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  Test # 1216 
 
Lens Distortion Test

Sony E.16-50

Distortion at 50mm.
 
Test by Sinan Ozturk   
PhotoAgainst Photo Editor's Comment: Barrel Distortion is optical flaw of a lens which causes straight lines in the photo look slightly curved outwards. Its much more apparent in wider focal lengths and zoom lenses and gets worse in the bottom or top of the photo, rather than center. It becomes apparent when skyline is photographed so we do barrel distortion tests with a clear skyline shot.

In the first comparison, skyline in the very bottom of the photo because this is where barrel distortion is worse for any lens.

In the second shot skyline is in the very center of the image where barrel distortion's effect is the least apparent.

In the third shot, skyline is in the 1/3 or 2/3 of the photo (golden rule) where distortion is same for both.

Red line in the photos are added in post production to show where skyline would suppose to be if lens were flawless with no distortion. The closer the real skyline to the red line, the better the lens and more apart the skyline from the red line, worse distortion the lens has.

For more information about this distortion tests, please read our distortion test guidelines.

After reviewing the test, scroll to the bottom of the page to compare 's Barrel Distortion with other lenses.
  
  
  Test Photo # 1  
Photo_2791Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS  
F:4, S:1/100, ISO:100    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Sony NEX-6     Camera    
Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS     Lens    
4     Aperture    
1/100     Shutter    
100     ISO    
142     Brightness    
0     Contrast    
0     Saturation    
0     Sharpness    
50 mm.     Focal Length    
75 mm.     Foc.Len.FF eq    
50 mm.     Foc.Len.APS-C    
Standard     Scene Mode    
Auto     White Balance    
0.15 Mb.   Filesize    
1080 x 715 [0 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
  Test Photo # 2  
Photo_2790Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS  
F:4, S:1/100, ISO:100    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Sony NEX-6     Camera    
Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS     Lens    
4     Aperture    
1/100     Shutter    
100     ISO    
147     Brightness    
0     Contrast    
0     Saturation    
0     Sharpness    
50 mm.     Focal Length    
75 mm.     Foc.Len.FF eq    
50 mm.     Foc.Len.APS-C    
Standard     Scene Mode    
Auto     White Balance    
0.17 Mb.   Filesize    
1080 x 712 [0 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
  Test Photo # 3  
Photo_2792Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS  
F:4, S:1/100, ISO:100    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Sony NEX-6     Camera    
Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS     Lens    
4     Aperture    
1/100     Shutter    
100     ISO    
150     Brightness    
0     Contrast    
0     Saturation    
0     Sharpness    
50 mm.     Focal Length    
75 mm.     Foc.Len.FF eq    
50 mm.     Foc.Len.APS-C    
Standard     Scene Mode    
Auto     White Balance    
0.22 Mb.   Filesize    
1080 x 715 [0 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
Barrel Distortion Comparison
You can select 2 lens to compare their barrel distortions side by side:
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  Other Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS vs. Comparisons  
Sony E.16-50
Distortion at 16mm.
Sony SEL 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 Video Auto Focus Performance
at 16-50mm.
Auto Focus Noise (Sound), AF Speed and Focus Hunting Test
Sony E.16-50 Sharpness Test at 50mm.
at 50mm.
Tested Apertures Between F5.6 to F13.0
Sony E.16-50 Sharpness Test at 16mm.
at 16mm.
Tested Apertures Between F3.5 to F13.0
  Other Comparisons of Sony SEL PZ 16-50 F/3.5-5.6 OSS  
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Tamron 18-200 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sigma 50mm 2.8 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sigma 17-70 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Tokina 28-70 2.8 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony 16-105 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony 18-55 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony 18-200 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Minolta 50mm 1.4 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.4/F5.6, F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Tamron 17-50 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony 16-50 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony E.16-50 vs. Tamron 18-200
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5/F4, F6.3, F8, F16
Sony E.16-50 vs. Sony 18-55
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5/F4, F6.3, F8, F16
Sony E.16-50 vs. Sony 16-105
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5/F4, F6.3, F8, F16
Sony E.16-50 vs. Sigma 17-70
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F4, F6.3, F8, F16
Sony E.16-50 vs. Sony 16-50
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F4, F6.3, F8, F16
Sony E.16-50 vs. Sony 18-200
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5/F4, F6.3, F8, F16
Sony E.16-50 vs. Tamron 17-50
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F4, F6.3, F8, F16
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5/F4, F6.3, F8, F16