Replacing my Sony DSC F717

Hi

I am trying to choose a digital Sony camera set-up to replace my wonderful but failing DSC F717 camera.

I am very satisfied with the picture quality of the F717, and put that largely down to the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens.

I am very interested in the Sony NEX 7 camera, butI have read bad reviews about the 18-55 lens that is included in the package. I would like to have a zoom similar to the F717, and am currently looking at the Carl Zeiss 16-80 Alpha lens (as that is more in my budget than the Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar 24-70!) - with which I would need a lens adapter like the Sony LA-EA2 A Mount Adapter.

Am I silly to go for the NEX 7 if I want to start out with these lenses?
It does seem kind of strange to buy a new camera and then straight away buy a lens adapter for it!

I am attracted to the styling and smaller size of the NEX 7, and do not mind if the lens looks strange on the camera. Other cameras I have used recently are the Canon Powershot G9 (which I do not like - bad picture quality!) and the Olympus E-PL2 (which I liked a bit for its picture quality).

Will I lose lens quality by using the lens adapter?

I am a graphic designer who takes alot of photographs for personal and art use, and I have become very attached to the picture quality of the F717.

Many thanks