Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G
Announced August 28, 2019
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G is a high-end, weather-sealed standard zoom that delivers sharp, high-quality images across its entire range. While it offers a fast constant aperture and excellent autofocus, the lens is expensive, lacks optical stabilization, and relies heavily on digital distortion correction.
Weighted from 18 reviewer scores
Pros
- Fast, silent, and reliable autofocus performance
- Durable, weather-sealed build quality
- Excellent image quality and sharpness throughout the zoom range
- Versatile constant f/2.8 aperture
- Intuitive manual focus with linear response
Cons
- Lacks built-in optical image stabilization
- High price point for an APS-C lens
- Significant barrel distortion at wide focal lengths that requires correction
- Hefty physical size and weight
- Physical extension during zooming
- Launch price $1,400 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 16-55mm f/2.8
- Mount & coverage Sony E APS-C
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 33 cm (0.2x)
- Filter thread 67mm
- Autofocus motor Linear motor
- Weight & size 494g (1 lb 1.4 oz) · 73 x 100 mm (2.87 x 3.94 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 18 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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The Sony E 16-55mm f2.8 is the unashamedly high-end general-purpose zoom the better Alpha cropped APSC bodies have been crying out for.
- OpticalLimits 8/10
Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way immediately - the Sony E 16-55m f/2.8 G is not meant to be used without image auto-correction - Sony is making this clear in the settings as well.
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This lens has extreme barrel distortion at the wide end and shows wide aperture color blur, but it has only minor other optical shortcomings, and it produces impressively sharp images, precisely what you are looking for.
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If I was asked to choose only one lens for my Sony APS-C camera, I'd pick this one without a moment's hesitation. It comes highly recommended.
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It ticks almost all of the must-have boxes for a pro-level standard zoom lens, with the one main exception being the lack of built-in optical stabilisation.
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Handling is very refined, with the addition of a customisable focus hold button, strong build quality and weather-seals.
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The Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G is the company's first pro-grade zoom lens for its APS-C mirrorless system. It's been a long time coming, but proves to be worth the wait.
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At the end of the day, I definitely highly recommend this lens if you have the money and you want pretty much one of the best all-in-one lenses for the crop factor E-mount cameras, this is the lens to get. It's the best option right now currently.
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Now that Sony has released a serious zoom lens for the APS-C lineup, the Sony a6600 becomes a camera worth adding back to my kit.
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If you value optics and speed over size, weight and price, this is a fantastic lens. Otherwise I prefer the tiny all-plastic 16-50mm PZ kit lens as it takes the same pictures and matches the whole point of APS-C: small size and weight.
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After trying out Sony’s most expensive APS-C lens, I’m happy to conclude that I’m not really missing out on much, other than that fast constant aperture, which isn’t worth the $1300 at this point in my photography journey.
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For APSC users, this is a high-end lens that delivers good results.
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The bright aperture and fast autofocus cement this as potentially one of your most frequently used lenses, becoming a constant companion on photographic adventures thanks to its versatility, and making the investment well worthwhile.
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I feel this is the lens for us in the the price is worth so really have no complaint when it comes to photographing.
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I personally like this lens a lot, and the fact that it doesn't have image stabilization is not much of an issue for me because I'm used to shooting with Sigma lenses, a Sigma trio right now, Sigma 56, no stabilization there.
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So wrapping this review up, I do like this lens and I think it produces fantastic results.
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In fact, this is the best option right now for the Sony APSC system. If you got an APSC system camera like the A6400 or A6600, any A6000, and you would only want to buy one lens, this is the lens to go, definitely.
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I am very impressed with the image quality that comes from this lens.
