Sony SAL DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6

Overview

DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 Super wide angle zoom to capture landscape, for indoor shots and snap shots

Features

Please be aware that the features/specifications can differ from country to country.

Exclusive lens for APS-format Digital-SLR cameras

11-18mm

F4.5-5.6

Lens Type: Zoom
IS / VR / OS: None
Min Focal length (mm): 11
Max Focal Length (mm): 18
Number of Elements: 15
Element Groups: 12
Max Aperture: 4.5
Minimum Aperture: 22
Diaphragm Blades: 7
Closest Focus Distance (m): 0.25
Maximum Magnification: 1.25
Filter Diameter (mm): 77
Diameter at widest (mm): 83
Lens Length (mm): 81
Weight (g): 360

Details

Lens Specifications

Product Name	DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6
35mm equivalent focal length when used with APS-C sensor camera	16.5-27
Lens Groups-Elements	12-15
Angle of view, attached to APS-C-format camera; degrees	104-76
Aperture Blades	7
Circular aperture	YES
Min. Aperture	22-29
Min. Focus (shortest distance from image sensor to subject); m	0.25
Max.Magnification	0.125
Filter Diameter; mm	77
Dimension(Max. Diameter x Length); mm	83x80.5
Weight; g	360

Supplied Accessories

Front lens cap	YES
Rear lens cap	YES
Lens hood	Petal hood

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USA Lens Price History

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Editor review : Soney 11-18mm


Overall rating (weighted)		3.0
Sharpness		3.0
Build Quality		3.0
AF Speed		3.0
Value for Money		3.0

The Sony 11-18mm is designed for APS-C-sized sensors rather than for full-frame use. As such, the lens is compact but still feels sturdy, and is finished to Sony's usual high standards.
Generously proportioned zoom and focus rings mean easy operation. As with other Sony lenses, autofocus is powered by a conventional motor that's reasonably fast.
Considering the price, image quality leaves something be desired, although distortion and Vignetting are low. The problem is a lack of sharpness, both in the centre of the image and the edges. Chromatic aberration, ghosting and flare were also in evidence.
This is a case where sticking with your body manufacturer's own brand doesn't give you better quality, it just costs more.

Why should you care what I think?

My relationship with this item: I have borrowed a friends
Where did you buy this item?: N/A
Price paid: 0
When did you buy this item?: N/A

Conclusions at a glance

Would you recommend this Item: Undecided
Pros: crop factor
Cons: not realy sharp.

User Lens Reviews

Average user rating from: 9 user(s)


Overall rating (weighted)		4.4
Sharpness		4.3
Build Quality		4.2
AF Speed		4.6
Value for Money		4.3

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide, Monday, 15 September 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		4.8
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		4.0
Value for Money		5.0

I read many user reviews and some "official" ones about the Sony 11-18mm lens, many of which were negative. Despite these reviews, I went ahead and bought the lens (through Amazon.com). I have had it for a few weeks now, have taken several hundred pictures with it, and I really love the results. It produces sharp images in my opinion and the super wide angle pictures are awesome. To me, it is well built. Whoever is reading this review, stop reading it, stop reading "official" lens ratings and Resolution test results on the Sony 11-18mm super wide angle zoom lens and go get one, and you will not be disappointed. Note: I have been a photo hobbyist since 1968 and have owned and used many 35mm cameras, developed my own slides etc. I went digital about 5 years ago and have no plans of going back to film. I have owned the Sony A100 DSLR for less than a year and love it. It has tons of features that I like and use. The Sony 11-18mm super wide is a great addition to my digital photographic system.

