Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Zeiss 2103-749-cr
What Buyers Say
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens is widely praised as an excellent all-in-one travel and walkaround lens for APS-C E-mount cameras. Users consistently highlight its sharpness, compact size, light weight, and versatile 27-200mm equivalent zoom range. While many note it is not ideal for low light and some report significant vignetting at the wide end, the overall sentiment is very positive, with most considering it a great value kit lens upgrade.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Compact and lightweight
- Versatile 27-200mm equivalent zoom range
- Effective optical image stabilization
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Significant vignetting at 18mm wide end
- Not ideal for low light photography
- Variable aperture limits brightness at telephoto
- Some copies may have quality control issues
- Slight autofocus lag compared to premium lenses
Zeiss 2103-749-cr
The Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 is lauded for its outstanding image quality, sharpness, and compact all-metal build, with many reviewers praising the Zeiss color rendition and the satisfying manual focus experience. However, a few users noted design flaws, including a tendency for the lens hood to detach accidentally and difficulty mounting/unmounting the lens. Overall, it is considered a premium manual lens that rewards deliberate photography, though it may not suit those needing rapid autofocus.
Pros
- Outstanding image quality
- Sharp even wide open
- Compact all-metal build
- Lovely Zeiss color rendition
- Satisfying manual focus experience
Cons
- Lens hood detaches accidentally
- Difficult to mount and unmount
- Focus magnifier malfunction on newer cameras
- No knurling on focus ring for tactile pre-focus
- Not suitable for action photography
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Zeiss 2103-749-cr | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 9 |
| Groups | 12 | 6 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | — | ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✗ | — |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 10★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.77 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:5.9★ |
Pros & Cons
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong versatility (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
Zeiss 2103-749-cr
- Strong user sentiment (76th percentile)
- Strong macro (69th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Zeiss 2103-749-cr
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
