Sony E 16-55mm F2.8 G Review - Worth the $$$?

Reviewing the Sony 16-55mm F2.8 G Lens. A pricey but great performing lens for Sony APS-C bodies like the a6400 and the newer Sony a6600.

00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Specs
01:25 - Unbox & Build
03:08 - Value
04:00- Performance
07:48 - Conclusion / Pros & Cons

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[daniellmiller]

Just got mine a week ago and I took it on vacation. I’m a working pro and this lens is amazing! I have full frame, APS-C and MFT bodies. After seeing the images from this lens I’m blown away. I’m using it on an a6400 so now this will be my carry anywhere camera. What a perfect size package!

[CrimeFighter]

I sold my a6400 to buy this.. now I can't take pictures anymore

[yellit]

I’m a hobbyist and I have the A6400 and recently bought this lens. Completely agree with you about the pricing but I’m finding that it’s pretty much the only lens that I’m using as it is so versatile. If this had been available when I bought my A6000, I wouldn’t have spent money on the 16mm, 30mm and 50mm prime lenses that are now sitting on a shelf not being used.

[dirkwichgers]

A6500 has IBIS. I won't disagree with the comments about the price. But for many including myself it's not a bad choice for the money. Considering it's the only mid zoom constant 2.8, at least it does perform up to its price

[StefanMalloch]

Great to see Sony adding some lenses to the APS-C line! What are you shooting with?
***Correction*** (Thanks Dirk) Of course the a6500 has IBIS. I should have said the newer aps-c's.. 6100, 6400, 6600.

[BRCPres]

Another great review, sir.

I bought this lens for my a6600 body, and immediately fell in love with it. The lens performs well in low light, especially with the camera in the Multi Frame NR mode. While the lens does not have IBIS, the camera IBIS does perform adequately for me. I do agree that the sticker price of the lens, coupled with the high price of the a6600 was tough to swallow.

[charruaporelmundo]

If a6500, this lens and the future coming tamron 70180 f2.8 is all what you would need.

[oliversteiner]

I think it's a great lens and the price has already dropped considerably at some resellers. Some distortion and vignetting are the price you pay for keeping size and weight down while keeping the image quality up, apart from that. Otherwise this lens would be way bigger, or way more expensive.. A lens always is a compromise but I think this one is more than acceptable.

[hughjohns]

What I'd really like to see is a 16-55 (or thereabouts) full frame lens, even if it were only f4. Hope you're reading this, Sony. Carry two lenses instead of three with my 70-200.

[gotchie]

I bought this 16-55 F2.8 few weeks ago. And the lens is sharp!. Btw. Piece of advise dont buy any filter/protection glass in front of the lens. Because it will make your 16mm /F2.8 shoot to have Vignetting effect. And is quite hard to correct in light room.. but the lens is worth it though. Super light and sharp.👍

[frankfeng]

It'd have been a fair price before Tamron 28-75 or Sony 24-105.

[davidhorak]

what do you think of this lens on a7c? I know its an aps-c Lens, but I like the weight and ergonomics on it.

[geirjohannesen]

Over the years I have tried the Sony/Zeiss 16-70mm f4, the 18-105mm f4 G and the 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 + the Tamron 28-75 on my A7 III. Ended up selling all of it. This lens will stay. I agree that one should expect OSS at the price, though.

[Ahmadhammourii]

is there anything better than this lense for the a6400 aspc system if money is not an object but top quality is .

[pf]

Thanks for your vlog. Did you purchase this lens, borrow it for the vlog, or was it given to you in return for this vlog? I skimmed the vlog so don't know if you addressed this question directly. I use a sony a6000 and more recently purchased the sony A6600. I'm particularly happy with these camera bodies because so many generic lens makers, such as Sigma and Meike, are making lenses that are as good or better than Sony's own lenses. Right now, on Amazon, this lens is selling for $1300.00 NOT counting tax or the extended warranty. Sony also makes a very inexpensive (compared to this lens) 18-135mm fantastic travel zoom. Their kit lens, 18-55mm is also excellent. Now, let's look at the notion of cost vs benefit. If this lens costs double or triple what other lenses run the quality of the image MUST be twice as good to make the benefit equal to the cost. But, of course, at best these expensive lenses are maybe on a par with or possibly 5% to 10% better in image quality than lenses costing 1/2 of their high retail price. So, given this, it is so important for professionals wishing to review ANY expensive lens, to compare it with side by side image results with less expensive, alternative lenses. That way I as a viewer know that the vlog is an objective review. Thanks and keep posting!

[DJNibz]

Huge fan of your reviews man! I'm looking for a versatile lens like this for travel! Do you think this lens is worth it when paired with a Sony a6100 (w/ no IBIS) for solely photography?

[jkphoto]

So is it better than the Tamron or Sigma equal?

[eliaspap]

Looks like Sony just copying Fujis lens 16-55 f2.8, maybe we should side by side comparison?

[stevenguzy]

Stephan, love how you present. I have an A7RII with the 24-105 f4 G as my go to everyday lens. As Im getting older I am thinking of downsizing. I love the image quality of my setup and up until now I have not found a zoom lens that compares to the image quality of what I have for Sony apps-c. This lens appears to maybe have come a lot closer. My question; am I still going see the difference in image quality or has Sony finally bridged the gap? I have always seen a huge difference in my images from my a6000 and whatever lens I used and the A7RII with even the kit lens.

[Assassinfunches]

I’m a tad confused, I’m new to photography. I noticed in the video you are shooting at more than just f2.8. I thought this lens could ONLY shot in f2.8? Or is this just as small as it can go?