Sony 18-250mm on 16mp body

[bakubo]

My A700 is on its way back to me and I am hoping it is truly fixed with no new problems introduced by the repair center. I am starting to think about what I will be doing a few months down the road or next year -- assuming the A700 lasts that long.

One of these days there is going to be an update to the A700 and it will likely be more than 12mp. Maybe 16mp or thereabouts, I suppose. I am wondering if the 18-250mm and 11-18mm, which are my most used lenses, will work okay with 16mp or maybe even more? Any thoughts? How are they on the 14.2mp A350?

[David Kilpatrick]

The 18-250mm Tamron did slightly better than the CZ 16-80mm on our A350, because it focused more accurately. At this pixel level, BF/FF is a critical issue. Both lenses should be fine but you may prefer to focus the 11-18mm manually if any new camera does not have a much improve AF calibration.

David

[bakubo]

Thanks for that info. When it comes time to replace my A700 then this is a consideration for me.

[bossel]

The 18-250mm Tamron did slightly better than the CZ 16-80mm on our A350, because it focused more accurately.

I wonder, having the 18-250, whether the 16-80 would be a good improvement for the short end? Leaving apart the (important) 2mm at the shortend, is the picture quality and the famous micro-contrast of the 16-80 worth the investment in addition to the 18-250?

[aster]

The 18-250mm Tamron did slightly better than the CZ 16-80mm on our A350, because it focused more accurately.

I wonder, having the 18-250, whether the 16-80 would be a good improvement for the short end? Leaving apart the (important) 2mm at the shortend, is the picture quality and the famous micro-contrast of the 16-80 worth the investment in addition to the 18-250?

Hi Thomas,

David probably will elaborate on the ways the two lenses compare in image quality and other matters but here's something I experienced. I don't own the Sony 18-250 but Sony 18-200 which came with my A100. I know 18-250 is a much better lens than the 18-200 but here are two photos of the same scene that I wish to share with you:

The weather conditions and the strenght of light was almost the same for the days I took these photos but the one I took with CZ 16-80mm at 80mm is much better than the first which is taken with Sony 18-200mm at 100mm. At least to my own eyes, the Carl Zeiss is sharper and more contrasty at 80mm than Sony zoom at 100mm.

Yildiz

Sony 18-200; 100mm; A100


Carl Zeiss 16-80; 80mm; A100