Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*
16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
 vs
Sony
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sony 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
More zoom 5x vs 3.1x
Help
 More than 60% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Slightly better telephoto 80 mm vs 55 mm
Help
 Around 50% 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 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT
Cheaper $218.00 vs $998.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $780 cheaper (4.6x less)
Slightly lighter 210 g vs 440 g
Help
 2.1x lighter
Slightly shorter 70 mm vs 83 mm
Help
 Around 20% shorter
Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT Learn more about
the Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Focus motor No silent focus motor Help
Louder and slower
Fixed aperture Both are variable aperture lenses Help
Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

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 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

Wide angle lens

$748
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Compare the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro Sony-alpha

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro Sony-alpha

Wide angle lens

$449
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Magnification Has better macro
Compare the 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro Sony-alpha vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro Sony-alpha vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 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
Aperture Has a wider aperture
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 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard

Wide angle lens

$700
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
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 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT
Sony DT 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3

Sony DT 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3

Travel lens

$648
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Zoom range Has way more large zoom range
Compare the DT 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Compare the DT 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT

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

Advantages

Disadvantages
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 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
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Zoom range Less zoom
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm f/2.8 ZA SSM * vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Zeiss Distagon 18mm f/3.5 T* ZK Pentax-k

Zeiss Distagon 18mm f/3.5 T* ZK Pentax-k

Wide angle lens

$1,339
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Auto focus Auto focus
Zoom range Significantly less zoom
Compare the Distagon 18mm f/3.5 T* ZK Pentax-k vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Nikon Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF

Nikon Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF

Macro lens

$599
Magnification More magnification
Aperture Wider aperture
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Pentax-k

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Pentax-k

Wide angle lens

$669
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 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Pentax-k vs the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 * DT

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

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha

Wide angle lens

$199
Focus motor Has a silent focus motor
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Sony-alpha vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Sony-alpha

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Sony-alpha

Low light lens

$439
Aperture Much wider aperture
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Wide maximum Wider aperture
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the 30mm f/1.4 EX DC Sony-alpha vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT
Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 DG Sony-alpha

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 DG Sony-alpha

Wide angle lens

$119
Aperture Wider aperture
Length Slightly shorter
Zoom range Slightly less zoom
Compare the 28-70mm f/2.8-4 DG Sony-alpha vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 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.

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