Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
What Buyers Say
Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is widely praised for its ultra-compact size, lightweight design, and excellent value, making it a favorite for street photography and travel. Users note it turns a full-frame camera into a highly portable setup, though the fixed f/4.5 aperture and lack of manual focus ring are limiting for some. Image quality is considered good for the price, but low-light performance and autofocus in dim conditions are common drawbacks. A few users reported a stuck rear lens cap or battery drain on certain Sony models, but overall sentiment is positive for its intended casual use.
Pros
- Ultra-compact and lightweight design
- Excellent value for the price
- Great for street photography and travel
- Sharp image quality for its class
- Built-in lens cover
Cons
- Fixed f/4.5 aperture
- No manual focus ring
- Poor low-light autofocus
- Battery drain on Sony A5100
- Stuck rear lens cap issue
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
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 16 |
| Groups | 6 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | HD Nano Coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Fujifilm X | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.06 kg★ | 0.33 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VCM | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 340 mm★ | 450 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.1x | 0.29x★ |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm
- Strong build (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Strong social proof (67th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
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
Pricing
Viltrox 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm offers 5.9x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
