The Professional's Source 866.276.1435 / 212.502.6357

Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver)

  • Price: $248.00
  • Free Shipping (USA)
  • Back-ordered

    Availability Details

    Close

    This item is backordered by the manufacturer.

  • B&H # SO1628
  • Mfr# SEL16F28

Product Highlights

  • For Sony Alpha NEX Digital Cameras
  • Pancake Style Lens - 0.8"/22mm Long
  • Equivalent to 24mm in 35mm Format
  • Autofocus (AF) & Manual Focus (MF)
  • Fast f/2.8 Aperture
  • 83° Angle of View
  • Low Noise during Movie Capture
  • 49mm Filter Size
  • 9.4" (0.24m) Minimum Focusing Distance
  • Weighs Only 2.5 oz (70 g)

Protect Your Purchase

 

What item is right for you?

Ask our Experts!

866.276.1435
Live Chat

Get the chance to explore your creativity with the Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver). This lightweight and compact lens is stylishly designed to match the NEX camera series and is exceptionally portable (it will fit in your pocket). It features an internal stepping motor for smooth, accurate, and very quiet autofocusing for both photos and videos.

The SEL16F28 helps to deliver clear images in low lighting situations due to its fast f/2.8 maximum aperture. This 16mm (24mm in 35mm equivalent) wide-angle lens provides an 83° angle of view and a minimum focusing distance of 9.4" (0.24m). This versatile lens provides coverage for a broad range of photo subjects including, but by no means limited to, landscapes, portraits, close-ups, and nature.

Performance
Focal Length 16 mm
Comparable APS-C Focal Length: 24 mm
Aperture Maximum: f/2.8
Minimum: f/22
Camera Mount Type Sony (E Mount for NEX)
Format Compatibility DSLR (APS-C Sensor)
Angle of View 83°
Minimum Focus Distance 9.4" (23.88 cm)
Magnification 0.073x
Maximum Reproduction Ratio 1:13.6
Groups/Elements 5/5
Diaphragm Blades 7
Features
Image Stabilization No
Autofocus Yes
Tripod Collar No
Physical
Filter Thread 49 mm
Dimensions (DxL) Approx. 0.89 x 2.44" (2.26 x 6.20 cm)
Weight 2.47 oz (70 g)

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver)
 
4.3

(based on 39 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (19)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (14)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (5)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (0)

97%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Compact (36)
  • Easy to use (35)
  • Improves picture quality (20)
  • Interfaces well with camcorder (10)

Cons

  • Poor clarity (4)

Best Uses

  • Shooting indoors (24)
  • Panoramic filming (23)
  • Shooting outdoors (23)
  • Close up filming (11)
  • Upgrade (3)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Tech savvy (19), Aspiring film maker (5), Film professional (4), Technically challenged (4), Parent (3)
    • Was this a gift?:
    • No (30), Yes (3)

Most Liked Positive Review

 

super sharp lens!

A must-have if you've got a NEX-5. You can't really see the quality image that the CMOS sensor is capable of with the 18-55 zoom. The 16mm wide angle lens is VERY ...Read complete review

A must-have if you've got a NEX-5. You can't really see the quality image that the CMOS sensor is capable of with the 18-55 zoom. The 16mm wide angle lens is VERY sharp, corner to corner. It also makes the camera marginally a "pocket camera" since it's smaller and a lot lighter weight than the zoom. You need this lens!

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

 

Disappointing for a prime

I use NEX3 with 16/2.8 to supplement my primary Olympus E-3 with Zuiko 12-60. Mostly urban and landscape photos, documentary rather than pretty postcards. At least half of them made at...Read complete review

I use NEX3 with 16/2.8 to supplement my primary Olympus E-3 with Zuiko 12-60. Mostly urban and landscape photos, documentary rather than pretty postcards. At least half of them made at the widest available angle. So far all my Sony experience, around 200 shots, was in broad daylight @ ISO 200.

Both Sony 16/2.8 and Zuiko at 12 mm are equivalent to 24 mm, but owing to 3/2 frame format and different distortion pattern, real-world photos from Sony are noticeably wider. Slight pincushion distortion of the Sony usually needs no correction. Focusing with NEX-3 is almost always good (unlike the inconsistent Olympus). No signs of flare at all (but then I never experienced it with the Zuiko either). End of good news.

