The lens was designed to better accommodate users of Sony's E-mount mirrorless cameras in weight and size.

[1] The lens features an all-plastic construction with rubber focus and zoom rings.

To combat zoom creep, the lens features a small zoom lock switch on the main lens barrel.

[citation needed] The Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC is "nearly identical".

[2] Compared to its predecessor (the Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS), this lens is softer and suffers from greater chromatic aberration.