Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS Lens for Sony E
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Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS Lens for Sony E

SKU: ISO1670E

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Q&A

Questions & Answers

barry l : Will this pair well with the Sony A7iii, even though that camera has a full frame sensor?BARRY P : Remarkably although the 16-70 Sony-Zeiss is intended for crop-frame cameras, it performs remarkably well on my Sony A7RII. It should also work with the A7III.TERENCE M : It works fine with the full frame camera. You can use the automatic adjustment that reframes for the APS-C lens - or you can use full frame and crop our the vignetting. Still, over time, full frame lenses are preferred. I have both APS-C sony cameras (A6300 and NEX 7 as well as the A7S and A7II. I am slowly acquiring full frame lenses.ALAN S : It is an APS-C sensor lens which means it is made for a crop frame camera. I have no direct experience with it's use on a full frame camera but I am pretty certain it would have severe vignetting. Cheers.DAVID B : Great lens for APS sensors, but will vignette majorly for full frame. So, probably not. having said that, there may be a mode on an A7 to make it "work".
NEIL D : Will this lens fit a Sony A7R camera?HAI L : Physically it can be mounted on to A7, A7R. E-mount interface will work, which means auto focus and aperture control should work. Optical wise it is designed for APS-C format so it won't work perfectly for the full frame images. A7 and A7R bodies can do crop mode to use all the E lenses for APS-C size images. That is another way to use this lens. These are all learned from Sony's spec and yuotube. Personally I have not tried it on A7 or A7R.DAVID B : As I understand it, the answer is an unsatisfactory "yes". Unsatisfactory because while it "fits" onto the camera, the resulting image will not fill the entire digital full-frame.RUSS I : Yes, it will physically mount, but it will vignette as this lens is not made for the full frame sensor on the A7r. You need "FE" lenses for the full frame camera.SCOTT T : Yes it will fit but since the lens was designed for DX (crop sensor), not FX full frame, your effective pixel resolution will drop since most of your sensor will not be receiving an image.DAVID O : Not really. It's made for the APS-C sensors like the sony a6000, and not the fullframe sensors like the A7R. It will fit on the a7r, but the images won't be optimal. You would need a lens designed for a full frame lens for the A7r.PAUL P : Hi Neil, I am not sure if it fits the A7R, but it's a E-mount lens. I am using it for my Sony a6000 which is a APS-C format camera. Even if it fits the A7R, it doesn't make sense to use an APS lens on a FF camera. PaulALAN S : I'm sorry that I don't know. Cheers.MICHAEL M : though the lens will mount to the A7R body, the image size will NOT fill the full frame sensor. It is a wonderful lens for the smaller APS sensor, ie nex 6,7, 6000 cameras.LARRY L : No idea but I've used the lens on my A6000 and live it.ACCOUNTS P : 1) The A7R uses the "A" mount lens 2) The Sony Vario-Tessar T* 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS, E-mount NEX Series Camera Lens uses the "E" mount. 3) It apparently will fit using an expensive adapter, however I am unsure of the lens coverage.CRAIG S : Yes, the zeiss 16-70mm will fit the Sony A7r....BUT your pictures will be dark all around the edges, with only the center circle bright. This is a lens for APC size cameras, like the A6000, not full frame like the A& seriesGARY L : Yes, but will crop image to aps.
N D : is this lens a full frame one that is usable for all the megapixles on the sony a7?JEFF K : It does not; but will work in the crop mode resulting in a reduced pixel count photo. The only reason I would use it on a full frame camera would be if I was upgrading from an aps-c camera to a full frame camera. Spend your money on a lens designed for full frame camera. BTW, this lends would exceptionally well on a NEX7.MICHAEL C : No. This is designed for APS-C cameras.DAVID B : Sorry, no clue, I'm a NEX-7 shooter. Given that Sony is screwing us NEX-7 shooters, I would doubt that it would work for FullFrame.DOV A : NO. This lens is only for Sony E mount cameras which is APS-C size sensor, NOT full size

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2024-09-23T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Good general purpose lens

I've had this lens for a number of years firstly with my a6500 and now with an a6700. It is very good between 24 and 55mm and good outside those focal lengths. Stopping down improves the image quality at the edges of needed. The A6700 seems to get more from the lens, maybe because of the better sensor.

