Sony 16mm f/2.8
APS-C E-Mount (2010-)
Sony E 16mm f/2.8 (APS-C, only comes in silver, 49mm filters, 2.3 oz./65g, 0.8'/0.24m close focus, $223 new or about $110 used if you know How to Win at eBay). bigger. I'd get mine at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Sony does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
March 2019 Sony Sony Lenses Zeiss Nikon Canon Fuji LEICA All Reviews
Sample Images
Top Sample Images Intro Format
These are shot Standard JPGs; no RAW or FINE JPGs were used or needed.
More samples throughout the review.
Fireplace, 11 March 2019. Sony A6400, Sony 16mm f/2.8, f/8 at 3 seconds at ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger, full-resolution or camera-original © file.
Spring Superbloom, 12 March 2019. Sony A6400, Sony 16mm f/2.8, f/16 at 1/30 at ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger, full-resolution or camera-original © file.
Introduction
Top Sample Images Intro Format
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This Sony 16mm f/2.8 is a tiny, low priced lens with performance to match. It sees the same angle of view on APS-C cameras as a 24mm lens sees on full frame.
This lens isn't much bigger than a body cap.
It's probably the lightest lens I've tested, at just 2.3 oz./65g, because it's both tiny and made mostly out of plastic, with aluminum exterior vanity trim.
It came out with Sony's very first NEX mirrorless APS-C cameras in May, 2010.
It's compatible with the discontinued VCL-ECU1 0.75× ultra-wide converter and the VCL-ECF2 fisheye converter. The VCL-ECU1 0.75× ultra-wide converter converts this to a 12mm lens, which is equivalent to an 18mm lens on full-frame. The VCL-ECU1 0.75× ultra-wide converter is easy to get at eBay for about $80 if you know How To Win at eBay. The VCL-ECF2 fisheye converter is sold new.
I'd get my Sony 16mm f/2.8 new at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
Good
Fast and silent autofocusing.
Simple optical design make it very resistant to flare and ghosts.
Electronic manual focus ring.
Aluminum external trim.
Tiny.
Light.
Inexpensive.
Bad
Electronic focus ring, like most mirrorless lenses, has no direct mechanical connection to the optics. It only works when you have the camera set just right.
Optics fitting the price.
Missing
No focus or depth-of-field scales.
No Optical Steady Shot Image Stabilization.
Sony 16mm f/2.8. bigger.
Format
Top Sample Images Intro Format
I'd get my Sony 16mm f/2.8 new at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
This is an APS-C (cropped-sensor) lens and I'm testing it as such.
It also works on full-frame cameras, which automatically crop their sensors to APS-C.
Compatibility
Top Sample Images Intro Format
I'd get my Sony 16mm f/2.8 new at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
This is an APS-C (cropped-sensor) lens that works on all Sony E-mount cameras. This includes all the variations of NEX, A9-, A7-, A6xxx and A5xxx series cameras.
Full-frame cameras will automatically crop to APS-C.
It will not mount on any Sony A-mount DSLR or any Minolta MAXXUM 35mm SLR of any kind. Those use the old A mount which was actually the Minolta MAXXUM mount from 1987.
Specifications
Top Sample Images Intro Format
I'd get my Sony 16mm f/2.8 new at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
Name
Sony calls this the E 16mm f/2.8:
E: E-mount.
Sony's model number is SEL16F28.
Optics
Sony 16mm f/2.8 optical construction. Aspherical element.
5 elements in 5 groups.
One Aspherical element.
Internal focus.
Diaphragm
Sony 16mm f/2.8. bigger.
7 rounded blades.
Stops down to f/22.
Focal Length
16mm.
When used on APS-C, it sees the same angle of view as a 24mm lens sees when used on a full-frame camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View
83° diagonal on APS-C.
Autofocus
Internal focus.
No external movement as focused, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Close Focus
0.8 feet (0.24 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:12.8 (0.078×).
Optical Stabilizer
None.
Filters
49mm filter thread.
Hood
No hood.
Size
2.44" maximum diameter × 0.89" extension from flange.
62 mm maximum diameter × 22.5 mm extension from flange.
Weight
2.300 oz. (65.2g) actual measured weight.
Rater 2.4 oz (67g).
Included
Lens (SEL16F28).
ALC-F49S front and ALC-R1EM rear cap.
