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

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

Sony
90 Overall Score
vs
Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm

Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm

Laowa
41 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

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

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

Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm

72 out of 100 high confidence 46 reviews

The Laowa 4mm f/2.8 fisheye is a fun, ultra-wide lens that delivers a unique circular image at a very low price. Users praise its sharpness and build quality, but note that it requires careful handling to avoid including fingers, grips, or lens markings in the frame. Compatibility with full-frame cameras is limited, often requiring cropping, and manual focus can be tricky. Overall, it's seen as a great value for creative or occasional use.

Pros
  • Very low price
  • Unique circular fisheye image
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fun and creative perspective
  • Compact and sturdy build
Cons
  • Fingers and grip visible in frame
  • Manual focus can be tricky
  • Limited compatibility with full-frame cameras
  • Requires cropping to remove black edges
  • Lens markings appear in images
👍 Value for money 8
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Image quality 7
👎 Ease of use 6
👎 Compatibility 10
👍 Fun factor 6

Scores

Travel
Sony
98
Laowa
39
Street
Sony
90
Laowa
37
Budget
Sony
86
Laowa
39
Video Cinema
Sony
84
Laowa
32
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Laowa
21
Portrait
Sony
83
Laowa
33
Landscape
Sony
82
Laowa
25
Professional
Sony
77
Laowa
30
Macro
Sony
66
Laowa
49

Specifications

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS 50mmLaowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm
Optics
Typezoomfisheye
Focal Length Min16 mm4 mm
Focal Length Max50 mm4 mm
Elements97
Groups86
Aspherical Elements4★—
ED Elements1★—
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/16
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountSony ENikon Z
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed✓★—
Weight0.11 kg★0.14 kg
Filter Thread41 mm—
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusmanual focus only
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance250 mm80 mm★
Max Magnification0.215x1:9.09★

Pros & Cons

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

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

Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm

  • Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong build (89th percentile)89th %ile
  • Below average optical (4th percentile)4th %ile
  • Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
  • Below average bokeh (32nd percentile)

Pricing

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS 50mm is £124 cheaper (1.9x less).

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS 50mm0.666score per dollar
vs
Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm0.159score per dollar

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS 50mm offers 4.2x better value for money

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

Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm

Verdict

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

Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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