I'm going back from the 70-350 to the 55-210. Reason: I only do very little telephoto shooting, and the 70-350 is just too big and too much frozen money for my use case. Looking forward to have that small-ish 55-210 again!
My findings are a bit different. The 70-350 was noticeably sharper (to say the least) at all focal lengths and throughout the image frame. The new lens is very sharp even wide open and zoomed in to 350. I had to stop the 55-210 to f11 to get some relatively decent sharpness at longer focal lengths.
I really appreciate your comments and I did say the 70-350mm lens is significantly better. I was not trying to say the 55-210mm is just as good? I thought I was clear about that... However, "for the money" and "depending on your needs" the 55-210mm lens is also a great option in my opinion. I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression from my video and thanks again for sharing your feedback! Jay
@@Jason_Hermann The 55-210 is a really nice option. Nothing wrong with the review. My copy was noticeably softer at long focal lengths though. That being said, I like them both. Thanks for taking the time to explain.
@@liuby33 Its not the only option (even 3years ago) and its worth the price if you need that telephoto range. Ive owned both, sold 210 long ago but still have the images. Its not even close to 350 in terms of overall quality. Great starting lens but thats about it.
Thx for comparing these lenses! I'm no pro and more on the landscape photography side using prime lenses on my a6000. But in the last months, I missed a lot wildlife pictures in fact of having only wide lenses ;-) I think I'll go with the 55-210 on the a6000 - right now you'll get it used about EUR €150,- btw - great channel!
Nice video! I've been using the 55-210 for 8 months, and I really want better quality and more than 210mm. This video was very helpful, and I think I'll buy the 70-350, which currently costs only about $670! :D
Excellent comparison of the two lens. Your observations are "right on". I own both the 50--210 and the more recent G Master 70-300.(earlier model than one in the review) I agree with you that the 50-210 still takes great, sharp shots. The lesser weight and size is a good option to have. I still take more shots with it when using either my NEX-7 or A7RIII. The new 70-350 may give your pocketbook a ripple with the need for different filters, rings, and perhaps a larger bag. And with all that: on a plane, will you still be able to fit your new kit under the seat in front of you on the plane or have to buy a rolling photo bag? Taking my G Master 70-300 for me requires the rolling bag unless I leave some Zeiss lenses at home.
I would have the camera set to AF-C focus mode, Continuous Shooting Drive Mode, and then I would also recommend setting the Touch Focus to tracking. Then when you click on the screen on a subject, it will track it and give you your best chance of capturing the photos. If you don't want to use the tracking feature, you can use zone focus area and that will limit your focus to just the zone you choose.
I'm a little confused. You had said that you like the 55-210 on vacation/travel, but if you are shooting birds or otherwise tracking moving subjects, you are better off with the 70-350 - is that right? Do you have any comparison shots or videos of moving subjects with each lens?
Sorry for the confusion. To be clear what I meant was the E 55-210mm does not have an awesome auto focus motor like the E 70-350mm lens which is why it's not as good when tracking moving subjects. That is what I meant by that comment.
Not really, sorry. I just know if I'm trying to track my son riding his bike towards me for example the 55-210mm struggles in that regard, because the focus is to slow to keep up and maintain accuracy using my A6400. The E 70-350 on the other hand had no issue when I reviewed it. WIth that being said the 55-210 is still a great option, and if you don't plan on tracking high speed moving subjects it won't be an issue. Also, you can always return the lens within 30 days of purchase at BHPhoto or Amazon. You can also rent the lens from lensrentals if you wanted to try them out first.
Just what I was looking for..a comparison video. I primarily shoot outdoors and the lack of weather sealing is an issue. As well, I need a bit more reach as my current zoom (a vintage Vivitar 70-210) just doesn't close in on wild life enough. There is a price difference for sure but 3 or 4 years from now I'm sure I'll appreciate spending the extra $$$ for the 70--350. Thanks for this video.
I would go for the 70-350mm myself. A even higher quality option with a bit more reach would be the FE 100-400mm GM Lens, but that is way more money and much larger/ heavier...
Thanks man... I was on the fence even with the huge price difference...I was afraid i would be dissapointed to much with the cheaper one but budget speaking I think that would be perfect for me... I have the 18-135 but want more cowbell ..thanks again
Yeah the corners on the 55-210mm are not as good for sure, but in the real world that often does not matter that much in my opinion. The cost of the lens is so low, that I would not expect the corners to sharp wide open. Check out these lab test shots, and you will see they are still pretty darn good: www.sonyalphalab.com/sony-e-55-210mm-oss-new-lab-testing/ For the real world the 55-210mm is great considering the cost. Check out some of these real world photos so you can judge for yourself: www.sonyalphalab.com/seaworld-in-florida-sony-nex-6-and-55-210mm-e-mount-lens/ The 70-350mm is a better lens that is for sure, but it costs a lot more. I would certainly rather have the 70-350mm, but money talks and size and weight is also a factor for many when traveling. I hope that helps, Jay
@@Jason_Hermann Hi! thank you for your testing. The 55-210 is not the sharpest after all. I also really like the outcome from 70-350. I guess money really talks. Haha
Hello Shuai, They are both APS-C Lenses and I used the Sony A6400 and my Sony Nex-6 for the camera bodies ;) Check out my E-Mount lens guide here: www.sonyalphalab.com/guides/sony-e-mount-lens-guide/
@@Jason_Hermann Hey Jay, try the Olympus TCON-17X Tele Converter on the 55-210..... Makes it a 93-357....you'll need 49-55 stepup ring......You can find 1 cheap on ebay.... sent the 350 back it worked so well...Google it theres reviews....