Announced
May 2010.
Available Since
11 June 2010.
Sony Model Number
SEL16F28.
Price, USA
March-April 2019
$223 new or about $110 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
$250 at introduction in 2010.
Performance
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Overall Autofocus Bokeh Distortion
Ergonomics Falloff Flare & Ghosts
I'd get my Sony 16mm f/2.8 new at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
Overall
This Sony 16mm f/2.8 is the size of a body cap.
Autofocus
Autofocus is fast and silent.
Bokeh
As a wide lens, nothing ever gets that far out of focus so bokeh, the feel or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, isn't that important. If you somehow are able to get much out of focus, then bokeh is only fair:
Davis 6250 weather station, 12 March 2019. Sony A6400, Sony 16mm f/2.8 wide-open at f/2.8 at 1/4,000 at ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original file.
As with all lenses, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible shoot at the largest aperture (f/2.8) and get as close as possible.
Distortion
At least as shot on the Sony A6400, the Sony 16mm f/2.8 has no visible distortion because the A6400 corrects it automatically.
If you turn distortion correction OFF there is complex pincushion distortion that best corrects with a correction factor of -1.7 in Photoshop's lens correction filter. There will still be some residual wavy "mustache" distortion after Photoshop correction; just leave the camera at its default and there won't be any.
Ergonomics
Sony 16mm f/2.8. bigger.
There is tiny electronic focus ring and that's it.
It's all hard aluminum on the outside.
Falloff
Falloff is invisible with the camera's default correction ON.
I've greatly exaggerated it here by shooting pure gray and displaying it against more gray. It won't look this bad in actual photos::
Sony 16mm f/2.8 falloff, correction ON.
© 2019 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
If you go out of your way to turn correction OFF then you can see some at f/2.8 and maybe f/4, and for actual photos (not tests of flat fields) it's gone by f/5.6:
Sony 16mm f/2.8 falloff, correction turned OFF.
© 2019 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Flare & Ghosts
It has a very simple optical design, so there are few air-to-glass surfaces to lead to reflections that cause flare and ghosts, thus this is a very flare-resistant lens.
See samples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes
There are no color fringes as shot on modern Sony cameras which correct them by default.
If you go out of your way to disable these automatic corrections there are healthy red/cyan fringes.
Macro Performance
It doesn't get very close, but it is sharp at f/8:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance at f/8, 09 March 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 × 30" (50 × 75cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 40 × 60" (1 × 1.5 meters).
It's not that sharp at f/2.8, which you shouldn't be using for macro anyway:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance at f/8, 09 March 2019. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 × 30" (50 × 75cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 40 × 60" (1 × 1.5 meters).
Mechanical Quality
Sony 16mm f/2.8. bigger.
This Sony 16mm f/2.8 is all plastic on the inside, with a metal mount and aluminum outer skin and manual focus ring.
Sharpness
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
This said, this is one of the softest modern lenses I've tested in the lab — but I have no problem making sharp pictures with it (more at Sunstars). It's sharp in the center, but the sides are progressively worse as shot at larger apertures. For the sharpest results at the sides, shoot at around f/11 to f/16 and you're fine for normal photos.
MTF.
Sunstars
With a rounded 7-blade diaphragm this 16mm only makes sunstars on brilliant points of light at the smallest apertures.
Click any to enlarge:
Click any to enlarge.
Recommendations
Top Sample Images Intro Format
This Sony 16mm f/2.8 is a tiny little lens for when you want to carry as little as possible.
If you want to count every pixel at 300% then man-up and get the ZEISS 24mm f/1.8, but if all you want is great pictures while carrying as little as possible, by all means consider this tiny body-cap alternative.
Normally I pass on lens converters, but seeing the novelty of this lens, there's no reason not to try out the discontinued VCL-ECU1 0.75× ultra-wide converter which is easy to get at eBay for about $80 if you know How To Win at eBay, or the VCL-ECF2 fisheye converter which is sold new.
I'd get my Sony 16mm f/2.8 new at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay (How to Win at eBay).
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear, otherwise I leave a clear protective filter on my lens at all times instead of a cap so I'm ready to shoot instantly.
The very best protective filter is the Multicoated Hoya HD 49mm which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints.
For less money, the B＋W 49mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated B＋W and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
This 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 does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Help Me Help You
I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you ma have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.