When filmmaker Susanna Kosa and landscape photographer Michael Schaake got the opportunity to test the brand new FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II lens, it was immediately clear to them that the incredible landscape of the far north would be the perfect location to test the new lens.

While Michael shot the stunning northern Norwegian landscapes, Sanna was filming a cinematic portrait of him, doing what he loves most.

A fantastic build quality, smooth operation, adjustable aperture ring and above all, the low weight immediately caught the attention of the two German Sony ambassadors.

“The lens felt great in the hand,” said Michael, “very solid and well made, and noticeably lighter than the predecessor. This was a big thing for me, as I'm always looking to keep the weight of my kit to a minimum. In the past I've always used the FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS for that very reason, so I was delighted to learn that the new 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is almost the same weight as the Zeiss!”

Sanna was equally impressed: “I was struck by how much smaller the new version was compared to the previous model. I like using small cameras like the FX3 for my work, so any size reduction on lenses is always welcome. Another feature I was very pleased to see was the manual aperture ring with click control, which is super useful for filmmaking.”

Thanks to the dust and weather protection, the lens can also be used in adverse conditions, a basic requirement for use in the great outdoors. The zoom ring turns smoothly and precisely, and it doesn't even take a quarter turn to change from 16mm to 35mm. At the same time, the lens extends only slightly, making it an excellent choice for filming on a gimbal, because you get only very little weight shifts.

Sanna also picked up on the noticeable lack of focus breathing: “I didn’t notice it at first, but after a while I was pleasantly surprised to see that the breathing has been reduced to almost nothing. This is an extremely useful feature for filmmakers.”

Most photographers and filmmakers will agree that using a zoom lens over a prime is a balance of versatility over maximum aperture speed.

Michael: “The great thing about the Sony G Master zooms is that the performance of lenses are easily on par with prime lenses. I can shoot wide open and still see excellent resolution and negligible distortion, even at the edges of the frame. And with the high ISO performance of my Alpha bodies, a maximum aperture of f/2.8 isn't even an issue when shooting in very low light."

“Another feature I discovered almost by accident was the very close focus”, he adds. “I was able to focus down to 22cm, which is pretty amazing for a lens like this.”

The location of Tromsø offered a stunning array of picturesque locations. "I was struck by the cobalt blue beauty of the water", said Michael, "and I spotted this small waterfall on the other side of the lake which I thought would make for an interesting composition."

Boasting no less than 4 XD linear motors, the autofocus speed and accuracy of the new lens is impressive. Sanna had this to say about the video performance: “A lot of my work sees me shoot athletes in natural light and these situations require a speedy and robust AF system to keep the subject sharp, especially when they’re moving at high speed. I suppose I’ve been a bit spoilt with the Mk II versions of the 24-70 and 70-200 G Masters, as they’re so good at AF tracking, and I’m delighted to see that the new 16-35 has the same kind of improvements.”

“I’ve always preferred using zoom lenses in the field as they offer more variety without me having to constantly change lenses.”

For Michael, the addition of the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is a welcome one for his expeditions.

”It literally comes down to every last gram when I’m choosing what equipment to take with me on a shoot. Being able to swap out my older Zeiss lens will make a huge difference to my shooting and give me more flexibility and performance. I already use the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II and the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II, so this lens nicely completes the trinity of incredible lenses!”