Designed to suit the 23.6 x 15.8mm image sensors on Sony's Alpha DSLR cameras, the new Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* DT 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 ZA lens covers a focal length range equivalent to 24-120mm in 35mm format. Although described as 'the first professional-grade 5x zoom lens specifically designed for APS format DSLRs' it's probably better seen as a 'pro-sumer' lens. It's an excellent general-purpose lens for the A700 and A350 models, whose high resolutions can capitalise on its performance.
Combining Carl Zeiss optical design with Sony construction, the 16-80mm lens is made in Japan and carries both Zeiss and Sony branding, indicating the collaboration between the two companies. It is constructed from 14 elements in 10 groups and includes two glass moulded aspherical lenses to minimise spherical aberrations. Carl ZeissT* coatings subdue internal reflections and prevent flare and ghosting.
Build quality is good - but not outstanding. The lens barrel is made from polycarbonate plastic (for lightness) and the zoom and focusing rings have ridged rubber coatings that provide a decent grip - although we found they tend to trap grit. Both rings are relatively wide, with the zoom ring slightly wider than the focusing ring.
The focusing ring is towards the front, while the zoom ring is closer to the camera body. Between them is a distance scale with feet and metre markings at 0.36, 0.6, 1 and 3 metres plus infinity for manual focusing. No depth of field or infrared indicators are provided. The zoom ring has engraved marks for 16, 24, 35, 50 and 80mm focal lengths, which are lined up against an indicator mark on the lens barrel. Zooming to the 80mm position almost doubles its length of the lens barrel.
Margaret Brown
more : photoreview
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