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

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

Sony
90 Overall Score
vs
Samyang AF SYIO85AF-E 85mm

Samyang AF SYIO85AF-E 85mm

Samyang
39 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

Samyang AF SYIO85AF-E 85mm

68 out of 100 high confidence 81 reviews

The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II is a budget-friendly lens that delivers excellent image quality, creamy bokeh, and fast autofocus for many users, though a significant number report serious AF issues, especially with certain Sony cameras like the A7C II. Build quality is generally praised as solid, but complaints about a wobbly mount, defective focus rings, and a flimsy hood exist. The value proposition is strong at its price point, making it a worthwhile choice for those willing to risk potential firmware or compatibility quirks.

Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Creamy bokeh
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Solid build construction
Cons
  • Serious autofocus issues on some cameras
  • Incompatible with Sony A7C II
  • Flimsy lens hood
  • Wobbly lens mount
  • Warm color cast reported
🤔 Autofocus performance 19
👍 Value for money 15
👍 Image quality 14
👍 Bokeh 10
🤔 Build quality 9
👎 Firmware update requirements 8

Scores

Travel
Sony
98
Samyang
39
Street
Sony
90
Samyang
41
Budget
Sony
86
Samyang
43
Video Cinema
Sony
84
Samyang
47
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Samyang
37
Portrait
Sony
83
Samyang
50
Landscape
Sony
82
Samyang
43
Professional
Sony
78
Samyang
48
Macro
Sony
66
Samyang
34

Specifications

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSSamyang AF SYIO85AF-E 85mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min16 mm85 mm
Focal Length Max50 mm85 mm
Elements99
Groups87
Aspherical Elements4★1
ED Elements11
Coating—Ultra Multi-Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/16
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/1.4
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountSony ESony E
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.11 kg★0.51 kg
Filter Thread41 mm72 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusmanual focus only
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance250 mm★900 mm
Max Magnification0.215x★0.11x

Pros & Cons

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

  • Strong build (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong versatility (84th percentile)84th %ile
  • Strong aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile

Samyang AF SYIO85AF-E 85mm

  • Strong social proof (77th percentile)
  • Strong build (69th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (10th percentile)10th %ile
  • Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
  • Below average macro (25th percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)

Pricing

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is £276 cheaper (3.0x less).

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS0.666score per dollar
vs
Samyang AF SYIO85AF-E 85mm0.094score per dollar

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 7.1x better value for money

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

Samyang AF SYIO85AF-E 85mm

Verdict

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

Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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