Sony SEL18200 E Mount - APS-C 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Telephoto Zoom Lens

Overall, this lens is a fantastic complement to the NEX camera, helping you to bring out the fuller potential of the camera; it is not, however, without a few (minor) compromises. For me, none of these drawbacks are sufficient to outweigh the significant benefits of this lens but I set them out for completeness in case any are deal breakers for you.Pros:* The 18-200mm range of the lens is superb. I had found I was reverting to using my old F828 to take some shots as I just could not get in close enough to some of the action I wished to capture using the 18-55mm NEX lens. The quality of the combination of lens and camera is clearly visible in the shots and video footage I have taken since buying this lens.* A lock is incorporated to prevent creeping but I have not found it necessary to engage this feature; even when I had the camera on my tripod taking shots almost directly overhead/underfoot the lens stayed firmly in position.Cons:* One of my primary reasons for purchasing the NEX was the size and weight of the camera - I wanted something that would be easily portable and not feel as though I was carrying a hundredweight of equipment. This lens almost doubles the weight and size of the camera to the extent that it feels little different to its predecessor (for me), the F828, although the picture and video quality are vastly superior. The 18-55 lens and camera weighs around 570g whereas the 18-200 lens and camera is over 910g.* Sometimes I like to rest my camera on improvised mounts to take shots, like boulders or fences. The diameter of the lens is so large that the camera body cannot sit flat and rocks to one side; that will make it tricky to take shots in that way using this lens.* There is no integrated loop attaching the removed lens cap to the lens. Whilst this can be overcome, it is something that would have added pence to the production cost of the lens and the exclusion feels a little mean.* Similarly it would have been nice for a lens snout to be included, particularly given that the snout for this lens is less widely available. This is clearly a policy decision because cases are not included for any camera parts.* The flash supplied with the camera is not compatible with this lens. As the camera performs well in low light conditions even with this lens I don't find I use the flash sufficiently to be seriously inconvenienced.This lens greatly increases the utility of the NEX5 and produces high quality images; video footage is stunning. Although the weight compromises portability I can still revert to the other lighter lenses if that is a prime requirement, otherwise I can put up with the extra weight for the reward of the shots I can capture as a result. That is, after all, my main reason for owning a camera in the first place. Overall this is a fantastic item to add to an already superb camera base.

Fantastic lens. Zoom is good, a little bit sticky at max zoom, but time will probably make it smoother. Quality built.

This SONY lens is a fine example of what `build quality` can be achieved especially when it`s dedicated to a specific camera. The lens controls themselves are very smooth. Yes, the lens is heavy and it does unbalance the NEX.5 I fitted it to but I expected this.The image quality overall is absolutely superb and `yes` there is the expected `barrelling effect` at the both extremes but you have to expect this as any zoom lens is a design compromise as opposed to in a fixed focal length lens.At the price (and cheap it certainly isn`t) I would have expected it to be supplied with a few `bits`, for a bare minimum, a protective case to carry it in. Also a front lens element protection by way of an ND or UV filter. A tripod mount would`ve been useful. I also prefer a T bar you can screw into the zoom barrel for zooming control (as a lever) - yes, I know it`ll stick out but zooming is more useable with this feature.I`d certainly recommend this Lens to any NEX camera owner and just think what it would be like with a NEX.7 body. All in all, well done SONY, top marks. Generally you get what you pay for and in this Lens quality is evident in all respects.

Bought this lens to replace a 55 - 210 mm lens to reduce the amount of lens swapping needed for close shots. It has been superb, worked excellently with my a6000 camera and latterly with my a6300. However, last year we had a staycation between lockdowns and camera and lens performed brilliantly taking circa 500 pics of Cornwall. Going into lockdown my camera remained unused until a couple of weeks ago a sunny spring day prompted a countryside walk and I dragged the camera along only to discover that I could not get it to focus at all. Tried another lens when I got home and all was fine but the SEL18200 was not. Popped into John Lewis and a very nice lady let me try the lens on one of their a6500 cameras and it did not focus on that camera, so definitely a lens problem.Got in touch with Sony and they sent me the details to send to their central service department in Wales. Was shocked to discover that the estimate to repair was £375! This after I’d paid £45 to courier it to them with the lens insured.As the lens is 4 years old I knew it was out of warranty so expected a charge, however as I had taken great care of the lens, I wanted to understand why it needed a major new part fitting and what the issue was. Sony confirmed the lens was in immaculate condition externally, the engineers report, however, said that the camera and lens weren’t communicating as the internal ribbon connector was worn.I asked if it was possible for Sony to make a contribution to the repair as this fault must be a manufacturing/build issue and you would expect a £750 lens to last far longer than 4 years before failing. Sony simply told me that it was out of warranty and was chargeable, they would provide no support. I have now had to pay £54 inspection fee to get it returned as they only gave 90 days warranty after the repair and I did not want to pay 50% of the cost of a new one getting this repaired.I would recommend you look for alternative lenses to this one as there must be an inherent issue internally on this lens which caused the ribbon connector to fail.