Selt62

2024-01-11T13:11:20

Rated 5 out of 5

Best travel lens for Sony

Best travel lens I've owned. I switched to Sony in 2016, and bought this lens for my A6000. Now, four APS-C and 3 FF bodies later, this is still my travel favorite. On the amazingly compact Sony APS-C bodies, the combo slips easily into a waist pack or photo vest pocket. It is sharp and a perfect range for travel, where the extra mm on the wide side get more use than more on the tele end would bring. After 8 years, it still rocks. A big test came earlier this year with a bucket list photo trip to Galapagos. An FE 100-400 GM stayed on the A7R4, and this trusty lens on the A6100 most of the time, for a combo that won't break my back. It is very hard to tell the difference from this, the GM zoom and the relatively few times I went to my primes even on a 60" screen. Bravo.

Gene V.

2023-08-09T20:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Better than expectedIdeal 'walk round'

Ideal walk round' lens for every day use. Good range and better quality than expected

Forest F.

2022-06-20T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

The perfect travel lens

Having been in the photographic retail trade (now retired) I know of the reputation for quality Zeiss has. I also have a Sony RX10 MKIV which has a Zeiss lens and is super sharp, so I was expecting a lot from the 16-70 Tessar on my newly purchased Sony A6600 and it has lived up to my expectations. Incredibly sharp all all focal lengths edge to edge, great colour reproduction, very light and compact. Highly recommended.

DigDGS

2022-06-20T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

The perfect travel lens

Having been in the photographic retail trade (now retired) I know of the reputation for quality Zeiss has. I also have a Sony RX10 MKIV which has a Zeiss lens and is super sharp, so I was expecting a lot from the 16-70 Tessar on my newly purchased Sony A6600 and it has lived up to my expectations. Incredibly sharp all all focal lengths edge to edge, great colour reproduction, very light and compact. Highly recommended.

cam m.

2021-10-13T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Superb

I bought this lens to replace the Zeiss A Frame lens and expected it to be the best there is. I wasn't disappointed.

MartinPeter

2021-10-12T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Sharp wide angle zoom, light and easy to use

I use this lens on an A6500. Together they provide a lightweight system that is comfortable to carry around all day. The lens focuses quickly and produces edge to edge sharpness at all but extreme settings.Even wide open edge sharpness is only a little softer and perfectly acceptable.

GeofL

2021-10-12T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Sharp wide angle zoom, light and easy to use

I use this lens on an A6500. Together they provide a lightweight system that is comfortable to carry around all day. The lens focuses quickly and produces edge to edge sharpness at all but extreme settings.Even wide open edge sharpness is only a little softer and perfectly acceptable.

Goef

2021-08-09T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent lens

Having just purchased an Alpha 6400 body I bought this lens using the Welcome to Alpha promotion. I have only used it for a few shots so far. It is a reasonably lightweight and easy to operate lens with very effective OSS - I have obtained acceptably sharp results hand held at 1/5th second exposure. The constant f4 maximum aperture is a nice feature.

Aging a.

2021-06-15T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent lens for the A6000

I bought my A6000 camera a few weeks ago. It came with the 16-50mm kit lens which did not impress me. This lens, however is a different story. It produces very sharp images with great colour rendering, handles well with great build quality. It also benefits from OSS and is an excellent lens for the A6000. I am very happy with it.

