Sony DT SAL1870 18-70mm
A lightweight 235g build with an aspherical and ED glass element makes this an unobtrusive everyday zoom covering a 27-105mm equivalent range. Its DT design is optimized for APS-C Sony Alpha bodies, delivering corrected wide-angle accuracy and controlled chromatic aberration at a budget kit-lens price. This lens is best for beginners or casual shooters who want a single, leave-on solution for snapshots, portraits, and travel without added weight.
Focal length 18-70mm
Aperture f/3.5
Mount Sony/Minolta Alpha
Weight 235 g
lens type zoom
68 Overall Score
Price £0
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong macro (97th percentile) 97th
- Strong versatility (87th percentile) 87th
- Strong aperture (80th percentile) 80th
- Strong bokeh (78th percentile) 78th
Cons
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Owner sentiment has improved over time
Based on 10 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 |
| Focal Length Max | 70 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | No |
Build
| Mount | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.5 lbs |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 35 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sony DT SAL1870 18-70mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 | Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 18-70mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-200mm | 16-85mm | 18-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Sony/Minolta Alpha | Sony E | Fuji X | L-Mount | Nikon F | Canon EF-S |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | false | true | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 235 | 615 | 92 | 413 | 59 | 515 |
| AF Type | - | HLA | VXD linear motor | Autofocus | AF-S | STM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | macro | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony DT SAL1870 18-70mm | 54.7 | 78 | 73.1 | 97.1 | 37.3 | 79.8 | 87 | 61.3 | 35.7 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.7 | 86.4 | 57.7 | 86.4 | 98.9 | 79.8 | 99.6 | 77.7 | 99 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.1 | 78 | 96.2 | 88.3 | 73.4 | 79.8 | 99.2 | 82.8 | 80.6 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Compare | 54.7 | 80.7 | 73.6 | 89.4 | 90.9 | 74.5 | 95.7 | 62.5 | 99.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Compare | 54.7 | 78 | 98.5 | 58.8 | 64.2 | 79.8 | 94.3 | 87.7 | 92.3 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Compare | 85.4 | 78 | 45.8 | 32.5 | 79 | 79.8 | 96.1 | 77.7 | 92.3 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
