Sony E-Mount SEL 1855 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens for NEX Cameras (Silver)

This 3x zoom lens is the one normally bundled as part of a kit with Sony NEX cameras. As a result, it's normally pretty cheap to pick up separately, costing only £140. For that you get a compact lens with optical stabilisation. In this review, we'll take a look at how it performs.

Budget lenses, and those bundled as part of a kit aren't normally the ones that people will tend to get excited about. Although the specifications of this lens are pretty standard, it is capable of delivering very high quality images.

• +

  Excellent sharpness in the centre of the frame throughout the zoom range, Good build quality, Lightweight, Effective optical stabilisation, Low distortion

• -

  Sharpness toward the edges of the frame at 18mm

We were very curious about the results of the tested Sony E 18–55 mm f/3.5–5.6 OSS. After all it is the first NEX system kit lens and the only zoom model among two lenses currently available in this system.

• +

  very good image resolution in the frame centre,, well-controlled chromatic aberration at the maximum aperture,, image stabilization at the level of 2EV,, good coma control.

• -

  weak or momentarily very weak resolution on the edge of the frame,, bad work against bright light,, very high chromatic aberration at shorter focal lengths,, significant distortion,, noticeable vignetting at the widest angle of view.

The Sony E 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a decent "kit" zoom lens but it is, of course, not flawless. The image center is very sharp whereas the border/corner region is softer although still acceptable.

I use the lens with the NEX-5N. In the normal range, around 24 to 40 mm, this lens competes well with prime lens I have from other excellent manufacturers. Typical of zoom lenses, the extremes are not quite as good, but fine for non-critical use.

• +

  lightweight, precisely machined, sharp, good contrast

• -

  too much pincushion at 55mm

Great camera. I have never had something like it. All I can say is amazing. The picture quality is awesame. I can capture just like I see with my own eyes, even in the dark place. This sounds so simple but not many manufacture have successfully done it. Thank you Sony!! I'm totally satisfying.

• +

  Compact Design, Easy To Use, Improves Picture Quality, Interfaces Well With Camcorder

Delighted with the quality of this lens. It is never off my NEX7