Kenny647

2021-06-15T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent lens for the A6000

I bought my A6000 camera a few weeks ago. It came with the 16-50mm kit lens which did not impress me. This lens, however is a different story. It produces very sharp images with great colour rendering, handles well with great build quality. It also benefits from OSS and is an excellent lens for the A6000. I am very happy with it.

KennyM

2021-01-08T14:04:13

Rated 5 out of 5

Perfect for Sony NEX and ALPHA cameras

Excellent lens!

GREGORY G.

2020-09-22T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent Product

Lived up to the great expectations promised by previous reviewers.

Wifey1

2020-09-18T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Love it for street photography and as general lens

Love it for street photography and as general lens

Nicky A.

2020-08-04T18:47:44

Rated 4 out of 5

sony tessar E16-70 lens

ok lens but does not balance on my sony 6300 camera as well as my other lenses,

Brian L.

2020-07-23T13:24:40

Rated 5 out of 5

Ave Pildas

The Sony Vario-Tessar lens is sharp, sharp, Sharp

AVE P.

2020-06-03T10:12:11

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Walk Around Zoom. Very Light Weight. Relatively Fast.

Great walk around zoom. Small and light enough to carry around for street photography. Pretty fast at F4 across the range. I use this a lot. For me, the weight is very important. If my camera and lens are too heavy I tend to leave it at home. This one is with me all the time. It's not as crisp as my Sony 35mm f1.8 prime but it's a zoom. Can't really compare. It's sharp enough, though, especially when I stop down a bit. I really like it.

DAVID A.

2020-03-21T20:00:00

Rated 3 out of 5

Mostly Plastic not metal - Not moisture Resistant

Liked size and range of focal length. Must be very careful using in high Humidity and dusty environments. Very expensive - paying for ZEISS design...Must use Capture One Software to get full photo clarity and color repro. Needed a macro capability like Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens. Wish I would have bought this lens for my APS-C camera.. More Bang for Buck with a much sharper lens....

MOV_maker

2020-02-02T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Lens

Bought this to upgrade on my current lenses. Although I have not used it that much since purchase, the limited amount of pics I have taken have been fantastic - I am still getting used to the lens, but feel confident in saying for an amateur like myself it has increased my pic taking capabilities.

Bob2Sheds

2020-01-12T19:00:00

Rated 1 out of 5

Disappointed

I bought this lens according to the reviews I've read on the internet. Although those reviews aren't excellent, they are generally above average. I thought it's worth a try. The lens is well constrected. Unfortunately, the good part of the lens stops there. To my disappointment, the quality of the pictures I get from this lens is less then average. The colors are very washed out. I use this lens with the A6300 that's been converted to infrared. The hot spot is very strong. The focus is good, though not excellent, in the center area, but very poor at the corner where the fringing and distortion is very strong. All and all, I am very disappointed. I can't recommend this lens to anyone.

368Ton

2020-01-06T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Perfect walk around lens!

This product gives great functionality for an everyday walk around lens! This is the only lens I own and I am not looking to purchase another lens any time soon! The focal range gives you a lot of options for different styles of photography.

matharvey23

2020-01-03T08:51:01

Rated 2 out of 5

Excellent lens design with poor quality control

It is a well designed lens with excellent range for general photography. I really wanted this lens but tried 3 copies of this lens, none of which was acceptable due to decentering problems, resulting in one side being sharp but not the other, some being very soft at certain focal lengths. After trying 3 of these lenses I gave up trying more. It is a shame that and excellent lens design with poor assembly and lack of quality control is a total disappointment for me.

Julius K.

2019-10-11T09:36:27

Rated 4 out of 5

Great lens

Did my research and rented this lens before purchasing. It’s not small but it is a great lens.

JEREMY K.

