13/03/2026 8:11 am
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Full Frame E-mount Lens
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I am so sick of looking at MTF charts and YouTube reviews that all say every single lens is amazing. I finally upgraded to the a7R IV because I wanted those huge files for my trip to Glacier National Park next month but my current wide angle is just muddy. Like why did I spend all that money on a 61MP body if the corners look like absolute mush? I need to get this sorted before I leave in two weeks and I am honestly just annoyed at this point.
I am stuck between the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II and the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Art. The Sony is supposedly the sharpest thing ever but that price tag is making my eyes water. Then the Sigma is way cheaper and apparently just as sharp but it weighs a ton and I cant put my standard filters on the front without buying some massive expensive adapter system. I also thought about the 20mm f/1.8 G prime to save weight but I worry I will miss the zoom range when I am on a cliffside and cant move my feet to frame the shot. My budget is firm at $2300 and I really dont want to regret this when I see the photos on my monitor later. Is the GM II actually worth the extra thousand bucks over the Sigma for this specific sensor or am I just paying for the brand name...
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13/03/2026 8:37 am
Man, I feel your pain! I've been there... adding my two cents because I went through this exact same spiral when I first got my high-res body. I spent weeks staring at corner crops until my eyes bled... honestly it's exhausting. I ended up biting the bullet on the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II and ngl, it's been a total game changer for my mountain trips. The thing about Glacier is the hiking. You're gonna be climbing some serious elevation and the weight of that Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art plus a massive filter holder system starts to feel like a literal brick in your pack after mile five. I used a bulbous front element lens before and I totally hated the constant anxiety of scratching it, plus carrying those dinner-plate sized filters was just a mess. With the GM II, you just screw on a standard 82mm filter and you're done. I actually thought about the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G too because it's so light, but the flexibility of that zoom range at 16mm is huge when you're stuck on a ledge and cant move. For that 61MP sensor, the GM II is stupidly sharp even at the edges, which is where my older wide angles always turned into mush. Since your budget is $2300, you're right at the sweet spot for it! Seeing those crisp details in the pines and rock faces when you get home... it's just amazing. Just get the Sony and dont look back, your back and your pixels will thank you big time!
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13/03/2026 8:11 am
Snag the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art! The MTF charts are basically identical to the GM but its way cheaper, plus you can crop those 61MP files for zooming tho!
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13/03/2026 8:42 am
Tbh if youre shooting stopped down for landscapes, that GM II price is a lot. The Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 G PZ is a sleeper hit that handles the high res sensor surprisingly well for way less cash. Or just grab the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G and crop... itll save you a fortune and your back will thank you while hiking Glacier. Dont pay for f/2.8 if you dont need it.
