Standard kit lenses, or starter lenses, like the Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6, are typically entry-level lenses sold with interchangeable lens or SLR cameras as a 'kit'. The norm, which started with normal focal length lenses, evolved to 'standard zooms' that cover initially focal lengths from 35 to 70mm on full frame cameras. With the advent of digital cameras with 1.5x (or 1.6x with Canon EOS APS-C DSLRs) crop APS-C sensors, the most common variety of standard zooms now are lenses with 18-55mm focal lengths, or slightly longer.
These versatile lenses provide an effective (or equivalent) focal length of about 27-82.5mm on full-frame cameras, a range that makes the lens suitable for everyday use and for photography genres that include travel, landscapes, portraits, and close-ups.
While these lenses are not necessarily the fastest or highest quality in terms of optics or build, they do provide the beginning or new user the versatility and convenience as a starter lens. They are usually inexpensive, do not add much more to the price of the kit, and may also be available as standalone products.
The Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6, introduced alongside the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 when the camera was first launched in 2006, is the standard 'kit' zoom for Sony Alpha APS-C (DT) bodies. The lightweight lens, originally designed by Konica-Minolta and rebadged by Sony, covers a 35 mm equivalent focal range of 27–105mm.
The lens is an 11-element, 9-group design with a 7-blade diaphragm, features an aperture range from f/3.5 at 18mm and f/5.6 at 70mm, to f/36, a closest focusing distance of 0.38 meters, measures 66mm in diameter and 77mm in length, weighs 235 grams, uses 55mm filters, and includes a circular lens hood.
The lens is essentially the same as the Konica Minolta 18-70mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 D AF DT, which was discontinued when Sony acquired the Konica-Minolta franchise. Reviews showed that the 18-70mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 performs above average, not exactly a powerhouse with ultra-sharp images, but it has no significant flaws either. The autofocus can be a bit noisy, and shots are best at 50mm and ƒ/8.
The Sony Alpha DSLR-A350, Sony's top-tier consumer digital SLR for 2008, features a high-resolution 14.2MP CCD sensor, Live View capability, a tilting 2.7-inch LCD, and an in-body sensor-shift image stabilization system that provides up to approximately 3.5 stops of stabilization with any attached lens. When it was introduced to the market, the camera was a standout midrange DSLR with robust features, positioned between the entry-level A200/A300 and the prosumer A700 model.
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