@@Jason_Hermann I just bought a second hand, loved it. Amazing focusing. Wonderful for portraits. But there were some dust in it, so I gave it back. Is it so common, dust in 55 210?
Yeah, depending on the user and conditions it was used in. Often times the dust does not affect image quality though, it really depends on where the dust is inside the lens. Higher quality weather sealed lenses do not suffer from dust like the non weather sealed..
@@dipanchatterjee Both lenses have variable apertures. Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS Lens, Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS Lens. The aperture does not change if you are not zooming, but if you zoom from 70-350mm it will change from 4.5 to 6.3 as you go... Unless you just leave the lens at f/6.3, then the aperture will not change as you zoom.
Jay, nice vids on your channel. May I ask: 1) Since they removed the focus limiter switch on the 70-350mm (vs the 70-300mm), does the A6100 have a way to change this focus limiting ? e.g. filming through a fence. I haven't yet found it in the manual. 2) I have a Sony VCL-DH1758 1.7x post-lens Tele Converter (58 dia). Will the 70-350 (67 dia) accept the mount of the 1.7x tele with a 67-58mm step down ring ? I don't mind a little vignetting since I do post. Rob
Will Sony launch the partner of the 16-55 2.8?, lets say something like , 60 -130 f2.8 or similar...you, know to get a ff equivalent of 70-200?, I 'm thinking on moving from ff to crop sensor bodies, just for a size/weigh lenses cost reason , and if they fulfill the whole range would be really nice.
@@Jason_Hermann I really hope that. Maybe is crazy but I'm thinking on moving from a7iii to a6600, I'm not a pro, meaning not charging for my pictuers, and ff lenses are much more expensives, I just afraid to lose image quality, checking for a side by side a7iii tamrons vs a600 sony 1655, but there are not :( (for stills)
Neither of these lenses. I would go with a fast prime lens like the FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens: bhpho.to/329gewL or a faster zoom lens like the FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM Lens: bhpho.to/2Q8XVm3 for example. Low light telephoto is not going to be cheap...
Hi there, Very good point about the overall AF system. 👍 Do one really want the lens to be the bottleneck in AF, if AF is needed? Like you said it I don't think so.
Cost... You an easily find the 55-210 lens used on eBay for a lot less than new... The 70=350mm is not readily available on the used market. However, I never really liked the 55-210mm and I am very happy with the 70-350mm!
Hey came just came across your page and i like the way you test them out with the Lab you have, was wondering if you can do a test video with the samyang 85mm 1.4 thx bro
Saved me money. Already have the 55-210. Was curious but not $1000 curious. It doesn't really matter if it's not weather sealed in my opinion, when a used one is under $100
thanx for the info i am doing some research for a friend who wants to get a zoom lense and this might be the one for the price range of about 300- $400.00
Thank you Danny for the comments and then lens would be much larger and way more expensive if it was a constant f/4 aperture, but I totally here ya ;) F/4 at 350mm would be killer!!
A 200-400mm f/4 is upwards of $10,000. Couldn't imagine how huge and expensive a high quality, 70-350mm f/4 lens would be, even if it was made for APS-C only.
The 70350 keeps me on to aps-c and not switching to full frame... A6400, 1655G and 70350G (maybe the sigma 30f1.4 for low light conditions) and you're ready to go. Can't imagine what other lens I could ever need...
Awesome! thanks for the comments and I agree that Sony really help fill in the gaps with the APS-C cameras. Now we just need a next generation Exmor RS Sensor equipped APS-C camera body!!
@@michas1061 yes. Definitely. But I'm taking photos under bad light quite a lot. So I switched to the a6600 but I'm starting to doubt whether the a7iii wasn't the better choice...
@@grauraum i see. I plan to buy the A6400 and the 1655G looks like the perfect fit for me (i kinda dislike prime lenses), but i´m worried about the the image stabillization (and a little bit the price). Photography is just a hobby for me.
Not really, since this is a crop factor lens. You could certainly use it, but you would be in crop factor mode on your full frame camera and be getting way lower resolution.
@@Jason_Hermann Thanks after the I found out about the announcement of the sigma 100-400 contemporary I think im going to just buy that lens when it comes out thanks for the advice!
