Having tried the 18-70mm and 75-300mm lenses this should be an excellent compromise lens . However Compromise you will definetly do. The lens operates in the same way using a middle ring to zoom in and out and a front ring to focus manually.

An almost all in one; reduce lens swapping

not good in mid range

I was really happy to make this purchase. I had 2 kits lens that I was happy to make this purchase to replace them with. However the focus on this lens is pretty slow. I find myself using manual focus more often then not.

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'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

The appeal of superzooms is obvious. A single lens like this, which covers a focal range equivalent to 27-300mm, can replace two or even three ordinary zooms. You don't have to worry about carrying round separate lenses, you don't have to waste time swapping from one to the other and there's also...

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

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

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...