The Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS ($999.99) is a compact zoom lens for Sony E-mount cameras . It's designed for use with APS-C models like the Alpha 5000 , but will also work (at a lower resolution) with the full-frame Alpha 7 and 7R .

Sharp throughout zoom range; 4.4x zoom ratio; Optically stabilized; Compact; Sturdy build; Includes hood

Pricey; Some softness at edges; A little distortion

A compact zoom lens for APS-C E-mount compatible Sony cameras that sports optical image stabilisation, a constant maximum aperture of f/4, and provides a field of view equivalent to a 24-105mm lens on a 35mm camera.

I have found not that many great reviews on this 4/16-70, most likely because the price level; good things are not cheap though you always find other things. This is an amazing lens, very sharp, outstanding color quality, a focal length for almost 95% of your shots, light weight, it is just the...

This is my First Zeiss E-Mount lens. My previous lens was the 18-55mm Kit lens for the Sony C3. This new lens has some heft to it. I am an above average beginner camera person so I will tell you my impressions as a beginner.

On a Sony A6500, the optical performance is not quite equal that of a Canon 24-70 f2.8 with Sigma MC-11 adapter. However, it is significantly less expensive and smaller than the latter combo. Great match for A6500.

size

optical performance

The Sony E 16-70mm F4 is an excellent lens. It is sharp and high contrast at ALL focal length and ALL aperture. Usually, a zoom lens tend to be soft at the tele end and wide open. The Sony 16-70 is very sharp at 70mm F4.

sharp; good contrast

N/A

I recently purchased this lens hoping to replace the 18-55mm kit lens with something much better. Alas, that is not the case. True, the lens does have a greater span in its field of view. However the image quality is strangely lacking in contrast, and the colors seem almost hazy.

Fast / accurate auto-focus

This lens is not sharp at all. And there's tons of smearing in low light. I understand that people are desperate for a good standard zoom lens for the a6xxx series, but I found all the standard e-mount zoom lenses to be sub-standard in IQ in comparison to other apsc lenses, the Sigma 17-70 2.8-f4 on...

This is easy for me to review. Simply put: this lens and the Sony NEX-6 camera is the single best combo I've ever used. I sold my Canon 6D and multitude of lenses for one camera and one lens, and I couldn't be happier.

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=tE8gZ0L_YiU The carl-zeiss e-mount 24mm/f1.8 lense has been my favorite amongst all other E-mounts; including 18-200mm, 35mm/f1.8, 16-50mm, 28mm/f2.8 pancake. The good old (chunky) 18-200mm is also a great full range lense, espeically when used with VG20.