Well I'm now stuck in an awkward spot. I'm trying to look for a used copy and the 70-350 is $900USD while the 55-210 is $150, the difference in price is massive but if I get the 55-210 I might be kicking myself a little for as long as I own the lens knowing the 70-350 is much sharper :/
Well, you can always sell the 55-210mm if you don't like it, or just bit the bullet and get the better 70-350mm G Lens ;) Certainly not an easy decision consider the difference in price!
I have the 55-210 and am somewhat disappointed with it in that it frequently lacks sharpness and contrast. I find that it gains little over the 18-135mm (which I like a lot) on my a6300 in that I can crop down images from that lens taken at 135mm to 64% and while the 55-210 captures a little more detail at 210mm, the difference is slight. I have the 70-350 on order hoping that it will be a significant improvement over the 55-210 and perform like a long reach version of the 18-135.
I go over that in this video (ruclips.net/video/Rs9Me5FCgTM/видео.html) if you want more details, but basically the FE 70-300mm is larger, heavier, and offers less range. It's designed for the full frame e-mount cameras. Otherwise it's very similar ;)
i own the 55-210 but i kinda hate it. the picture quality is just very bad, Center image isnt sharp at any f stop or focal range, maybe something is wrong with it? the 18-105 however is super sharp and i love that thing
Yes, I would agree there must be something wrong with your lens, because mine is sharp at all focal ranges, although not "as sharp" as the 18-150mm G Lens...
Stumbled upon your video when trying to decide with the new sigma 100-400 or the 70-350, and I keep finding how underrated the 55-210 is. I bought my a6000 with the 55-210 and never really used it, but after using it for some time, the compactness is a great advantage while traveling for some really nice stretch shots. Great video too!
Well o have 55-210 and I must have to say it's so good OSS working well and I bought from Amazon used Wich was 150 USD as fat remember ... So value for money....
I have the 55-210 but can not say that the image quality is great. Images are not as sharp as i expected. Most of the time i am not happy with the results. For me it is not worth the price i paid for it.
This is helpful to me, yet I find it unusual to compare two lenses that are so different from one another. I just switched over to Sony, and I can envision myself getting both of these lenses because they fill very different roles and meet different needs. The 70-350 wouldn't be very good for the things I would shoot with the 55-210, and the 55-210 wouldn't be very good for the things I would shoot with the 70-350.
Well these are the two Sony APS-C telephoto lens options, and I own the 55-210mm, so it made sense to me from the perspective of how a really high quality telephoto competes against a really affordable one... That was my thought anyway, but I do appreciate your feedback :)
@@Jason_Hermann I didn't mean for my previous comment to be critical. I appreciate the info in your video and consider it an important part of my research as I learn about the various lenses available for the Sony system that I just got into. For me, the focal lengths are quite different and would be best suited to different types of photography. I plan to get the 55-200mm to use for help (reptile & amphibian) photography, as it is done under somewhat controlled conditions and I am able to stop down, take time to precisely focus, ensure that the light is optimal for the best image quality, etc. The rather limited 3.8x range will be okay because the subjects are mostly stationary and I can move around to distance and position myself however I want, and won't need to rely on reach for these critters. Conversely, the 70-350mm sounds like it would be a great short option to carry with me when shooting birds and megafauna. This shooting is not controlled and I need a lens that can make up for some shortcomings in terms of light, time to focus, and the inability to stop down. Plus the reach and 5x range will be necessary for that type of subject matter.
The difference between 350mm and 210mm is more significant than the difference between 55mm and 70mm. The Sony 55-210mm is one of the first e-mount lenses introduced in 2011. It is a ten year old lens while the 70-350mm was introduced in 2019. The technology of optics is advancing much more slowly than the technology of electronics. The 55-210mm is an old lens and its price has been reduced seriously the recent years. Historically zoom lenses are updated every five to ten years and the prime ones more rarely. Sony the following years should update many of its lenses in order to be competitive with the newer ones from Canon Nikon and Fujifilm.
How about the 18-135 vs 70-350? I think these two are a closer match when it comes to newer lens group design and autofocus technology. I own the 18-135 and the 55-210 and the 18-135 almost always nailed the shots except for low light when 18-135 sometimes would hunt focus. But 18-135 wins in sharpness department at all focal lengths wide open. I'm planning to buy the new 70-350 for extra reach but I want to know first the significance improvement over the 18-135 at the equivalent 70-135 focal length.
Shooting w/ SEL 55-210mm since 2019 mostly flying aircraft. I´m so glad the 70-350mm is out now. The image quality of 55-210mm is shit especially when you try to shoow a flying helicopter at 210mm (f/6.3) with a shutterspeed of min. 1/500s.
Mine is very sharp in the center as you can clearly see here in all the sample photos www.sonyalphalab.com/product-review-sony-e-mount-sel55210-55-210mm-f4-5-6-6-oss-lens-hands-on-review/
wow, my 55210 is on the way from Japan. So excited to try it. I've looked through thousands of excellent photos by SEL55210 on Flickr before placing an order. Your video validates my purchase decision 👆
This video is a waste of time. You don't show us side by side comparison pictures. The 55-210 is the worst tele zoom lens ever made in history, there is no reason to praise it like that and in fact it's not even comparable to the 70-350. It really seems like you're getting paid to not make any critique to the 55-210 which is ridiculously overpriced for a lens that is worse than a 100 USD 15 years old Canon ef 75-300.