Bad news: image quality beats pocket superzooms, but it's not a match for a midrange SLR zoom like Zuiko 12-60 or a cheaper Canon 10-22. If you read independent reviews you probably know that the Sony is quite soft, with sweet spot at F/8 and above. It's true, although the stop-down gain between F/4 (imo the widest practical aperture) and F/8 is marginal.

Worse, contrast rendition is unpleasant and it's quite inconsistent across the frame - some shots show a noticeable difference in contrast from center to edges. Overall, out-of-camera jpegs look mushed, untidy, like a pocket camera - there's fine detail but photos just looks dull, even with a polarizer on a sunny day.

My sample also is decentered - left third of the frame is consistently worse than the right one. At F/10 decentering reduces to acceptable levels. Other samples tested at the dealers' also had some centering problems and one refused focusing out-of-the-box (and it was May-June 2011, one year after introduction).

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 39 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-20

Back to top

Previous | Next »

 
5.0

A Match made in Heaven!

By Vintagemusic

from East-Central Ohio

About Me Multi-brand DSLR owner, Tech Savvy

Verified Buyer

Pros

  • Compact Design
  • Easy To Use
  • Interfaces Well With Camcorder
  • Light-weight portability

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Close Up Filming
    • Large Subject Outdoor
    • Panoramic Filming
    • Shooting Indoors

    Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

    Image quality and performance of my specific 16mm SEL16F28 f/2.8 lens exceeded my expectations. Fon Indoor, Outdoor, architectural, portrait, large-subject photography and video- this lens is a match made in heaven for the NEX-5N camera/camcorder!

    Image quality is comparable to that of more expensive, major brand lenses I own within the 16mm range.

    I'm super pleased with my copy of the 16mm, Sony SEL16F28 lens!

    VM

    • Was this a gift?:
    • No

    Comment on this review

     
    5.0

    Great wide angle lens!

    By Greet

    from Guatemala

    About Me Grandmother to be, Love photography, Parent

    Verified Buyer

    Pros

    • Compact Design
    • Easy To Use
    • Improves Picture Quality

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Panoramic Filming
      • Shooting Outdoors

      Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

      Enjoying being able to carry my camera and both lenses without bulk and weight.

      • Was this a gift?:
      • No

      Comment on this review

       
      4.0

      Beautiful Wide Angle

      By Natali

      from Salt Lake City, UT

      About Me Tech Savvy

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Compact Design
      • Easy To Use

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Panoramic Filming

        Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

        As a Canon user, I purchased this lens as a gift for a friend and got the chance to use it on a walk on the High Line. It takes gorgeous photos, with limited distortion. Obviously, if you've got a Sony, your lens options for this new camera are limited, but this one is light and easy to use. Plus, it is beautiful. I can't speak as to how long it will last, but I know Sony has made strides in quality lenses. Of course, I've heard they also sell a mount to fit to Canon or Nikon lenses, which would maximize your lens options.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Comment on this review

         
        3.0

        Only pancake lens for NEX

        By Tamas

        from APO, AE

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Compact Design

        Cons

        • Poor Clarity

        Best Uses

        • Shooting Outdoors

        Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

        I bought this lens because at the moment this is the only pancake lens for the NEX and I wanted to have the option to make my kit as small as possible for my bike rides. The optical quality is average and not up to the NEX-5N's sensor but the lens is cheap and also, the Sony fisheye and wide angle converters are only compatible with this lens.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Comment on this review

         
        4.0

        Useful

        By meeks

        from seattle, wa

        About Me Tech Savvy

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Easy To Use
        • Interfaces Well With Camcorder

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Panoramic Filming

          Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

          I purchased this as a compact alternative to the 18-55mm lens that came packaged with my Sony NEXC3. My hope was that it could be a lens that took advantage of the compactness of the NEXC3's body frame.

          While the lens is limited mostly to landscapes as it is a fixed wide angle lens, it does perform that function admirably. What withholds a 5 rating is that the lens was a little thicker and heavier than I thought it would be based on the internet photo. The most comfortable way to shoot is still with one hand holding the lens and one on the body of the camera.