2019-09-06T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Produces wonderfully natural looking images

This lens isn't known for its sharpness, and often gets bad reviews by those who are slaves to fashion and tests that have no real world relevance. It's not soft; it's just not razor sharp. People focus on razor sharpness because it's unnatural...we don't notice such details with our own eyes, day to day, and so it gives us a sense of the exotic. But if you're focusing on skin pores, you're not really looking at the picture are you? Pictures from this lens draw your eye to the subject instead, and the luxury of light and colour surrounding it. The micro-contrast and smooth colour gradients give a wonderful sense of depth. Its representation of light and colour is natural in a way that other zoom lenses for APS-C E-Mount can't match, and can render a scene more real than razor sharpness ever will.

Buddhamakessense

2019-07-02T08:56:22

Rated 5 out of 5

Sharp as a tack and versatile for travel

I was a little concerned about traveling with an ƒ4 lens but the Sony 6500 made up for it. While it was a little larger than what I had hoped for in a travel lens, it was all I needed in focal length range and the Zeiss quality did not disappoint me.

CARMINE P.

2019-03-24T08:33:32

Rated 5 out of 5

Great lens

excellent lens, happy customer!

angelo m.

2019-03-03T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Absolutely delighted

I bought this lens over a month ago to replace the kit lens supplied with my Sony a6300. Am absolutely thrilled with it as photos are much sharper and the zoom gives me greater versatility for taking pictures. It was very expensive but I can't see any need for another lens in the 16-70mm range.

Rae58

2018-11-09T19:00:00

Rated 2 out of 5

Average performance high price

Starting with positives, build quality is superb, the look and feel of using this lens is fantastic. The zeiss colour is great too. However the optics on this are very poor. Edge sharpness is very bad wide open and barely passable stopped down. It is actually outperformed by the kit lens in a number of situations. For the price this is a very disappointing lens which I don’t expect to be keeping for long

David_newcastle

2018-09-06T07:56:35

Rated 5 out of 5

One Good Feature

I just liked the feature of image stabilization. My experience with this technology came from the old Nikon lenses which I paid much more.

Victor C.

2018-08-29T08:42:46

Rated 5 out of 5

5 stars

just right.

Victor C.

Sony 16-70mm Specifications

General

General

Jump to...

  • Brand

    Sony

  • Lens Series

    None

  • Color

    Black

  • Lens Type

    Wide Angle to Telephoto Zoom

  • Lens Mount

    Sony E (APS-C)

  • Format Compatibility

    APS-C

Focus

Jump to...

  • Focus Type

    Auto Focus

  • Closest Focus Distance

    13.78" / 35 cm

Optics

Jump to...

  • Focal Length

    16-70mm

  • Angle Of View

    83 - 23

  • 35mm Equivalent Focal Length

    24-105mm

  • Maximum Aperture

    f/4

  • Minimum Aperture

    f/22

  • Maximum Magnification

    0.23x

  • Filter Size

    55mm

Construction

Jump to...

  • Lens Elements / Groups

    16 Elements / 12 Groups

  • Diaphragm Blades

    7, Rounded

  • Dimensions Diameter x Length

    2.62 x 2.95" (66.6 x 75 mm)

  • Weight

    10.86 oz / 308 g

Features

Jump to...

  • Image Stabilization

    OSS

Other

Jump to...