Definitely not the most productive review. But you have to realize that the 55210 is usually bundled in kits and is 50-70% off (at least here in canada). My copy wasn't very usable until stopped down to f8 and post work to make it work. You should also realize in the sony ecosystem you'll get exactly what you pay for when you buy such a cheap lens lol
I'm sorry this video did not meet your expectations. I was trying something a little different this time. Thank you for the feedback. I was giving you my honest opinion after using the 55-210mm lens for years and comparing to the new 70-350mm without going into crazy technical details with the lab testing and so fourth. I do have A and B tests in the lab I will share in review article on my website in the near future.
I appreciate the comments and feedback ;) I also feel that for $350 this lens is fantastic. I have used many lenses over the years and can say that with confidence. Clearly and obviously more expensive lenses are better, but if you are new to photography, no nothing about optics, and you just got your first mirrorless camera, I think this is a great option for those on a budget like myself. I also have pro grade equipment, so I am fully aware of the difference in quality, but in the real world for people that don't know the difference, I think they would be more than satisfied for the the $350. That was the perspective I was coming from in this review... Thanks again!
@@dongee6351 I'll assume you meant to reply to op. And sorry, any reasonable person would've known the differences between focal length and the price they should be spending LOL. "Shooting since the 60s" is also a very irrelevant comment.
this was super helpful. i already have the 55-210, but wasn't sure whether i wanted to upgrade. thanks so much
No problem and thanks for the kind words ;)
I'm going back from the 70-350 to the 55-210. Reason: I only do very little telephoto shooting, and the 70-350 is just too big and too much frozen money for my use case. Looking forward to have that small-ish 55-210 again!
I have the 210 and have been wanting to upgrade. I googled the lens I have and the lens I want and it brought me to your video! Thanks so much!
Thank you for the kind words and yes, the 70-350mm would be the best option currently available in my opinion ;)
my 55-210 creeps, but only when i have a dh1758 extender (1.7x) attached at the end.
It's practically US$100 vs $1000 now.
My findings are a bit different. The 70-350 was noticeably sharper (to say the least) at all focal lengths and throughout the image frame. The new lens is very sharp even wide open and zoomed in to 350. I had to stop the 55-210 to f11 to get some relatively decent sharpness at longer focal lengths.
I really appreciate your comments and I did say the 70-350mm lens is significantly better. I was not trying to say the 55-210mm is just as good? I thought I was clear about that... However, "for the money" and "depending on your needs" the 55-210mm lens is also a great option in my opinion. I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression from my video and thanks again for sharing your feedback! Jay
@@Jason_Hermann The 55-210 is a really nice option. Nothing wrong with the review. My copy was noticeably softer at long focal lengths though. That being said, I like them both. Thanks for taking the time to explain.
if you could show footage samples by these two lenses that would help a lot 😆，I am just curious about how better 70-350g is，comparing with 55-210
It's definitely not 3x better as the price suggests, but it is the only option if 55210 is not enough for you
There is a 70-300 without OSS as well.
100 400 g master as well
@@liuby33 Its not the only option (even 3years ago) and its worth the price if you need that telephoto range. Ive owned both, sold 210 long ago but still have the images. Its not even close to 350 in terms of overall quality. Great starting lens but thats about it.
Thx for comparing these lenses!
I'm no pro and more on the landscape photography side using prime lenses on my a6000.
But in the last months, I missed a lot wildlife pictures in fact of having only wide lenses ;-)
I think I'll go with the 55-210 on the a6000 - right now you'll get it used about EUR €150,-
btw - great channel!
I love this channel 😉 I am going to buy 55-210mm for my a6400 and looking for information about it. As usual I can rely on You 🙂 Thank You.
Good. I am using this lens 55-210 with my a 6400
@@rsea1950 Hi. I have it too and do like it. I think it gives better quality than other kit lens 16-55mm.
Nice video! I've been using the 55-210 for 8 months, and I really want better quality and more than 210mm. This video was very helpful, and I think I'll buy the 70-350, which currently costs only about $670! :D
It's a great option for sure and a worthy upgrade from the 55-210mm which I tried my best to demonstrate in this video :)
hi,great review,i own e55-210 oss ,and happy with it,cheers
Excellent comparison of the two lens. Your observations are "right on". I own both the 50--210 and the more recent G Master 70-300.(earlier model than one in the review)
I agree with you that the 50-210 still takes great, sharp shots. The lesser weight and size is a good option to have. I still take more shots with it when using either my NEX-7 or A7RIII. The new 70-350 may give your pocketbook a ripple with the need for different filters, rings, and perhaps a larger bag. And with all that: on a plane, will you still be able to fit your new kit under the seat in front of you on the plane or have to buy a rolling photo bag? Taking my G Master 70-300 for me requires the rolling bag unless I leave some Zeiss lenses at home.
