Review Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

According provided by Sony E 2.8 / 16 lens (SEL16F28) many thanks the store ProFotoSalewhere you can find many new and used lenses for different systems, including similar Sony lenses.

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28). increase.

Navigation

  1. In short
  2. History
  3. Main Specifications
  4. Assembly
  5. Focusing
  6. Image quality
  7. Sample Photos
  8. My personal experience with the lens
  9. Lens prices
  10. All Sony E APS-C cameras
  11. All Sony E APS-C Lenses
  12. Results
  13. Additional materials on mirrorless systems
  14. User Comments
  15. Add your review or question on the lens

In this review, the Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28 E-mount) lens will be abbreviated as Sony E 16 / 2.8. Radozhiv already had a brief overview of this lens along with the camera Sony NEX-5, but recently he again came under my arm and I decided to make a separate review.

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

In short

Sony E 16 / 2.8 is a compact pancake lens for Sony NEX / Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor.

The Sony E 16 / 2.8 is well built, with a very quiet and fast focusing motor and good image quality.

Sony E 16 / 2.8 is often found bundled with some Sony NEX and Sony Alpha ILCE cameras.

The obvious drawbacks are the rather high cost of the lens when purchased separately from the camera, which is about $ 250, as well as complex distortion and low resolution in the corners and edges of the frame.

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

History

Sony E 16 / 2.8 was presented 11 May 2010 years and is one of the first three lenses for Sony mirrorless crop cameras with an APS-C sensor. Simultaneously with the Sony E 16 / 2.8, two more lenses were presented: Sony E 18-200 / 3.5-6.3 OSS и Sony E 18-55 / 3.5-5.6. Even instruction is the same for all three lenses. At the same time, the first two Sony NEX mirrorless cameras were introduced: NEX-3 и NEX-5.

Sony E 16 / 2.8 can also be found under the name Hasselblad E 2.8 / 16 LFsubmitted by 18 September 2012 years for cameras Hasselblad lunar and Hasselblad Lunar Limited Edition.

January 23 2013 similar pancake lens announced Sony E 20 / 2.8.

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Main technical characteristics of Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28 E-mount):

Review Instance Name Near the front lens: 'E 2.8 / 16 0.24m / 0.8ft Ø49'

On the body: 'Sony 2.8 / 16 E-mount'

On the identification plate: 'MODEL SEL16F28'

Basic properties
  • APS-C E-mount - Lens designed for Sony mirrorless cameras with APS-C
  • SEL - Sony 'E' mount mirrorless lens. This lens has a short name and identifier 'SEL1855'
  • Internal stepping motor - internal stepper focus motor
  • Internal focus
  • Electronic focus ring
  • DMF (DDirectly Mannual Focus) - direct manual focus
  • Aspherical elements in the optical circuit
  • Rounded petals aperture
  • Light weight, compact size
  • Supports VCL-ECU1 and VCL-ECF1 Wide Angle Converters
Front Filter Diameter 49 mm
Focal length 16 mm, EGF for Sony cameras with APS-C sensor is 24 mm
Zoom ratio 1 x (this is fix)
Designed by for Sony NEX mirrorless digital cameras
Number of aperture blades 7 rounded petals
Tags Only the bayonet mount mark, and the converter mount mark
Diaphragm F / 2.8-f / 22
MDF (minimum focusing distance) 0.24 m, maximum magnification ratio is 1: 13
The weight 67 grams
Optical design 5 elements in 5 groups. The circuit includes 1 aspherical element.

Optical design Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)The image of the optical circuit is clickable. The same optical design is used for the lens. Hasselblad E 2.8 / 16 LF.

Lens hood Bayonet, Sony ALC-SH112 (or analogue), suitable from Sony E 18-55 / 3.5-5.6
Manufacturer country Made In THAILAND (made in Thailand)
Period Since May 10, 2010, in January 2013 added with a lens Sony E 20 / 2.8
Instructions
Price The real cost of this lens can be seen, for example, here.

It is very strange that the Sony E 16 / 2.8 is not produced in a black case.

