Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS E-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#39925 date: Aug-19-2017 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.4 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony DT 16-50 F2.8 SSM Sony E 16-50 F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS Sony DT 16-80 F3.5-4.5 Vario-Sonnar Sony DT 16-105 F3.5-5.6 Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM Tamron SP 17-50 F2.8 XR Di Sony DT 18-55 F3.5-5.6 SAM I & II Sony DT 18-70 F3.5-5.6 Sony DT 18-135 F3.5-5.6 SAM Sony DT 18-200 F3.5-6.3 Tamron 18-250 F3.5-6.3 Canon EF 22-55 F4-5.6 USM |
| price paid: | 65 USD (used) |
| positive: | Fit and Finish Smooth controls Relatively fast Internal Focus Precise manual focus Non-rotating filter thread Petal Hood |
| negative: | Curved focus plane at long end Heavy lateral CA at 35 mm |
| comment: | The first SEL1855 is a kit lens included with a mint condition silver NEX F3 for $127. The retail price is $300, $50 less than the power zoom 16-50 OSS, but that lens is often on sale for the same price. These are selling used for about $75-$150. There is also a more basic, non-stabilized 18-50 F4-5.6 that is the kit lens for the A3500. "MADE IN THAILAND" This lens optically reminds me of the Carl Zeiss 16-80 and Sony DT 16-105 lenses--very sharp in the center of the frame wide-open at all focal lengths, but fairly curved focus plane especially at the long end. It performs better than my current beat-up DT 18-55 SAM II at most focal lengths. It definitely has better center sharpness than the 16-50 power zoom, especially at the long end. F3.5 at 20 mm F4 at 32 mm F4.5 at 44 mm F5 at 54 mm This lens is optically faster than the other APS-C kits lenses, despite the 49 mm filter size and small front element. It matches the speed of the CZ 16-80 at most focal lengths. Only at the very end does it show F5.6. Low distortion seems to have been a design goal of the early NEX lenses including this zoom. There is a moderate amount of complex barrel distortion at 18 mm, minimum distortion at 24 mm, and increasing pincushion distortion at longer focal lengths. It looks and feels better built than the A mount APS-C zooms. Though the plastic mold seams visible on the extending barrel belie that impression. Overall an impressive little APS-C kit zoom. I much prefer using it instead of the power zoom 16-50mm. |
; 20MPrating summary
- total reviews: 10
- sharpness: 3.90
- color: 4.40
- build: 4.40
- distortion: 3.70
- flare control: 4.00
- overall: 4.08