Sony FE 16-25 f2.8 G First Impressions
In this blog, I will share with you my first impressions of the Sony 16-25 f/2.8 zoom lens. Although I’ve owned this lens for a while, I haven’t used it as often as some of the others, so this blog is an initial look and not a full review. The full review will come later after more extensive use in different conditions. For clarity, I purchased this lens with my own money, and I have no affiliations with Sony.
Purpose
This is a very interesting lens because, just like the 24-50 f/2.8 from Sony, it’s reversed. Typically, lenses start wide and you zoom in, so on its bigger brother, the 16-35, the lens starts at 16mm and zooms into 35mm. This one starts at 25mm and when you extend the barrel, you actually zoom out to an eventual 16mm. It’s a very unique design that I haven’t seen implemented anywhere else, and while it’s not for everyone, there will be a few who benefit from this approach. If you find yourself mostly shooting at around 24mm and zooming out now and again, then this lens would be ideal given its more compact form is closer to your focal length. Of course, if you tend to shoot wider more often, then you would always have to extend the barrel.
Build Quality
The lens feels solid, with a sturdy all-metal build. The focus dial is smooth and well-damped. The aperture dial has solid, distinct clicks. All buttons and dials feel very premium. Overall, the build quality seems great; however, this is something that will require time and heavy use to fully evaluate. The lens comes with weather sealing, and I got to test it on my recent trip to Hong Kong where I got absolutely drenched. I stayed outside shooting, and the lens/camera got soaked. I did not experience any issues.
Size & Weight
Aside from the inverted operation, size and weight are the two biggest advantages of this line of lenses. Compared to the 16-35, the 16-25 is much smaller and lighter. It’s actually very similar to the 35mm f/1.4, and even takes the same filter thread. While this lens feels the best on bigger bodies such as the A7R, it’s still totally fine on a smaller system like the A7C. Finally, the barrel extension isn’t that long, which helps maintain a small footprint even when fully extended.
Features
This lens has all the essentials you’d expect on a G series lens. You get one custom button that can be programmed to a range of different tasks. I have it set to temporarily switch to manual focus when held down. This allows me to engage the button with one finger, and use the other to turn the focus wheel and make minor adjustments in difficult focusing conditions such as reflections and abstract scenes. I wish it had two of these buttons like some other lenses, but I assume they left that out due to size or cost. You get an AF/MF switch and a de-click switch for the aperture. This allows for click-free and smooth aperture adjustment for video. The aperture ring is solid, the lens zooms in and out smoothly, and the focus dial is well-damped.
Image Quality
All modern lenses have fantastic image quality, and I feel we’re at the point where any modern lens above £500 will produce good results. I can’t say anything specific about the 16-25 f/2.8. The image is tack-sharp, the bokeh is nice, and the colours render as they should. No issues at all
AF Performance
The AF is top-notch thanks to two linear motors. It’s silent, fast, and reliable. However, just like image quality, this is hardly a surprise. Nothing specific I can say about the AF – it works every single time exactly how you’d expect.
Summary
This is a very unique lens and one not many people will like. However, there’s a subset of photographers and videographers who would find this quirky setup beneficial. If you tend to spend most of your time around 24mm, and sometimes zoom out for wider shots, then this is a perfect lens for you. If, however, you spend more time at the wider end, then perhaps you might find the constant need to extend the barrel tiresome. Having briefly used a 16-35, I much prefer this lens due to the design and form factor.
Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Minimal
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
What do these presets look like?
These presets 100% reflect my current editing style. Please see examples of work below.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be subtle colour changes due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
15 in the main pack and 20 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits. The extras pack is random test presets, one-off looks, and looks I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
- Short video of me editing using these presets
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work thus allowing me to make more videos / photos / tutorials for you.
Thank you for your support!