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Assembly

Sony E 16 / 2.8 was produced only in Thailand. The lens is light and pleasant to the touch.

The lens has metal bayonet. The focusing ring is also made of metal, most likely some kind of magnesium or aluminum alloy is used. The focusing ring has very fine notches, between which dust and dirt can easily clog. These notches are quite easy to damage, for example, to scratch. Over time, metal scratches begin to significantly spoil the appearance of the lens.

The body has a bayonet mount mark and a mark for quick attachment of the wide converter. The lens uses a plastic hood that is fixed in special grooves located near the front lens of the lens. The hood can be installed in the opposite direction for transportation. In this position, access to the focusing ring is lost. Unfortunately, only a black hood is available for the silver lens.

Interesting: the slots for the hood are located between the filter and the housing frame. The hood should be inserted into this hollow, turned and snapped into place. I see such a solution very rarely, it allows you not to put the hood's bayonet petals on the outer part of the body frame and not spoil the overall design. A trifle, but nice.

On the back of the lens is a rectangular hood that cuts off excess light and prevents exposure.

The diameter of the front filter is 49 cm; many other Sony E lenses also have a diameter of 49 mm, for example, Sony E 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 or 55-210mm f / 4.5-6.3 OSS, which are often complementary solutions to Sony E 16 / 2.8, and the same diameter for light filters makes life easier for the amateur photographer.

Interestingly: Sony E 16/2.8 is compatible with Sony VCL-ECU1 ULTRA-WIDE CONVERTER x0.75 (diagram 3/3). With this attachment Sony E 16 / 2.8 turns into a lens with a 12 mm focal length (EGF this equals 18 mm, which allows the use of an ultra-wide viewing angle).

Interestingly: Sony E 16 / 2.8 supports the Sony VCL-ECF1 FISHEYE CONVERTER (4/4 scheme). With this attachment, the Sony E 16 / 2.8 turns into fisheye lens with 10 mm focal length (EGF this equals 15 mm, which allows the use of an ultra-wide viewing angle and an unusual transmission of fisheye perspective). The same nozzle is suitable for Sony E 20 / 2.8.

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Focusing

The lens uses a built-in stepper focus motor... In some sources there is information that the motor is ultrasonic, similar to the Sony SSM, but most likely the Sony E 16 / 2.8 has a stepping motor.

Auto focus speed high. The focusing speed will depend slightly on the camera used. The first Sony NEX cameras for which this lens was developed used automatic focusing by contrast, which is sometimes slower than the hybrid focusing methods of subsequent generations of Sony Alpha. Auto focus is very quiet.

While working with cameras Sony a3500 и Sony NEX-5 focus accuracy was at a high level. With good lighting, there are practically no problems with accuracy, tenacity, and refocusing.

For manual focusing, select the focus mode MF (Manual focus) or DMF (direct MF) in the camera menu, after which the focus ring will respond to rotation. The electronic focusing ring is more responsive to the speed of rotation than to a specific angle of rotation, which sometimes creates a tactile inconvenience. During auto focus focus ring remains stationary.

During focusing, the front lens remains stationary, as the lens uses internal focus. Thus, it is possible to use any filters without problems, for example polarizing or gradient.

The minimum focusing distance is 24 cm, while you can get the maximum magnification for close-up photography of 1:13, which is a very modest figure.

Other focusing features:

  • Once the lens has lost accurate focus, refocusing is very fast.
  • The lens does not have a depth of field scale, focusing distance, and tags for working in the infrared spectrum.
  • Focus shift (shift-focus) was not noticed during operation and testing.
  • The focusing speed depends heavily on the illumination, the selected focusing mode in the camera menu, and the focusing logic of each individual camera.
  • There is no focus mode switch on the case.
  • During manual focusing, the focus distance bar appears on the display of some cameras.
  • The Sony E 16 / 2.8 has almost no 'Focus Breathing' effect (changes in the angle of view during focusing).
Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Image quality

The Sony E 16 / 2.8 originally came with cameras that had a 14-16 MP sensor, but later it migrated to cameras with a 16-20-24 MP sensor, on which he already feels less confident. In general, the Sony E 16 / 2.8 shows quite acceptable image quality, but still the lens has several significant drawbacks. The main ones are the very weak resolution at the edges and corners of the frame, especially at open apertures.

