Sony 18-105 f4 G OSS - The workhorse - lens review

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 The Sony 18-105 constant f4 is an optically stabilized lens from the G series for E mount cameras, specifically for the APS-C sensors cameras such as the a5100 and the 6000 series.

 Theoretically this is a great all-around lens, going from wide to telephoto while keeping that f/4 aperture constant. Plus, the barrel does not extend when zooming and that makes for a great lens to be used on electronic gimbals and other stabilizers.

 It is also fairly compact and lightweight, even if it has power zoom built-in and optical stabilization, being 11.5cm long with a 72mm front element and 427 grams of weight.

 Zoom and focus are electronic, so they don’t have hard stops, and the motors are extremely quiet.

 I bought this lens at the beginning of 2018 and before reviewing it I used it in many different situations: I used it both for taking pictures and videos, as I always do, I took portraits, shot concerts, brought it with me to the other side of the world and back, literally, and on many different travels and events and everything.

 While it’s versatility is beyond doubt, for almost 600 euros I’ve always felt it is falling a bit short.

 Built and image quality are definitely there, but it could use a touch more sharpness, and the constant aperture is a must for a run-and-gun lens like this, but f4 can be limiting, especially in low light situations and on an APS-C sensor, even with the stellar performance of today’s cameras. An f2.8 aperture would have made this 18-105 jump to a higher level, although to the cost of weight and size.

 Some might also complain about the lack of character, and I would agree, yet that’s how the lens is supposed to be: neutral.

 At the end of the day, the Sony 18-105 f4 G OSS does what it has been conceived to do: being a reliable and flexible lens. Whether it’s a documentary, vlogging or media coverage it finds its place in all those situations where you need one lens that does it all.

 Do I love it? No, but it gets the job done, and sometimes it’s all that is needed.

 As always, let me know your experience with this lens, if you have any question feel free to ask in the comments below and don’t forget to check the full video for all the samples.



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