In January 2021 Sony launched the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens, a wide-angle zoom lens that many APS-C shooters had been ready for (24-82.5mm full body equal). This can be a lens that can swimsuit nearly any sort of pictures and, regardless of not being a superzoom lens, will cowl many of the on a regular basis focal size you’d use, particularly at a continuing f/2.8 aperture. The flexibility of this lens makes it an ideal lens to take when touring. Many customers have known as it top-of-the-line lenses you possibly can placed on an APS-C Sony. Nonetheless, there isn’t a lot competitors on the market for APS-C Sony lenses of this caliber even among the many Best mirrorless cameras.
Although it’s price acknowledging that this lens is astronomically costly for what it’s. It’s presently priced at $1400 / £1000 even 2 years after its launch. So does the efficiency of this lens reside as much as the large price ticket? We put it to the take a look at to seek out out. However we even have full guides on the Best lenses for astrophotography, Best zoom lenses and accompanying digital camera our bodies such because the Best cameras for photos and videos and Best cameras for astrophotography.
Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens evaluate
Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens: Design
- Not too heavy
- Nice construct high quality
- Climate resistant
As we’ve come to count on from a Sony G lens, the 16-55mm construct high quality is superb and feels strong and durable within the hand. It weighs underneath 500g which we expect strikes the right steadiness between gentle and moveable sufficient to journey with and sufficiently big to feel and appear like a premium lens that appears nice on an APS-C digital camera. This lens is unquestionably one of many better-made APS-C lenses, and it appears to be like much more high-end than a number of different lenses from Sony.
It’s made largely from plastic however it feels strong and well-assembled and it suits within the hand very effectively. It’s significantly smaller than a traditional lens of this sort which for a lot of shooters is a large benefit, significantly if you happen to’re going to be touring with this lens. We expect the scale and weight of this lens are excellent.
Specs
Aperture: fixed f/2.8
Weight: 494g
Filter thread: 67mm
Minimal focus distance: 0.33 m
Dimensions: 100mm x 73mm
Focal size: 16 – 55mm
Launch date: January 2021
The lens is available in its personal protecting leather-based pouch, which is a pleasant contact and could be very a lot welcomed with all of Sony’s lenses. It has a 67mm filter thread and options the usual AF/MF change on the aspect of the lens in addition to a programmable button.
The entrance component is fluorine coated to be water and dirt-repellent and there may be nano AR coating that helps with flare and ghosting. This lens may be very effectively climate sealed, though it is nonetheless solely listed as ‘dust and moisture resistant’ so those that require a water-resistant lens might have to look elsewhere. The zoom ring and focus ring are each very easy with no stickiness which makes it excellent for video makers, plus it has a silent autofocus motor.
Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens: Efficiency
- Very sharp optical efficiency
- Correct monitoring for focus
- Glorious picture high quality
The efficiency of this lens may be very spectacular. It’s extremely sharp at each focal size in its zoom vary and it provides nice distinction even within the corners, which is a big enchancment over the equipment lens. After f/11 you’ll discover a little bit of softness creeping into the corners however there aren’t many lenses which are tack sharp all all through the body at each single aperture as a result of bodily properties of diffraction.
Ghosting and chromatic aberration are nearly non-existent and the colour replica is superb. You do sometimes get a small little bit of flare when capturing into the sun or vibrant gentle however it’s nothing that may’t be fastened in post-processing. There’s additionally little or no barrelling and the vignetting appears to be well-controlled. The lens provides lovely bokeh at f/2.8 though clearly, this is not nearly as good as a chief lens in our opinion.
The autofocus capabilities of this lens are nice — though its accuracy will depend on which digital camera physique you’re utilizing with it, in addition to the sunshine circumstances. In good gentle the autofocus and monitoring are glorious. It performs averagely in common gentle, and in poor gentle, it struggles. We examined this lens with the Sony A6600 and it tracked the eyes of black cats very effectively, whereas many setups typically don’t acknowledge that there’s even a face within the body.
Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens: Performance
- Fixed f/2.8 aperture all through focal size vary
- Extremely versatile wide-angle zoom lens
- No OSS stabilization
The fixed aperture of f/2.8 by the focal size vary makes this lens extremely versatile and it may possibly deal with nearly something you throw at it. It is an ideal lens for astrophotography at f/2.8 at 15mm and is equally helpful for structure, landscapes, seascapes and portrait pictures (though, if you happen to focus on portraits you then’d seemingly desire a wide-angle prime lens relying in your capturing model and placement). It wouldn’t essentially be an ideal possibility for wildlife or sport pictures the place you typically want the longer focal lengths that include a telephoto lens, however this lens is a superb choice to throw in your bag and carry with you on the go for these on a regular basis capturing alternatives.
One of many drawbacks of this lens, significantly for the hefty price ticket, is the dearth of picture stabilization. This gained’t be a lot of a problem for anybody capturing on a Sony A6500 or A6600 as each of these fashions have in-body picture stabilization however anybody utilizing a Sony A6400 or earlier might wrestle to maintain issues regular, significantly if you happen to’re capturing video with out using a gimbal. That stated, for a lot of varieties of pictures you possibly can completely make do with simply utilizing a tripod or making certain that you simply’re pictures are shot at a quick sufficient shutter velocity. On the subject of astrophotography, the dearth of picture stabilization on this lens isn’t a problem in any respect.
Must you purchase the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens?
There’s no denying that, as a lot as this lens provides, it’s extremely costly. It does beg the query of whether or not it’s price investing on this lens over a full-frame lens. If it have been a couple of hundred {dollars} cheaper it will be a a lot simpler suggestion, significantly because it doesn’t have picture stabilization and there are presently solely two Sony APS-C cameras which have in-body stabilization. That stated, we expect the efficiency of this lens does reside as much as the massive price ticket, and it’s a lens that might go anyplace and all over the place with you.
We wouldn’t essentially name it an expert lens, as most professionals have a tendency to make use of full-frame however it’s completely able to offering skilled outcomes. This lens would probably be utilized by passionate hobbyists with no intention of switching to full body, or severe intermediate shooters who’re making the soar into paid skilled work and need a workhorse lens however aren’t fairly in a position to make the change to full-frame simply but.
If the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens is not for you
If it’s the focal size vary you’re after, this Sony 16-70mm f/4 Zeiss lens (opens in new tab) could be price a glance. It’ll give all the identical focal lengths the 16-55mm can provide after which some, though the trade-off is the narrower f/4 aperture. Nonetheless, it’s cheaper and lighter than the 16-55mm and it has picture stabilization to account for this lack of gentle.
Should you’re on the lookout for a zoom lens with a continuing f/2.8 aperture take a look at the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens (opens in new tab). This lens has the identical focal size (minus 1mm) because the Sony Zeiss lens but in addition options the fixed f/2.8 aperture that the 16-55mm does. It is round half the value of the Sony 16-55mm and has unimaginable buyer evaluations on Amazon. This lens is heavier than the Sony although, so if that is not a dealbreaker then this could possibly be an ideal various to the G lens we have reviewed right here.
Essentially the most related various to this lens could be the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens (opens in new tab), which additionally occurs to be the most affordable lens on this listing of alternate options. This lens from Sigma is simply over one-third of the value of the Sony and is a particularly succesful lens in a small compact bundle. Should you aren’t bothered about having native lenses which have ‘G’ written on them we expect this could possibly be a improbable budget-friendly possibility for Sony E-mount cameras.
