Modern filmmaking is defined by movement. It is the sweeping gimbal shot, the dynamic drone reveal, the agile handheld documentary. This style of creation demands tools that are not only optically excellent but also lightweight, compact, and intelligently designed for video. The Sony FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G is the brilliant answer to that demand. It is a lens engineered from the ground up for the modern video creator, packing high-end features into an impossibly small package. At Unicorn Films, we know that the right lens can solve problems on set, and this lens is a master problem-solver.
The headline feature is its advanced Power Zoom (PZ) functionality. Driven by high-torque XD Linear Motors, the electronic zoom delivers perfectly smooth, silent, and consistently repeatable zooms at any speed. This is something nearly impossible to achieve by hand. Control is versatile: use the responsive rocker on the lens barrel, assign it to a function button on a compatible Sony camera, or even operate it remotely. But the true genius of the design is that the zoom mechanism is completely internal.
This revolutionary functionality is housed in the world’s lightest full-frame F4 wide-angle power zoom lens. Weighing a mere 353 grams, it feels almost weightless on a modern mirrorless body. This dramatic weight reduction means longer flight times on drones, the ability to use smaller and more affordable gimbals, and significantly less operator fatigue during long days of handheld shooting—a core benefit for our rental clients in Delhi’s demanding production scene.
Despite its small size, this is an uncompromised Sony G Lens. The optical design is sophisticated, featuring advanced aspherical (AA), ED, and aspherical elements to deliver the high corner-to-corner sharpness and beautiful rendering that the G Lens lineup is known for. The constant F4 maximum aperture ensures your exposure remains consistent throughout the entire zoom range, a must-have feature for any professional video work. The autofocus system is equally impressive, using a total of six XD Linear Motors to provide the fast, silent, and precise subject tracking that Sony’s best lenses are famous for, with focus breathing suppressed to a minimum.
The handling is designed for the hybrid shooter. The lens features three independent control rings for focus, zoom, and aperture, giving you full tactile control. The aperture ring includes a de-click switch, allowing for smooth, silent iris pulls—a feature Unicorn Films knows is essential for our videography clients. For the creator on the move, this is the ultimate wide-angle zoom, a perfect blend of quality, innovation, and portability.
| Feature | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Lens Type | Full-Frame Wide-Angle Power Zoom Lens. | Offers a versatile 16-35mm range with smooth, motorized zoom capabilities for video. |
| Weight & Size | Extremely lightweight at 353 g (12.5 oz) and compact in size. | The world’s lightest in its class, making it ideal for gimbals, drones, and travel. |
| Zoom Mechanism | Electronic Power Zoom (PZ) with a fully internal zoom mechanism. | Enables smooth, controllable zooms and ensures the lens never changes length or balance. |
| Focus Mechanism | Fully internal focus mechanism. | Prevents the lens from extending during focus pulls, maintaining a constant center of gravity. |
| Maximum Aperture | A constant F4 aperture throughout the entire zoom range. | Ensures exposure remains consistent when zooming, a critical feature for video production. |
| Autofocus Motor | Driven by six separate XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors. | Provides exceptionally fast, silent, and precise autofocus with minimal focus breathing. |
| Control Rings | Features three independent rings for focus, zoom, and aperture control. | Gives filmmakers full, tactile, and intuitive control over all key lens functions. |
| Aperture Ring | A physical aperture ring that includes a de-click switch for smooth operation. | Allows for seamless, silent iris adjustments, which is essential for professional video capture. |
| Optical Design | Sony G Lens series, featuring AA (advanced aspherical), ED, and aspherical elements. | Delivers high corner-to-corner sharpness, excellent contrast, and beautiful rendering. |
| Build Quality | A dust and moisture-resistant design suitable for professional use. | Provides reliability and peace of mind when shooting in challenging outdoor conditions. |
A power zoom uses a silent electronic motor to provide a perfectly smooth and consistent zoom speed, which is nearly impossible to do by hand. It's ideal for professional-looking slow zoom-ins, dramatic crash zooms, or repeatable zoom moves.
The G Master lens is optically superior and has a faster F2.8 aperture, making it the better choice for low-light situations and for photographers who need the absolute best image quality. However, this F4 G lens is far lighter, more compact, and has the Power Zoom and internal zoom features, making it the superior choice for video, gimbal, and drone work.
Yes. The lens has a dedicated manual zoom ring that is electronically coupled. This allows you to make traditional, by-hand zoom adjustments with the speed and feel you prefer, in addition to using the electronic rocker.
While it's designed with video as a priority, it is also an excellent and very sharp lens for photography. Its incredibly light weight makes it a fantastic travel and landscape photography lens.
"Focus breathing" is an undesirable effect where the field of view of a lens slightly shifts or "breathes" as you change focus from a near subject to a far one. This lens is optically designed to suppress this effect, ensuring your frame remains stable and professional-looking during focus pulls.