Another major problem is complex distortion, which is difficult to fix manually in editors. Lens is best handled by auto-correction in-camera or Sony's original RAW converter. Perceptible chromatic aberrations are also indispensable here; they are most pronounced at the edges of the image.

But vignetting is quite low even at F / 2.8, as well as good backlight resistance.

The resolution at F / 2.8 in the center of the frame is enough to compete with zoom lenses.

The Sony E 16 / 2.8 has a profile in most popular RAW converters such as ACR and Lightroom.

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sample Photos

Camera used for examples Sony a3500 with EXMOR APS-C CMOS 20 MP sensor. All photos are on-camera JPEG. Sony a3500 cannot shoot exclusively in RAW format, but only in RAW + JPEG or JPEG.

JPEG source files '.JPG' can be downloaded at this link (40 photos, 300 MB).

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

My experience

Sony E 16 / 2.8 and Sony E 20 / 2.8 Are the lenses designed to make mirrorless systems truly compact. Back in 2010, the appearance of super-compact cameras NEX-3 и NEX-5 with a large APS-C sensor paired with a Sony E 16 / 2.8 pancake was a great achievement.

Sony E 16 / 2.8 is a very successful model, there is nothing superfluous in it, and the image quality is quite acceptable for many amateur photography tasks.

I want to draw your attention to the fact that many manufacturers of cameras with a cropped sensor do not make such fast wide-angle lenses with EGF 24 mm, but this is EGF very convenient and in demand.

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

Prices

The real cost of this lens can be seen, for example, here.


All Sony E-mount cameras with APS-C sensor



All Sony E lenses for APS-C

Fix Lenses:

  1. Sony 11 mm f/1.8 (announcement) [2022, black, AliExpress price]
  2. Sony 15 mm f / 1.4 G (announcement) [2022, black, AliExpress price]
  3. Sony 16 mm f/2.8 (overview) [2010, silver, AliExpress price]
  4. Sony 20 mm f/2.8 (announcement) [2013, silver, AliExpress price]
  5. Sony 24 mm f / 1.8 ZEISS ZA (overview) [2011, black]
  6. Sony 30 mm f / 3.5 MACRO (overview) [2011, silver, AliExpress price]
  7. Sony 35 mm f / 1.8 OSS (announcement) [2012, black, AliExpress price]
  8. Sony 50 mm f / 1.8 OSS (announcement) [2011, black/silver, AliExpress price]

Zoom Lenses:

  1. Sony 10-18 mm f / 4 OSS (announcement) [2012, black, AliExpress price]
  2. Sony 10-20 mm f / 4 G PZ (announcement) [2022, black, AliExpress price]
  3. Sony 16-50 mm f / 3.5-5.6 PZ OSS (overview) [2012, black/silver, AliExpress price]
  4. Sony 16-55 mm f / 2.8 G (announcement) [2019, black, AliExpress price]
  5. Sony 16-70 mm f / 4 OSS ZEISS ZA (announcement) [2013, black, AliExpress price]
  6. Sony 18-50 mm f/4-5.6 (overview) [2014, black]
  7. Sony 18-55 mm f / 3.5-5.6 OSS (overview) [2010, black/silver]
  8. Sony 18-105 mm f / 4 G PZ OSS (announcement) [2013, black, AliExpress price]
  9. Sony 18-110 mm f / 4 G PZ OSS (announcement) [2016, black]
  10. Sony 18-135 mm f / 3.5-5.6 OSS (overview) [2018, black, AliExpress price]
  11. Sony 18-200 mm f / 3.5-6.3 OSS (overview) [2010, silver, AliExpress price]
  12. Sony 18-200 mm f / 3.5-6.3 OSS LE (announcement) [2012, black, AliExpress price]
  13. Sony 18-200 mm f / 3.5-6.3 PZ OSS (announcement) [2012, black]
  14. Sony 55-210 mm f / 4.5-6.3 OSS (announcement) [2011, black/silver, AliExpress price]
  15. Sony 70-350 mm f/4.5–6.3 G OSS (announcement) [2019, black, AliExpress price]