Thank you very much Tom for the comments and feedback on the comparison. I really appreciate it ;)
What is the best focus setting for the 55-210 to minimize the auto focus issue on moving subjects? I have 6100.
I would have the camera set to AF-C focus mode, Continuous Shooting Drive Mode, and then I would also recommend setting the Touch Focus to tracking. Then when you click on the screen on a subject, it will track it and give you your best chance of capturing the photos. If you don't want to use the tracking feature, you can use zone focus area and that will limit your focus to just the zone you choose.
Another great review the 55-210mm is awesome and looks like the 70-350mm is another winner!
Great review/comparison man, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Gretą video. You answer a lot of question. It could be perfect if you add side by side outdoor comparison. Keep great work 👍
Thanks! 👍
I'm a little confused. You had said that you like the 55-210 on vacation/travel, but if you are shooting birds or otherwise tracking moving subjects, you are better off with the 70-350 - is that right? Do you have any comparison shots or videos of moving subjects with each lens?
Sorry for the confusion. To be clear what I meant was the E 55-210mm does not have an awesome auto focus motor like the E 70-350mm lens which is why it's not as good when tracking moving subjects. That is what I meant by that comment.
@@Jason_Hermann are there any sample pictures or videos that show that difference? Just want to get a sense how big an issue it is
Not really, sorry. I just know if I'm trying to track my son riding his bike towards me for example the 55-210mm struggles in that regard, because the focus is to slow to keep up and maintain accuracy using my A6400. The E 70-350 on the other hand had no issue when I reviewed it. WIth that being said the 55-210 is still a great option, and if you don't plan on tracking high speed moving subjects it won't be an issue. Also, you can always return the lens within 30 days of purchase at BHPhoto or Amazon. You can also rent the lens from lensrentals if you wanted to try them out first.
This information I needed. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Just what I was looking for..a comparison video. I primarily shoot outdoors and the lack of weather sealing is an issue. As well, I need a bit more reach as my current zoom (a vintage Vivitar 70-210) just doesn't close in on wild life enough. There is a price difference for sure but 3 or 4 years from now I'm sure I'll appreciate spending the extra $$$ for the 70--350. Thanks for this video.
For kiteboarding shooting from the coast you recomend 70-350mm? Or some full frame lens? I got a6500
I would go for the 70-350mm myself. A even higher quality option with a bit more reach would be the FE 100-400mm GM Lens, but that is way more money and much larger/ heavier...
Thanks man... I was on the fence even with the huge price difference...I was afraid i would be dissapointed to much with the cheaper one but budget speaking I think that would be perfect for me... I have the 18-135 but want more cowbell ..thanks again
I got from other reviewers that at the corner of the photos, the sharpness is not that good using the 55-210. Is that being an issue when you use it?
Yeah the corners on the 55-210mm are not as good for sure, but in the real world that often does not matter that much in my opinion. The cost of the lens is so low, that I would not expect the corners to sharp wide open. Check out these lab test shots, and you will see they are still pretty darn good: www.sonyalphalab.com/sony-e-55-210mm-oss-new-lab-testing/ For the real world the 55-210mm is great considering the cost. Check out some of these real world photos so you can judge for yourself: www.sonyalphalab.com/seaworld-in-florida-sony-nex-6-and-55-210mm-e-mount-lens/ The 70-350mm is a better lens that is for sure, but it costs a lot more. I would certainly rather have the 70-350mm, but money talks and size and weight is also a factor for many when traveling. I hope that helps, Jay
@@Jason_Hermann Hi! thank you for your testing. The 55-210 is not the sharpest after all. I also really like the outcome from 70-350. I guess money really talks. Haha
Great comparison Jay. Just a question what camera are you using causre the 70-350 is a full frame lense while 55-210 is a apsc lense
Hello Shuai, They are both APS-C Lenses and I used the Sony A6400 and my Sony Nex-6 for the camera bodies ;) Check out my E-Mount lens guide here: www.sonyalphalab.com/guides/sony-e-mount-lens-guide/
How about 70350 vs 55210 w/ 2x teleconverter?
Sony doesn't make a 2x for these lenses and I have not tried any of those that screw on the front, so I can't say how they would perform. Sorry....
@@Jason_Hermann Hey Jay, try the Olympus TCON-17X Tele Converter on the 55-210..... Makes it a 93-357....you'll need 49-55 stepup ring......You can find 1 cheap on ebay.... sent the 350 back it worked so well...Google it theres reviews....
Iguana and car photo were stunning. Thanks for this review I'm buying 55 210 now
Thank you and it's a great lens for the money and lightweight!
@@Jason_Hermann I just bought a second hand, loved it. Amazing focusing. Wonderful for portraits. But there were some dust in it, so I gave it back. Is it so common, dust in 55 210?
