The Sony DT 16-80mm (SAL-1680Z) is the aboriginal zoom lens for the Alpha DSLR review and tutorial

Sony DT 16-80mm

The Sony DT 16-80mm (SAL-1680Z) is the aboriginal zoom lens for the Alpha DSLR arrangement advised by awful admired optical aggregation Carl Zeiss. It offers a general-purpose 16-80mm range, agnate to 24-120mm aback army on an Alpha DSLR, accustomed appropriate advanced bend to telephoto capabilities. It is advised for use with cropped-frame bodies like the A100, and is not adapted for full-frame.

The Sony DT 16-80mm lens was appear at the aforementioned time as the DSLR-A100 anatomy itself, and was an undoubted highlight of the system’s launch. Best of the aboriginal Alpha lenses were rebadged versions of absolute Konica Minolta models, but actuality was a cast fresh zoom for the arrangement which promised a affection general-purpose advantage for acute photographers. Sony additionally appear two added anchored focal breadth lenses from Carl Zeiss at the Alpha launch.

Sony DT 16-80mm (SAL-1680Z)

Unfortunately none of the Zeiss lenses were absolutely accessible for auction at the A100’s Summer 2006 barrage and a few months after the absolution date of the DT 16-80mm had been delayed alike further. This was a big disappointment for those who believed until the cast fresh lenses (and bodies) arrived, the Alpha arrangement was little added than a rebadged project. Thankfully any issues apropos the adjournment accept now been bound and the DT 16-80mm assuredly went on auction in Spring 2007.

As one of the best agitative and awful advancing lenses for the Alpha system, we’re admiring to present our fresh abounding analysis of the Sony DT 16-80mm. It represents an advancement for absolute Alpha kit lens owners, or of advance a affection general-purpose advantage for those affairs into the Alpha arrangement from scratch.

Click actuality for the Sony DT 16-80mm video tour

As such we’ll be comparing it actuality adjoin the accepted Sony DT 18-70mm kit lens. The ambit of the DT 16-80mm is acutely both hardly added and longer, and the f4.5 breach at the telephoto end a little brighter, but how does the anatomy quality, absorption acceleration and crucially the optical affection measure-up?

Does the Sony DT 16-80mm absolve its college amount tag, or is the accepted kit lens still the best best for fresh buyers absent a general-purpose zoom? Find out in our Sony DT 16-80mm abounding analysis and for a affirmation of its design, appearance and coverage, analysis out our Sony DT 16-80mm video tour.

Testing notes

We activated the Sony DT 16-80mm and DT 18-70mm lenses application an Alpha A100 body. The A100 was set to its best affection Large Fine JPEG mode, and unless contrarily stated, all sample images were taken with Auto White Balance, 100 ISO sensitivity, Vivid colour approach and with the D-Range Optimiser switched off. The consecutive numbers of the 16-80mm and 18-70mm lenses activated were 3800651 and 1805672 respectively.

Sony DT 16-80mm architecture and anatomy quality

The Sony DT 18-70mm and DT 16-80mm lenses are pictured below, larboard and right, in their physically beeline positions. This occurs aback the DT 16-80mm is zoomed-out to its widest 16mm focal length, and aback the DT 18-70mm is positioned about mid-way through its range.

Sony CZ 16-80mm and kit lens – zoomed out

In agreement of concrete dimensions, the two lenses are absolutely absolutely similar. The DT 16-80mm and DT 18-70mm admeasurement 72x83mm and 66x77mm appropriately (diameter x beeline length), so while the Carl Zeiss archetypal is absolutely bigger, it’s not by a abundant deal.

Zoom both lenses to their longest focal lengths admitting and the DT 16-80mm extends added by 42mm compared to the bashful 17mm of the DT 18-70mm. Both lenses are pictured beneath zoomed-into their longest focal lengths, afresh with the DT 18-70mm on the larboard and the DT 16-80mm on the right.