Third-party autofocus lenses for Sony E APS-C:

Many interesting manual solutions are provided by Chinese manufacturers and brands. 7Artisans, TTartisan, Meike, Neewer, PerGear, Kamlan, Brightin star, Mitakon Zhongyi, Venus laowaFujian, ARTRALABAstrHori other. Autofocus Speed ​​Boosters are also interesting Viltrox Canon EF -> Sony E 0.71X и Metabones Canon EF -> Sony E 0.71X... List of full-frame cameras and lenses Sony FE (Full Frame E) here


Results

Sony E 16 / 2.8 is a very compact fix. Pancake lenses have always attracted the attention of many photographers. In general, the Sony E 16 / 2.8 is a very interesting solution, but due to not very good optical performance this lens has not won the popular love of photographers and amateur photographers.

10 main advantages:

  1. high-quality assembly, metal outer part of the case, metal bayonet, bayonet-type hood
  2. convenient focal length (EGF 24 mm, which is rare for APS-C lenses)
  3. focus type internal
  4. focusing is very quiet and fast
  5. focusing stepper motor (for 2010, a stepping motor was generally a godsend for any lens)
  6. electronic focus ring
  7. aspherical element in the optical circuit
  8. the ability to use wide-angle converters VCL-ECU1 and VCL-ECF1
  9. good image quality, especially at closed apertures
  10. under this lens there are profiles for popular RAW converters that can quickly eliminate some optical flaws

10 main disadvantages:

  1. high price
  2. no option in black color of the case
  3. there is no built-in image stabilizer (for example, there is 35 / 1.8 OSS or 10-18 / 4 OSS)
  4. hood is not included in the package, only black hood for silver lens is available
  5. large MDF and modest maximum magnification ratio of 1:13
  6. the metal focusing ring gets dirty easily due to the many micro-ribs, and looks ugly when scratched
  7. there are no additional marks, for example, focusing distance, direction of rotation of the focusing ring, depth of field, etc.
  8. converters VCL-ECU1 and VCL-ECF1 discontinued from sale and production
  9. complex distortion
  10. a strong drop in sharpness in the corners and edges of the frame

According provided by Sony E 2.8 / 16 lens (SEL16F28) many thanks the store ProFotoSalewhere you can find many new and used lenses for different systems, including similar Sony lenses.

  1. Full frame mirrorless systems... Discussion, choice, recommendations.
  2. Cropped mirrorless systems... Discussion, choice, recommendations.
  3. Cropped mirrorless systems that have stopped or are no longer developing
  4. Digital SLR systems that have stopped or are no longer developing
  5. JVI or EVI (an important article that answers the question 'DSLR or mirrorless')
  6. About mirrorless batteries
  7. Simple and clear medium format
  8. High-speed solutions from Chinese brands
  9. All fastest autofocus zoom lenses
  10. All fastest AF prime lenses
  11. Mirrored full frame on mirrorless medium format
  12. Autofocus Speed ​​Boosters
  13. One lens to rule the world
  14. The impact of smartphones on the photography market
  15. What's next (smartphone supremacy)?
  16. All announcements and novelties of lenses and cameras

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.


Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: B. R. P.

 

 

Comments: 21, on the topic: Review Sony E 2.8 / 16 (SEL16F28)

  • Victor

    Everything is correct, in general there is nothing to add.

    I will only clarify that now the cost of the lens in Russian stores is 27990 rubles, which is approximately $ 350, even with today's horse dollar rate.

    What makes it quite unique in the sense that there is hardly even one more lens, the cost of which (on the secondary, ideally) was almost an ORDER lower than the cost in the store :)

    The angles are actually VERY weak (for example, at f / 4 they are even inferior to the budget zoom lens from Nikon18-55vrII in the wide-angle position), this drawback practically disappears only at f / 8 ... f / 10.

