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Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens – Sample Video and Lens Testing w/ A6000

Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens @ F/8, 105mm, 1/400sec, ISO 100, Raw Quality - Edited

In this article I will show lots of sample video using the Sony E-Mount 18-105mm f/4 OSS Powerzoom lens. I used the new e-mount Sony alpha A6000 for all the filming and audio as well.

Starting with some around the house footage of Layla, then moving on to some real world zoom and transition testing. After that I bring in the camera slider and I try and show what sliding and zooming looks like at the same time with a waterfall scene. Next, it’s into the New Lab for some quick zoom testing and a Dolly Zoom effect attempt with the camera slider 😉

Lastly, I will share some behind the scenes of the studio and lab area in very low light and then into the garage for a quick fun break if you are curious. I may have to do that again later today if I get time, but projects around the house also have to get done….

Here is the video footage and please feel free to ask questions or comment below as always.

Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens – Sample Video and Lens Testing

Be sure to select the HD Quality for the best viewing experience. It may take a few minutes to load depending on your connection, but it looks much sharper and then you can go full screen!

A few A6000 and selp18105g snapshots from the past few days..

Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens
Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens
Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens
Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens
Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens @ F/8, 105mm, 1/400sec, ISO 100, Raw Quality - Edited
Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens @ F/8, 105mm, 1/400sec, ISO 100, Raw Quality – Edited
Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens @ F/5.6, 18mm, 1/80sec, ISO 100, Raw Quality - Edited BW
Sony A6000 w/ 18-105 f/4 OSS G Lens @ F/5.6, 18mm, 1/80sec, ISO 100, Raw Quality – Edited BW

Closing Remarks

That is about it for now, but I am loving this camera and lens combo for real world video and regular photography! The ~ effective 158mm range with the 1.5x crop factor, really is enough zoom for most everyday use, and the with the A6000 High ISO as good as it is, the constant f/4 aperture is totally usable for video and photography of all kinds.

I also find it very impressive how variable, smooth, and quiet the SELP18105g lens is while zooming and focusing. I can’t even hear it in the original video footage and did not adjust or edit the audio. The camera slider is pretty audible though 😉 The A6000 also renders the video really well and it’s way better than my Nex-6 in that area. Focusing while recording video is also much better and more accurate with the A6000 than my Nex-6. The Nex-6 was good, but in low light it would wonder much more often. The A6000 does not have that issue near as much, and once you learn the focus system a bit, it can be worked with.

Gatta go to the Home Depot, so sorry for the rush article and have a great day!
I’ll catch up with you all later,
Jay

  1. Hello Jay,
    Since your review SELP18200 I was convinced to buy this lens, then I read complaints on the construction aspects that leave games in the mounting ring on the Nex 7 and mechanical instability of the barrels in their race to 200 mm. This put me off and made ??me look forward to the alternative to the Sony E PZ lens 18-105 mm f/4.0 G OSS, uniquely considered very well built, apart from the obvious differences in focus, the optical quality is comparable ? Can you recommend? Thank you very much.
    Fabio

    1. Hi Fabio, and yes I highly recommend the SELP18105g lens. It’s not perfect, but any lens in this price range with these features can’t possible be. The distortion is the main flaw with this lens, but the camera fixes it really well as does Lightroom if your shooting Raw. That is why the lens is fairly small physically for it’s extended range, built in variable powerzoom, OSS, fully self contained, and pretty light weight. If it had the killer Zeiss glass and coatings it would cost over $1000 for sure. The G badge keeps it totally reasonable and overall great in my opiinion. It’s really the perfect all in one for video and photography if you can deal with the F/4 which I totally can. Especially if you have a few primes for the really low light situations or for play. I also think the lens is well built. It feels solid to me and the focus/ zoom also has s very good dampening to it.
      I hope that helps,
      Jay

      1. Jay, I’ve been quite helpful, thank you so much and you do a lot of compliments for your always interesting reviews

  2. I would love to use this with my a6000 but I found out the camera gets really hot past 15-18 mins of video and shuts down, which isn’t ideal if you’re buying this lens to record long events.
    Great review as always Jay.

