Sony E SEL16F28S 16mm
Its pancake design measures just 22mm long, making the 16mm f/2.8 prime exceptionally portable for Sony NEX cameras while delivering a 24mm equivalent field of view. The fast f/2.8 aperture and 83-degree angle of view suit tight interiors and expansive scenes, though image quality scores remain modest for critical work. This lens is best for casual APS-C shooters wanting a pocketable, affordable wide-angle for travel and everyday snapshots.
Snapshot
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.
- Q3 201323/100
Buyers found this lens disappointing due to poor sharpness, especially at edges, and heavy chromatic aberration. It is only usable in bright light or on a tripod.
- Sharpness is poor, especially at edges, even at optimal apertures f6.3-7.1.
- Chromatic aberration and color fringing are significant issues.
- Lens is only usable in bright light or on a tripod; otherwise images are ruined.
- Fast aperture is useful for low light, but overall quality is disappointing.
- Q1 201393/100
Buyers praised the lens for its clarity and ease of use, but noted it lacks zoom and adjustability.
- Lens produces super clear shots and is easy to set up.
- Cannot be rolled or adjusted, and requires other lenses for zoom.
- Q4 2012100/100
Buyers praised this lens as a versatile travel companion, sharp with fast autofocus and excellent low-light performance, especially when paired with the wide-angle converter.
- Great travel lens, used extensively for architecture and interiors.
- Sharp, no chromatic aberration, fast autofocus, excellent low-light.
- Works brilliantly with VCL-ECU1 wide-angle converter and macro diopters.
- Creative lens that brings joy, reminiscent of classic Minolta version.
- Q1 201187/100
Buyers praised this wide-angle lens as a good value for landscapes and everyday use, noting solid build and image quality.
- Good value for price, especially for scenery and landscapes.
- Compact and suitable as an everyday lens on NEX-5.
- Solid build and great image quality for Sony a850.
- Not ideal for macro photography due to wide-angle design.
- Q3 201075/100
Buyers praised the lens's compact size and smooth focus ring, but some reported focus issues and purple fringing.
- Compact and lightweight design praised for portability with NEX cameras.
- Smooth focus ring and sharp center image quality noted.
- Focus issues in auto and manual modes reported by one buyer.
- Distortion and purple fringing mentioned, but considered acceptable for size and price.
Based on 46 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 16 |
| Focal Length Max | 16 |
| Elements | 5 |
| Groups | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.1 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 49 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Auto Focus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 240 |
| Max Magnification | 0.078x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sony E SEL16F28S 16mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 16mm | 28-300mm | 18-50mm | 17-28mm | 12-35mm | 27mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.2 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | false | false | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 67 | 590 | 290 | 450 | 306 | 560 |
| AF Type | Auto Focus | VXD linear motor | stepping motor | Stepping Motor | Autofocus | STM |
| Lens Type | wide-angle | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | prime |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony E SEL16F28S 16mm | 53.9 | 82.1 | 98.8 | 33.9 | 2.5 | 84.2 | 33.6 | 60.5 | 36.8 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 98 | 78.2 | 65.1 | 85.8 | 96.7 | 66.3 | 97.7 | 55 | 82.4 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 86.9 | 82.1 | 86.1 | 91.7 | 82.2 | 84.2 | 78.6 | 89.6 | 36.8 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 86.9 | 87.3 | 75.2 | 85.8 | 88.2 | 84.2 | 68 | 69.1 | 36.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.9 | 82.1 | 85.4 | 51 | 86.5 | 84.2 | 80.6 | 85.1 | 96.9 |
| Viltrox Pro AF 27mm f/1.2 Compare | 86.9 | 98.5 | 67.4 | 38.5 | 82.2 | 98.6 | 33.6 | 89.6 | 36.8 |