    • Hair dryer

      What is its plus in front of 16-50 from the same Sony, which costs 4 thousand on the secondary housing? This pancake is optically complete sucks, ttartisan 17mm shows itself at times better.

      • Victor

        Before 16-50 - at least in that it is more compact and mechanically stronger (just by design). By the way, it costs the same 4000.

        ttart may be better, but it does not have autofocus - the main disadvantage.

  • B. R. P.

    Fuji also has two "pancakes", but f. R. more comfortable n. m. in. - 18 and 27 and the picture is prettier.

    • Victor

      So then Fuja (except for Samsung by the way) and 16mm pair of models.

      But all of them in terms of budget with 16mm from Sony cannot be compared))) For this, you can even forgive some shortcomings)

  • Sergei

    It's a pity that the topic of branded wide-angle attachments for this device is only indicated (they say they are met on the secondary).
    Moreover, they have undergone evolution.
    Instead of VCL-ECU1 and VCL-ECF1, VCL-ECU2 and VCL-ECF2 were produced ($ 160 and $ 180, respectively).
    The first versions were cheaper by $ 50.
    ECU turned the subject into a straight 12mm width.
    ECF turned the subject into a 10mm diagonal fish eye with an angle of 180 °.
    But is it worth the candle, especially when Chinese non-autofocus counterparts of 12 mm and 7,5 mm appeared ...
    I have not seen direct comparisons.

    • Victor

      IMHO, that 12, that 7.5 will tear this sleepyhead to shreds by itself, and even if with attachments (which a priori does not add quality, rather the opposite), it’s scary to think what will be there)))

  • Jankowsky

    Yes, I did not expect .. the corners and edges are so creepy and the bokeh is comatose with blots. In my opinion, 16-50 OSS just gives an order of magnitude smoother overall performance. In general, a tip for everyone who shoots with Sony E-NEX - buy a Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye which even tears all crop Sonev matrices to shreds by 2.8 and produces an incredible quality

    • Arkady Shapoval

      and costs money and an adapter is needed and there will be no autofocus and aperture control

      • Victor

        Aperture control will be, for example, with the appropriate adapter.

        But the price, yes ...

        In general, there are “native” samyangs, and there is no need to fence a garden)

  • Sergei

    Arkady is right when he says that this subject, due to its diminutiveness, harmonizes well with the old small Nex, especially if they are silver.
    Of course, optically, it is better suited for older 14 megapixel matrices. For new matrices (under 25 Mp), it already looks rather weak, especially at the edges.

  • Paul

    just tried it with the Sony Vcl-HG0758 Wide Angle Attachment. focuses quickly, the EGF on the crop turns out to be about 16mm, if I understand correctly. corners of course with this nozzle washes even more)))

  • Novel

    Have you compared sony 16mm with ttartisan 17mm 1.4? thanks.

  • Matthew

    Good day everyone! I want to voice another minus of this lens, which I discovered myself yesterday. The rear lens of the objective is attached to the structure with glue. With any significant shaking, the adhesive can move away and the lens falls out of its seat and the ability to focus is lost. Of course it can be glued back, the glue is the simplest, such as the one on which the ceiling tiles were glued, transparent and viscous like honey. And if you are a handyman, like me, then the task does not look so simple, since the lens is small, the landing rim is quite narrow and there is a chance to smear the lens itself with glue. And since the lens is expensive, for unknown reasons, the prices for repairs in the service are simply horse

    • Victor

      As I understand it, it’s cheaper to find a working lens at a flea market, in perfect condition))

    • B. R. P.

      This is an inexpensive lens.

      • Victor

        “this is an inexpensive lens” - only on the vtrichka.

        It's highly overrated new.

        • B. R. P.

          Yes, but the price for a new one does not make it an “expensive lens”. I don't see the point in getting it new.

          • Victor

            In general, it was about the prices for the service, and there, for obvious reasons, no one looks at the used price.

            • B. R. P.

              Well, okay)

    • Dmitry Kostin

      “The rear lens of the lens is attached to the structure with glue.”
      Tin.
      This is the first time I hear about such a constructive solution.

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