          • Was this a gift?:
          • No

          Comment on this review

           
          3.0

          good value

          By frank

          from australia

          About Me Film Professional

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Compact Design
          • Easy To Use
          • Interfaces Well With Camcorder

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Panoramic Filming
            • Shooting Indoors
            • Shooting Outdoors

            Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

            good compact wide angle at value

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

            Comment on this review

             
            4.0

            affordable & sharp

            By Homes of Cocoa Beach

            from Cocoa Beach, FL

            About Me Aspiring Film Maker

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Compact Design
            • Easy To Use
            • Improves Picture Quality

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Panoramic Filming
              • Shooting Indoors

              Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

              Haven't had a whole lot of opportunity to really use its lens, but it produces very sharp & vivid images. Nice lens paired with Sony NEX-3, makes for an outstanding high performing "pocket camera"

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Comment on this review

              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

               
              4.0

              A sized lens for the NEX body

              By rodrive29

              from Puebla, Mexico

              About Me Aspiring Film Maker

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Compact Design

              Cons

              • No Increase In Performance

              Best Uses

              • Shooting Indoors

              Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

              The first thing that comes to my mind is that this lens isn't for every one, and surelly not for everything, the focal lenght corresponds to a wide angle so this should be observed. To have an idea, is like the focal length from a cell phone and sometimes is too wide.

              It has a f2.8 lens, so many would think this would help in low light, this is true but only by 2/3, and the same (or better) effect could be done by having a f3.5 and setting a higher ISO. It also comes with a trade off, the lens becomes really soft when fully open so I try not to use it behind f5 if I don't really need it. Finally this is a wide angle, therefore DOF is high even at f2.8 and you won't find too much background defocusing.

              If you are really interested in portability you will find it useful, If you are a pixel peeper looking for sharpness then forget about it.

              Personally I like it, and use it mostly when I go to parties and for night walkaround (where I don't want to be intrusive... and carry my heavy gear), however for daylight time prefer the 18-55mm unless portability is essential.

              I've been able to get photos with my friends and architecture with this tiny lens, however I do not use this one for landscapes as I said sometimes is too wide.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Comment on this review

              (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

               
              2.0

              Disappointing for a prime

              By NVO

              from Moscow, Russia

              About Me Documenting heritage, Landscape photography

              Verified Reviewer

              Pros

              • Compact Design
              • Consistent focusing
              • Flare resistant

              Cons

              • Poor Clarity
              • Quality issues

              Best Uses

                Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                I use NEX3 with 16/2.8 to supplement my primary Olympus E-3 with Zuiko 12-60. Mostly urban and landscape photos, documentary rather than pretty postcards. At least half of them made at the widest available angle. So far all my Sony experience, around 200 shots, was in broad daylight @ ISO 200.

                Both Sony 16/2.8 and Zuiko at 12 mm are equivalent to 24 mm, but owing to 3/2 frame format and different distortion pattern, real-world photos from Sony are noticeably wider. Slight pincushion distortion of the Sony usually needs no correction. Focusing with NEX-3 is almost always good (unlike the inconsistent Olympus). No signs of flare at all (but then I never experienced it with the Zuiko either). End of good news.

                Bad news: image quality beats pocket superzooms, but it's not a match for a midrange SLR zoom like Zuiko 12-60 or a cheaper Canon 10-22. If you read independent reviews you probably know that the Sony is quite soft, with sweet spot at F/8 and above. It's true, although the stop-down gain between F/4 (imo the widest practical aperture) and F/8 is marginal.

                Worse, contrast rendition is unpleasant and it's quite inconsistent across the frame - some shots show a noticeable difference in contrast from center to edges. Overall, out-of-camera jpegs look mushed, untidy, like a pocket camera - there's fine detail but photos just looks dull, even with a polarizer on a sunny day.

                My sample also is decentered - left third of the frame is consistently worse than the right one. At F/10 decentering reduces to acceptable levels. Other samples tested at the dealers' also had some centering problems and one refused focusing out-of-the-box (and it was May-June 2011, one year after introduction).

