It's very good at 24mm and zooms out way wider than the stated 16mm (if you disable auto correction and don't mind the crazy distortion). 50mm is soft, but still better than cropping.

Exciting times for camera gear.

But the optical formula was what actually needed to be updated...

For an example of a very good, small kit lens take a look at the m4/3 Panasonic 12-32mm f3.5-5.6 pancake lens. It has ILIS which works in concert with the Panasonic body's IBIS to get even more stabilization. Optical quality good. And it is tiny. It collapses and manually extends with a manual zoom ring.

Personally, I prefer that type to the electric motor zooms like this Sony. Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Panasonic, etc. make these manual zoom collapsible kit lenses. Too bad that for APS-C Sony just makes the electric motor zoom type.

Just as I expected. Mostly a minor cosmetic change with something video people may like, but also with a downgrade in another area. Uninteresting to me, but some may feel their dreams have come true.

Sony marketers and bean-counters probably wanted the cheapest-possible kit zoom, so that they could attract more beginners with a lower camera+lens price-point than they could otherwise.

But to not have updated this lens' optical quality is very shortsighted thinking by Sony, and long-term, actually counterproductive, because a significant proportion of those users will, before too long, become disappointed with the mediocre results.

Those who aren't camera-savvy and don't have a source of good advice will bad-mouth the camera (or camera+lens) as mediocre, and it's well-established that the unhappy customer tends to spread his dissatisfaction farther and wider than a happy one spreads his satisfaction.

And many of those who are better informed and understand that the cheap Sony kit zoom is the problem will probably buy the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8, which will be both a lost sale for Sony, and acclimate the customer to buying non-Sony lenses.

"The new version also communicates gyro information from its stabilization system to the camera body, allowing better coordination between the two."

But is there any APS-C camera that even supports that? So far only FF cameras have the option to use sync IS

(Also at least the 70-350 then should also get that update. As should the reasoneable recent FF IS lenses like the 100/400/600 GM primes) F# Sonys update policies

Owned 1st version. Worse than diappointing lens; just bad stuff. There is better with Sony, but not compact.
Changed to Lumix + lenses for just this reason.

The idea of ​​a small and super light standard zoom with OSS is brilliant. However, the optical quality is a bit disappointing unfortunately. .Giving an updated version plastic mount and raising the price is lame

Classic sony, turn lens from metal to plastic and raise the price.....

Before clicking, I thought they were going to update the optics given the previous version was a bit undersized in the wide end, so it never had good reputation for IQ.

My copy of PZ 16-50 is very good, and I’ve found it a terrific little lens for street photography with enough light. I also have an “auto lens cap” that closes when the lens descends, opens when it comes out - neat! It’s a shame, though, that the “improvements” were not optical, but cosmetic. Why would I opt for a plastic instead of metal lens mount?

16-50mm f8 G Master II OSS Macro ;)

They should update the PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS next. That's the lens that really needs a Mark II update.

Easily one of my my favorite lenses for Sony APS-C, but has it's problems. This power zoom lens from 2013 has a good range and decent optics for video, but lacks weather sealing, no breathing compensation, and no focus hold button. It, like the 16-70, seems to suck in dust like crazy. Almost every time I use this lens, dust appears on my sensor. I'd say this lens out of all of them needs a mark II update the most, with closer minimum focus distance like the PZ 10-20mm F4 G. I would buy it instantly. A little more range would be nice also, maybe 120mm at the tele end or 16mm at the wide end.

Replaced the metal mount with a plastic mount.

Absolutely brilliant work!...

No optics update, even if the original lens is over a decade old. And replaced the metal mount with plastic. Great job Sony!

Many complain optics is so-so.
They have been warned by Sony, however.
OSS = Optical SubStandard ;-)

Boo Sony for this!

Wow, since 2012 sadly not a single bit of a (optical) quality upgrade....but to be fair - i've made some good shots with this inferior Kitlens, F5.6-F11.

It's not all this bad, always. But i've had expected something more from Sony - over all of these years...it clearly does show one thing - APS-C is not the #1 priority for Sony, anyway.

Good Light.

From metal mount to plastic to save 9 grams? What a nonsense downgrade.

"Sadly the optical formula of the lens is unchanged, meaning you shouldn't expect any improvement in image quality."

In other words, completely useless upgrade. Worst lens that I had ever attached (for half a day) on one of my Sony bodies.

Nice I can finally shoot 120fps using this lens on my imaginary A9III

The immortal words of Will Darnell come to mind here "You can`t polish a turd" - there was nothing wrong with the old casing , it was what was inside which people moaned about so what do they change ?? the bit which was OK ..

in all fairness the 16mm end was pretty good at F5.6 given an absolute top copy but you`d never zoom the thing unless desperate and way too many weren`t top copies .

"Sadly the optical formula of the lens is unchanged, meaning you shouldn't expect any improvement in image quality." -DPR

Oh, the humanity! :-)

Move to a plastic lens mount is unfortunate and undermines whatever credibility the lens had as a limited but functional alternative on a7c-series cameras.