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Lens Makes The Camera, Wednesday, 25 June 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		5.0
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

This combination macro and medium range telephoto has been used three times and produced excellent pictures. It's expensive in relation to the cost of a camera but, as professionals will tell you, you can get so much more out of a camera with a good lens that the kit lens can't deliver. There are a lot of lenses available so know what you want to do before you spend the big bucks for one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Was not sure. Now I am, Tuesday, 19 February 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		4.8
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

For a while, I thought that the 18mm of my Sony 18-250 (that I rated 5 stars too) were enough.
Then I decided to give a try to the ultra wide angle. Now, I have to admit I love it very much. The couple Alpha 700/Sony 11-18 is very fast. The pictures are sharp, the color are rather accurate (I get what I see) and there is no Barrel Distortion (depending how you compose the picture, of course).
My idea was to carry only one camera with a "standard" lens (18-250) and bring others lenses according to my needs. Well, I am afraid I got two "standard" lenses.

wide wide-angle range, handicapped by variable ape, Sunday, 10 February 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		4.3
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		4.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		4.0

Solid, sharp and virtually distortion-free wide angle zoom for Sony Alpha. However, non-para-focal construction handicaps usability because of variable aperture. Come on Sony, surely you've got the resources to design a constant f/4 aperture wide-angle zoom at this price point.

Watch for ideal price before purchase, Saturday, 02 February 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		4.3
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		3.0
AF Speed		4.0
Value for Money		5.0

Great lens. Be aware that it is a DT lens and therefore will only work on APS-C sensors. Basically, if you are never going to shoot old Minolta 35mm SLRs or the upcoming A900 body ($2500+ probably), don't worry about it.

Best Buy had this on sale, free shipping, for $400 early Feb. 2008.
So look for that number or lower on this lens for best price.

Quality and Beauty, Monday, 24 December 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		4.5
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		4.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

Okay, typically bloke like, I bought a flashy camera (but not something mad priced) and then needed to add to the gizmos that one eventually builds up. I wanted a decent wide angle lense made for the Alpha digital camera for landscape and indoor use. This is the puppy. Feels beautifully made and I all but drooled over it. I'm not going to get technical because frankly I'm not into anoraks and this is still a learning curve for me. What I will say is that so far I've had some damn good photos using this lens having made the mistake previously of buying a wide angle Minolta lens. Which now having read a Bit realise that it isn't when on a digital camera because of the film frame size compared to the photsensitive chip used in digital jobbies. Made sense - should have bought the book first but you know that geezers and instruction books do not go together. Being English, I decided to buy this in America where it's literally half the price - try nearly a $1000 for size, so the price to me made this the bargain of the year.

Sony 11-18mm, Wednesday, 28 November 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		3.3
Sharpness		3.0
Build Quality		3.0
AF Speed		4.0
Value for Money		3.0

In its favour the DT 11-18mm suffers from little geometric distortion or light fall-off considering its ultra wide range, and it's always good to find a lens hood included as standard - if only Canon would do the same. On the downside though, there's noticeable softening in the extreme corners, a manual focusing ring which turns during AF, and a relatively slow focal ratio of f4.5 when it's zoomed-out to 11mm

My relationship with this item: I own it
Where did you buy this item?: Band H
Price paid: 450
When did you buy this item?: june 07

Would you recommend this Item: Yes
Pros: sharp
Cons: price, soft in corners

superb wide angle lens, Tuesday, 16 October 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		4.5
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		4.0

After buying an A-100 Sony I discovered just how exceptional the Sony 18mm-200mm lens is. I still have all my Minolta AF lenses, which was a reason to buy the A-100, but in fact I very rarely get them out of their cases. The 18-200 is very sharp to edge of frame at both ends of the zoom range, has very good colour rendition and Contrast, has no barrel distortion or pincushioning and zooms smoothly. I travel all over the world with this camera and lens combination and have found I need nothing else.

However, when I saw the Sony 11mm/18mm wide angle zoom lens passing through Frankfurt airport, I thought it might be useful for the rare occasions when the 18mm is not quite wide enough. Fortunately I waited to buy until I returned to the US, where it cost 50% of the price in Euros. This is another exceptional lens, with quite astonishing performance. As with any super wide angle lens, there is a risk of distortion on straight vertical lines, but far less than I'd expected. The 11mm/18mm is now in my travel kit. It's great.

Great Sharp Lens, Sunday, 11 March 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		4.0
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		4.0
AF Speed		4.0
Value for Money		3.0

This lens performs as advertised. It's sharp, clear without any noticeable color fringing or shift..requires no color adjustment that I can see.