Sony 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6

NOTE: this is for crop sensor (DX) Alpha cameras only.

This is Sony’s ultra wide zoom for crop sensor dSLR cameras. It provides an ultra wide 104 degree field of view at 11mm, making the lens perfect for capturing wide landscape and city street shots. With three aspherical and one Extra Low Dispersion element, chromatic aberration and flare are very well controlled.

For those of you who haven’t tried an ultra wide angle lens, remember that the field of view at 11mm is 50% larger than 18mm. It makes a world of difference.

Roger’s Take: Comparing the ultra-wide, crop-sensor camera lenses is an extremely difficult task, so I’ll put the summary first: they all deliver excellent image quality, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. To my ‘just taking pictures’ assessment, they are all excellent. There are some differences though, which I’ll try to point out, so you have a better chance at choosing the one that’s best for you.
Sigma 8-16 f/4.5-5.6 is the widest (and remember, 8mm is 20% wider than 10mm, so it’s a very real difference). Not quite as sharp in the corners as the others, and lower maximum aperture, but it’s really pretty good, especially considering it’s the widest of the wide.
The Sony 11-18mm is a decent lens, although it really isn’t sharp wide open. It needs to be stopped down a stop to give you the images most of us want. It’s nice and small, which is important when you’re only carrying an ultra-wide in the bag “just in case” you need it. Overall, a decent, but not a great performer.
The Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 has a bit larger range and provides excellent image quality, although it has a bit of barrel distortion at the wide end, fits no worse than the Sony. It’s quite sharp in the center even wide open, a bit less so in the edges until f/5.6 or f/8. It’s internally focusing, so if you plan on using a circular polarizer (not always the best idea on an ultra-wide), you might prefer this one. Plus, it’s a good price.

The Sony 11-18 f/4.5-5.6 is a decent lens, although it really isn’t sharp wide open, it needs to be stopped down a stop to give you the images most of us want. It’s nice and small, which is important when you’re only carrying an ultra-wide in the bag “just in case” you need it. Overall, a decent, but not a great performer, possibly the weakest of the ultrawides.
The Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 has a bit larger range and provides excellent image quality, although it has a bit of barrel distortion at the wide end, fits no worse than the Sony. It’s quite sharp in the center even wide open, a bit less so in the edges until f/5.6 or f/8. It is internally focusing, so if you plan on using a circular polarizer (not always the best idea on an ultra-wide), you might prefer this one. Plus, it’s a good price.

But, like I said above: they’re all excellent. We hardly ever get anything but happy comments about any of them.

Only Works With:

• Crop sensor cameras (A350, A550, etc…)

Specs:

Filter Size

77mm (nonrotating front element)

Aperture

f4.5-29

Length

3.4”

Diameter

3.2”

Weight

0.75 lb (without tripod collar)

Hood

SAL-1118

Minimum Focusing Distance

0.75 feet

Maximum Magnification

0.125x

Angle of view: (crop frame)

104 to 76 degrees

Zoom method

Barrel Extending

Image Stabilization

none

Focusing System

Internal/rear elements, Full time active,

Aperture Blades

7, circular

Groups/Elements

12/15

Low Dispersion Elements

1

Aspherical Elements

3

Weather Resistant

No

Flare and Ghosting

minimal ghosting, minimal loss of contrast

Links:

• Instruction Manual
• Review Photozone
• Review Cameralabs

MTF Chart:

If you are bored and don’t understand MTF charts, you can read about them HERE

Lens Diagram:

If you’re having difficulties choosing a lens, this article might help you. Whereas, if general information about ultra wides is what interests you, then look here

If you’re having difficulties choosing a lens, this article might help you. Whereas, if general information about ultra wides is what interests you, then look here