Using SEL18200LE lens on A6300

[SandyW]

I am using the Sony SEL18200LE lens on my A6300.  It produces very acceptable images; that is when it focuses.  At least half the time, even in really good light, it just does not autofocus, it's as if it is in manual.  Anyone else have this problem?  And more importantly a solution.  I should mention that on my A7ii the autofocus with this same lens is almost instant, but to get that I had to make sure Phase Detect was set to ON.  There seems to be no similar option on the A6300.

[Username]

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Then you need an a6500. Apparently 

the 6300 has only contrast detection 

... or if does have phase detection it's 

inferior to the larger [FF] sensor. The 

latter could be true, since PD AF is, 

in way, similar to a rangefinder, and 

a larger sensor would provide a wider 

rangefinder base. With rangefinders, 

generally the longer the FL the more 

you need a wider RF base, which has 

nothing to do with illumination levels.   

    

FWIW below is a user review from

the Sony USA corporate site, so you

are not alone as to your experience.   

 

The review indicates that you might 

actually be better off using Sony's 

faster, less costly 18-105/4.0 and 

deploying the a6300's Clear Image 

Zoom when you need more FL. I'm 

using the 18-105 on my a6000, an 

older one that has never had a FW

update, and the AF is quite fast and 

accurate ... and I specialize in low 

illumination situations. So I keep the

18-105 on my a6000 [which has no

PDAF] and use my a6500 with my

adapted Canon EF lenses, cuz the

a6500 works with those but the old 

a6000 just "throws in the towel". 

 

 

  

BEGIN REVIEW:  

Mediocre on a6000  

 

Tried this lens on my a6000 and returned

it because it was a bit too soft especially

on the outer quarter of the frame at all

focal lengths. Stopping it down to around

f11 helped some. The only focal lengths

that were really decent were from about

were from about 80-110mm.

 

Also autofocus was very slow between

150 to 200mm(5 to 10 seconds in good

light at f11) not really worth the premium

price that Sony is selling it for.

[SandyW]

Many thanks for your helpful reply.  I was thinking that it was a combination of the lens and body.  The main problem is getting autofocus when zoomed in, less so when wide.  In fact the A6300 does have a "hybrid" PD and CD focus system and many reviewers attest to the camera's superfast autofocus!!  But it clearly has limitations which I will have to live with. I don't want to give up the 200mm FL.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

The lens has a variable aperture that stops down when you extend the zoom. This means that less light reaches the sensor, which in turn makes it more difficult to focus.

 

That said, I'm using the first version of the 18-200 lens on A6300. Focus slows a bit at the long end but it's perfectly usable. You could try disabling face recognition, as that function can lag a bit. You could also try different AF modes. In general I find that AF-C and focus area Wide is fast and works well for most subjects.

[SandyW]

Interesting, and thanks for your thoughts. I have the smaller LE version of the lens as it is lighter.  I use focus area wide and have face recognition disabled.  I think your point about the LE version of the lens having a smaller aperture when zoomed in is very pertinent.  As a matter of interest, when I use the Sony FE 70-300mm G OSS f4.5-5.6 on the A6300 autofocus locks on quite well, but not as quickly as on the A7ii.