This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
I film my reviews with a front camera and an overhead camera hung above my desk. I moved the overhead camera from a Handycam back to a Sony FX30 and paired it with the old Sony E PZ 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS (SELP18200). With Sony’s Clear Image Zoom on top, it now gets closer than the Handycam did, with clearly better image quality. The trade-offs are weight and a slow power zoom.
What I tested
- Sony FX30 on a ceiling-mounted overhead rig
- Previous lens: Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS (the original version)
- New lens: Sony E PZ 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS (SELP18200)
- For comparison: the Handycam I had been using overhead for a few months
What I found
- Range: 18-200mm is roughly 27-300mm in full-frame terms. Clear Image Zoom adds another 1.5x, to about 450mm equivalent, and it still holds up in 4K.
- Closer than the Handycam: zoomed all the way in on the same handkerchief, the FX30 + SELP18200 framed it slightly larger than the Handycam could while staying in focus. Minimum focus distance is fairly short.
- Seamless power zoom: on the FX30 the power zoom flows straight into Clear Image Zoom. The 16-50mm zooms fast but pauses briefly at the optical/digital boundary on the way back.
- The 18-200mm zooms slowly, even at max speed. Good for video, too slow for stills (you can turn the zoom ring manually). Stabilization works well.
- It is heavy, and the barrel extends a lot, so I raised the rig to keep it out of the front camera’s shot. Check that your ceiling mount can take the weight.
Side-by-side
| E PZ 16-50mm | E PZ 18-200mm (SELP18200) | |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 16-50mm | 18-200mm (about 27-300mm full-frame equivalent) |
| Clear Image Zoom | Up to 1.5x | Up to 1.5x (about 450mm equivalent) |
| Zoom speed | Fast | Slow, video-friendly |
| Weight | Light | Much heavier |
Who it’s for
Sony APS-C shooters who want one lens for overhead or product video that goes from wide to very tight. If you mostly shoot stills, want a fast zoom, or need a light setup, look elsewhere.
Watch the video
The video is in Japanese. Useful parts: 1:45 the 16-50mm power zoom behavior, 3:10 the 18-200mm zoom speed, 5:20 Handycam vs FX30 close-up comparison.
Limitations
This is my own desk setup, not a lab test, and both lenses are more than ten years old. The 16-50mm I used has since been replaced by the E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II, which is the one linked below.
Products
Sony E PZ 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS (SELP18200): on Amazon Japan
Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II (successor to the lens I used): on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Camera & Desk Setup (42) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.