The Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS lens is a popular choice among photographers and videographers who seek a versatile, high-performance lens for their Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras. This lens is often praised for its build quality, optical performance, and value, making it a strong contender for those who need an all-around lens for various shooting scenarios. In this detailed review, we will explore its design, performance, and overall value, concluding with a comprehensive rating.
Build Quality and Design: ★★★★☆
The Sony 18-105mm f/4 lens is solidly built, with a robust plastic exterior that keeps it lightweight while ensuring durability. The lens feels premium in hand, and the smooth operation of the zoom and focus rings adds to the overall user experience. The power zoom feature, which is particularly useful for videographers, allows for smooth, consistent zooming—something that is challenging to achieve with manual zoom.
The lens has a constant f/4 aperture, which remains consistent across all focal lengths. This design choice ensures that your exposure settings don’t change as you zoom, a critical feature for video recording and low-light photography. However, some users might find the power zoom to be slightly slower compared to manual zooming, which can be a minor inconvenience in fast-paced shooting situations.
Optical Performance: ★★★★☆
The optical performance of the Sony 18-105mm f/4 is impressive for a lens in this price range. The lens delivers excellent sharpness, particularly in the center of the frame, across its entire zoom range. The constant f/4 aperture allows for consistent depth of field control, and the lens performs well in a variety of lighting conditions.
The lens features Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization, which is highly effective in reducing camera shake. This feature is particularly beneficial for handheld shooting, allowing for sharp images and smooth video footage even at longer focal lengths or in low-light environments.
There is some noticeable barrel distortion at the wide end (18mm), but this can be easily corrected in post-processing. Additionally, while the corners are slightly softer, especially at the extreme ends of the zoom range, the overall image quality remains strong.
Autofocus and Video Performance: ★★★★☆
Autofocus on the Sony 18-105mm f/4 is fast, accurate, and virtually silent, making it an excellent choice for both still photography and video. The lens’s internal focusing mechanism means the front element does not rotate during focusing, which is ideal for using filters.
The silent AF motor is particularly advantageous for videographers, as it ensures that focusing noises are not picked up by the camera’s microphone. The lens pairs well with Sony’s face and eye detection autofocus systems, ensuring that subjects are captured with sharp clarity, even when in motion.
The power zoom feature is another plus for videographers, allowing for smooth and consistent zoom transitions. However, as mentioned earlier, the power zoom’s speed might not be fast enough for some users, which could be a limitation in certain shooting scenarios.
Bokeh and Aperture Performance: ★★★☆☆
While the constant f/4 aperture is convenient, it is not the fastest, meaning it may struggle in very low-light conditions or when a very shallow depth of field is required. However, the lens does produce pleasing bokeh, especially at longer focal lengths where background blur is more pronounced. The bokeh is smooth and helps to isolate subjects effectively, though it may not have the creamy quality seen in lenses with wider apertures like f/2.8 or f/1.8.
Versatility and Portability: ★★★★★
The versatility of the Sony 18-105mm f/4 lens is one of its strongest selling points. With a focal length range equivalent to 27-157.5mm on a full-frame camera, this lens can handle everything from wide-angle landscapes to medium telephoto portraits. It’s a great all-in-one lens for travel, street photography, and general-purpose shooting.
Despite its broad zoom range, the lens remains relatively compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry for extended periods. Weighing in at 427 grams, it balances well on Sony’s APS-C mirrorless bodies, offering a comfortable shooting experience.
Value for Money: ★★★★☆
Considering its features, performance, and versatility, the Sony 18-105mm f/4 lens offers excellent value for money. It’s priced competitively for a lens of its class and delivers a level of performance that makes it a worthy investment for both amateur and professional photographers and videographers.
Final Verdict and Rating
- Build Quality and Design: ★★★★☆
- Optical Performance: ★★★★☆
- Autofocus and Video Performance: ★★★★☆
- Bokeh and Aperture Performance: ★★★☆☆
- Versatility and Portability: ★★★★★
- Value for Money: ★★★★☆
Overall Rating: 4.1/5
The Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS lens is a well-rounded, versatile lens that excels in both still photography and videography. Its solid build, consistent aperture, effective image stabilization, and smooth power zoom make it a great choice for those who need a reliable, all-in-one solution. While it has some minor drawbacks, such as slight corner softness and barrel distortion at the wide end, these issues are easily managed and do not detract significantly from the overall performance.
For anyone looking for a dependable and versatile zoom lens for their Sony APS-C camera, the 18-105mm f/4 is a fantastic option that delivers strong performance at a reasonable price.
