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
Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

Viltrox
97 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

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

85 out of 100 high confidence 95 reviews

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 lens is widely loved for its sharp image quality, fast aperture, and surprisingly low price. Users praise its lightweight design, compact size, and quick autofocus, making it an excellent everyday walk-around lens. Some note autofocus can be noisier or slower than premium lenses, and a few report chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes. A handful of complaints involve inconsistent packaging or compatibility misunderstandings, but the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality wide open
  • Fast f/1.7 aperture for low light
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Great value for the price
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
  • Autofocus noise in quiet environments
  • Chromatic aberration in high contrast
  • No weather sealing
  • Slow autofocus in low light
  • Missing aperture ring
👍 Image quality 45
👍 Value for money 35
👍 Build quality 30
🤔 Autofocus performance 28
👍 Bokeh 15
👍 Low light performance 18

Scores

Street
Sony
88
Viltrox
96
Travel
Sony
94
Viltrox
69
Macro
Sony
66
Viltrox
94
Portrait
Sony
82
Viltrox
94
Budget
Sony
91
Viltrox
89
Video Cinema
Sony
85
Viltrox
81
Wildlife Sports
Sony
83
Viltrox
69
Landscape
Sony
79
Viltrox
60
Professional
Sony
76
Viltrox
73

Specifications

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSViltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min16 mm35 mm
Focal Length Max50 mm35 mm
Elements911
Groups89
Aspherical Elements4★1
ED Elements11
Coating—high-definition multi-layer coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/1.7
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/1.7
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountSony EFujifilm X
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed✓★✗
Weight0.11 kg★0.18 kg
Filter Thread41 mm52 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusSTM (Stepping Motor)★
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance250 mm35 mm★
Max Magnification0.215x1:7.7★

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

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

  • Strong macro (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong aperture (95th percentile)95th %ile
  • Strong build (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Pricing

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm is $155 cheaper (2.1x less).

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS0.299score per dollar
vs
Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm0.676score per dollar

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm offers 2.3x better value for money

Verdict

★ Winner: Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm

Scores 97 overall, wins 3 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

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

BudgetTravelLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 XF 35mm Better at:

MacroStreetPortrait

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