I was amazed to get blur free handheld shots at 200mm shooting at 1/20s in the rain holding an umbrella (￡5mm equiv 300mm). Not one off but shot 100s and very few rejects that morning. Also good for stable hand held video.

Good IQ; great stabilisation; great for video

lens will self extend if hanging vertically and not locked at 18mm

"A good zoom lens for video or photography. I got this lens with my FS100 but now use it for my A6000 for photography and as a backup camera lens. I replaced it with a 18-200 lens with power zoom because I mostly do video. The zoom range is versatile and the image quality is great.

The extremely wide 27mm to 300mm equivalent range (35mm full frame format) of this versatile E-mount zoom lens covers just about any shooting situation, and a newly developed internal drive motor offers smooth, quiet autofocus and aperture operation that are a distinct advantage when shooting...

Handling and features This lens is an 11.1x zoom lens covering wide angle to super telephoto focal lengths designed for use with Sony NEX system cameras. This lens provides an angle of view equivalent to a 27-300mm lens used on a 35mm camera and sports optical stabilisation, silent focusing and the...

Gary Wolstenholme reviews the Sony SEL P 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS lens designed for use with Sony NEX system cameras.

Excellent optical performance for a superzoom lens; Solid build; Servo zoom useful for video recording; Effective optical stabiliser

Expensive; Bulky

I am satisfied with the quality of the design, of the lens and the image quality (even though image quality is about something combined with the body). Good for video. I always bring it with me when I have to shoot something important.

Sony camera owners have three versions of the 18-200mm all-in-one zoom to choose from. The de facto standard edition, and the first of the three to come to market, is the E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS ($899.99). It uses the same optical formula as the others, and offers Active Stabilization to better steady video for shots involving camera movement. It's a good lens if you put an emphasis on zoom range above all else, but the E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS is a better overall performer. Aesthetics Stuck in Time The E 18-200mm has been in production for about a decade, and it shows. The industrial design is a product of its time. The optics are housed in a shiny silver barrel, but the control rings and telescoping barrel are black. The two-tone look is out of place on more recent Sony cameras, sold only in basic black. Sony's updated version of the lens, the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE, looks a little better on a new camera, and is also a little smaller. The original version comes in at 3.9 by...

The Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS is a good example of an all-in-one zoom lens, but a newer version is available, and is a better fit for most photographers.

11x zoom; Sharp results; Optical stabilization; 1:2.9 macro focus

Dated aesthetics; Bigger and heavier than LE version; Resolution and light-gathering drop when zoomed in

Sony sells its 18-200mm all-in-one zoom lens in three versions. The least expensive, the E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE ($849.99), offers the same optics as its pricier siblings in a slightly slimmer housing. The stabilization system isn't quite as good as the the non-LE version of the lens for video, but photographers won't be able to tell the difference. It's an attractive option for anyone who wants a single zoom lens solution for a Sony camera, but you'll enjoy better overall image quality, and spend less, if you go with our Editors' Choice E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS instead. All-In-One Zoom The E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE is an update to the industrial design, not the optics, for the earlier E 18-200mm that remains in market. It does make one sacrifice for a smaller, lighter build, dropping the Active Shot video stabilization feature. If you're primarily a videographer, you'll want to think about the standard version or the Power Zoom variation, but photographers will be happy with ...

The Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE is a good choice if you value zoom power and don't want to change lenses when using your a6000-series camera.

11x zoom; Sharp results; Optical stabilization; 1:2.9 macro focus; Relatively compact

Resolution and light-gathering drop when zoomed in

Sony's mirrorless camera system is as adept for video as stills, in part due to some specialized lenses sold for the latter. The E PZ 18-200mm F3.5.6.3 OSS ($1,199.99) is one of them, with an adjustable-speed power zoom, a wide focal range, and a stabilization system that works for shots with camera movement. If you're not doing a lot of video work, though, you can get the same optics for less with the E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE, available for about $850. Power Zoom for Video The E PZ is bulkier than the other versions in the 18-200mm series for a simple reason—it's got a motor attached to drive its zoom mechanism. The lens comes in at 1.4 pounds and 3.9 by 3.7 inches (HD) when set to its 18mm position, and just about doubles in length at 200mm. It supports 67mm front filters and includes a large, rectangular lens hood. The zoom speed is adjustable, with low, medium, and high speed options available. Zoom is activated using a rocker switch on the side. The action is very smoot...

The Sony E PZ 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS is a niche version of the 11x lens built for video with a smooth, adjustable speed servo-powered zoom.

11x zoom; Sharp results; Optical stabilization; 1:2.9 macro focus; Adjustable speed power zoom

Awkward to use for handheld photography; Power zoom adds noise to soundtrack; Resolution and light-gathering drop when zoomed in