Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Rokinon SP RK3512-FX 35mm
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
Rokinon SP RK3512-FX 35mm
User experiences with this lens are mixed. One reviewer praised it for being sharp and joyful on a Fujifilm camera, noting only minor chromatic aberration issues. Another found it a great value, while a third user was disappointed enough by the build quality to return it. Compatibility questions confirm it works with Sony E mount but not with Canon EF/EF-S DSLR cameras like the 60D.
Pros
- Sharp from f/1.4 onward
- Joyful to use
- Great value for the price
- Compatible with Sony E mount
Cons
- Chromatic aberration on backlit subjects
- Softer at f/1.2 compared to f/1.4
- Poor build quality reported
- Not compatible with Canon EF/EF-S DSLRs
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Rokinon SP RK3512-FX 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 9 |
| Groups | 12 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | — | Ultra Multi-Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.2 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.42 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 340 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
Rokinon SP RK3512-FX 35mm
- Strong macro (65th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (4th percentile)4th %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