  • UPC Code

    027242868229

17 Accessories for Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS Lens for Sony E

  • All Accessories (17)
  • Extended Warranty (8)
  • Filters (4)
  • Bags & Cases (2)
  • Cap Leash (1)
  • Lens Caps (1)
  • Cleaning Accessories (1)
Sony Protect Consumer Warranty for Cameras and Lenses Up To $750, 2 Year Plan
Sony Protect Consumer Warranty for Cameras and Lenses Up To $750, 2 Year Plan
$54.00
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Sony Protect Consumer Warranty for Cameras and Lenses Up To $1000, 3 Year Plan
Sony Protect Consumer Warranty for Cameras and Lenses Up To $1000, 3 Year Plan
$81.99
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Sony Protect Consumer Warranty for Cameras and Lenses Up To $1000, 2 Year Plan
Sony Protect Consumer Warranty for Cameras and Lenses Up To $1000, 2 Year Plan
$65.00
Recommended
Sony Protect Consumer Warranty for Cameras and Lenses Up To $750, 3 Year Plan
Sony Protect Consumer Warranty for Cameras and Lenses Up To $750, 3 Year Plan
$67.99
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Sony Protect Plus Consumer Warranty for Cameras/Lenses Up To $1000, 2 Year Plan
Sony Protect Plus Consumer Warranty for Cameras/Lenses Up To $1000, 2 Year Plan
$89.99
Recommended
Sony Protect Plus Consumer Warranty for Cameras/Lenses Up To $750, 3 Year Plan
Sony Protect Plus Consumer Warranty for Cameras/Lenses Up To $750, 3 Year Plan
$89.99
Recommended
Sony Protect Plus Consumer Warranty for Cameras/Lenses Up To $750, 2 Year Plan
Sony Protect Plus Consumer Warranty for Cameras/Lenses Up To $750, 2 Year Plan
$64.99
Recommended
Sony Protect Plus Consumer Warranty for Cameras/Lenses Up To $1000, 3 Year Plan
Sony Protect Plus Consumer Warranty for Cameras/Lenses Up To $1000, 3 Year Plan
$109.99
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ProOPTIC Pro Digital 55mm Multi Coated UV Slim Filter
ProOPTIC Pro Digital 55mm Multi Coated UV Slim Filter
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ProOPTIC 55mm Digital Essentials Filter Kit
ProOPTIC 55mm Digital Essentials Filter Kit
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Tiffen 55mm Circular Polarizer Filter
Tiffen 55mm Circular Polarizer Filter
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Tiffen 55mm Digital Pro SLR Filter Kit
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About Sony 16-70mm

FEATURED REVIEWS

Brings out the full potential of the NEX7

By DeanInCO

I searched high and low this year for a great lens for my NEX 7 that I have had since it was released. And this is truly one fantastic lens. It truly brings out the full potential of the NEX7, making it a fantastic travel camera. I pop iy in my bag with my iPad and macbook Pro and I am good to go without having to lug a ton of gear around. I own a Nikon D800, D7100, Fuji X100s, and my iPhone, and I have more fun with this lens and this camera combo than any of the others. The only drawback I ...

View full Review

Pricey but a keeper

By RalphNY

I've been waiting for a better quality daily lens for my NEX 7 to replace my kit and this one pretty much it. The lens is solidly built, light and good looking. Performance wise, very clear , fast and performs well on low lights. I was little bit hesitant because of the price but got it anyway. I brought it on my travel to Europe and so far have been satisfied with the results. My NEX 7 now has a perfect partner. I also have 35mm F1.8 Prime lens in addition to the standard kit.

Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS Lens: The Pinnacle of Photographic Precision

Capture the world's grandeur and minutiae with the Sony 16-70mm f/4 camera lens. Fitted seamlessly with Sony's E-mount, this lens is your gateway to exploring the vast potentials of numerous Sony crop sensor cameras and camcorders. Every click is an invitation to perfection, every movie a testament to meticulous craftsmanship.

Peerless Optics for Stunning Shots
Powered by extra-low dispersion glass and aspherical lens elements, every shot you take is a masterpiece devoid of flare, ghosting, or distortions. The collaboration with Carl Zeiss T* lens coatings ensures that each photograph echoes with impeccable clarity and vibrancy.

Built-In Image Stabilization: Capture with Confidence
With the integrated image stabilization, even the subtlest of tremors are nullified, ensuring your images remain sharp and videos smooth. This brilliance comes to the fore especially under low-light scenarios, eliminating the need to amplify the ISO.

Consistent f/4 Aperture: Illuminate Your Imagination
A distinctive feature of this lens is its maximum f/4 aperture that remains unwavering across the zoom spectrum. Whether you're filming or shooting, maintain consistent lighting, ensuring your artistic vision is realized with uncompromising quality.

