SAL-1855
3.8
5
9
9
A all-rounder kit lens
The SAL1855 is the kind of zoom lens that is often commonly packaged in a single or twin lens Alpha camera kit.
It was included with my DSLR-A390 in a single zoom lens kit (as I own other A-mount lenses like ones from Minolta-so the single lens kit suited me the best).
As it lens, the plastic lens munt is adequate and expected of such a lens but unlike my MInolta 28-85mm zoom lens for instance there is no distance scale window for manual focusing.
What I like most is the comfortable focus and zoom rings which work smoothly. Build quality-feels lightweight but good enough and sturdy .
Also with a 27-82.5mm equivilant focal length, the lens has nice wide-angle coverage at 27mm and telephoto coverage at 82.5mm (comes close the 85mm end on my Minolta 28-85mm)
April 9, 2012
Budget General Purpose Lens
The standard 18-55mm lens included in most Sony DSLRs. Great for general purpose shooting in a variety of light conditions. It is versatile enough to do portraits or macros with the depth of field effect. The autofocus motor is quick and the manual focus is smooth throughout the entire range.
The main issues I had with it is the focus through the Live View seemed almost unnoticably out of focus at either the 18mm or 55mm ends and at all ranges a slight soft edge on the focused subject when reviewed during post editing.
Overall a decent lens to start with but not so much for the adept.
September 16, 2011
Fantastic lens (Recommended upon camera Purchase)
This is a fantastic lens you should get upon purchase of a camera, (stock lens) I loved it. Check out my pics using my friend Bianca as the model in both pics. :)
May 13, 2011
Lens is Better the Tamron 17-50 and Sigma 18-50
I purchased the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 because of the reviews as a good performer and constant f-stop of 2.8. Well, I took direct comparison shots with the Kit Zoom and my Tamron Zoom, and the kit zoom was sharper and had better color and contrast then the Tamron could produce at the same f-stops of the Sony kit zoom.
Get this kit zoom if you don't have one, as it is a great performer, and weighs half as much as the 3rd party junk. at 1/3 the price.
If you need low-light shots, don't use a zoom. Don't fall for the constant aperture ploy spouted about as a reason to buy a 3rd party zoom like the Sigma or Tamron, and that the image quality is on par or better then this kit lens. It is NOT, and you have to use aperture priority to get it close to the kit lens.
At f/2.8 with the Tamron and Sigma, all shots are soft when compared to the kit zoom for same focal length shots. Stick with the kit zoom for zoom shots. Upgrade to the Zeiss zoom. Forget the Sigma or Tamron lenses.
For low light shots, get a fast Sony prime lens. You'll need the sharpness in low light shots, and the faster f-stop when compared to a zoom.
April 14, 2011
