Sony 50mm for NEX and Sony DT 16-50mm reviews.
David from Photoclubalpha (Click here) published the full Sony DT 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM review: “I do not agree with some of the over-the-top reviews including one to be found on the Sony store USA site claiming it’s the best zoom of this range and aperture for any system. It is not, you get more than you pay for (much less than a lens of this specification might cost from others) but not an optical miracle.“ 16-50mm price check at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
The Sony 50mm for NEX has been tested by ThePhoBlographer (Click here): “Of all the lenses I’ve tested so far, it by far has the best image quality for the system. The fact that I was able to use it for a professional product shoot also blew my mind away. Generally, I leave all of that to my 5D Mk II but the fact that I did it with this little camera makes me thrilled for the mirrorless future.”
In USA the lens will ship on Feb 25th at BHphoto (Click here). Check these links to see if other stores will ship it soon: Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
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Recent comments
Comment from Anon: Not touching NEX until they release a 30...
Comment from Right Light: My SEL50F18 is finally ready for shipmen...
Comment from klw10: Bokeh. The 50 more than likely has bett...
Comment from Adam Maas: Size and OSS. The 16-50 handles very nic...
räven
4 months ago |And this is why I love nifty fiftys
Pablo
4 months ago |WOOOW.
Finally someone who provided some shots that shown the strengths of this optic. Finally I was able to see it work in low light and with the OSS at work.
Seems, I’ll be probably getting rid of the 25/0.95 that I use with my IBIS Oly for low light and will finally be able to migrate to one system only…
Mar
4 months ago |Lol, who in their right mind says that 16-50mm is the best zoom? Hahaha
Try ZD 12-60 or 14-35mm f2 for a size
doug
4 months ago |This gives me some hope that the 50mm f/1.8 is a lens worth waiting for. But I’ll need to read a couple of positive reviews from authoritative sources before I’m confident enough to spring for one. But I will say that the test graphs for this lens over at slrgear.com do look promising.
REVENGE
4 months ago |Somebody PLEASE make an inexpensive ($300 – $400) optically stabilized 24mm lens. I can shoot at 34-36mm fov all day long! 75mm, not so much…
Wheelus
4 months ago |And the price is a reasonable $300 in the United States.
Matthew
4 months ago |Exactly!
Charlie
4 months ago |Just waiting for my SEL50f18 order to fill.
Alfonso Cuitiño
4 months ago |Awesome, he said in the comments that it is on pair with the Z 24mm
Ray oody
4 months ago |This is the lens I want for my nex system.. I love low light shooting and good bokeh. And I don’t wanna spend a fortune for it .. Let’s wait till end of feb and see it will be on stock or not
Matthew
4 months ago |Or you can just preorder from B&H now…
Adam Maas
4 months ago |My experience with the 16-50, and having tried pretty much everything else across a number of mounts is that it is the best lens in this range, but it is not significantly better than the competition. It’s very very good, especially at wider apertures, but not perfect by any means. At wide apertures only the Nikkor and Canon 17-55′s can compete, the Sigma and Tamrons are weaker there.
I’m still waiting for my SEL50f18 though. Hopefully it will ship soon.
fongios
4 months ago |except for the f. difference Adam why would u buy the 50f18? do you think the 50f1.8 will be sharper than the 16-50 at same apertures?
bas076
4 months ago |50/1.8 is portrait oriented lens. 16-50 is universal. It is not about sharpness only.
fongios
4 months ago |why the 16-50 cannot be a portrait lens?
SonyA77
4 months ago |Any lens can be used for portraiture as it also depends on distance from the subject and how much distance there is behind the subject. Hell I’ve used a 70-210mm f4 at 210mm to capture candid portrait type shots!
For 50mm it’s the aperture and brokeh that matters. It’s why I got the Sony 50mm f1.4 rather than the Minolta 50mm f1.7
Also my f1.4 will be sharper at f1.8 than the Minolta or Sony wide open.
At f2.8 it is again sharper than the 16-50mm wide open too.
klw10
4 months ago |Bokeh. The 50 more than likely has better bokeh and thus produces a more pleasing portrait shot.
Adam Maas
4 months ago |Size and OSS. The 16-50 handles very nicely on my A700 but is significantly too large to be comfortable on my NEX-5N. The SEL50f18 is small enough to handle nicely on the 5N.
I do have the SAL50f14, which does see regular use on the A700 when I need the extra two stops, but it’s also on the larger side for the 5N and lacks the IS and AF of the SEL50f18. Right now my 50 of choice for the 5N is an ancient Nikkor-S.C 5cm f1.4 in Leica Thread mount (It’s actually the very first f1.4 lens for 35mm cameras). It’s a gem, but extremely heavy and somewhat weak at wide apertures, befitting its mid-1950′s design & build.
lifeispixels
4 months ago |I agree with Adam
No lens is perfects and this 1650 is the best in its class, considering the money spent. Fixed-aperture lens in this range all suffer from distortions. I think the reason why people are raving so much about this lens is because usually Sony lens tend to be overpriced. So when this one came out, it surprised everyone when comparing price and features. It makes a great value 
SonyA77
4 months ago |I agree. The 16-50mm has the edge at wider apertures over the Tamron 17-50mm. I can shoot 50mm f2.8 but with the Tamron it was always a little soft. With MF Adjustment on the A77 it sharpens up nicely too for those pixel peepers, it does front/back focus a little.
However, if you aren’t bothered about focus noise in video, the MUCH cheaper Tamron is the one to get, just don’t expect it to be sharp at f2.8.
Rk
4 months ago |I have SAL 16-50mm f2.8 and I think it is very high quality lens, I use it for photo and videos on sony FS100, this lens is perfect parfocal, high sharp and precise focus also in manual mode during video, and flare is well controlled.
I never try CZ 16-80 but constant iris f2,8 keep SAL16-50mm perfect solution for photo and videos.
Highly recommended.
SonyA77
4 months ago |The CZ 16-80mm is over-rated.
Seeky
4 months ago |I also recommend the SAL 16-50, and it has a very good value for the money. In the Netherlands, the Nikkor is twice as expensive but has a slightly better built and the canon is also more expensive and lacks wheatersealing. However, I don’t know much about their performance, but I guess they perform at least as well as the Sony.
I love the silent SSM with DMF, since I don’t need to constantly use the AF/MF switch as I have to on my other lenses. The design is also very beautiful in my opinion. However, zooming is a bit stiff.
Does anybody know why the end of the inner barrel has a metal ring? The filter threads are still plastic. Is it to get consistent design (the 70-200/400 also have a metal ring at barrel end, and the 70-300 has a metal ring on outer barrel?)
Right Light
4 months ago |My SEL50F18 is finally ready for shipment. Pre-ordered in last November at sonystyle.ca
If you pre-ordered it from sonystyle.ca as well, check your order status and it might got updated as well
Anon
4 months ago |Not touching NEX until they release a 30mm 1.4 (or at least 1.8). Been waiting more than a year now!