2. Leave the more expensive super-zooms from Nikon and Canon for the professionals who must spend twice or more than the Sony 18–250mm to produce the highest quality images possible. As a casual photographer, you receive excellent value for the dollars spent on the Sony lens.
3. If you already own a Sony 1.5x sensor camera, then the 18–250mm f/3.5–6.3 is the perfect match, especially with its upgraded metal mount.
4. The value of an all-purpose lens is also measured by its portability and how easily it can be carried during an all-day shoot. The Sony 18–250mm f/3.5–6.3 is both shorter at 3 3/8” in length and lighter at 15 oz. than its primary competitors, Sigma and Tamron.
5. Sony is equally competitive when comparing the optics of these lenses. The 18–250mm f/3.5–6.3 is built with 16 glass elements in 13 groups and 3 aspheric and 2 ED elements for sharp, colorful results in most all shooting situations. The ED, or Extra-low Dispersion, glass elements reduce flare, ghosting and chromatic aberrations to an insignificant level, especially for the hobbyist.
6. Focusing is also very comparable with an auto-focus system that rates well above average. Casual photographers appreciate the internal focusing system, which means the lens does not change its length, keeping it balanced and secure in your hands.
7. You’ll be able to capture scenes and subjects at a great distance and fill the frame with their details with the 14X zoom range of the Sony 18–250mm f/3.5–6.3. This is the equivalent of 27mm–375mm in the 35mm format.
8. The aperture/focal length guide is also very convenient, as some f-stops, f/4 and f/4.5, for example, can be selected at the same focal length, 35mm in this example. F/3.5 and f/4 are both usable at 24mm as are f/5.6 and f/6.3 at 150mm.
9. Third-party tests have shown that the petal-type hood that comes with the Sony 18–250mm helps to reduce flare and ghosting when the source of strong light is within the frame.
10. A photographer familiar with the Sony 18–250mm advises that the best results are produced with the lens significantly stopped down at a focal length of 100mm or longer. Use a fast shutter speed and an ISO of 200 to 400. The full magnification factor of x 0.29 is most favorable when shooting at f/11.
11. The Sony 18–250mm f/3.5–6.3 DT Lens is available from B&H Photo Video for just $599.99, at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=sony+18-250&N=0&InitialSearch=yes.
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