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Review on Sony SELP18105G PZ 18 105Mm OSS by Michael Schafer

Revainrating 5 out of 5

THERE IS NO BEST OPTION FOR THE A6XXX IF YOU WANT TO SHOOT ONLY VIDEO, look elsewhere if compactness and photo quality are a priority.

I bought this lens and a Zeiss 16-70mm to see which to use in place of the standard lens for the a6000 and I wasn't thrilled with this lens for stills but was amazed by his video capabilities. I ended up keeping both lenses, but which one I use depends on whether I'm shooting video or stills. First, the barrel distortion is out of control and needs to be fixed in post. When shooting in RAW, it's just impossible to get around this. . When shooting in JPEG format, the a6000 appears to correct most distortions automatically, but does not eliminate them. Second, it's the same size as my full-frame Zeiss 35mm f1.4 lens and the same weight as my full-frame Zeiss 16-35mm f4 lens. This is literally a full frame size (72mm front element) and a heavy lens for a camera system designed to be light and compact. I get extra range with the 105mm lens, but in my opinion this lens defeats the purpose of buying/using a Sony NEX/a6XXX series camera for any type of photography. Unless your goal is to capture 100% video (power zoom works great and is quiet) I highly recommend finding a used Zeiss 16-70mm lens on eBay (make sure it's decenter tested became). I found my used, pristine Zeiss 16-70mm replica on eBay for $635, so for a bit more I can get a much better lens system with an added 2mm wide angle (makes a bigger difference than you think). that looks and feels real. as if it belonged to a Sony a6XXX camera. Conclusion: If video is your goal, then there is no better option for the Sony a6XXX series camera. However, if you want to maintain the compact, discreet and portable profile of the Sony a6XXX and take quality photos, look for a used and tested copy of the Zeiss 16-70mm for almost the same price. However, for videos I choose 18-105mm every time.

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