Yeah, depending on the user and conditions it was used in. Often times the dust does not affect image quality though, it really depends on where the dust is inside the lens. Higher quality weather sealed lenses do not suffer from dust like the non weather sealed..
@@Jason_Hermann Thank you so much for your respond
can i use the Sony E 70-350mm whit the A6000 ?
Yes, you sure can Andres!!
What about the F stops. Does it change with the focal length like 55-210. Or is it possible to shoot at fix F stop while completely zoomed
Yes it has a variable aperture like the 55-210mm.
Jay SonyAlphaLab You mean unlike 55-210
@@dipanchatterjee Both lenses have variable apertures. Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS Lens, Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS Lens. The aperture does not change if you are not zooming, but if you zoom from 70-350mm it will change from 4.5 to 6.3 as you go... Unless you just leave the lens at f/6.3, then the aperture will not change as you zoom.
Jay, nice vids on your channel. May I ask: 1) Since they removed the focus limiter switch on the 70-350mm (vs the 70-300mm), does the A6100 have a way to change this focus limiting ? e.g. filming through a fence. I haven't yet found it in the manual.
2) I have a Sony VCL-DH1758 1.7x post-lens Tele Converter (58 dia). Will the 70-350 (67 dia) accept the mount of the 1.7x tele with a 67-58mm step down ring ? I don't mind a little vignetting since I do post. Rob
Hi Rob, No to the first question and I yes you will certainly get some significant vignetting using a 58mm tele filter on the 67mm lens filter.
Will Sony launch the partner of the 16-55 2.8?, lets say something like , 60 -130 f2.8 or similar...you, know to get a ff equivalent of 70-200?, I 'm thinking on moving from ff to crop sensor bodies, just for a size/weigh lenses cost reason , and if they fulfill the whole range would be really nice.
That would make a ton of sense Gustavo, but I have not heard anything yet...
@@Jason_Hermann I really hope that. Maybe is crazy but I'm thinking on moving from a7iii to a6600, I'm not a pro, meaning not charging for my pictuers, and ff lenses are much more expensives, I just afraid to lose image quality, checking for a side by side a7iii tamrons vs a600 sony 1655, but there are not :( (for stills)
For night time low light video ... which would you recommend?
Neither of these lenses. I would go with a fast prime lens like the FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens: bhpho.to/329gewL or a faster zoom lens like the FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM Lens: bhpho.to/2Q8XVm3 for example. Low light telephoto is not going to be cheap...
thank you so much. Need more this both lens with zoom & image or video test. Waiting for your Next video. 😊
Hi there,
Very good point about the overall AF system. 👍
Do one really want the lens to be the bottleneck in AF, if AF is needed? Like you said it I don't think so.
Thanks for the comments ;)
Cost... You an easily find the 55-210 lens used on eBay for a lot less than new... The 70=350mm is not readily available on the used market. However, I never really liked the 55-210mm and I am very happy with the 70-350mm!
i hate my 55-210... this may have convinced me
Hey came just came across your page and i like the way you test them out with the Lab you have, was wondering if you can do a test video with the samyang 85mm 1.4 thx bro
Oh, you said it, you talked about the legend from the past, the nex6 . Thanks for the review !!
Oh yeah, I still use mine all the time :) A great camera to say the least...
I still have NEX7 😊
@@KetansaCreatesArt and the Nex-7 is still an awesome camera as well ;)
Saved me money. Already have the 55-210. Was curious but not $1000 curious. It doesn't really matter if it's not weather sealed in my opinion, when a used one is under $100
You Pay for what you get.
55-250mm or 18-200mm? which is better?
I think the 55-210mm, because it's way less money. However the 18-200mm lens is an all in one solution were as the 55-210mm is a telephoto zoom lens.
@@Jason_Hermann thanks for your reply
I have a 6300. Will the af be fine with the 70-350? Or is there I way to update my camera to be able to keep up with that?
thanx for the info i am doing some research for a friend who wants to get a zoom lense and this might be the one for the price range of about 300- $400.00
Yeah, the E 55-210mm would be the best option for that price range in my opinion.
Great comparison of the 2 lenses.
I would have bought the 70-350 lens if it's at a constant f4.
Thank you Danny for the comments and then lens would be much larger and way more expensive if it was a constant f/4 aperture, but I totally here ya ;) F/4 at 350mm would be killer!!
A 200-400mm f/4 is upwards of $10,000. Couldn't imagine how huge and expensive a high quality, 70-350mm f/4 lens would be, even if it was made for APS-C only.
The 70350 keeps me on to aps-c and not switching to full frame... A6400, 1655G and 70350G (maybe the sigma 30f1.4 for low light conditions) and you're ready to go. Can't imagine what other lens I could ever need...
Awesome! thanks for the comments and I agree that Sony really help fill in the gaps with the APS-C cameras. Now we just need a next generation Exmor RS Sensor equipped APS-C camera body!!
