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
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong build (99th percentile) 99th
- Strong aperture (86th percentile) 86th
- Strong bokeh (84th percentile) 84th
Cons
- Below average optical (3rd percentile)
- Below average macro (30th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
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 54 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 | internal focusing |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 240 |
| Max Magnification | 0.078x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sony E SEL16F28S 16mm | Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 | Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN | Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R2060 | Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 16mm | 28-75mm | 10-18mm | 16-50mm | 20-60mm | 18mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon Z | L-Mount | Fujifilm X |
| Stabilization | false | false | false | true | false | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | false | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 67 | 540 | 260 | 135 | 350 | 370 |
| AF Type | internal focusing | VXD | Autofocus | Stepping Motor | stepping motor | Linear motor |
| 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 | 54.6 | 83.5 | 98.5 | 29.7 | 2.8 | 85.8 | 33.6 | 53.7 | 38 |
| Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 Compare | 54.6 | 88.1 | 67.2 | 87.3 | 87.8 | 85.8 | 78.2 | 83.1 | 38 |
| Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 54.6 | 83.5 | 87.3 | 93.3 | 81.6 | 85.8 | 69.1 | 68.8 | 38 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Compare | 87 | 77.8 | 91.8 | 42.4 | 71.5 | 79.8 | 82.9 | 73.7 | 94.9 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R2060 Compare | 87 | 86.1 | 80.6 | 66.2 | 76.4 | 79.8 | 81.5 | 64.8 | 38 |
| Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Compare | 98 | 41.2 | 79.4 | 84.1 | 83.4 | 45.8 | 33.6 | 87.9 | 38 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Newegg 1 offer From $258
Adorama 1 offer From $278
Amazon 1 offer From $1,076
Price History
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
