Showing that the A-mount is alive and well, Sony has just announced updates to its fast zoom lineup with the full-frame Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM II and Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/2.8 ZA SSM II lenses. These versions boast an AF subject tracking speed 4x faster than their predecessors, reinforced construction with increased weatherproofing, and enhanced image quality. Also, benefitting video shooters, these new lenses utilize a silent AF and iris drive, which ensures that changing settings does not interfere with video quality.

The Vario-Sonnar T*16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM II covers a very useful ultra-wide to wide-angle perspective with a constant f/2.8 aperture, for consistent performance throughout the zoom range. It features a Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating for excellent contrast, along with three aspherical elements, one extra-low dispersion element, and one super-extra-low dispersion element for controlling aberrations and offering corner-to-corner sharpness. Also, an internal Super Sonic Wave Motor (SSM) enables fast, silent focusing, while a 9-blade circular aperture provides smooth out-of-focus elements.

Sharing many features with the 16-35mm, the Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/2.8 ZA SSM II provides an extremely versatile wide-angle to short telephoto focal-length range, along with a constant f/2.8 aperture. It also utilizes the Zeiss T* coating, along with two aspherical elements and two extra-low dispersion elements, to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortions. Both lenses are optimized for use on either full-frame or APS-C A-mount cameras and are fully compatible with Sony’s mirrorless E-mount line through the use of an optional adapter.