Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Canon L-Series RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM 20mm
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
Canon L-Series RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM 20mm
This Canon RF lens lineup receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with users praising exceptional sharpness, fast and silent autofocus, and a lightweight, compact design that is ideal for both photography and video. Many reviewers highlight its outstanding performance for astrophotography, noting minimal coma and excellent star rendering wide open. A few criticisms mention heavy reliance on digital corrections, noticeable uncorrected vignetting, and some distortion, but these are generally seen as acceptable trade-offs for the size, weight, and price. Overall, it is considered a significant upgrade over older EF lenses and a top choice for hybrid shooters.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Fast and silent autofocus
- Lightweight and compact design
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Minimal coma and aberrations
Cons
- Heavy reliance on digital corrections
- Noticeable uncorrected vignetting
- Some distortion and color fringing
- No image stabilization
- Loose, clunking elements (one report)
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Canon L-Series RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM 20mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 20 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 20 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 15 |
| Groups | 12 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | — | Canon SSC (Super Spectra Coating); SWC (Sub-Wavelength structure coating; ASC (Air Sphere Coating); Fluorine protective coating on front element |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon RF |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.52 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | VCM |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 200 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.19x |
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
Canon L-Series RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM 20mm
- Strong optical (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong build (68th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 6.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