I'm in the same boat. I have that same Sigma lens for my A6300 and just bought the 70-350. I also can't imagine needing a new lens for a long time.
Do you miss OSS with your 1655G?
@@michas1061 yes. Definitely. But I'm taking photos under bad light quite a lot. So I switched to the a6600 but I'm starting to doubt whether the a7iii wasn't the better choice...
@@grauraum i see. I plan to buy the A6400 and the 1655G looks like the perfect fit for me (i kinda dislike prime lenses), but i´m worried about the the image stabillization (and a little bit the price). Photography is just a hobby for me.
The Sony 70-350 is fabulous. I shoot great photos of very small birds as well as eagles from a long distance and get great detail.
Do you think that it would be worth buying if i have a full frame a7iii?
Not really, since this is a crop factor lens. You could certainly use it, but you would be in crop factor mode on your full frame camera and be getting way lower resolution.
@@Jason_Hermann Thanks after the I found out about the announcement of the sigma 100-400 contemporary I think im going to just buy that lens when it comes out thanks for the advice!
@@nathanielyee Yes, I just found out about that lens also, looks like an awesome option for the A7 III and I can't wait to test that lens out!
Well I'm now stuck in an awkward spot. I'm trying to look for a used copy and the 70-350 is $900USD while the 55-210 is $150, the difference in price is massive but if I get the 55-210 I might be kicking myself a little for as long as I own the lens knowing the 70-350 is much sharper :/
Well, you can always sell the 55-210mm if you don't like it, or just bit the bullet and get the better 70-350mm G Lens ;) Certainly not an easy decision consider the difference in price!
@@Jason_Hermann 55-210mm + Sigma 16mm f1.4 + Sigma 30mm f1.4 combined are cheaper used than the 70-350mm. Seems a no brainer to me.
I have the 55-210 and am somewhat disappointed with it in that it frequently lacks sharpness and contrast. I find that it gains little over the 18-135mm (which I like a lot) on my a6300 in that I can crop down images from that lens taken at 135mm to 64% and while the 55-210 captures a little more detail at 210mm, the difference is slight. I have the 70-350 on order hoping that it will be a significant improvement over the 55-210 and perform like a long reach version of the 18-135.
I have both the 55-210 and the 70-350. I like both lenses but wanted the further reach of the 7-350.
Really nice video bro thank you 👍
24-240 VS 70-350, hopefully get mine so i can compare
Hi Jay, Will you be creating any more videos about the 70-350?
Hi Danial, My review of the 70-35omm is here: ruclips.net/video/Rs9Me5FCgTM/видео.html
Great video...cleared almost all of my doubts...Greetings from 2020(MC)
Glad it helped and greetings ;)
55 210 is very underated in my opinion just ordered 70 350mm just need the extra length for moon and just general nature shots can't wait
agree and have the lens-really like it.
Agree, and I just love both of them. I still keep 55-210 for some of my trips.
Thanks, great review! 👍
Thank you! Jay
sony 70-350mm vs sony sony 70-300?
I go over that in this video (ruclips.net/video/Rs9Me5FCgTM/видео.html) if you want more details, but basically the FE 70-300mm is larger, heavier, and offers less range. It's designed for the full frame e-mount cameras. Otherwise it's very similar ;)
i own the 55-210 but i kinda hate it. the picture quality is just very bad, Center image isnt sharp at any f stop or focal range, maybe something is wrong with it?
the 18-105 however is super sharp and i love that thing
Yes, I would agree there must be something wrong with your lens, because mine is sharp at all focal ranges, although not "as sharp" as the 18-150mm G Lens...
Much appreciated for this video!
Thank you so much for the great video.
Thank you for the kind comments :)
Tamron 18-300mm is another choice
Stumbled upon your video when trying to decide with the new sigma 100-400 or the 70-350, and I keep finding how underrated the 55-210 is. I bought my a6000 with the 55-210 and never really used it, but after using it for some time, the compactness is a great advantage while traveling for some really nice stretch shots. Great video too!
Great review.
Thanks!
Well o have 55-210 and I must have to say it's so good OSS working well and I bought from Amazon used Wich was 150 USD as fat remember ... So value for money....
The value for the money is phenomenal in my opinion and thanks for the comments ;)
Good realistic review.
Thank you Don ;)
I have the 55-210 but can not say that the image quality is great. Images are not as sharp as i expected. Most of the time i am not happy with the results. For me it is not worth the price i paid for it.
Then the 70-350mm G Lens would be a better option for you Theo ;) At the end of the day, you do get what you pay for..... All the best, Jay
Thanks
Got the 54-210 for $100! I like for videoing LSU gymnastics meets
This is helpful to me, yet I find it unusual to compare two lenses that are so different from one another. I just switched over to Sony, and I can envision myself getting both of these lenses because they fill very different roles and meet different needs. The 70-350 wouldn't be very good for the things I would shoot with the 55-210, and the 55-210 wouldn't be very good for the things I would shoot with the 70-350.
