Zeiss 16-70mm f/4Sony E OSS APS-C Vario-Tessar T✻Sample Images Intro Compatibility & Format Specs Performance Recommendations More
Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ 16-70mm f/4 OSS (fits Sony Alpha/NEX, 55mm filters, 10.8 oz./307 g, 1'/0.35 meters close-focus, about $998). bigger. I got mine at Adorama. I'd also get it at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield. This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Sony and Zeiss do not seal any of their boxes, so never buy at retail or any source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, dropped, damaged or used lens, a customer return or if the warranty has already been registered to someone else online! The approved sources I use ship from secure, remote automated warehouses where salespeople or other customers never, ever get to touch your lens before you do, and they have the best prices, selection, service and return policies. March 2016 Sony Zeiss Canon Nikon Fuji All Reviews
Sample ImagesTop Sample Images Intro Compatibility & Format Specs Performance Recommendations More
Orange on Blue, 12 March 2016. Sony A7S II, Zeiss 16-70mm OSS at 29mm at f/4 at 1/15 at Auto ISO 160. bigger or © camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely can display these at full resolution).
Kaleidoscope at the Kaleidoscope Mall, 12 March 2016. Sony A7S II, Zeiss 16-70mm OSS at 70mm at f/4 at 1/15 at Auto ISO 1,000. bigger or © camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely can display these at full resolution).
The Planet Jupiter at Auto ISO 32,000, Zeiss 16-70mm at 23mm at f/4 for 1/15 handheld. bigger or © camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely can display these at full resolution).
IntroductionTop Sample Images Intro Compatibility & Format Specs Performance Recommendations More The Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ 16-70mm OSS is the world's best midrange zoom for Sony's APS-C NEX cameras like the a6000 and a6300. This Zeiss lens excels because of its small size, built-in image stabilization, decent build quality and superb optics. It's always super sharp, its bokeh is always soft and smooth, it has no ghosts or flare and autofocus is super fast on my A7S II — even in pitch black darkness! It has an electronic manual focus ring, that if activated in a camera's menu system, can allow manual focus.
Compatibility & FormatTop Sample Images Intro Compatibility & Format Specs Performance Recommendations More It only works on Sony's NEX series of mirrorless cameras, which are all their mirrorless cameras like the a6000 and a6300. It's only an APS-C, not full-frame, lens. It works great on any of Sony's full-frame NEX cameras like the A7, A7R II and A7S II, which automatically self-crop and use the APS-C central parts of their sensors. The only silliness here is that you're wasting half the camera, but you are using all of the lens. This lens does not work on DSLRs or DSLR-style cameras like the A99.
Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ 16-70mm OSS. bigger.
SpecificationsTop Sample Images Intro Compatibility & Format Specs Performance Recommendations More
NameSony calls this the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ E 4/16-70 ZA OSS. Zeiss: Brand name of famous German lens company. The lens is made by Sony in Thailand under license; it's not made by Zeiss. Vario-Tessar: Zeiss' trade names with no technical relation to this lens. They use "Vario" for "Zoom," and "Tessar" is a trademark first used for a classic 4-element fixed lens design back in 1902. Zeiss uses these to sound cool. E: APS-C lens for Sony's E-mount cameras. ZA: Solidarity with technical advances in South Africa (think Dr. Christian Barnard). OSS: "Optical Steady Shot," Sony's phrase for image stabilization. T✻: Zeiss' trademark for its multicoating, standard on all camera lenses of all brands since the 1970s. Sony Part Number: SEL1670Z.
OpticsSony Zeiss 16-70mm internal construction. Aspherical, "Super Aspherical" and ED elements. bigger. 12 elements in 16 groups. Four aspheric elements, one of which Sony calls "super aspheric." One ED glass element. Internal focussing. Pumper zoom; gets longer as zoomed. It's multicoated, which Zeiss calls T✻.
Close Focus1 foot (0.35 meters) from the image plane.
