Sony DT 16-50 mm f/2.8 SSM
11. Summary
- Good build quality,
- Very good image quality in the frame centre,
- Low longitudinal chromatic aberration,
- Decently corrected coma,
- Negligible astigmatism,
- Very quick and silent autofocus.
Cons:
- Weak image quality on the edge of the frame near the maximum relative aperture,
- Significant chromatic aberration close the maximum relative aperture at both ends of focal range,
- Vignetting which is not only high but also higher than that of the competitors,
- High and complicated distortion at the widest angle of view,
- Average work against bright light.
No company has managed to produce a very good 16-50 mm f/2.8 class lens so far. Unfortunately Sony also failed here. It doesn’t mean that the Sony 16-50 mm f/2.8 SSM is a bad lens – I am far from saying such a thing. The Sony is a bit more expensive than the Tokina and significantly cheaper than the Pentax. When you buy it in a set with a reflex camera you get even a better bargain - then its price doesn’t exceed 600 $. Taking into account the fact that in many categories the Sony fares better than its competitors (resolution, chromatic aberration, coma and autofocus) and loses to them only in two (flares and vignetting) it seems to be a really good suggestion and a quite well-done ‘kit’ lens for such cameras as the Sony SLT A77, A65 or A57.
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Sample shots
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 16 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/4000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.75 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 16 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.63 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 16 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 14.06 MB |
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 16 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/500 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 14.63 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 16 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/80 s, ISO 800 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 10.56 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 16 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 13.25 MB |
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 16 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/500 s, ISO 200 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 10.22 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 30 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/3200 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 13.25 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 22 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.78 MB |
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 28 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/400 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.78 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 28 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/4000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.91 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 28 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/500 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 13.88 MB |
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 35 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/800 s, ISO 200 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 9.13 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 35 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 200 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 11.03 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 24 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/320 s, ISO 200 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 10.53 MB |
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 35 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/125 s, ISO 800 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 10.41 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 26 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/800 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.56 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 35 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/40 s, ISO 800 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 9.59 MB |
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/500 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 9.66 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/800 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 13.22 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/640 s, ISO 200 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 9.25 MB |
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.09 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/500 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.88 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/4000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 12.38 MB |
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Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 14.09 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/3200 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 13 MB |
Camera: Sony SLT-A77 Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 6000×4000 pix, 16.03 MB |
