The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM and the Samyang 8mm F3.5 Fisheye for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM is the longer of the two lenses at 88mm. The Samyang 8mm F3.5 Fisheye with a length of 77mm, is 11mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM also has a larger diameter of 81mm compared to the Samyang 8mm F3.5 Fisheye's 75mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Samyang 8mm F3.5 Fisheye weighs 443g, 23% (134g) lighter than the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM's weight of 577g.
Lens Mounts
Both the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM and the Samyang 8mm F3.5 Fisheye has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58.
Samyang 8mm F3.5 Fisheye is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (DX), Four Thirds, Pentax KAF and Samsung NX mounts.
Focal Range
Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM has a focal range of 16-50mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Samyang 8mm F3.5 Fisheye is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 8mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 12mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