Sony CZ 16-80mm and kit lens – zoomed in

The Carl Zeiss zoom may be alone hardly beyond than the accepted kit lens aback both are in their beeline positions, but the above is abundant heavier, belief 445g to the 235g of the DT 18-70mm. The added weight gives the DT 16-80mm a greater air of confidence, but it’s still almost ablaze compared to added exceptional zooms of a agnate blueprint and feels composed army on the A100 body.

Much of the added weight is bottomward to a greater cardinal of optical elements (14 compared to 11) and a brighter focal arrangement aback zoomed-in: f4.5 compared to f5.6 on the kit lens. The DT 16-80mm additionally employs a metal lens arise compared to the artificial arise on the kit lens and the all-embracing anatomy affection feels better, although not by a cogent amount – it’s absolutely not like upgrading, say, a Canon or Nikkor kit lens to one of their exceptional models. So while the Sony DT 16-80mm may be sturdier and added abundant than the kit lens, in agreement of accepted attending and feel, the aberration is not as abundant as you may hope.

The Sony DT 16-80mm has a 62mm clarify cilia and comes supplied with a accustomed accessory and a petal-style lens awning which can be antipodal over the end of the butt for transportation.

Sony DT 16-80mm focusing

The Sony DT 16-80mm appearance centralized absorption and a advanced aspect which (unlike the kit lens) doesn’t circle or extend. The AF motor charcoal aural the Alpha anatomy though, and in agreement of absorption acceleration and noise, the DT 16-80mm is almost agnate to the kit lens. So it’s not abnormally quick, and you’ll additionally apprehend it in action.

This is a disappointment for anyone acquisitive for decidedly faster or quieter auto-focusing from this exceptional lens – and we accept a affirmation of this in our Sony DT 16-80mm video bout area it’s bright the absorption is boilerplate abreast as quick or quiet as lens-based AF motors like Canon’s USM, Nikkor’s SWM, or absolutely Sony’s own SSM systems.

On the upside there is a able chiral absorption ring, and a window assuming distance, although there’s no full-time chiral focus advantage – you’ll charge to about-face the Alpha anatomy to chiral focus. As you about-face the chiral absorption arena you can additionally feel the gearing abaft it – afresh this is not as bland or step-less as battling systems.

Sony DT 16-80mm advanced bend coverage

The Sony DT 16-80mm is advised as a aerial affection accepted purpose lens for Alpha DSLR owners. Sporting an agnate ambit of 24-120mm, it zooms both added and best than the 27-105mm agnate ambit of the kit lens. This may not complete like a abundant aberration aback accounting down, but provides decidedly greater adaptability in practice.

To allegorize the advantage of the DT 16-80mm compared to the DT 18-70mm, we adapted anniversary to an Alpha A100 anatomy army on a tripod and attempt absolutely the aforementioned arena from the aforementioned position, aboriginal zoomed all the way out, afresh zoomed all the way in. Beneath are advantage shots taken with anniversary lens zoomed-out to their widest angle.

By attractive about the edges of the frames below, it’s bright the DT 16-80mm’s advanced bend advantage is calmly greater than the kit lens. This agnate focal breadth of 24mm not alone captures a bigger acreage of appearance aback you can’t footfall aback any further, but can be acclimated for added affecting advanced bend photography at abutting ambit – it’s a absolutely advantageous focal breadth to accept at your auctioning whether you’re cutting central or out.

Sony DT 16-80mm with Alpha A100

Sony DT 16-80mm telephoto coverage

Next up are examples of anniversary lens zoomed-in to their best focal lengths, pictured below, and afresh it’s bright the DT 16-80mm has a abundant best reach, giving it greater adaptability aback cutting portraits or tighter crops of abroad or baby subjects.

The 24-120mm agnate focal breadth of the DT 16-80mm is one of the best advantageous to accept in a accepted purpose lens and one of our own favourite ranges. Of advance claimed preferences vary, but if you’re into advanced angle, you’d be blessed to cede a best telephoto for a 24mm equivalent. The acceptable account if you’re advance from the kit lens admitting is you win at both ends of the range.

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