A very negative review of Sony 16-50mm

Read the review a little closer. David Taylor-Hughes also noted that the 16-50mm was sharper across the frame than the 18-55mm, one of the reasons he decided to keep the lens. The issue is distortion, not overall IQ, which, once corrected, appears to be about what one would expect from a kit lens.

The 18-55 is nearly twice the length of the 16-50 when retracted, not "slightly longer." Having owned the 5N w/18-55 and now the 6 w/16-50, the difference in handling and portability for me is substantial. I now have an APS-C sized sensor with a highly versatile zoom range I can fit into the pocket of a winter jacket, or a small padded envelop inside my take-everywhere courier bag. Lovely.

The merits of this lens diminish steeply if not corrected in-camera or by using the new ACR profile, and I would imagine they are exacerbated by the 24MP sensor in the NEX-7. Frankly, I wouldn't recommend this lens to owners of earlier NEX camera until they are updated to work with it (i.e., display the "corrected" image on the LCD/EVF, which is important for precise framing since a noticeable portion of the edge of frame is cropped at the wide end of the zoom). But as part of the NEX-6 kit at a $100-$150 premium over the cost of the body alone, it's worthwhile as a walkabout lens. Just be aware you are making certain compromises (severe but correctable distortion below about 21mm) in the name of portability. If you own the 18-55 and are comfortable with the size, I don't see any reason to upgrade.