Sony Vario-Sonnar T* DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 ZA Lens
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Superb lens
Razor sharp, clear, saturated images across the zoom and aperture range. I'm using this lens with my Sony Alpha 100 and the combination is awesome. I'd previously used the Konica Minolta 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 'kit' zoom, the Konica Minolta 17-35mm f2.8-4.0 zoom, and Minota 24-105mm f3.5-4.5 zoom lenses and though they all performed well and produced very fine images, this lens has that extra sparkle and clarity in all the photos I've taken so far. The... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Superb all-around lens
I bought this lens right after it came out, when I had a K-M 7D, and have recently upgraded to a Sony SLT-a55V. I use this lens for probably 90% of all my shots and have since the day it arrived. The focal range covers anything except real extremes on either end or when the (rare for me) need occurs to have a low f/stop. The outstanding sharpness and relatively minimal distortions make this lens a no-brainer to be on the camera all the time. If I... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
ALMOST PERFECT
I've been using the Zeiss 1680Z for about two years and find it to be exceptional in terms of image quality, sharper than other lenses/brands in this price range. I agree that at 16mm the edges can be fuzzy, as well as extended to 80mm but both cases are easilly solved with a bit of cropping or an aperature of about f/5.6. It's focal length range is perfect for most situations but it's wide angle capability (24mm on APS-C) is it's strong point. I... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
My Most Used Lens
This is the lens I won't leave home without! It's light, sharp, fast under most lighting conditions, and never disappoints as long as my expectations don't exceed it's specifications. The color this lens produces continues the Minolta legend for being bright, with a warm touch and the bokeh is smooth, too. I consider my equipment to be tools that need to perform when called upon and they need to perform under less than ideal situations. This is o... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Good one lens solution
I am Zeiss T* lens fan from the old Hasselblad days. I bought this lens to go with my new Sony SLT-A33. The combo was intended as a replacement/upgrade to my old Sony DSC-R1 which has produced superb results since I picked it up in 2006. I believe this Zeiss-inspired 16-80mm is the same design as the Zeiss-labeled 14.3-71.5mm on the R1, just up-scaled slightly to account for the slightly larger sensor of the A33. Results on close inspection are v... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Sony 16-80Z Varop Sonnar
I have used this lens for nearly an year,and most of my pictures were for travel, and a few closeup macro type shots. I had previously been using a Sony 18-70 mm kit zoom lens, which was satisfactory, both in picture sharpness and colour.However, when I started using the 16-80 lens, first thing I noticed was it's sharpness of image, edge to edge even at wide open apertures. The barrel distortion at 16 mm is sometimes noticable only if I was shoot... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
SONY/ZEISS 16-80mm
I have owned Zeiss lenses in the past and, in comparison, this lens is somewhat dissappointing. It's hard to get used to a plastic lens with the name ZEISS on it although, I really can't say it's construction is shoddy. The barrel wiggles slightly when fully extended but it doesn't seem to cause any problems. The manual focus ring has about 1/8 of play in it and it does cause problems when trying to do critical close-up focusing. At 16mm wide ope... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Quality and Utility
This lens lives up to the Carl Zeiss quality tradition with even sharpness out to the corners throughout the range of f-stops, fine color saturation and contrast, no purple fringing, and smooth bokeh. It zooms and focuses smoothly and quickly. Two minor concerns are (1) it is not quite as sharp as I expected, but still sharper than the kit lens, and (2) it vignettes slightly at 16mm, requiring ultra thin filters. Sharpness can be adjusted easily ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Sharp saturated colors.
I'm a new DLSR user (Sony a35), and purchased this because I wanted a high quality lens to take with me on vacation. I splurged on this one and was concerned overspent. I also debated whether I should have purchased a 18-250 travel lens for the trip. Thankfully, my buyer's remorse was theoretical. Once I saw the results, I'm quiet glad I made the purchase. Of course, maybe I could have seen the same results from another less expensive lens. I als... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Just Awesome
This is one amazing lens. It is as sharp as my primes, hasexcellent contrast, and very vivid colors. All of this is in one very compact package which makes itthe perfect travel lens. I especially like having the 16mmwideend. Makes it the equivalent to a 24-120 which is a verygood range. I also like that (as tests on photozone haveshown) it is sharp throughout changes of aperture and focallength. I also like the build. The only downsides are that ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Exactly what I needed
This lens functions as my primary lens. For an amateur who is just starting to really get into photography, this lens provides an ideal focal/zoom range. Upgrading to this from the kit lens provides an amazing leap in picture quality. Colors, clarity, and overall sharpness are miles ahead of a kit lens. That being said, the autofocus is somewhat noisy and the aperture craps out at f3.5. But I don't really count these as negatives because I did my... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Fantastic lens!
I've used this for a month now and just love the lens. I'd read about these lenses not quite being up to the Zeiss name for build quality but I think this has been fixed. There's no space or jiggle between the lens and camera body (a common complaint) - very tight. The quality is very good and feels sturdy and well built - much better than the kit lens and other Sony zoom I had. And it's fast to focus and the quality is wonderful and a real step ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great all around lens!
