A7Cvs Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
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?
Compact Travel & Content Creation — A7C (2020): The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
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
A7C (2020)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
Quick take: The a7c is the most affordable; only the sony fe 16-35mm f/2.8 gm ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7C (2020) | Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £2,099 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | f/2.8 (constant max aperture) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | — |
| Video | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 22cm minimum focus distance |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | XD linear motors — ultra-fast and near-silent |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | None (relies on body IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | N/A |
| Battery Life | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorless | N/A |
| Weight | 509g (body, battery, card) | 547g |
| Dimensions | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm | 87.8mm diameter × 111.5mm length |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF | N/A |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots | N/A |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | N/A |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7C | Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Architecture | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
More comparisons with A7C
Camera family history