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Review of the Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3
Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3
www.sony.co.uk
This lens arrived a little late for inclusion in our March round up of 18-200mm lenses, so for the sake of completeness, we decided to give it a separate review here. The lens is suitable for Sony cameras and will also fit both Konica Minolta DSLRs – the 5D and 7D. Sony Alpha users are particularly spoilt when it comes to choosing lenses for their cameras. There’s the option of third-party manufacturers such as Tamron and Sigma, as well as a wealth of older Minolta lenses available, with Sony currently reissuing or upgrading those same Minolta lenses. For the particularly fussy, Carl Zeiss lenses are also available in the Sony mount, and we expect to see more of those in the next couple of years and beyond. This lens is made in the old Minolta factory, now owned by Sony, and covers the superzoom focal range of 18-200mm. It is available as a standalone zoom, or as part of a kit with Sony cameras. The lens is designed as an all-in-solution, providing the user with a wide range of focal lengths, from wide to telephoto, theoretically covering every common subject. Of course, to produce such a lens at a customer-friendly price means there will be compromises, and we don’t expect these lenses to perform as well as individual primes or shorter zooms. Having said this, the outlay is still significant for many, and so the lens should be expected to perform to a certain standard. This sturdy optic is constructed from 15 elements in 13 groups, and features both aspheric elements and ED (Extra Low Dispersion) glass to reduce distortion and provide clarity throughout the zoom range, claims Sony. As a DT lens, it is only suitable for APS-C type cameras, so will be unusable with the Sony full-frame camera that we’re expecting later this year, but compatible with the current crop of Alpha models.
Our Verdict:
While there’s no doubt that the focal length of the lens is useful, it suffers compared to shorter lenses. In fact, it fails the performance of other manufacturers of similar lenses, such as the Sigma OS version or the Nikon version.
What We Like:
Good focal range, convenient
What We Don't Like:
Fringing, price, sharpness
Features: 17
Design: 17
Performance: 16
Image quality: 16
Value: 16
Score %: 82
This lens arrived a little late for inclusion in our March round up of 18-200mm lenses, so for the sake of completeness, we decided to give it a separate review here. The lens is suitable for Sony cameras and will also fit both Konica Minolta DSLRs – the 5D and 7D. Sony Alpha users are particularly spoilt when it comes to choosing lenses for their cameras. There’s the option of third-party manufacturers such as Tamron and Sigma, as well as a wealth of older Minolta lenses available, with Sony currently reissuing or upgrading those same Minolta lenses. For the particularly fussy, Carl Zeiss lenses are also available in the Sony mount, and we expect to see more of those in the next couple of years and beyond. This lens is made in the old Minolta factory, now owned by Sony, and covers the superzoom focal range of 18-200mm. It is available as a standalone zoom, or as part of a kit with Sony cameras. The lens is designed as an all-in-solution, providing the user with a wide range of focal lengths, from wide to telephoto, theoretically covering every common subject. Of course, to produce such a lens at a customer-friendly price means there will be compromises, and we don’t expect these lenses to perform as well as individual primes or shorter zooms. Having said this, the outlay is still significant for many, and so the lens should be expected to perform to a certain standard. This sturdy optic is constructed from 15 elements in 13 groups, and features both aspheric elements and ED (Extra Low Dispersion) glass to reduce distortion and provide clarity throughout the zoom range, claims Sony. As a DT lens, it is only suitable for APS-C type cameras, so will be unusable with the Sony full-frame camera that we’re expecting later this year, but compatible with the current crop of Alpha models.
Our Verdict:
While there’s no doubt that the focal length of the lens is useful, it suffers compared to shorter lenses. In fact, it fails the performance of other manufacturers of similar lenses, such as the Sigma OS version or the Nikon version.
What We Like:
Good focal range, convenient
What We Don't Like:
Fringing, price, sharpness
Features: 17
Design: 17
Performance: 16
Image quality: 16
Value: 16
Score %: 82
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Specification
| Model | Dt 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Lens |
| Max Aperture | F/3.5-6.3 |
| Optical Construction | 15/13 |
| Lens Mount | Alpha/Km |
| Dimensions/Weight | 73 X 85.5mm / 405g |
