Buyer of a77 also stood by the choice of Always plan and for me it should be, despite some concerns that SAL 1650.
Actually I wanted to buy the Tamron 17-50 2.8, but since the kit with SAL 1650 was offered low on WHD, I have taken the Sony.
For me, ultimately the right decision at the same time I have had two Tamron 17-50 2.8 for testing, unfortunately both were badly decentered.
The series scattering at Tamron is a known issue, which had, however, never caught me with other lenses from Tamron.
My 1650 by Sony has not to deal with such problems and thankfully delivers
the entire focal length / aperture range a truly convincing result.
Processing I would ansetzten in the upper third, at the level L, for example, good or Nikkor lenses but it is not quite clear about the the average score. (Initially, the zoom ring very stiff)
In conjunction with the Lens Correction of a77 the distortion at the lower and upper end of the zoom range lose their terror, so the lens in the WW can be well used.
The sharpness is impressive even at full aperture, and we distinguished by light dimming. On the A77, I have tried not FB, but sharpness is hardly to be expected. This area and the neutral tones are clearly the strengths of SAL 1650th
The SSM drive and the resulting speed / safety of AF are not to be underestimated, the lens is quiet, fast and sharp.
In the field of light-strong, sealed standard zooms, there IHMO for the price nothing like it. (As a kit with the A77 is very reasonably priced)
Strong buy recommendation
With