The Wide-Angle to Beat
Hello eBay Community,
I hope you receive this well. Now, for starters, the Sony SEL1018 has a constant aperture of "4" (f/4), that needs to be remedied on eBay's behalf... On to the review:
If you own a Sony NEX/Alpha camera, or plan on getting one, this is one of the first lenses you should pick up. Now, I won't elaborate on the lens overly so here - there being numerous reviews out there (Kurt Munger is a definite "go to" for E-Mount lens information/reviews) - so I will highlight the pros and cons for you instead.
Pros:
+ Only Ultra Wide Angled Zoom lens native to Sony's E-Mount. 10-18mm (15-27mm relative to 35mm format)
+ Extremely high quality image rendering, even on the 16mp sensor I have been testing it on. Corner to corner, this lens is a beast
+ Sharp image quality, f/5.6-8 the definite sweet spot, with a wonderfully crisp range f/4+
+ Light weight and well balanced
+ (To speak to my own copy) Perfectly damp "Zoom" ring
+ Price vs Value Ratio = "Value" is way above
Cons:
- Overly damp "Focus" ring... This may be good or bad, dependent upon preferences. My copy is very tight when turning
- Width. The lens happens to be short in length, and wide in diameter. If you have large hands, like myself, and shoot on a NEX-6, NEX-7 or soon to be A6000, you will undoubtedly be running into an issue with ergonomics... This is rectified when camera/lens is mounted on a tripod, but as a walk about you will have to find clever, impractical ways of holding it*
- Constant f/4. Not the fastest wide angle lens out there
There is plenty more I find favorable, and nothing else I find disagreeable with this lens. The way the NEX/Alpha line-up are being made - and marketed, for that matter - are both "Compact" and "Light." Something easy to lug around, yet durable for the day's shoot. A device and lenses that won't burden you, but compliment your eyes in capturing moments. I think Sony has done a fine job thus far with their Mirrorless Camera roster, and I am happy to say that the Sony SEL1018 makes a wonderful additional to their current line of E-Mount lenses. Happy bidding everyone.
*PS-Please don't be too wary of this "con." They way the handle sits alongside the lens is definitely unnecessarily close, but by no means a deal breaker.
Sincerest Regards,
Patrick MarlettRead full review