    1. I have not heard that yet myself Gabrial, but thats for the info. I recorded for a long time at the Aquarium with no issues at all. I could see any camera over heating recording at 1080/60p for an extended period in a really warm environment. Regualr conditions it should be fine though.
      Thanks again,
      Jay

    2. Update: Ok I just tried filming and I had no overheating issues with two 29 minute clips filmed back to back at 1080/60p. The camera definitely got warm, but never shut off. So ~57 minutes of recording with about 5 seconds between clips and no issue. Ambient temperature is 72 degrees in the the room I’m in. I’m not saying it won’t overheat, but based on the test I just did, you should be good to go in my opinion. The earlier Nex models had issues and the A6000 may if it’s hot outside or ambient temperatures are hot. Regular temps should be no problem in my opinion.

    3. I had this lens for a while… but i returned it. The barrel distortion is massive at either end. I felt lightroom conversion from RAW did a much better job then the onboard jpeg which was horrid. I would probably not buy this lens at the moment.On the sony roadmap, it shows a PZ 28-135 F/4 FE mount. On the A6000 this may be a bit too long at the short end of the zoom but this lens would HAVE to have better controlled barrel distortion. (If you have 5-6% barrel distortion on the APSC version if you just scaled it up the distortion would be totally unfixable.) Depending on how the FE performs I might consider that lens with an A6000 or an A7. (They do totally different things.)

      1. Thanks for the comments and sharing your experience David. The distortion is pretty bad you are correct. Most will be able to live with it in the real world though considering all the other strengths. The FE PZ 28-135mm will certainly be better, but also huge in size and heavy.
        The 70-200mm G also some significant barrel distortion, although not near as bad as the 18-105mm lens.
        Thanks again,
        Jay

      2. FYI: I processed some photos with capture one and DXO. DXO did a great job of correcting the lens distortion. I would say it is was better then lightroom but I am not sure I would spend the money to replace lightroom just for this lens. Although if you already use DXO for raw conversion .. I would continue to use it. FYI capture one does not have a profile for this lens.

  3. Hi jay thanks for your great reviews!
    As you’ve used both lenses, can you give us a little comparison between:
    – Sony E-Mount 16-70mm f/4 OSS Zeiss
    – Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS
    in terms of weight and dimensions in real usage, image quality and your suggestion as an “all-in-one” solution to be used with a Sony Alpha A6000?
    Thanks in advance!!!
    Sergio

  4. Hi Jay,
    Based on your experience on both the SEL 18-200 PZ and the 18-105 PZ, which would be a better fit for the A6000 for both stills & video?
    As I mentioned on the 18-200 PZ review board, I can purchase it for $550.
    At this moment, there is a seller willing to accept my offer of $510 shipped.
    Both are like new condition…which one would be the better choice?

    1. Hi William and that is a brutal question! For the money the 18-200mm is a far “better deal” in my opinion. Much more lens for the money bottom line. Personally I would not want to use that lens on the A6000 every day or on family outings as it’s just to heavy and large. So I would rather own the sel18105g lens for my current situation.
      I would get the 18-105g lens only because of the size and weight advantage. Otherwise the 18-200mm is a way better deal in all regards I feel.
      A near impossible decision William, seriously! I would not know what to do in your shoes and I’m sorry for that 😉
      I hope that helps,
      Jay

      1. Thank Jay for your honest opinion.
        I’m deciding on going with the SELP 18-105mm…a better all around lens compared to the SELP 18-200mm.
        The only reasons for the SELP 18-200mm would be for the extra reach and the excellent price!
        Other than that, I feel the SELP 18-105mm will be better fit for me with the constant f/4.
        Would the SELP 18-105mm be good for a replacement for the SELP 16-50mm?
        I’m thinking that they are within similar coverage, I wouldn’t need both.
        I do have the SEL 20mm, SEL 35mm & SEL 50mm for portability when needed.
        Comments?

        1. Hi Willliam and thanks for the reply as well 😉
          I would keep the 16-50mm pancake only for the very rare occasion where you want a pocket size camera with some versatility over the 20mm prime for example. The 20mm would be the only lens you have comparable in size to the kit lens when then camera is off. It’s obviously not necessary, but would be nice to have in that possible situation I would think? Otherwise I would sell it for sure!
          Jay

  5. Thanks Jay for your helpful advice.
    Unless I can sell the SELP1650 for a reasonable price on Craigslist, I’ll most likely be keeping it.
    I just purchased the SELP18105G and all I can say is, so far I love it!
    ~William

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