Processing:
Impeccable, nothing rattles or wobbles, only the visor might be a little high and possibly with internal ribbing to further reduce reflections. The metal case appears valuable and relatively robust.
Handling:
The weight is entirely appropriate for such a lens to mE. It fits comfortably in your hand, is not too heavy and not too light.
Zoom and focus ring have a rubber coating, which is indeed handy, but unfortunately also quite good dirt attracts (and not so easily let go again).
Looking through the viewfinder zoom and focus ring are haptic unfortunately not distinguish so well, so that one there ever can slip up.
Function:
When zooming the lens extends forward from a piece, but does not rotate while, so that polarizing filters can be used.
Manual zoom works much better than with the kit Powerzoom SEL-1650, in which the zoom ring is clearly too light, and also a cheap plastic-looped-on-plastic-feeling leaves. This is not so here -> plus.
Autofocus meets generally quite fix the point, but digresses and also something back and forth before he can define. Would be faster in this case of course better, as is in this price range but probably not much more to be expected. Nevertheless, one can thus work well, as long as you know what you can expect.
Image Quality:
So far I have not grossly negative points are noticed. The distortions are limited (and can be removed with common photo software from RAWs if necessary). Photographed in one JPEG makes the camera anyway. CAs are generally too hard to find. Only the vignetting at open aperture could be slightly lower. But slightly dimmed is hardly a problem anymore.
Price / Performance and Conclusion:
I have chosen deliberately for this objective and against the "alternatives" Sony SEL 18-200mm 18200LE f / 3.5-6.3 and Tamron 18-200mm F / 3.5-6.3 Di III VC as these, at least according to the telephoto end. Various tests clear CAs have. In addition, both are also slightly heavier and above all more expensive. In this regard, the SEL-55210 is fully convincing. A slightly larger gripe is there but still: the luminous intensity. For my taste, the SEL-55210 is clearly a "daylight lens" (if you have no tripod there or not ever want to take photographs with> = ISO1600). It would be nice if there would be something "faster" at the telephoto end for E-mount in the future.
All in all, however, I am very satisfied with the performance offered for the rather reasonable price (
Even as info: I run the lens on a Sony NEX-sixth