Product Reviews

I do mostly video with an FX-30. I expected I would use my motorized 18-105 f/4 APSC zoom G-lens more because of the extra zoom factor and the motor, an use the 16-55 for beauty stills or special shots. But instead I use this all the time. The 18-105 just does not focus close enough and you can't beat the 2.8 aperture. I wish they'd offer a motorized zoom version of this, but I guess they can't fit the motor.

Great lens and perfect for all that I need to do in social media and on my leisure…

If you could only have one lens and you shoot Super 35 (APS-C) then this is the lens to choose. F2.8 throughout the zoom, it’s a very fine accompaniment to the Sony fx30. Highly recommended…

This lens is fantastic. It is really sharp and detailed. The build quality feels solid. I am very happy with the product.

I wanted a lens that would give me close to the same range on my A6700 as I enjoy on my Sony R1s and this has fitted the bill very nicely. It’s a compact zoom that is easy to carry around that is well made and finished, looking handsome on the A6700. Zoom and focus rings have well-weighted movements. The lens mount is tight and positive. The 67mm filter thread allows me to adopt a lot of the accessories that I use on the R1s and the other lenses I have for this system. The already decent close framing at the long end is boosted to mild macro levels with a 10mm extension tube or a supplementary close-up lens such as the Sony VCL-M3367, both of which are light and easy to carry and further extend the versatility of this zoom. Optically, this is a very good performer and the constant f2.8 aperture makes it versatile in all lighting conditions. When stopped down a little you get the best out of it. Pixel peeping reveals very good, if not stellar, micro-contrast but sharpness is admirable and I’m very happy with the results so far. Focus speed is excellent and it’s good that Sony have provided a focus-hold button on the lens body as well as the AF / MF switch. Stabilisation provided by the A6700 works very well with this lens allowing me to shoot down to 1/20 sec. at the telephoto-end - pretty remarkable. This lens is an ideal walk-around and travel companion with lovely handling and I’m going to be using it often.

So far, I'm impressed with this lens! I've only used G Masters in the past but wanted something smaller for travel.

This has got to be the sharpest lens i have ever used. The focusing is so fast on my a6400 is truly amazing and I havent lost a fast moving shot yet. It does look bulky on the a6400, but it feels balanced. Well worth the purchase.

I have used many Sony lens and this one has the most build of lens elements in the design. Having used cameras for over fifty years you know when a product gives good quality images without fudging them as I say. I am one of the old school photographers where the photo you took had to be spot on so maybe twenty photos one would be the right one this was on film and that cost money where as now if I take fifty shots it does not matter . So I have only had the lens for a few hours but in that time got the feel of the weight and operation of the lens, while normally within the first hour I would have taken around thirty photos this exercise was only 20 over the twenty shots my main goal is perfection of all the colours and in focus sharpness must be spot on. I check on what colours I am photographing against the actual subjects while they are still there to see. So the lens operates as I would expect it smooth and precise when I am out and about sometime there is no second chance especially with wild life and focus is the essence. If I am photographing moving object I like to be in control while bust control is there on my Sony camera there is something special about taken how many images and the art of doing it. So onto OSS while it's in my title I was brought up to use a camera to eliminate camera shake and can say this lens on my Sony body without built in stabilising is as it should be perfect. A word on the weight it does help to overcome OSS So overall without OSS which some photographers would like it loses a star

Fast lens. A bit bulky, but a fast lens usually is, by design. Very smooth and quiet. A bit pricey, but worth the cost.

Got this lens for my brand new a6600 and it is the perfect lens for it, super fast and tac sharp, really compact and light, looking forward to getting out and using it other than indoors.

It is amazing. I loved it quality so good even low light

I bought this about 2 months ago and it is the go to lens for the a6600. It does an amazing job, very fast, great bokeh.

So far so good, nice sharpness in most conditions, really appreciate the constant f2.8 aperture. The starburst effect at high f stop is fantastic and the bokeh is nice and smooth. The lens is a little bulkier than I'd like given it's a 16-55mm (doesnt fit in my camera case for my previous 16-70mm F4) but all in all very pleased with it.

I reviewed several lenses from Sony and Tamron but nothing comes close to this 17-55 mm lens. It doesn't great for overall any type of shooting. Whether its landscape, portraits or close ups.

My copy of this lens is very sharp throughout the focal range, even in the corners. Low light performance is also decent for a zoom lens. CA is well managed. Fairly small, lightweight and build quality is excellent. The focal range is good and covers the most commonly used lengths. However at £1075 it is very expensive, and for this price I would also have expected built-in OSS. Despite this, I like the lens very much and am glad I bought it.

So I paired this thing with my a6100... and even though this doesn't have OSS, its a monster when shooting stills. I have carried this thing up and down the Tetons climbing, and it works flawlessly.

Versatile and very sharp lens, even at 2.8 aperture. This is my go to lens. It's almost perfect. The only thing I wish is that it has OSS

I bought it as an XMAS gift to myself. I had an almost identical spec'd Nikon 16/55F2.8 with LINEAR MOTOR for my D90. It was huge and heavy. It had a relatively fast lens, and a focal length range for 95% of photos I took. The Sony is smaller, lighter, and has a linear motor. Linear motors focus instantly and silently. If shooting candid shots, you will not miss focus. Everyone rants at the cost of the Sony. Well the Nikon was $2500, 16 years ago! Even at street prices, the Sony came out cheaper.

Bought this Lens in March for the A6600 but it ended up as my everyday lens on my A7R4, quality is superb for an APSC crop on this camera and slightly better 4K in this mode

Does what it says on the box, extremely well, real field depth.

I used to travel with the Sigma Trio for Sony APS-C: 16mm, 30mm, 56mm F/1.4 and the quality was amazing. However, being the heavy traveler that I am (up to 6 continents this year, yes, I said continents, not countries!) I need something more travel friendly. Switching between 3 primes was just soooo annoying. This 16-55mm G lens gives me just as good as image quality and now the extra convenience. Also for travel, I found myself shooting a lot of environmental portraits at F/2.8 - F/5.6. For example if the background is too blurred (i.e. Eiffel Tower or the Egyptian pyramids) then it doesn't show the beautiful scenery. Therefore I am not missing out much on the Sigma's F/1.4 at all. Now all I need is for Sony to make a APSC super wide angle zoom version 2 (update the Sony E 10-18mm f/4 to a GM or G series!)

Yes its expensive....but worth every penny. If you own the Sigma 16mm this lens is about the same weight and length. It has amazing sharpness, color, clarity, contrast...I can go on and on. I'm very happy with my purchase and you will be too.

Been using the lens for a couple of months now, build and image quality is outstanding (with a6300 body). This is the lens to get if you’re intending to stay in the Sony apsc system as an overall excellent (and small-ish) all-in-one lens that covers most of the common focal lengths you need from landscape to short-telephoto. Only gripe is it’s super pricey, look for it on sale or at a 3rd party seller if it’s cheaper!

I bought this lens to replace my three Sigma f1.4 primes and apart from the loss of two stops of exposure have not been disappointed. The lens has exceptional sharpness and contrast at all apertures and focal lengths and easily matches or exceeds the Sigma primes. Build quality and handling are excellent.

My wife bought me this for Christmas and I've been playing with it since. This is definitely the best lense I have for my a6500. Very sharp at full aperture and easy to use. I love the constant f2.8. This will go with me everywhere. It'll probably not be my video lense of choice as my 24mm f1.8 Zeiss prime works better on the gimbal and is also a beautiful lense.

Sold my 16-70 Zeiss f4. Zoom on this lens is much smoother and I like the f2.8.