Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS

The Sony Due east ten-18mm f/4 OSS is a wide-angle, zoom lens designed for APS-C Eastward-Mount cameras.

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Overview

The Sony x-18mm is an interesting (albeit quirky) lens. When Sony released this, it was the only wide-angle zoom for APS-C cameras. I initially bought information technology for vlogging and the stuff I do on YouTube around 2014. Its an odd lens in that it covers such a tight range. There is a lot of butt baloney as well, simply can exist corrected in mail service. But it is surprisingly sharp for an inexpensive lens. The autofocus is fast and quiet besides which makes information technology a reasonable choice for vlogging and video applications.

Another little known fact – at 16mm you actually go full-frame coverage. When I get-go bought my Sony A7s I didn't ain a wide angle so I used this at 16mm. The starting time three sample images below were taken with that setup. The contrast is incredible and the images are sharp. Quite astonishing when you consider that's not the photographic camera this lens is designed for. Its a pretty decent extreme wide angle for total frame if yous're on a upkeep and you don't mind working around the distortion. You lot tin can conspicuously come across vignetting also, but the lite falloff is kind of nice in the right situations.

Specifications

• 10-18mm E-Mountain, APS-C Format Sony Zoom Lens
• 15-27mm (total-frame equivalent)
• f/four to f/22 Aperture Range
• 10 Elements in 8 Groups
• One Super ED and Three Aspherical Elements
• 7 Blade Round Diaphragm
• Optical Prototype Stabilization
• Internal Focus Design
• 9.viii″ / 25cm Minimum Focus Distance

Optical Design

The Sony 10-18mm features ten elements in 8 groups. It has a consistent aperture of f/4 beyond the entire range. This lens was introduced in 2012 when the NEX models were the premiere APS-C Sony cameras. This was years before the K Master lenses. Its conspicuously not going to perform on that level, but its not an expensive lens. Having said that it does perform well if you don't mind working with information technology a footling. At 10mm information technology has a lot of problems with baloney and fall off, only as you move towards 18mm it cleans up nicely.

Sony 10-18mm f/4 elements

MTF Charts

The MTF readings I assume are theoretical with Sony lenses, I demand to verify this next time I talk to 1 of their engineers. Having said that, this is a fair representation of what to expect from this lens. There is considerable loss at the edges at 10mm but this cleans upwards nicely at xviii. For the price, this lens performs pretty well. Every bit I said previously – the kickoff 3 sample images were taken at 16mm on a full frame body. In the right context, this lens performs really well.

Sony E 10-18mm f/4 MTF

Sample Images

Ergonomics

This is a reasonably sized lens though the diameter is larger than most APS-C lenses (62mm). There are two collars on the lens, one for manual focus and one for zooming. They contrast in size and location so its actually like shooting fish in a barrel to apply. Its very lightweight too so its an excellent pairing with any APS-C camera.

Autofocus

This is an early on lens from Sony, and then its a stepping motor autofocus system. That being said, its an internal focus system and its not a big lens. Y'all'll have no trouble with accuracy or speed. And its quiet. I've used it in video applications with no problem whatever.

Optical Paradigm Stabilization

The Sony 10-18mm features Optical SteadyShot. Sony'south isn't the best – if you need stabilization go with Olympus, Panasonic or employ a gimbal. But its better than nothing. With a maximum discontinuity of f/4 you will exist challenged to keep things steady in low calorie-free situations. I've found that the OSS on this lens is fine and clearly better than nil.

Conclusion

This is a funky lens, no question. But I'd recommend it to anyone who's on a budget. Sony take expressed a commitment to APS-C, just we actually haven't seen much. Certain you can use full frame lenses on APS-C cameras and they work great. Only they're also massive. And anything nether 12mm doesn't really be. 12mm on an APC-Due south sensor is an 18mm equivalent. That's wide, but information technology would be nice to take native zooms and primes that match the size of the camera. Fujifilm accept an entire lineup based around this. Sony'due south cameras are on par, they merely lack the lens lineup for APS-C. In fact, in many ways they actually outperform Fujifilm cameras (Eye-AF for example).

Simply that's the current state. This lens is one of your few choices. Merely its a good one at least.