Our 4th Sony Alpha Lens came in the form of DT 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 SAM. I remembered we picked up this lens from Changi Airport’s Duty-Free shop while transiting for a holiday. We want something wider for landscape photos and a better range for general walkabout so this focal range of 16mm (wider than most usual lenses) to a useful range of 105mm (24mm-158mm on Full Frame bodies) are just perfect! Getting it from Duty-Free also means slightly cheaper than usual street price too! So we bought it there and then.

*Picture: Sony SAL (DT) 16-105mm F/3.5-5.6 SAM

This DT 16-105mm was designed & manufactured as a premium and upmarket "kit lens" for the A700. This is no ordinary kit lens indeed, look at the lens group you will find the presence of 1 ED glass and 2 aspherical glass – not common for most kit lenses – which already explains the RRP which this lens is commanding. At wide open (F3.5), the circular apeture gives a background blur almost similar to a F2.8 while increasing contrast and cuts abberation which makes this lens sweeter to use.

Lens construction is excellent, the lens feels solid and expensive (well, it is!) and very well put-together. I personally like the zoom ring, very smooth and the gear ratio was designed for faster zoom, very nice feature.

Using it, this lens produce excellent picture quality and the range is great for practically any form of photography! Size and weight is travel-friendly and if you can ONLY bring one lens with you on a trip? This is that One lens you will need.

*Picture: Sony SAL (DT) 16-105mm F/3.5-5.6 SAM