RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USMvs Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
Canon
RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM (2019)
Starting from £2299 new
Best for Architecture, landscape & astrophotography
View RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
VS
Sony
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II (2023)
Starting from £2099 new
Best for Landscape, architecture & astrophotography
View Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Architecture, Landscape & Astrophotography — RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM (2019): The best wide-angle zoom Canon has ever made — optically superb, stabilised, and L-series built.
Landscape, Architecture & Astrophotography — Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II (2023): Sony's best ultra-wide zoom ever — dramatically lighter than the original, with world-class sharpness and a stunning minimum focus distance.
Who should buy what
Quick take: The sony fe 16-35mm f/2.8 gm ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM (2019) | Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,299 | £2,099 |
| Sensor | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | f/2.8 (constant max aperture) |
| Video | N/A — lens | 22cm minimum focus distance |
| Autofocus | Dual Nano USM — fast, precise, near-silent | XD linear motors — ultra-fast and near-silent |
| Stabilisation | Optical IS — 5 stops (up to 7 stops with IBIS combo) | None (relies on body IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | N/A | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A | N/A |
| Weight | 840g | 547g |
| Dimensions | 88.5mm diameter × 126.8mm length | 87.8mm diameter × 111.5mm length |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | N/A | N/A |
| Screen | N/A | N/A |
| Mount | 82mm filter thread | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A | N/A |
| Connectivity | N/A | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM | Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Architecture | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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