The TRUTH about the Sony 18-105 f4 Lens

Have you used this lens before? Im curious to know what you think about it!

i like how i get everything from this 3 min video, after i watched other three 10 min each.. :D great job, thanks

Is this not a good lens to get for photography? I’m seeing it’s mostly used for videography

you cant be a videography channel in 2023 and be posting 1080p videos, the quality is very bad, post in 4k instead

If you need to update the firmware on this lens, note that it CANNOT be achieved if you have some of the more modern Sony cameras. Sony has not updated the software for quite some time, so for example FX3, FX6, FX9, FX30 etc owners will be stuck with whatever level of lens firmware they currently have.

fab lens, for video, great price great quality, smooth power zoom, OSS...one of the best..

Great to know this. Cheers Brah.

This is a video lens, so what power zoom video lens going up to 105 is even comparable? Most lenses that are compared here and in the comments are photo lenses.

I have used the Sony 18-105 lens a lot over the past four years. I originally purchased it for indoor choir performances with good stage lights. Subsequently, I purchased the Tamron 17-70 because some other sorts of performances really needed the 2.8 speed, and more recently, I bought the Sigma 18-50, and in my experience, these three lenses serve very different purposes. (Keep in mind I also have the Sigma 30 and 56, Sony 24 1.8 ZA and other lenses, and I've sold many lenses.) The 18-50 2.8 is on my camera most of the time. The 2.8 is about enough for indoor shots of miscellaneous at home. The Tamron 17-70 2.8 is a perfect event lens for just about everything including most indoor stage work. I use the Sony 18-105 for 4k video of outdoor sports. The f4 is barely enough when you have people running and need high shutter speeds, but those other two zooms just don't have the needed reach. With this kind of sports video, I need relatively wide view sometimes like at least 35/52, and more reach to say 135 would be helpful. I've considered the 18-135, but frankly, the power zoom of the 18-105 is very helpful for smooth zooms like when a player is running fast toward you or passed you, and for night games, the f4 is barely adequate. I read that Sigma has submitted a patent for a 50-140 1.8, and while 50 is a little tight, I would probably have to buy that for sports, especially if I'm standing in bleachers, farther from the players than from the side lines.

Good break down of its uses. Thanks

Agree with your comments. Loved this lens for a long long time but feel like there is better out there now. Thanks!

Thank you, you saved me from wasting time and money.

I am about to buy a sony a6400 and get only one lens. I’m thinking between this one and the sony 35mm 1.8. Will ise for mostly video, so I think this one is better. Will it still be better for photo indoor compared to my iphone 13 max?

Size, price, and weight for this much zoom range makes this a keeper lens for me.

Is any good for night photography?

i am buying a used one for 275$ to replace the kit lens in my ZV-E10 thanks for the breakdown. do you think its still worth it for that price?

love the review - very short, sweet, straight to the point. Thank you

thank you so much..i bought sigma 18-50mm instead of this lens

I recently bought a ZV-E10 and I love the powerzoom on the kit lens as it compensates for the arthritis I now have in my left hand. I'm interested in this lens from an 'if you could only take one lens on a trip' point of view. Like the kit lens it has powerzoom, it's relatively affordable and has that constant f4 aperture that possibly would work well on my Crane M2 gimbal when videoing. Sure it's not the sharpest lens and it's quite bulky (the only disappointing factor as I like my lenses as compact as possible) but I'm looking for kit that is manageable for a person with mobility issues that doesn't take the fun out of photography/videography. Very helpful video, thanks.

Might be the best lens review I've seen, covered everything I wanted without the fluff. Thanks

Got this lens open box for 370 on ebay and I love it

What gimbal do you use with this camera and lens?

which lens you bought to replace it ?

Can you zoom this lens while on gimbal without getting it unbalanced? I'm thinking to buy this lens and a gimbal for filming motorsports.

Thinking of buying this lens for full frame camera(A7III) for second shooter ar the weddings.

This lens helped me a lot when filming my wedding, put it on a gimbal and made some really nice shots (better than expected). But at the party in the night I really needed to switch to my 35mm Sony and 16mm Sigma. You need to re-balance your gimbal when you put a Tamron 17-70 on it and zoom in and out during a session on a gimbal right? That's my biggest point of selling this 18-105 for the Sigma 18-50 or Tamron 17-70..

Great video! I'm considering buying this since the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 is around twice the price for this lens. The 18-135mm kit lens is also on my watchlist since it's similar price and performance wise but I'm not a fan of its variable aperture.

Help me decide if you don't mind. This, the 18-135mm, or should I just save up and buy the Tamron 17-70 instead?

I have had it for 3-4 years now as my only lens for my a6000. It has served me good for travel and it has great flexibility.
Recently bought the 70-350 so i will be looking into replacing it with something up to 50-60mm when i got the budget.

Better than 18-105 can only be 18-105 mark 2, or something like Fuji PZ 18-120 or Sony 18-135 (also PZ), but not Sigma 18-50 or Tamron 17-70. 105 matters, no doubt. Hidden portraiture and things like that. The bokeh at 105 f4 is better than at 50 f2.8. But Sony 105 is outdated and needs updating. And if they do that, then it will shine!

Great content bro

I found one used and locally for $280 and currently saving up for it. Still gonna consider it cuz I heard that it has a much better stabilization cuz of the weight than the kit lens I got ^^

Loved this video Kien, and your editing touch is flawless, looking forward for some more vids :)

I'm mainly doing photography but have interest in experimenting with videography. I knew this lens was mainly purposed for video, but I've watched positive reviews and got a nice offer from a friend, so I bought it for 440 USD.
After using the Sigma 56mm and 30mm primes for photography, the sharpness on my first zoom lens 18-105mm was quite a disappointment (not sure if it's faulty, I doubt). Of course, comparing the primes with zooms at this range is like comparing 'lemons and oranges', but yeah. However, this level of sharpness is totally OK and suitable for video/filmography.
I agree with everything you've mentioned. I'd add that it's not a great lens for photography, although I've seen some good photos taken with it.

Same here. I loved that lens, but I sold it because I find myself using primes 99% of the time, and combined with the f/4, it was too limiting, ALTHOUGH, the ISO in my a6400 is pretty amazing, I have to say. Also, I keep the kit lens around, the 16-50, because at 16mm it's f3.5, which is BETTER than the 18-105, and it stays at f/4 through to 23mm, which is equivalent to 35mm, and so, yeah... it made sense to sell the 18-105, but sometimes I regret it, because it was SO STABLE. The Sony 35mm f1.8 stays on my camera most of the time, along with the Samyang 12mm f2, manual lens. I can do pretty much everything with those two lenses. I have a few vintage lenses as well, 28mm and 50mm, both manual, and so.......... it was bye, bye 18-105. ;) Great video, looking forward to more...

Sometimes it feels like this lens is not wide enough! I’m tempted with the 16-55 as it has a wider end, sharper image, and f2.8. Still thorn between that and the tamron as the price on the sony feels overpriced. What lens did you move to?

I agree 1000% sold it and got myself a 17-70

Doooope! Even though it only has f4. It is still a good quality G lens

I got this lens $400 USA Dollars in 2019 when I bought my a6500 and still use it today. Works for me.. I also got a Sony remote to control the zoom and record button.

Just bought this beast lens for my a6500 a couple of weeks ago. Tried it yesterday, awesome!