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

                Comment on this review

                 
                5.0

                Good Quality

                By Markatect

                from Charlotte, NC

                About Me Tech Savvy

                Verified Buyer

                Pros

                • Compact Design
                • Easy To Use
                • Interfaces Well With Camcorder

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                  • Shooting Outdoors

                  Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                  Good compliment for Sony FS100U and NEX5 cameras. Mount is quick and rigid. I also have the conversion lenses that came with very nice storage cases. Would be nice if this included a case.

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • No

                  Comment on this review

                   
                  4.0

                  Nice Little Lens

                  By RA Barnes

                  from Hillsboro, NM

                  About Me Aspiring Film Maker, Tech Savvy

                  Verified Buyer

                  Pros

                  • Compact Design
                  • Easy To Use
                  • Interfaces Well With Camcorder

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Shooting Indoors

                    Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                    As advertised, a nice little wide-angle for my NEX-FS100 -- although I tend to use an EOS lens instead.

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • No

                    Comment on this review

                    (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    5.0

                    You may not take this lens off

                    By Joe Stealthmode

                    from Gastonia, NC USA

                    About Me Enthusiast

                    Verified Reviewer

                    Pros

                    • Compact Design
                    • Low light

                    Cons

                    • Attracts dust

                    Best Uses

                    • Shooting Indoors
                    • Wide Angle

                    Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                    This lens has changed the way I take photographs. I have a Sony Alpha APS-C DSLR and I use the NEX mostly for times when I need the space or alongside the Alpha to take advantage of situations the NEX handles more efficiently, like wide-angle shots with this lens or Panoramic mode. This lens is very good at f/2.8 and magnificent at f/22 if you can pull it off. The only con I can come up with is that it has a lot of little nooks and crannies that dust can get into, but it doesn't affect the pictures.

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • No

                    Comment on this review

                    (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    5.0

                    High quality and lightweight!

                    By Tiago Burchardt

                    from Rio de Janeiro, BR

                    About Me Film Professional

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                    • Compact Design
                    • Easy To Use
                    • Improves Picture Quality
                    • Interfaces Well With Camcorder

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                      • Close Up Filming
                      • Panoramic Filming
                      • Shooting Indoors
                      • Shooting Outdoors

                      Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                      Small, light and great! 2.8 with a very focused and easy to operate. Giving air actually a movie!

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • Yes

                      Comment on this review

                       
                      5.0

                      I would buy this product again.

                      By Debiaze

                      from Rio de Janeiro - Brasil

                      About Me Technically Challenged

                      Verified Buyer

                      Pros

                      • Compact Design
                      • Easy To Use
                      • Improves Picture Quality

                      Cons

                        Best Uses

                        • Close Up Filming
                        • Panoramic Filming
                        • Shooting Outdoors

                        Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                        I used this product during my last voccation. I was fantastic. Great photos.....

                        • Was this a gift?:
                        • Yes

                        Comment on this review

                         
                        5.0

                        Best Digital Camera System Ever

                        By fuji400

                        from Panama City, Panama

                        About Me Film Professional, Tech Savvy

                        Verified Buyer

                        Pros

                        • Compact Design
                        • Easy To Use
                        • Improves Picture Quality

                        Cons

                          Best Uses

                          • Panoramic Filming
                          • Shooting Indoors
                          • Shooting Outdoors
                          • Upgrade

                          Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                          I'm a die hard film user and have looked for years for a compact digital camera system. Finally, the search is over. The NEX is here. This lens gives you just that extra bit of coverage that an 18mm lens does not cover. Sturdy, lightweight, compact and so sharp. The photo quality is A+. I assure that if you are willing to make the investment, you will not be disappointed.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Comment on this review

                           
                          5.0

                          I like it!

