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
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm

Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm

Meike
45 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

Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm

85 out of 100 medium confidence 19 reviews

This manual lens is a fantastic budget option for Fuji X and Canon M mount users, praised for its solid metal build and sharpness at a very low price. Reviewers love the fun shooting experience and bokeh, though some note the optics are not top-tier and require practice. It's widely recommended as a great starter lens for hobbyists.

Pros
  • Solid metal build quality
  • Very affordable price
  • Sharp images wide open
  • Fun shooting experience
  • Good bokeh
Cons
  • Manual focus only
  • Optics not top-tier
  • Requires practice to use
  • Not compatible with many Canon DSLRs
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Value for money 6
👍 Image quality 5
🤔 Manual focus 4
👎 Compatibility 6
👍 Fun factor 3

Scores

Travel
Sony
94
Meike
38
Budget
Sony
91
Meike
39
Street
Sony
88
Meike
41
Video Cinema
Sony
85
Meike
30
Wildlife Sports
Sony
83
Meike
25
Portrait
Sony
82
Meike
36
Landscape
Sony
79
Meike
30
Professional
Sony
76
Meike
30
Macro
Sony
66
Meike
44

Specifications

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSMeike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min16 mm35 mm
Focal Length Max50 mm35 mm
Elements98
Groups85
Aspherical Elements4★—
ED Elements1★—
Coating—Multi-Layer Nano Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/16
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/1.4
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades7★—
Build
MountSony ESony E
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed✓★—
Weight0.11 kg★0.22 kg
Filter Thread41 mm49 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusmanual focus only
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance250 mm★400 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

Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm

  • Strong build (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
  • Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
  • Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Pricing

Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm is $208 cheaper (3.3x less).

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS0.299score per dollar
vs
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm0.496score per dollar

Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm offers 1.7x better value for money

Verdict

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

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

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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