E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS

Released October 2011

An APS-C E-mount compact telephoto zoom with Optical SteadyShot, internal focusing and an aluminium-alloy exterior.

Mount: Sony E
Focal length: 55–210 mm
Max aperture: f/4.5–6.3
Stabilisation: Yes
Weight: 345 g

What reviewers say

Both value low weight, build quality and useful centre sharpness at shorter focal lengths, while finding weaker wide-open corners, vignetting, colour fringing and nervous background blur. Optical Limits is more positive about long-end usability and autofocus on NEX-7; Sony Alpha Blog finds unreliable moving-subject focus on Alpha 6000, particularly at 210 mm or in low light.

From photozone.de, photozone.de, photozone.de and sonyalpha.blog

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Optics

Lens type: Zoom
Focal length: 55–210 mm
Maximum aperture: f/4.5–6.3
Minimum aperture: f/22–32
Optical construction: Thirteen elements in nine groups
Special elements: Two ED glass elements and two aspherical elements
Diaphragm: Seven rounded blades
Angle of view: 28.2°–7.8° APS-C

Mount and compatibility

Mounts: Sony E
Image circle: APS-C
Image circle detail: APS-C coverage; 82.5–315 mm equivalent field of view
Teleconverter support: Not compatible with Sony E-mount teleconverters

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus: Yes
Minimum focus distance: 1 m
Maximum magnification: 0.225×
Optical stabilisation: Yes
Autofocus detail: Internal motor and internal focusing; no specific motor designation published in read maker page
Focus distance detail: 1.0 m minimum focus; electronically coupled manual-focus ring
Magnification detail: 0.225× maximum magnification
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot; Sony’s original announcement claims up to approximately four stops, not guaranteed under every condition. Current spec page leaves stop rating blank

Design

Filter diameter: 49 mm
Maximum diameter: 63.8 mm
Length: 108 mm
Weight: 345 g
Controls: Separate zoom and manual-focus rings; focus mode and optical stabilisation selected on the camera
Zoom design: Extending zoom barrel; internal focusing
Dimensions detail: 63.8 mm maximum diameter × 108 mm length; aluminium-alloy exterior
Weight detail: Approximately 345 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded
Lens hood: ALC-SH115 round bayonet hood
In the box: ALC-SH115 hood, front cap and rear cap; no case listed
Release detail: Sony Japan’s original announcement specifies October 2011, matching contemporaneous Photography Blog US launch coverage. Exact global first day unconfirmed. Full independent tests: Optical Limits/Photozone Klaus Schroiff, NEX-7, March 2012, and Sony Alpha Blog Marc Alhadeff, Alpha 6000, December 2018. Their long-end usability and autofocus impressions differ. Sony’s aluminium alloy and two aspherical plus two ED elements supersede Optical Limits magnesium-alloy/four-aspherical descriptions. No unconfirmed coatings or weather sealing adopted

Versions

Version	Mount	Weight	Dimensions
Sony E mount — silver	Sony E	–	–
Sony E mount — black	Sony E	–	–

Pros and cons

Pros

82.5–315 mm equivalent field of view
345 g lens weight
Optical SteadyShot

Cons

F6.3 maximum aperture at 210 mm
No external AF/MF or OSS switches

Closest rivals

Model	Mount	Focal length	Max aperture	Stabilisation	Weight	Released
SonyE 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE	Sony E	18–200 mm	f/3.5–6.3	Yes	460 g	Jun 2012
SonyE PZ 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS	Sony E	18–200 mm	f/3.5–6.3	Yes	649 g	Nov 2012
SonyE 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS	Sony E	70–350 mm	f/4.5–6.3	Yes	625 g	Oct 2019

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Spot a mistake? Tell us