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Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens

  • mfr: SEL1670Z
  • SKU: SEL1670Z
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Product highlights

  • Focal length: 24-105mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture range: f/4-22
  • Sony E-mount lens
  • APS-C camera format
  • Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
  • Four aspherical elements
  • Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating
  • 7-blade circular aperture design
  • 12 groups in 16 elements lens construction
  • Metal lens barrel

Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens

Sony's Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS is a powerful mid-range zoom lens designed for Sony E-mount that delivers a 35mm equivalent of 24-105mm. Its constant f/4 aperture generates highly consistent optical performance throughout the entire zoom range. Because of this you can confidently capture high quality images, even in low-light shooting conditions. Sony has uniquely engineered this lens with several advanced features, including its Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, which works to eliminate the effects of camera shake by up to four shutter speed steps. Constructed with four aspherical elements, this lens reduces the appearance of chromatic aberrations. An industry standard for decades, a Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating has been applied to the lens elements to minimize lens flare and ghosting while providing enhanced contrast, clarity, and color fidelity. This lens accepts 55mm front-end filters.

SteadyShot Image Stabilization

Sensitive gyro sensors designed to detect even the slightest or most minute movement are built into the lens. The Optical Image Stabilization system detects these tiny shakes which occur when shooting. This lens features highly precise, virtually silent linear motors that are found in high-end professional Sony camcorders. The result is reliable and effective image stabilization for blur free photos and videos.

Aspherical Elements

Sony's aspherical lens design creates a more complex surface profile, while also reducing lens size and weight. Specially shaped aspherical elements near the diaphragm restore alignment of light rays at the image plane, translating to high sharpness and contrast even at maximum aperture. Well-designed aspherical elements can reduce the total number of elements required in the lens, thus reducing overall size and weight. The design further ensures consistent imaging performance throughout the entire focal range, while delivering incredible sharpness up to the periphery of the image.

Extra Low Dispersion Glass

Sony's Low Dispersion technology is engineered to reduce chromatic aberrations, which becomes more of a problem as focal lengths get longer. By eliminating the tendency of light of different colors to focus to different points at the image plane. This means your images will come out crisp and clear, with less of a chance of defracting light into an unwanted rainbow of colors. Take shots exactly like you want, without any flare-up or blurring.

ZA Series

Sony's ZA designation stands for Zeiss Alpha. These are Carl Zeiss lenses designed specifically for Sony cameras. They incorporate the historical level of quality and excellence associated with the Carl Zeiss name.

ZEISS T* Coating

This lens features the Carl Zeiss T* (T-Star) coating, a process that virtually eliminates lens flare, internal reflection and light scattering that can occur. The T* coating contributes to outstanding image quality, with high contrast and excellent resolution right out to the image edges. Not simply applied to any lens, the T* symbol only appears on multi-element lenses in which the required performance has been achieved throughout the entire optical path, therefore guaranteeing the highest quality.

Internal Focusing

Sony's Internal Focusing feature allows you to focus a lens without changing its size. With IF Lenses all optical movement is restricted to the interior of the lens barrel, providing for a lighter, more efficient design. Faster focusing is produced by a lighter and compact focusing lens group.

Specifications

Physical
Color Black
Weight Approx. 10.8 oz (308 g)
Mount
Lens Mount Sony E-Mount
Focus
Maximum Aperture f/4.0
Minimum Aperture f/22
Focal Length 16-70mm
Maximum Magnification 0.23x
Angle of view 83-23 degrees (APS-C)
Minimum Focus Distance 0.35 m
Focus Type Auto
Image Stabilization Yes
Diaphragm Blades 7, Circular
Zoom Focal Length 16-70mm
Lens Format APS-C Sensors
Lens Type Standard Zoom
Special Designs Macro

Questions

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Most items can be returned within 30 days for a full refund. Click here to read our full return policy. 

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Ratings and reviews

Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens

Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens SKU: SEL1670Z

Rated 3 out of 5 by from 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....
Date published: 2020-03-22
Rated 1 out of 5 by from 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.
Date published: 2020-01-13
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Like the versatility, had a warranty issue however Bought this a few months ago. Forgot to register it. Really like the versatility, but had noticed that the zoom ring stuck, between 50-70mm. Thought it might loosen up after a while. Ended up sending in for repair. They replaced the Optical Block Assembly, whatever that is. Great all around tense!
Date published: 2018-08-15
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Very disapointed with this lens This lens has two things going for it: it covers a useful range and it is compact and light weight. Unfortunately the copy of the lens I have does not produce sharp images. I have other Sony/Zeiss lenses which are outstanding in image quality, but not this one. Given it's price and Zeiss badge, I would not recommend it. I can not in good faith sale this lens to someone else and it will be awhile before I can command the resources to replace it - but it will be replaced.
Date published: 2018-03-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very versatile lens I bought this lens to pair with a Sony a6500 for travel. I wanted something with quality glass that covered wide angle to short telephoto and this lens covers it perfectly. I am getting beautiful results through out the zoom and aperture range. I have been using it for about a month now and could not be happier with my choice.
Date published: 2018-02-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great Lens I use this lens on a A6000. This has become my go to lens with this camera. This produces images that are sharp at all levels from 16 mm to 70 mm. I am quite pleased with the quality. However, I feel that the color quality is significantly improved from the lens that came with the camera. The colors are so vivid.
Date published: 2016-10-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by from A serious lens! Nice heft to it, feels like a serious piece of equipment. Beautiful Zeiss colors. No problem with center focus. This lens was factory inspected for those of you Leary of this lens because of bad center focus reports as I was.
Date published: 2016-09-05
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Super nice lens Using this on my a6000 and am very satisfied with performance of this lens. Very good image quality across the full focal range. This lens is on my camera most of the time and works great in most situations.
Date published: 2015-06-03
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