Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 XF 23mm
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
Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 XF 23mm
The Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 is widely praised as an outstanding value lens for APS-C cameras, offering sharp images, fast and quiet autofocus, and solid metal construction at a fraction of the price of OEM equivalents like the Fuji 23mm f/1.4. Reviewers consistently note its excellent low-light performance and pleasing bokeh. However, some users report noticeable chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes, occasional autofocus glitches or camera lock-ups with certain bodies, and a tendency for the aperture ring to be accidentally bumped. A few users also experienced firmware incompatibility after updating their Nikon cameras, rendering the lens unusable.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Very sharp images, even wide open
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Solid metal build quality
- Pleasing bokeh
Cons
- Noticeable chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes
- Aperture ring easily bumped unintentionally
- Occasional autofocus glitches or camera lock-ups
- Firmware incompatibility after Nikon camera updates
- Flare susceptibility
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 XF 23mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 23 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 23 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 11 |
| Groups | 12 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | — | HD Nano Multi-Layer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg | 0.26 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | STM |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.1x |
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 stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 XF 23mm
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average macro (32nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4 XF 23mm offers 2.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 91 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
