Sony E 18-110mm F/4 G OSS PZ SELP18110G

This 2016 Sony E-mount zoom covers 18–110mm on APS-C bodies. It reaches from wide scenes to short telephoto portraits. That span means fewer lens swaps mid-shoot. The powered zoom and constant f/4 aperture suit video work. It remains in production.

Documentary, event and travel videographers get a single lens that stays on the camera all day. The trade-off is bulk and light gathering: at 2 lb 7 oz (1105 g) it is heavy for APS-C, and the f/4 maximum limits dim-room shooting.

At 2 lb 7 oz (1105 g) and 6.59 in (167.5 mm) long, this is a big lens for an APS-C body. The barrel measures 4.33 in (110 mm) across. The front takes 95mm screw-in filters, so any polariser or ND you add must match that large thread. It scores 78/100 for physical build.

The 18mm end suits interviews in tight rooms and wide establishing shots. At 110mm you can tighten on a speaker across a hall or compress distant action. The mid range covers medium shots and two-person interviews. The long end is also enough for stage performances and candid portraits from mid-room.

The f/4 maximum stays constant through the zoom, so exposure does not shift when focal length changes mid-scene. That consistency matters more for video than for stills. A constant f-stop does not mean constant depth of field, which still changes as you zoom.

The ceiling costs light. In dim rooms you will raise ISO, and at 18mm the deep depth of field gives little background separation. At 110mm you can still separate a speaker from a busy background, since longer focal lengths magnify that effect.

Zooming is motorised and driven by a rotary ring. A powered zoom helps keep focal-length moves gentle while recording, which suits slow reveals. Closest focus is 1.3 ft (40 cm), enough to frame a face or a small product at tabletop distance. The optics score is 66/100.

Built-in OSS stabilisation steadies the camera at slower shutter speeds. At the 110mm end that support helps handheld footage stay watchable while you pan, walk or follow a subject. It scores 73/100 for features.

The lens is weather sealed, which gives some protection from dust and moisture in outdoor locations. There is no fluorine coating, so water and oil do not shed from the front glass as easily. Expect to wipe the front element more often in rain.

OSS also steadies the image in the viewfinder, which makes handheld framing easier to hold. Long handheld takes benefit from that support at this weight.

The optical design includes aspherical elements and low-dispersion glass. Aspherical surfaces help correct distortion, which matters when 18mm framing includes straight walls and door frames. Low-dispersion glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, the coloured fringes that can appear along high-contrast edges. Event stages with bright lights and dark backgrounds create exactly those high-contrast edges. It scores 54/100 for construction.