Compare lenses

Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6 vs Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

The Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6 and the Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS if you want a brighter f/3.5 (0.4 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it; and a wider view (from 24mm equivalent). On these specs the Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6 has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6 and the Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6	Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Maker	Sony	Sony
Focal length	18-50mm (zoom)	16-50mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	27-75mm on APS-C	24-75mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/4-5.6	f/3.5-5.6brighter
Made for	APS-C	APS-C
Mounts	Sony E	Sony E
Stabilised	no	yesstabilised
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	2.8×	3.1×more range
Weight	116 g	116 g
Cameras it fits	41 in this guide	41 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6: 18-50mm on APS-C, like 27-75mm.

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS: 16-50mm on APS-C, like 24-75mm.

Aperture

Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6: f/4 wide open.

Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS: f/3.5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

41 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.