The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM ($799.99) may be available as a kit lens with the Sony Alpha 77 II ( at Amazon) camera, but its fixed f/2.8 aperture and wide-angle field of view separate it from more common lenses like the DT 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM II ($218.00 at Amazon) . It's pretty sharp throughout its zoom range, but it doesn't quite measure up to some others that are available for the Sony system, notably the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM and our Editors' Choice, the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM ($705.00 at Amazon) . The lens is fairly large, measuring in at 3.5 by 3.2 inches (HD). It weighs 1.3 pounds, uses 72mm front filters, and includes a reversible lens hood. It covers a field of view which matches that of a 24-75mm lens on a full-frame camera, and its maximum aperture is a constant f/2.8 throughout that range. It can focus as close as 12 inches, which translates to a maximum 1:5 magnification ratio. That puts it a bit behind the Sigma 17-70mm ($472.99 at Amazon) , which...
The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM is a fine standard angle zoom with a fixed f/2.8 aperture throughout its range, but it's a little pricey.
Sharp throughout zoom range; Fixed f/2.8 aperture; 3.1x zoom range
Lots of distortion at 16mm; Edges could be sharper; Pricey