Maximum Reproduction Ratio1:4.3 (0.23 x).
DiaphragmSony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ 16-70mm OSS. bigger. 7 rounded blades. Stops down to f/22.
CoverageAPS-C.
Focal Length16~70mm. When used on an APS-C camera, it sees angles of view similar to what a 26~110mm lens sees when used on a full-frame or 35mm camera.
Angle of View23° ~ 83º diagonal on APS-C.
Hard Infinity Focus Stop?No. You have to let the AF system focus at infinity.
Focus ScaleNo.
Depth-of-Field ScaleNo.
Infra-Red Focus IndexNo.
Aperture RingNo.
Filter Thread55mm. Plastic.
HoodALC-SH127 Hood for Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ 16-70mm OSS. bigger. ALC-SH127 hybrid metal & plastic bayonet hood, included.
SackCheesy unpadded vinyl drawstring sack, included.
Size2.62" (66.6 mm) diameter by 2.95" (75mm) extension from flange, measured.
Weight10.815 oz. (306.6 g) actual measured weight. Rated 10.9 oz. (308 g).
IncludedLens. Caps. ALC-SH127 hood. Sack. Paperwork.
QualityMade in Thailand.
Sony's Model NumberSEL1670Z.
Announced27 August 2013.
Price, USAMarch 2016: $998. Box, Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ 16-70mm OSS. bigger.
PerformanceTop Sample Images Intro Compatibility & Format Specs Performance Recommendations More Overall Focus Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics Falloff Filters Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes Macro Mechanics Sharpness Sunstars Image Stabilization
OverallThe Sony Zeiss 16-70mm OSS is the best midrange zoom made for Sony's NEX APS-C cameras. It excels optically, electronically, ergonomically and mechanically.
FocusAutofocusAutofocus is flawless. It's fast and accurate. Even in essentially total darkness on the Sony A7S II, it easily focusses with no need for an AF illuminator.
Manual FocusIt focuses by wire, and since autofocus is so great, I don't know why I'd use manual focus for anything other than to keep the focus locked.
BokehBokeh is very good. Backgrounds never distract. Here are wide-open shots from headshot distance: Bokeh at 16mm at f/4, 14 March 2016, Davis 6250 weather station. Sony A7S II, Zeiss 16-70mm OSS at f/4 at 1/800 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or © camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely can display these at full resolution).
Bokeh at 70mm at f/4, 14 March 2016, Davis 6250 weather station. Sony A7S II, Zeiss 16-70mm OSS at f/4 at 1/800 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or © camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely can display these at full resolution).
DistortionAs shot on the Sony A7S II, the Zeiss 16-70 OSS has moderate pincushion distortion at all focal lengths, except at the 16mm end where it has moderate barrel distortion. It corrects in Photoshop's Lens Distortion tool with these factors, and most Sony cameras can be set to correct it automatically.
© 2016 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. * Waviness remains
ErgonomicsSony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ 16-70mm at 70mm. bigger. It feels like a thin metal vanity shell over a plastic lens. Ergonomics are easy: the back section of the lens is an easy grab for mounting, the middle is a big zoom ring, and the front has the electronic focus ring. The focus ring turns well, but it only does something if you set your camera just right. Manual focus isn't as nice as a real focus ring; presuming you set your memories correctly, turning the ring simple tells the camera's computer how to move the autofocus motors. Zooming turns well and is very well spaced. The front barrel pokes out as zoomed to 70mm as shown.
FalloffFalloff is completely invisible as shot on the Sony cameras which correct it by default. It's not a problem even in this extremely exaggerated case where I've shot a gray field and show it against a gray background:
Filters, use withFilters work GREAT. 55mm is bigger than needed, so I can stack two normal 55mm filters with no vignetting. I can stack three filters and get no vignetting as wide as 28mm. Go ahead and use all your standard rotating grads and polarizers; there's no need for expensive thin filters.
