Sony E SELP1650 16-50mm
A compact 16-50mm power zoom for Sony E-mount pairs ED and aspherical elements with built-in Optical SteadyShot stabilization, collapsing to just 29.9mm and weighing only 198g. The quiet power zoom motor and 30cm minimum focus deliver smooth, near-silent pulls ideal for video, while its retractable design makes it an effortlessly portable everyday lens. This is best for vloggers and hybrid shooters who need stable handheld footage and smooth zoom control over ultimate landscape sharpness.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong build (94th percentile) 94th
- Strong stabilization (93th percentile) 93th
- Strong af (87th percentile) 87th
- Strong versatility (84th percentile) 84th
Cons
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews — so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 20 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 16 |
| Focal Length Max | 50 |
| Elements | 9 |
| Groups | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.3 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 41 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Stepping motor |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 249 |
| Max Magnification | 0.215x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sony E SELP1650 16-50mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR | Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 | Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 16-50mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-400mm | 50-200mm | 18-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Fuji X | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Canon EF-S |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 116 | 615 | 92 | 726 | 655 | 515 |
| AF Type | Stepping motor | HLA | VXD linear motor | STM | linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | telephoto | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony E SELP1650 16-50mm | 86.6 | 75.5 | 93.7 | 35.3 | 64.4 | 77.5 | 63.6 | 83.5 | 74 | 92.5 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.8 | 84.6 | 58.7 | 85.9 | 98.9 | 77.5 | 0 | 99.6 | 78 | 99 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.3 | 75.5 | 96.4 | 87.8 | 74.3 | 77.5 | 30.2 | 99.2 | 83.1 | 81.1 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Compare | 86.6 | 78.4 | 51.1 | 81.2 | 97 | 71.8 | 0 | 98.9 | 83.1 | 98.2 |
| Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 Compare | 98.3 | 86.4 | 54.8 | 22.9 | 95.9 | 84 | 91.7 | 88.3 | 65.9 | 96.3 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Compare | 86.6 | 75.5 | 46.8 | 33.3 | 79.8 | 77.5 | 0 | 96 | 78 | 92.5 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
