Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony
89 Overall Score
vs
Sirui 56AS12E-W

Sirui 56AS12E-W

Sirui
64 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

85 out of 100 medium confidence 22 reviews

The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM lens is a notable upgrade from the kit 18-55mm, offering a constant fast aperture, silent autofocus, and superior image quality. Users praise its sharpness, bokeh, and build, though they note it is heavier and bulkier. A few refurbished units had minor scratches or early malfunction, but overall the lens is highly recommended for Sony Alpha APS-C cameras.

Pros
  • Constant F2.8 aperture
  • Fast and silent autofocus
  • Excellent image sharpness and contrast
  • Pleasing bokeh
  • Solid build quality
Cons
  • Heavy and bulky
  • Some units have early malfunctions
  • Not compatible with full-frame cameras
  • Moderate flare issue
  • Limited zoom range to 50mm
👍 Image quality 9
👍 Build quality 8
👍 Autofocus performance 5
👎 Weight and size 6
👍 Value for money 4
🤔 Refurbished condition 6

Sirui 56AS12E-W

85 out of 100 low confidence 5 reviews

This lens is praised for its affordability and quality, especially for portrait and interview photography. Users love the bokeh, color rendering, and dreamy look at f/2.2, though autofocus is slower than some other lenses and video mode has a minor reset issue. It is an APS-C lens, so full-frame users need to use Super 35 mode.

Pros
  • Affordable price
  • Great bokeh
  • Good autofocus
  • Beautiful color rendering
  • Dreamy look at f/2.2
Cons
  • Slower autofocus than 75mm
  • Video mode reset issue
  • APS-C only, not full frame
👍 Value for money 3
👍 Image quality 3
🤔 Autofocus performance 3
👍 Build quality 2
👎 Video mode issues 1
👎 Compatibility 1

Scores

Travel
Sony
94
Sirui
43
Budget
Sony
91
Sirui
63
Street
Sony
88
Sirui
62
Video Cinema
Sony
85
Sirui
68
Wildlife Sports
Sony
83
Sirui
56
Portrait
Sony
82
Sirui
58
Landscape
Sony
79
Sirui
52
Professional
Sony
76
Sirui
58
Macro
Sony
66
Sirui
59

Specifications

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSSirui 56AS12E-W
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min16 mm56 mm
Focal Length Max50 mm56 mm
Elements912
Groups811
Aspherical Elements4★2
ED Elements11
Coating—HD Nano coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/16
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/1.2
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades711★
Build
MountSony ESony E
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed✓★✗
Weight0.11 kg★0.42 kg
Filter Thread41 mm58 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusSTM★
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance250 mm★600 mm
Max Magnification0.215x★—

Pros & Cons

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

  • Strong build (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
  • Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile

Sirui 56AS12E-W

  • Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
  • Strong optical (75th percentile)
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Pricing

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is £118 cheaper (1.9x less).

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS0.651score per dollar
vs
Sirui 56AS12E-W0.253score per dollar

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 2.6x better value for money

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sirui 56AS12E-W

Verdict

★ Winner: Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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