Tamron Di II A14E 18-200mm
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
What Buyers Say
Tamron Di II A14E 18-200mm
The Tamron 18-200mm lens is praised for its versatility and value, offering a convenient all-in-one zoom range that eliminates the need to switch lenses. While image quality is generally good, some users report issues like softness at the long end, vignetting at 18mm, and lens creep, though these can often be mitigated by sending the lens to Tamron for adjustment or using simple fixes. Focus speed is adequate for most needs but can be slow in low light or live view, and the manual focus is noisy, which is a drawback for video. Overall, it is considered a great budget-friendly option for hobbyists and entry-level photographers.
Pros
- Versatile all-in-one zoom range
- Good value for money
- Decent image quality for the price
- Lightweight and portable
- Includes tulip lens hood
Cons
- Softness at 200mm end
- Vignetting at 18mm
- Lens creep when pointed up/down
- Slow autofocus in low light
- Noisy manual focus for video
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
| Tamron Di II A14E 18-200mm | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 200 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 17 | 16 |
| Groups | 13 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | Internal Surface coatings, multiple-layered coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/18 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-6.3 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.40 kg | 0.33 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 62 mm | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Auto Focus | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 498 mm | 450 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:3.7★ | 0.29x |
Pros & Cons
Tamron Di II A14E 18-200mm
- Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (21st percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd 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 aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
Pricing
Tamron Di II A14E 18-200mm
No current pricing available
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.