This lens is a great compliment to my Sony Alpha 55. Has the optical quality and zoom range to be the best walk around lens choice in my opinion. Personally, it's the highest quality all around lens that I've evey had. There are other choices like the Sony 18-250..but frankly, I find having the 16mm 35MM equivalant of 24mm very much needed for everyday use. For the top end I have the 70-400 SSM G series and the 50mm F1.4 75mm in 35MM terms for po... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
For me, an old trustworthy friend...
Back in 2006 I bought my first digital camera from B&H, a Sony DSC-R1, which came equipped with this same lens but it is fixed not interchangeable...perhaps the best quality zoom lens I ever owned... At the end of 2012 I bought the new Sony A65 and I could not think of a better lens but this one again... The focal length is the ideal range for about 90% of the images I create, from an acceptable 24mm wide angle for landscapes to a decent 120mm for portraits o closer shots... I use it as my prime lens... and I enjoy to no end its optical quality, consistent output and mechanical reliability.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Excellent resolution, excellent contrast
I've been committing SLR photography since 1967. This is the sharpest, best-contrast lens I've owned. Shooting into the sun doesn't create significant flare. With the a700's image stabilization, I'm seeing better resolution in 16x20 prints that I achieved with my Contax 645 SLR and 80 mm lens. It's not quite as long at max telephoto, but I'll give up the reach for the excellent sharpness...My only concern is that the inner barrel feels just slightly loose - but I don't know what this means, and the performance is very satisfying.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Excellent IQ!!!
I bought one together with my A55. I love this lens! Having a Zeiss Distagon, I didn't expect the build quality to be up to that same level, but it is acceptable. High expectations (due to its name) will only lead to disappointment in the plastic build. However, the IQ is what counts and this delivers! Colors pop out with sharp images. Even though it is not a fixed aperture 2.8 lens, a 3.5-4.5 is pretty acceptable to make this compact and light. And the range, with a FF equivalent of 24-120, is really very useful.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great lens
This is a great lens overall, despite the relative slowness for the price. The clarity and saturation is incredible. There is some definite vignetting on the wide end, even with a thin filter on. At the wide end, there is also some barrel distortion, and achromatic distortion. Overall, though, this is a great lens, and covers a wide range of focal lengths with very good image quality. Also, satisfyingly solid in its construction. Expertise: Pro Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Konica Minolta 28-70mm f/2.8
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Versatile Lens
Used this lens on my recent travel, a very good option if you are looking to upgrade from your kit lens. Zoom is limited to 80mm but if you are using APC camera you should get the extra 1.5X boost. I've taken portraits and landscapes with this lens and able to produce very clear and decent images. Weight feels comfortable, and the zoom ring is a little stiff (my preference). My only complain is the build is a little plasticky, but overall not a hinder at all.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Outstanding general use zoom lens
The lens give the 35mm equal of a 24mm to 120mm lens. It is amazingly sharp. It is a wonderful lens for travel or photographing parties, wedding etc. I have been very pleased with its image quality and color rendering. Using this lens, I have made prints up to 20x30 with very fine results. I am very pleased and recommend this lens. Previous Equivalent Items Owned: First zoom for me that covered this range, have mostly used prime lenses
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
What happened with this lens
Hi, I'm very disappointed with this lens, I have 25 years of photographer and I never was broken a lens. absolutely never happened at all time, not beating, or falling water or anything, just stopped working focus, and the worst thing it was happened in a production, photo shoot was very important to me.Unfortunately, the warranty was ending and now I have to buy again, I have to spend another $.What happened Sony with a zeiss lens?
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great lens
Use this lens for my Sony A33 and it's fantastic. I would rate this 4.5 out of 5 (but I can't). The image quality, focus noise and speed is a massive step up from the 18-55mm kit lens, as you would expect. However, I found a bit of zoom creep when walking around with the lens. A zoom lock would have been a great addition, and for the price of the lens, something that should have been included. So far this has been my only issue.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Not Full Frame Compatible
Lens works better than kit lens on my Alpha A350. However when upgrading to an A900 didn't realize that it was a DT lens and therefore all images are cropped by the A900 and resolution is reduced to 11MP. Not sure why Sony/Zeiss would produce a lens with this limitation. If you are planning to upgrade your camera body to full frame down the road (even if there is a slight chance) don't buy this lens.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
HIGH QUALITY LENS
HIGH QUALITY LENS. SUPERB CONSTRUCTION. RELATIVELY FAST AND EXCELLENT FEEL. SHARP AND EXCELLENT CONTRAST. NOTICED A LAG IN MANUAL FOCUSING. THE LENS HAS ABOUT AN EIGHT OF AN INCH PLAY IN ITS FOCUSING RING. I FIND IT SOMEWHAT DISCONCERTING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CRITICALLY FOCUS ON A SUBJECT AND HAVING TO WORK AROUND THE LAG IN THE FOCUSING RING. SOME VIGNETTING ALSO NOTED. EXPENSIVE PIECE OF GLASS.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Very good, not exceptional.
I have owned Zeiss lenses for years and this is no Zeiss lens. It rattles when shaken and is not up to the build quality I am used to. The images taken with this lens are very good, not exceptional across the image with slight vignetting at 16mm with a standard UV filter. This is a very useful zoom range and this lens does it well. It will be my main walk around lens for an A700 camera.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