Flare & GhostsThere are no ghosts and no flare, even pointed right at the sun. This is exceptionally good for any lens, much less a zoom.
Lateral Color FringesThere are no color fringes if you leave the camera's corrections turned on, which is the default setting.
MacroMacro gets very close: Mondaine A1323034811SBB at close-focus distance at 70mm at f/8. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely can display the full resolution). It's super sharp at f/8, and just about as good wide-open at f/4, but of course much less is in focus: Mondaine A1323034811SBB at close-focus distance at 70mm at f/4. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely can display the full resolution). There's no need for a separate macro lens.
MechanicsSony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ 16-70mm OSS. bigger. The Sony Zeiss 16-70 OSS is a metal shell over plastic innards. The metal outside is more of a charade than a sign of durability.
Filter ThreadsPlastic.
Hood Bayonet MountPlastic.
First Front BarrelPlastic.
Second Front BarrelAnodized aluminum.
Focus RingAnodized aluminum.
Zoom RingAnodized aluminum.
InternalsSeem like mostly of plastic.
Rear BarrelMetal.
IdentityEngraved and filled with paint on metal ring inside filter threads, and on the barrel.
Dust seal at mountNo.
MountChromed metal.
MarkingsMostly engraved and filled with paint. Grey model numbers on bottom of barrel are just paint.
Serial Numbers1.) Engraved on front identity ring.2.) Sticker from Sony with a different printed number glued to the bottom of the barrel..
Date CodeNone found.
Noises When ShakenSounds like there is something big flopping around inside, which I presume is the stabilization system.
Made inThailand.
SharpnessImage sharpness depends more on you than your lens, and lens sharpness doesn't mean much to good photographers. It's the least skilled hobbyists who worry about this and waste the most time blaming fuzzy pictures on their lenses, while real shooters know that few photos ever use all the sharpness of which their lenses are capable due to subject motion and the fact that real subjects are rarely perfectly flat. This Sony Zeiss 16-70mm OSS is super-sharp, right out to the corners, even wide open. We get our money's worth with this lens; sharpness is exemplary. Here are Sony's MTF curves:
Please note that 10 cycles, 20 cycles and 40 cycles per millimeter on APS-C are equivalent only to 6 cycles, 12 cycles and 25 cycles per millimeter on full-frame.
SunstarsThere are no sunstars, even at f/22. The curved diaphragm is too round; we never get any sunstars.
Image StabilizationThere is optical image stabilization, as well as whatever sensor stabilization your camera may have. With the insanely good high ISO performance of the Sony A7S II, I had no problems shooting even in total darkness at any speed. I never got to the really slow speeds, and I can vouch that the finder image locks down tight as you try to wiggle the camera.
RecommendationsTop Sample Images Intro Compatibility & Format Specs Performance Recommendations More Sony's Zeiss 16-70mm OSS offers optical and ergonomic near perfection. There is no better zoom made for Sony APS-C cameras. The 16-70mm is ultra sharp at every aperture, has smooth bokeh that makes images look 3D, focuses fast and super close, and it has the perfect focal length range. It could easily be the only lens you'd need. It's always better to get a great lens regardless of the price; economize on your camera, but never on your lenses. The very best protective filter is the Hoya multicoated HD3 55mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints, and is also multicoated. For less money, the B+W 55mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Where to Get YoursI got mine at Adorama. I'd also get it at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield. Don't ever buy an exotic lens like this at a local, retail or chain store since it will have been played with by everyone before you pay full price for it as "new." Sony and Zeiss do not seal their boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, dropped, damaged, demo or otherwise used product, a customer return or if the warranty has already been registered to someone else online. The approved sources I use ship from secure, remote automated warehouses where salespeople or other customers never, ever get to touch your lens before you do, and they have the best prices, selection, service and return policies. Thanks! Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
More InformationTop Sample Images Intro Compatibility & Format Specs Performance Recommendations More
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24 March 2016