Well these are the two Sony APS-C telephoto lens options, and I own the 55-210mm, so it made sense to me from the perspective of how a really high quality telephoto competes against a really affordable one... That was my thought anyway, but I do appreciate your feedback :)
@@Jason_Hermann I didn't mean for my previous comment to be critical. I appreciate the info in your video and consider it an important part of my research as I learn about the various lenses available for the Sony system that I just got into.
For me, the focal lengths are quite different and would be best suited to different types of photography.
I plan to get the 55-200mm to use for help (reptile & amphibian) photography, as it is done under somewhat controlled conditions and I am able to stop down, take time to precisely focus, ensure that the light is optimal for the best image quality, etc. The rather limited 3.8x range will be okay because the subjects are mostly stationary and I can move around to distance and position myself however I want, and won't need to rely on reach for these critters.
Conversely, the 70-350mm sounds like it would be a great short option to carry with me when shooting birds and megafauna. This shooting is not controlled and I need a lens that can make up for some shortcomings in terms of light, time to focus, and the inability to stop down. Plus the reach and 5x range will be necessary for that type of subject matter.
The difference between 350mm and 210mm is more significant than the difference between 55mm and 70mm.
The Sony 55-210mm is one of the first e-mount lenses introduced in 2011. It is a ten year old lens while the 70-350mm was introduced in 2019.
The technology of optics is advancing much more slowly than the technology of electronics. The 55-210mm is an old lens and its price has been reduced seriously the recent years.
Historically zoom lenses are updated every five to ten years and the prime ones more rarely.
Sony the following years should update many of its lenses in order to be competitive with the newer ones from Canon Nikon and Fujifilm.
How about the 18-135 vs 70-350? I think these two are a closer match when it comes to newer lens group design and autofocus technology. I own the 18-135 and the 55-210 and the 18-135 almost always nailed the shots except for low light when 18-135 sometimes would hunt focus. But 18-135 wins in sharpness department at all focal lengths wide open. I'm planning to buy the new 70-350 for extra reach but I want to know first the significance improvement over the 18-135 at the equivalent 70-135 focal length.
Thank you for the comparison !
You are very welcome :)
Answered everything I wanted to know 👍🏽
Perfect and thanks for letting me know!!
Shooting w/ SEL 55-210mm since 2019 mostly flying aircraft. I´m so glad the 70-350mm is out now. The image quality of 55-210mm is shit especially when you try to shoow a flying helicopter at 210mm (f/6.3) with a shutterspeed of min. 1/500s.
put 70-350 on a7r4
... I love the 70-350 G-lens and it’s build quality. The 55-210 looks like a cheap plastic toy. 🤨 No way ...
Yes, but for the money it's still a nice telephoto capturing tool for sure ;)
Now $220 vs $1000
55-210 never gets sharp at any point
Mine is very sharp in the center as you can clearly see here in all the sample photos www.sonyalphalab.com/product-review-sony-e-mount-sel55210-55-210mm-f4-5-6-6-oss-lens-hands-on-review/
@@Jason_Hermann Maybe mine is fake.
wow, my 55210 is on the way from Japan. So excited to try it.
I've looked through thousands of excellent photos by SEL55210 on Flickr before placing an order. Your video validates my purchase decision 👆
This video is a waste of time. You don't show us side by side comparison pictures. The 55-210 is the worst tele zoom lens ever made in history, there is no reason to praise it like that and in fact it's not even comparable to the 70-350. It really seems like you're getting paid to not make any critique to the 55-210 which is ridiculously overpriced for a lens that is worse than a 100 USD 15 years old Canon ef 75-300.
Definitely not the most productive review. But you have to realize that the 55210 is usually bundled in kits and is 50-70% off (at least here in canada). My copy wasn't very usable until stopped down to f8 and post work to make it work. You should also realize in the sony ecosystem you'll get exactly what you pay for when you buy such a cheap lens lol
I'm sorry this video did not meet your expectations. I was trying something a little different this time. Thank you for the feedback. I was giving you my honest opinion after using the 55-210mm lens for years and comparing to the new 70-350mm without going into crazy technical details with the lab testing and so fourth. I do have A and B tests in the lab I will share in review article on my website in the near future.
I appreciate the comments and feedback ;) I also feel that for $350 this lens is fantastic. I have used many lenses over the years and can say that with confidence. Clearly and obviously more expensive lenses are better, but if you are new to photography, no nothing about optics, and you just got your first mirrorless camera, I think this is a great option for those on a budget like myself. I also have pro grade equipment, so I am fully aware of the difference in quality, but in the real world for people that don't know the difference, I think they would be more than satisfied for the the $350. That was the perspective I was coming from in this review... Thanks again!
@@dongee6351 I'll assume you meant to reply to op. And sorry, any reasonable person would've known the differences between focal length and the price they should be spending LOL. "Shooting since the 60s" is also a very irrelevant comment.
@@summonedfist sorry summonedfist, yes wrong person. Shooting since 60's was only to indicate that I haven't just started not to do with capability.