Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony
89 Overall Score
vs
Canon L EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM

Canon L EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM

Canon
71 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

82 out of 100 high confidence 117 reviews

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
👍 Image quality 35
👍 Build quality 12
👍 Value for money 18
👎 Vignetting 6
👎 Low light performance 10
👍 Zoom range 25

Canon L EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM

88 out of 100 high confidence 186 reviews

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, lightweight design, and effective image stabilization. Users consistently highlight the lens's superb image quality, fast autofocus, and excellent value compared to the heavier f/2.8 version. A few criticisms include the lack of an included tripod collar and some reports of IS noise or autofocus issues in low light. Overall, it is considered a top-tier telephoto zoom for enthusiasts and professionals who prioritize portability.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness across zoom range
  • Lightweight and portable design
  • Effective 5-stop image stabilization
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Excellent image quality and color
Cons
  • Tripod collar not included
  • IS noise in some units
  • Autofocus issues in low light
  • No teleconverter compatibility
  • High price point
👍 Image quality 35
👍 Sharpness 28
👍 Weight and portability 22
👍 Image stabilization 18
👍 Autofocus performance 15
👍 Value for money 12

Scores

Budget
Sony
100
Canon
74
Portrait
Sony
89
Canon
43
Travel
Sony
89
Canon
79
Street
Sony
88
Canon
55
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Canon
77
Video Cinema
Sony
83
Canon
75
Professional
Sony
74
Canon
68
Landscape
Sony
73
Canon
74
Macro
Sony
68
Canon
57

Specifications

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSCanon L EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min18 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm200 mm
Elements1616
Groups1215
Aspherical Elements1★0
ED Elements22
Coating—Super Spectra Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/32
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/4
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountSony ECanon EF
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.33 kg★0.78 kg
Filter Thread55 mm77 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeLinear motor★USM
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm★600 mm
Max Magnification0.29x★0.28x

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 (90th percentile)90th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile

Canon L EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM

  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong optical (84th percentile)84th %ile
  • Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
  • Below average bokeh (8th percentile)8th %ile

Pricing

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is CA$1,261 cheaper (2.6x less).

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS0.114score per dollar
vs
Canon L EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM0.035score per dollar

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 3.3x better value for money

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Canon L EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM

Verdict

★ Winner: Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Scores 89 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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