Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
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
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
The Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF Lens is a compact, lightweight manual lens that delivers surprising value at its price point. Most users praise its portability and build quality, though they note it requires patience, a tripod, and good light to get sharp results. The donut bokeh and fixed aperture are seen as creative trade-offs rather than dealbreakers. A common sentiment is that it's a 'fun' specialty lens for nature, moon, or zoo photography, but not a substitute for high-end telephoto glass.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design
- Good build quality (metal construction)
- Smooth focus ring
- Excellent value for the price
- Fun creative donut bokeh effect
Cons
- Manual focus only with no autofocus
- Fixed f/8 aperture limits low-light use
- Soft image quality and muted contrast
- Donut bokeh may not suit all tastes
- Lens hood does not reverse for storage
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 400 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 400 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 6 |
| Groups | 12 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | — | Multicoating and Antioxidant Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/8 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | 5 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.35 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm★ | 1.15 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:2.5★ |
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
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
- Strong build (67th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average optical (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm offers 1.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.
