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Sony DT 18-55mm SAM
f/3.5-5.6, for 1.5x sensors only
© 2010 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

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Sony 18-55mm

Sony 18-55mm (55mm filters, 7.5 oz./210g, about $200, often kitted with Sony cameras like the Sony A55). bigger. This free website's biggest source of support is when you use these links, especially these directly to it at Adorama or at Amazon, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. See also all the kits with the A55V or A55, as well as the various kits with the A33. Thank you! Ken.

 

December 2010   More Sony Reviews   Minolta Reviews   Other Reviews

Introduction         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

adorama

 
B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Ritz Camera

I personally buy from Adorama, Amazon, Ritz, B&H, Calumet and J&R. I can't vouch for ads below.

 

The Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM DT is a dinky plastic kit lens for Sony's 1.5x sensor cameras, like the Sony A55, A33 and A55V.

It has mediocre performance, but more than good enough for the casual use it's likely to see from the people who actually will buy it. It is not as good as Nikon's outwardly similar 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 or Canon's 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lenses, which is odd, because they share what look like similar performance in other regards. Maybe I got a bad sample of this Sony lens — but then maybe you would, too.

 

Sony 18-55mm

Rear, Sony 18-55mm. bigger.

Note Sony's clever use of an orange band on the rear mount to distract potential buyers from noticing the disposable plastic lens mount.

 

Specifications         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

 

Name

Sony 18-55mm

Barrel Bottom, Sony 18-55mm. bigger.

Sony adds the letters SAM DT to this lens' name. They probably mean something about the AF motor and the fact this lens only works on1.5x sensor cameras, and not full-frame.

 

Optics

8 elements in 7 groups.

2 aspheric elements.

Front-group focus.

Pumper zoom: front group moves in and out as zoomed.

 

Focal Length

18-55mm, which gives the same angles-of-view on 1.5x sensor cameras as a 28-85mm lens would give on 35mm and full-frame cameras.

 

Close Focus

0.82ft (0.25m), rated.

 

Filter Thread

55mm, plastic.

Moves with zooming and rotates with focus.

 

Diaphragm

Sony 18-55mm

Front, Sony 18-55mm at f/22. bigger.

7 blades, stopping down to f/22-36.

 

Size

2-3/4" x 2-3/4" (69.5 x 69mm), rated.

 

Weight

7.5 oz. (210g), rated.

 

Performance         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

It's usually sharp in the center, where it matters.

At 18mm, it's soft on the sides at most apertures.

At 28mm, it's sharp throughout the image.

At 55mm, it's soft everywhere wide-open at f/5.6, and improves at f/11.

 

It has a load of barrel distortion at 18mm (use +5 in Photoshop's Lens Correction filter to correct.) The distortion goes away as zoomed to 55mm, at which focal length it has no distortion.

 

It is relatively free from lateral color fringes, except at 18mm.

 

Recommendations         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

I wouldn't buy one of these things.

I'd rather shoot with an old Minolta MAXXUM 50mm f/1.7, which has much better optical performance, is completely compatible with Sony DSLRs, including full-frame, and sells for about $75 used at eBay.

 

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Thanks for reading!

Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

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