but the weight of this lens is Crazy Heavy. You would not want to carry this lens through Europe photographing churches, castles and/or museums. it is just too heavy. I have it mounted to a Sony A99 with extended battery grip and the lens and camera weight 7 plus lbs.
Sony 16-35mm F2.8 must have lens! I am using the 16-35 with my Sony A-99 and the images it takes are incredible. One advantage of using a very wide angle lens is almost everything is in focus. You can stay really close to your subject and it has very quick focusing. It is built like a tank and very heavy - weight is not a problem with the quality it provides. Super sharp, amazing colors and internal zoom are all great attributes. Love how you can get close to a foreground subject and still keep background in focus. Definitely my favorite lens!
Most economic solution with covering this 16-35mm focal length on Sony Mirrorless Most economic solution with covering this 16-35mm focal length. Probably the darkest best kept secret with using the Sony A7/A9 series One does not need to spend the money on the GM version as that becomes 3x the cost It is slightly more bulky because you have to use a Sony LA-EA4 adapter to make it work but the quality and the speed of focus is near the same
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA?
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA is a camera lens with 16-35mm focal length, a maximum aperture of f/2.8/22, for the Minolta A, Sony A mount, supporting the Full frame format, weighing 900g.
What mount is the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA compatible with?
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA uses a Minolta A, Sony A mount and supports the Full frame format.
How much does the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA cost?
Based on recent eBay sold listings the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA typically sells for around $39.00. Actual prices vary with condition and seller.
Is the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA a good lens?
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA has a community rating of 4.9/5 from 30 review(s).
Which lenses are similar to the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA?
Similar lenses include Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM, Sony Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM Vario-Sonnar T*, Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD A012.