                          By kenabbottphoto

                          from Asheville

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Compact Design
                          • Easy To Use
                          • Size speed angle of vie

                          Cons

                          • Pricey

                          Best Uses

                          • Shooting Outdoors

                          Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                          sharp, very small and light. No vignetting that I've noticed. I've been shooting it at f4-5.6 and it looks sharp. Maybe a bit less so in those distant corners, but all in all a nice lens.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Comment on this review

                           
                          4.0

                          Good compact lens for compact setup

                          By Jack of all trades

                          from Mostly CONUS

                          About Me Tech Savvy

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Compact Design
                          • Easy To Use
                          • Improves Picture Quality
                          • Interfaces Well With Camcorder

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                              Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                              Not much to say. Works as advertised. Compact lens when space or weight don't permit better/larger lenses

                              • Was this a gift?:
                              • No

                              Comment on this review

                               
                              5.0

                              Must have for NEX 5

                              By tt_net

                              from Atalnta, GA

                              About Me Technically Challenged, Tech Savvy

                              Verified Buyer

                              Pros

                              • Compact Design
                              • Easy To Use
                              • Improves Picture Quality

                              Cons

                                Best Uses

                                • Panoramic Filming
                                • Shooting Indoors
                                • Shooting Outdoors

                                Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                                It's perfect in all other aspects. AF is really fast. Almost weightless and the size is very well balanced on the Nex. The build is great, feels solid as it looks. Manual focusing ring (electronically coupled, not mechanical) is as smooth as the best manual focus lenses out there.
                                From my experience:

                                @f2.8, center sharpness is great, which all that is needed for blurring out backgrounds and/or available light shots. In real-world practice, I've never felt like corner sharpness is a priority in these situations.

                                @f8-11, corners are sharpened up and the lens produces good, wide landscape shots.

                                It keeps the camera pocketable (jacket or cargo shorts) and easy to handle. You get a great wide angle which is pretty fast. It could be a little sharper, but between the wide angle, size, and video capabilities, I have no real complaints.

                                • Was this a gift?:
                                • No

                                Comment on this review

                                (1 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

                                 
                                3.0

                                Not as Wide-Angle as I would like to

                                By lusw

                                from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

                                Verified Buyer

                                Pros

                                • Compact Design
                                • Easy To Use
                                • Improves Picture Quality

                                Cons

                                • Bulky Design
                                • No Increase In Performance

                                Best Uses

                                  Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                                  Not as Wide-Angle as I would like to

                                  Comment on this review

                                   
                                  5.0

                                  Excellent wide angle lens

                                  By Douglas

                                  from San Francisco

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Compact Design
                                  • Easy To Use
                                  • Improves Picture Quality

                                  Cons

                                    Best Uses

                                    • Close Up Filming
                                    • Panoramic Filming
                                    • Shooting Indoors
                                    • Shooting Outdoors

                                    Comments about Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver):

                                    Great little wide angle lens for my Sony NEX 5 camera body. Very pleased with the quality of shots with this lens.

                                    • Was this a gift?:
                                    • No

                                    Comment on this review

                                    Displaying reviews 1-20

                                    Back to top

                                    Previous | Next »

                                    T Mounts

                                    Sony -  VCL-ECF1 E-Mount Fisheye Conversion Lens
                                    • Price: $109.95
                                     

                                    Filters & Filter Kits

                                    Tiffen -  49mm UV Protector Filter
                                    • Price: $7.09
                                     
                                    Tiffen -  49mm Circular Polarizing Filter
                                    • Price: $27.95
                                     

                                    Care & Cleaning

                                    Pearstone -  Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, 18% Gray (7 x 7.9")
                                      • Original: $4.99
                                      • Save: $0.50
                                    • Price: $4.49
                                     

                                    Color Balancing / Lens Calibration

                                    LensAlign -  LensAlign MkII Focus Calibration System
                                    • Price: $79.95
                                     

                                    Books & Tutorials

                                    Cengage Course Tech. -  Book: David Busch's Quick Snap Guide to Using Digital SLR Lenses by David D. Busch
                                    • Price: $24.95
                                     

                                    Extension Tubes & Teleconverters

                                    Sony -  VCL-ECU1 18mm E-Mount Wide Angle Conversion Lens
                                    • Price: $109.00
                                     

                                    What's in the Box

                                    Sony E-Mount SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 Wide-Angle Alpha E-Mount Lens (Silver)
                                    • Front Lens Cap
                                    • Rear Lens Cap
                                    • 1-Year Limited Warranty (Parts & Labor)
                                     
                                     
                                    See any errors on this page? Let us know.

                                    Close

                                    Close