Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Tamron Di II B016N 16-300mm
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
Tamron Di II B016N 16-300mm
A versatile all-in-one lens praised for travel, macro, and wildlife, though image quality trade-offs are noted. Build quality is solid, autofocus is generally fast, and the compact size reduces the need for multiple lenses. Some users report softness at long ends, chromatic aberration, and occasional focusing issues, but most find the convenience outweighs the drawbacks.
Pros
- Versatile all-in-one zoom range
- Excellent for travel and hiking
- Good macro capability at all focal lengths
- Solid build quality
- Fast and quiet autofocus
Cons
- Softness at 300mm end
- Chromatic aberration (fringing)
- Occasional autofocus hunt or hesitation
- Zoom creep when camera is vertical
- Not tack sharp for pixel peepers
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Tamron Di II B016N 16-300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 16 |
| Groups | 12 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | — | multiple layers of coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | Piezo Drive |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:2.9★ |
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
Tamron Di II B016N 16-300mm
- Strong versatility (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong optical (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong bokeh (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 2 of 21 specs.
