Sony Vario Sonnar T* DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 ZA Reviews

This is a very good lens but it is rather expensive. The sharpness, and contrast are superb. I was a little dissapointed with the sharpness on some subjects, but it far superior to any other lenses I have tested in the price range.

The primary reason for buying this lens was the softness and CA found in the kit lens. There is some CA but far less than the kit lens.

I just returned this lens ( DT 16-80mm f3.5-4.5 ZA ) because I wanted the very highest IQ I could afford , and had purchased it thinking this was it . The lens also had small but sometimes at high magnification visible CA .

I had seen some very good ( great ) photos on DP Review Sony SLR Forums .

I must have received a poor quality sample from the dealer .

The build was very good , I believe the focus was smoother and finer than the Sigma focus . The rubber zoom and focus grips are ribbed too fine and do collect small bits and pieces or anything .

Bottom line , just be sure you have the right to return the lens within a month or more , because it may take some time to isolate the cause of image blur .

I finally decided that for night street scenes I needed an f 2.8 or better to see into the dark areas for framing the shot .

Compared to the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC MACRO My sample of the Zeiss was inferior in sharpness at f 11 to the Sigma at any aperture . and it only got worse as it opens up to f3.5

This was in infinity focus night shots , but at about 7 feet and at 30 mm the Zeiss was about equally sharp to the Sigma at f11 or more open . The shots were of single strands of human hair taped on white foam board at seven feet .

I have seen great shots from this lens , so , I must have had a poor sample .

I used the Alpha 100 and the Alpha 700 for the comparisons .

I was told by Sony that they would check it to see if it was within their factory specs . and if so , I would be stuck with it because I purchased from another dealer . Had I purchased directly from Sony they would have returned my money within 30 days .

BurgerBros.com has accepted the return and refund because I asked them for help .

I shipped it today 11-02-2007 at 4:00 pm I will look for a 28mm or 30mm f2.0 or f2.8 fixed focus , for my replacement and go back to Burgerbros.com maybe a Zeiss . I received the lens on 10 - 23 - 2007 and returned it on 11 - 02 - 2007 .