Sony
55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
 vs
Sony
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Slightly better wide angle 4.5 mm vs 18 mm
Help
 4x better wide angle
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm Learn more about
the Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm

Reasons to consider the Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Image stabilization Sony SteadyShot vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Wider aperture f/3.5 vs f/4.5
Help
 At its widest, the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 captures slightly more light, 0.7 f-stops
More zoom 3.1x vs 1.4x
Help
 More than 2x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos
Better telephoto 55 mm vs 6.3 mm
Help
 More than 8.5x more reach, less perspective distortion
Slightly lighter 194 g vs 343 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Learn more about
the Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Prime lens Both are zoom lenses Help
Typically not as sharp as prime lenses
Focus motor No silent focus motor Help
Louder and slower
Fixed aperture Both are variable aperture lenses Help
Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths
Max focal length Poor telephoto Help
55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm:6.3 mm
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6:55 mm

Compared to wide angle lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard

Wide angle lens

$700
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Fixed aperture Has a fixed aperture
Compare the 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Compare the 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony E-Mount 16mm f/2.8

Sony E-Mount 16mm f/2.8

Wide angle lens

$248
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Prime lens Is a fixed focal length prime lens
Magnification Has worse macro
Compare the E-Mount 16mm f/2.8 vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Compare the E-Mount 16mm f/2.8 vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6

Sony D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6

Wildlife lens

$248
Max focal length Has a significantly shorter telephoto lens
Wide maximum Has a higher max f/stop
Min focal length Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Compare the D 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony 2 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DT

Sony 2 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DT

Wildlife lens

$200
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Wide maximum Has a higher max f/stop
Compare the 2 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DT vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Compare the 2 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DT vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony 50mm f/1.8

Sony 50mm f/1.8

Low light lens

$298
Aperture Has a wider aperture
Prime lens Is a fixed focal length prime lens
Magnification Has worse macro
Compare the 50mm f/1.8 vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Compare the 50mm f/1.8 vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3

Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3

Wildlife lens

$348
Max focal length Has a slightly shorter telephoto lens
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Compare the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Compare the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony DT 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3

Sony DT 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3

Travel lens

$800
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Zoom range Much more zoom
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Min focal length Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the DT 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Sony E-Mount 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3

Sony E-Mount 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3

Travel lens

$898
Zoom range Much more zoom
Max focal length Significantly better telephoto
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the E-Mount 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm
Sony E-Mount 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Sony E-Mount 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Fisheye lens

$298
Fisheye Fisheye lens
Aperture Wider aperture
Min focal length Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the E-Mount 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 vs the 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3mm

Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT

Wide angle lens

$798
Fixed aperture Has a consant aperture
Aperture Wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the 16-50mm f/2.8 DT vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony 16mm f/2.8

Sony 16mm f/2.8

Wide angle lens

$998
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Aperture Wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Magnification Less magnification
Compare the 16mm f/2.8 vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Wide angle lens

$185 - $199
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Magnification Slightly more magnification
Compare the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony 24mm f/1.8 E-Mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar

Sony 24mm f/1.8 E-Mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar

Low light lens

$1,098
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the 24mm f/1.8 E-Mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM

Sony DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM

Low light lens

$218
Prime lens Is a prime lens
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Zoom range Less zoom
Compare the DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM vs the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

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