Product Description

The ultimate all-in-one zoom lens designed specifically for DSLR imaging. It's the first professional-grade 5X zoom lens specifically designed for APS-size CCD image sensors - providing incredible precision in a single compact, easy-to-carry lens that carries you from 24mm wide-angle to 120mm telephoto (35mm equivalent). Advanced Carl Zeiss optical design and anti-flare T Coating make this one of the most valued lenses in the world of digital photography.

Product Details

• Brand: Sony
• Model: SAL-1680Z
• Released on: 2007-03-20
• Dimensions: 3.53" h x 3.23" w x 5.63" l, 1.34 pounds

Features

• 5x zoom designed specifically for DSLR APS-size CCD
• Superb performance from wide angle to telephoto
• 2 glass-molded aspherical lenses for extra precision
• Circular aperture for pleasing defocused effects
• Auto clutch to stop manual focus ring rotation, wide focus ring for a solid feel in manual focusing

Manufacturer Description
Enjoy using the professional-grade, compact, easy-to-carry Sony Carl Zeiss SAL-1680Z lens for your next photography session. Its precise optical design will make it one of your favorites. The ultimate all-in-one zoom lens designed specifically for DSLR imaging. It's the first professional-grade 5X zoom lens specifically designed for APS-size CCD image sensors--providing incredible precision in a single compact, easy-to-carry lens that carries you from 24mm wide-angle to 120mm telephoto (35mm equivalent). Advanced Carl Zeiss optical design and anti-flare T* Coating make this one of the most valued lenses in the world of digital photography.

Features:

• 5x Zoom Range: Smaller and lighter, it's the only 5x zoom lens designed specifically for the APS-size CCD imager used in the Sony α (Alpha) DSLR-A100 camera.
• Glass-Molded Aspherical Lens Elements: Two glass-molded aspherical lens elements correct visual aberrations and improve picture quality across the entire zoom range.
• Circular Aperture: Because aperture blades form a near circle at the wide openings used for low-light shots, spot-light sources have a pleasing circular defocused effect.
• Auto Clutch: In auto-focus mode, the manual focus ring does not rotate--and in manual focusing, a wider focus ring provides a solid, hands-on feel.

Compatible Models
Sony DSLR-A100, DSLR-A100K.

What's in the Box:
Lens, front and rear lens cap, SH0005 lens hood.

Customer Reviews

Excellent product!!
This is a great lens and has good sharpness, contrast and zoom range. I bring this lens around where ever I go due to its versatility.

It is as sharp as a prime at 80mm. At 16mm, it is already very sharp in the center at f3.5 and when stop down to f5.6 it is sharp from corner to corner. Due to its great range, it can be use as a wide angle lens as well as a portrait lens.

The T* coating also gives this lens a good contrast. It is very noticeable when comparing to my older lens.

In one word, it worth every penny I paid for.

pros:
- light weight
- useful wide angle
- good zoom range
- sharp
- good contrast

cons:
- vignetting at 16mm

Best Lens I've Ever Owned
This is an incredible lens and it is probably on my camera 90% of the time. It is tack sharp at all apertures and focal lengths. The range is awesome. I love the wide-angle. I almost never use my ultra-wide anymore. I love the colors and contrast. I love the compact size. I find the build quality to be good and the focusing to be fast.

The only downside for me is that there tends to be some distortion at 16mm but that is easily fixed. Amazing lens. Buy it.

From a Zeiss Fanatic--> this lens is a dud.
1. Obviously, most folks are going to disagree with me (which is fine), but this lens (which was widely anticipated by many people, including me) is a huge dissapointment.

2. I'm not an expert on Zeiss optics, but I'm probably more familiar that most folks who've written rave reviews on this lens. Prior to digital, I used Olympus, then Nikon and then Contax (with the Zeiss MM lens) system for many years. Compared to the Zeiss lens made for the Contax system, Hassy and even the current Zeiss lens made for the Nikon F Mount, and the two Zeiss Sony Primes along with the 24-70mm--> this 16-80mm appears and performs as if it was designed primarily for marketing purposes. The build is cheap, which I could kind of live with. What I can't live with is the performance: unacceptable vignetting and such crazy tolerances to which this lens was built so that even with a B+W slim 62mm UV filter--> you can actually see the filter when shooting at 16mm.

3. If you're used to and expect the build quality of a real Zeiss lens along with the optical performance of a Zeiss lens--> pass this one up and pray that more high quality optics will come along for the Sony full frame. Or check out the ZF line for the Nikon F mount.