Aperture blades on SEL35f18 not fully retracting -- just my copy or is it really an f1.6 lens?

SQLGuy wrote:

I think you're missing the point. When in A mode, the lens will stop down to exactly the aperture you ask for, so that you get correct DOF preview. I can watch the blades close down step by step as I move it from 1.8 to 2.0 to 2.2 etc... all the way to 22. At 1.8, the blades are still visible around the edge of the lens. I don't think there's enough extra glass there to go to 1.6; maybe not even enough for 1.7, but it is interesting that Sony decided to always, in effect, have the lens stopped down a bit. I wouldn't be surprised if having the sharp edges of the aperture blades in place at F1.8 helps the sharpness of this lens when it's wide open. I wonder if the SEL50F18 has similar behavior.

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Nex-7 with kit lenses, Contax G 35, and a number of legacy lenses (mostly Canon FD)