Sony E SELP16502

Weighing just 57g with a retractable design, this lens combines OSS stabilization and power zoom for smooth, silent autofocus—ideal for video on Sony APS-C bodies. Its compact 16-50mm range and 4 aspherical elements deliver respectable sharpness for the size, though the f/3.5-5.6 aperture limits low-light capability. Best for casual shooters and travel vloggers who need a lens that slips into a pocket without weighing down a compact E-mount kit.

★★★★★ 5.0 (3)
Focal length 16-50mm
Aperture f/3.5
Mount Sony E
stabilization true
weather sealed true
weight g 107
af type Refined AF
lens type zoom
Sony E SELP16502 lens
85 Overall Score
Also available in:

About This Lens

The Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens is a compact, lightweight zoom designed specifically for Sony's APS-C E-mount mirrorless cameras. Offering a versatile 24-75mm equivalent focal range, it’s perfect for wide-angle landscapes, tight portraits, and general everyday shooting. Its retractable design keeps your camera setup sleek and easy to carry, making it an excellent travel companion. Optically, this lens is engineered for clarity and quality. One extra-low dispersion (ED) element reduces color fringing and chromatic aberrations, while four aspherical elements minimize distortion and maintain sharpness across the frame. A rounded seven-blade diaphragm provides smooth, attractive bokeh when working with shallow depth of field. The built-in Power Zoom mechanism offers smooth, controlled zooming via an on-lens switch or compatible camera body controls—ideal for video use. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization reduces blur from hand shake, especially in low-light conditions or at longer focal lengths. Combined with internal focusing and a close minimum focus distance of just 9.8", this lens ensures fast autofocus performance and close-up versatility in a small, easy-to-use package.

  • SUPERIOR IMAGING - Experience exceptional image quality with the lens's advanced optics, delivering sharp, detailed photos and videos across the entire zoom range.
  • VERSATILE ZOOM RANGE - Capture a wide variety of subjects with the 16-50mm focal length, perfect for landscapes, portraits, and everyday snapshots with your Sony E-mount camera.
  • COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT - Enjoy the ultimate portability with this lens's incredibly compact and lightweight design, making it ideal for travel and on-the-go shooting at only 3.8 oz.
  • SMOOTH POWER ZOOM - Achieve smooth, controlled zooming with the powered zoom mechanism, perfect for creating cinematic video footage with precise framing and transitions.

Overview

Performance

Performance Percentiles

AF 53.3
Bokeh 68.9
Build 97.5
Macro 36
Optical 64.4
Aperture 71.8
Versatility 83.7
Social Proof 89.9
Stabilization 79.6

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong build (98th percentile) 98th
  • Strong social proof (90th percentile) 90th
  • Strong versatility (84th percentile) 84th
  • Strong stabilization (80th percentile) 80th

Cons

Specifications

Full Specifications

Optics

Type zoom
Focal Length Min 16
Focal Length Max 50
Elements 9
Groups 8
Aspherical Elements 4
ED Elements 1

Aperture

Max Aperture f/3.5
Min Aperture 3.5-5.6
Constant No
Diaphragm Blades 7

Build

Mount Sony E
Format APS-C
Weather Sealed Yes
Weight 0.1 kg / 0.2 lbs
Filter Thread 40

AF & Stabilization

AF Type Refined AF
Stabilization Yes

Focus

Min Focus Distance 250
Max Magnification 0.215x

Value & Pricing

€272

vs Competition

Spec Sony E SELP16502 Sigma Sports 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports Tamron Di III 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Meike Neo Series MK-5514STM-Z Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Viltrox AF AF 25mm F1.7 E
Focal Length 16-50mm 70-200mm 28-75mm 55mm 28-200mm 25mm
Max Aperture f/3.5 2.8 f/2.8 f/1.4 f/4 1.7
Mount Sony E Sony E Nikon Z Nikon Z L-Mount Sony E
Stabilization true true false true true true
Weather Sealed true true true false true true
Weight (g) 107 166 550 280 413 170
AF Type Refined AF High-response Linear Actuator (HLA) VXD linear motor STM Autofocus STM
Lens Type zoom zoom zoom prime macro prime
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare
Product AfBokehBuildMacroOpticalApertureVersatilitySocial ProofStabilization
Sony E SELP16502 53.368.997.53664.471.883.789.979.6
Sigma Sports 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports Compare 53.387.394.146.299.779.279.689.999.9
Tamron Di III 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Compare 98.181.562.984.187.979.278.589.934.4
Meike Neo Series MK-5514STM-Z Compare 85.594.972.694.849.694.833.989.979.6
Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Compare 53.372.173.58891.265.895.989.999.4
Viltrox AF AF 25mm F1.7 E Compare 85.592.793.762.151.791.733.989.979.6

Usage Scores

Macro (59.2)Overall (84.8)Budget (90.6)Street (84.1)Travel (91.7)Portrait (77.7)Landscape (78.5)Professional (72.5)Video Cinema (72.8)Wildlife Sports (79.3)

A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.

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