Sony Sirui Sniper 2 Lens Kit with 16mm f/1.2 and 75mm Review
The Sirui Sniper 2 Kit offers insane f/1.2 bokeh on both a 16mm and 75mm lens for Sony APS-C. It's a wildly creative and specific tool for portrait shooters.
Overview
The Sirui Sniper 2 Kit is a weird, wonderful, and wildly specific pair of lenses. You get a 16mm f/1.2 and a 75mm f/1.2, both for APS-C Sony cameras, and both with autofocus. The one thing to know? This kit is built for one person: the portrait and low-light shooter who wants extreme background blur at two very different focal lengths. It's not a travel kit, and it's not versatile. But for its niche, it's kind of brilliant.
Performance
The performance here is a tale of two extremes, and the bokeh is the star. Both lenses sit in the 99th percentile for background blur quality, which is insane for the price. The f/1.2 aperture is no joke, and you get that creamy look on both the ultra-wide 16mm and the short-telephoto 75mm. The surprise is the autofocus, which lands in a mediocre 47th percentile. It gets the job done for portraits, but don't expect lightning speed or rock-solid video tracking. For stills, though, the image quality punches way above its weight.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Insane f/1.2 bokeh on both lenses (99th percentile) 99th
- Unique focal length combo for creative portraits 96th
- Solid build quality feels better than the price suggests 80th
- Autofocus is a bonus for still photographers over manual options 74th
Cons
- Autofocus is just okay, not great for fast action
- No image stabilization on either lens
- The 16mm/75mm combo is not versatile for general use
- Heavy and not weather-sealed
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Focal Length Min | 16 |
| Focal Length Max | 16 |
| Elements | 14 |
| Groups | 5 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.2 |
| Min Aperture | f/16 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 13 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 0.8 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 58 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 300 |
Value & Pricing
At $599 for two f/1.2 lenses with autofocus, the value proposition is actually pretty wild. You're paying for optical character and speed, not perfection. If your goal is to shoot stunning, blurry-background portraits in two distinct styles without breaking the bank, this kit is absolutely worth it. If you need one do-it-all lens, look elsewhere.
vs Competition
This kit doesn't really have a direct competitor, but let's look at alternatives. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is cheaper and more versatile as a single 'nifty fifty' equivalent, but you lose the extreme aperture and the creative two-lens setup. The Meike 55mm f/1.8 Pro is a sharper, better-built full-frame option, but it's more expensive alone than this whole kit and lacks the ultra-wide companion. The Sirui kit is for the photographer who wants to commit to a style, not compromise with one lens.
Verdict
Buy the Sirui Sniper 2 Kit if you're a Sony APS-C shooter obsessed with portrait bokeh and you want two distinct, powerful tools for the price of one nice lens. The autofocus is fine for the job, the build is good, and the images have serious character. Skip it if you need stabilization, weather sealing, a versatile travel setup, or flawless autofocus for video. This is a specialist's kit, and for that specialist, it's a fantastic deal.