Sony 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS E-mount lens review by MichelvA

MichelvA#11689 date: Feb-12-2014
sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 2 flare control: 3 overall: 3.4	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	Sony A900 with Minolta 17-35 f/3.5 G, 28-70 f/2.8 G
price paid:	came as kit with NEX
positive:	- small - light - cheap
negative:	- distortion, especially at wide end - not very large aperture - zooming only with motor, tad slow - small flares with sunlight into the lens
comment:	This lens came as a kit with the NEX-3N. I wanted this lens as it is the smallest zoom and i want it to fit in my pocket. Starting up takes about 1-2 seconds as it unfolds. The folding when not in use is a big advantage. The zooming is done by an electric motor which makes it a tad slowish, but for street photography it works. The NEX-3N has good high ISO iq, but i wish the lens had a larger aperture. Maybe i'll go for an 20/2.8 later. Biggest disadvantage is the distortion, which is large. I feel i have to develop all but snaps with ACR (now 8.5). There's is a dedicated profile and the difference is very noticable. Without this RAW developer WA shots look unattractive to me. Note i realise the JPEGS are corrected in camera, but there is still distortion left then. This is the price for the size but a fair compromise.