[thxbb12]

The entrance pupil on this one is 17.5mm, as compared to the 9.8mm entrance pupil on the typical 18-55.  It also focuses internally and features a better stabilizer.  All of the zoom motions must also happen in front of the aperture stop, placing further restrictions on the design, while having a wider zoom range (4.3x vs 3x).


The performance is poor and it is expensive, but this thing is much more complicated than the standard 18-55.

 

How do you explain a lens such as the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.0 DC tested at the Zone here is much better in pretty much any respect:

• Almost same focal range
  
• Faster/brighter
  
• Half price (sells for $500)
  
• Much better optical performance at all focal lengths and apertures
  
• Features a speudo-macro mode (very useful) at 1:2.7
  
• Like the Sony, features OIS
  

So, what's left to the crappy Sony/Zeiss? 1mm at the wide-end? I highly doubt it's an excuse for its abysmal performance.