Fast Autofocus: Keep Up with the Action
From the sprint of an athlete to the flutter of a butterfly, the fast autofocus feature ensures you never miss a moment. This responsive functionality shines even in diminished light, proving its mettle time and again.

Meticulous Internal Focusing Mechanism
Change your focus from a close-up shot to a vast horizon without a hitch. The internal focusing mechanism promises that the lens length remains untouched. Additionally, photographers can effortlessly incorporate a circular polarizing filter, thanks to the non-rotating end.

Close-Up Excellence: Dive into Details
Whether it's the dew on a leaf or the intricacies of a piece of jewelry, the minimum focusing distance of 1.1' and 0.23x maximum magnification guarantee that close-up subjects are captured with unparalleled detail.

Zeiss Excellence: A Legacy of Clarity and Contrast
Experience the legacy of Carl Zeiss with every shot. Renowned for delivering outstanding contrast and resolution, the Zeiss T* coating is the silent guardian that minimizes glare and ghosting, translating to natural color reproduction and unmatched clarity.

Sweeping Zoom Range for Diverse Photography
A lens that boasts an impressive 4x zoom range, extending from 24mm to a broad 105mm (35mm full equivalent). This expansive range ensures that whether you're capturing sprawling landscapes or intimate portraits, you're always equipped for the moment. Benefitting from Sony's high precision, advanced aspherical lens (AA lens) production technology, the lens has undergone a remarkable size reduction without compromising on image quality. The result A compact and lightweight lens, perfectly suited for spontaneous day-to-day captures, detailed landscapes, candid snapshots, and evocative portraits.

Unwavering F4 Maximum Aperture: Excellence at Every Zoom
With a constant F4 maximum aperture across the entire zoom range, photographers gain the freedom to select their ideal exposure settings, irrespective of their chosen focal length. This consistency eliminates the need to ramp up ISO settings, permitting the use of rapid shutter speeds, particularly crucial when you're in the thick of action-packed scenes. Complementing this is a circular aperture design, a subtle yet significant feature that ensures your subjects stand out against a beautifully defocused background.

Optical SteadyShot: Clear Shots in Challenging Scenarios
With Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, you're armed with a robust defense against these potential pitfalls, especially when working at longer focal lengths or under challenging light. With added functionalities like Anti Motion Blur and Handheld Twilight modes, this technology equips photographers to capture sharp, noise-minimal images in conditions that traditionally demand heightened sensitivity or tripod assistance.

Sony 16-70mm Features

  • Carl Zeiss T* lens coatings for optimum image clarity
  • Compatible with Sony's E-mount camera mount
  • Extra-low dispersion glass and aspherical lens elements for crisp photos
  • Built-in image stabilization for steadier shots
  • Consistent f/4 aperture throughout zoom range
  • Fast autofocus for sharp images, even in low light
  • Internal focusing mechanism retains lens length during focus adjustments
  • End of lens remains stationary, making it filter-friendly
  • 4x zoom range from 24mm to 105mm (35mm full equivalent)
  • Reduced lens size with advanced aspherical lens (AA lens) technology
  • Constant F4 maximum aperture across zoom range for consistent exposure
  • Optical SteadyShot for reduced blur from camera shake
  • Anti Motion Blur and Handheld Twilight modes for improved low-light photography

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Key Features

  • Carl Zeiss T* coatings for flawless imaging
  • Compatible with vast Sony E-mount range
  • Stable f/4 aperture across zoom spectrum
  • Swift and reliable autofocus system
  • 4x zoom from 24mm to 105mm versatility
  • Compact size with advanced AA lens tech

What's in the box:

  • Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS
  • E-Mount -Lens Front and Rear Lens Caps
  • SH111 Petal Lens Hood
  • Carrying Case
  • Sony 1 Year Warranty