Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*
16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
 vs
Sony
16-50mm f/2.8 DT

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sony 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
More zoom 5x vs 3.1x
Help
 60% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Slightly better telephoto 80 mm vs 50 mm
Help
 60% more reach, less perspective distortion
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT Learn more about
the Sony 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT

Reasons to consider the Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Has a consant aperture Yes vs No
Help
 Constant aperture lenses offer the same aperture at all focal lengths
Wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.5
Help
 At its widest, the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT captures slightly more light, 0.6 f-stops
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT Learn more about
the Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Min focal length Good wide-angle Help
16 mm
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Focus motor No silent focus motor Help
Louder and slower

Compared to wide angle lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT

Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT

Wide angle lens

$218
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Sony DT 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6

Sony DT 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6

Travel lens

$698
Zoom range Has slightly large zoom range
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the DT 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6 vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the DT 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6 vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Sony-alpha

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Sony-alpha

Wide angle lens

$499
Wide maximum Has a higher max f/stop
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Sony-alpha vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Sony-alpha vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM

Wildlife lens

$998
Max focal length Has a significantly shorter telephoto lens
Wide maximum Has a higher max f/stop
Min focal length Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G SSM vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard

Wide angle lens

$700
Compare the 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Sony-alpha

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Sony-alpha

Wide angle lens

$669
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Sony-alpha vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Sony-alpha vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Sony E-Mount 16mm f/2.8

Sony E-Mount 16mm f/2.8

Wide angle lens

$248
Prime lens Is a fixed focal length prime lens
Magnification Has worse macro
Zoom range Has slightly smaller zoom range
Compare the E-Mount 16mm f/2.8 vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the E-Mount 16mm f/2.8 vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED SDM

Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED SDM

Wide angle lens

$1,297
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Zoom range Less zoom
Max focal length Slightly worse telephoto
Compare the SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED SDM vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Nikon Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Travel lens

$600
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Magnification Slightly less magnification
Compare the Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Wide angle lens

$200
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Fixed aperture Has a variable aperture
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Sony DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM

Sony DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM

Low light lens

$218
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Zoom range Less zoom
Min focal length Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM *

Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM *

Wide angle lens

$1,998
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Lowest price More expensive
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM * vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT
Sony E-Mount 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Sony E-Mount 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Fisheye lens

$298
Fisheye Fisheye lens
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Fixed aperture Has a variable aperture
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the E-Mount 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 vs the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

Showing 0 comments
“LensHero will help you cut through the sheer number of lenses out there to find the few you want to read more about”
- LifeHacker
“Finding the right lens on Lenshero is incredibly easy!”
- Revell Photography
“I am in love with LensHero.”
- Shoot from the Belly
“Kind of a little bit in love with LensHero”
- @alicetragedy
“No technical stuff whatsoever, just plain and simple questions complete with examples so that any user can understand”
- Karel Donk, Photographer
“I love that I can pull up different lenses in my price range that will fit my DSLR.”
- Jennifer Sutton
feedback and support | about | blog | privacy and legal
Copyright © 2013 by LensHero, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Rebellion Media Technology