Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
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
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
The Pentax DA 16-85mm lens is widely praised for its sharpness, weather sealing, and versatile zoom range, making it a favorite walk-around lens for outdoor and travel photography. Users appreciate the solid build and consistent image quality, though some note slower autofocus in low light and a variable aperture as minor drawbacks. A few isolated reports of inconsistent quality exist, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Weather sealing
- Versatile zoom range (16-85mm)
- Solid build quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Variable aperture (f/3.5-5.6)
- Slow autofocus in low light
- No distance scale on focus ring
- Relatively expensive
- Inconsistent quality control in some units
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 16 |
| Groups | 12 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | — | HD Coating, SP (Super Protect) Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | 22-38★ |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.49 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | DC |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 350 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.26x |
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
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong optical (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong build (71st percentile)
- Strong social proof (68th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.