Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Nikon NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR 500mm
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
Nikon NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR 500mm
The Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its lightweight design, sharp image quality, and fast autofocus, making it a favorite for bird and wildlife photography. A few users report autofocus issues in low light or with small subjects, but most find it a significant upgrade over heavier alternatives like the 200-500mm. The lens is praised for being handholdable and well-balanced on cameras like the D500 and D850, though some note minor wear on button lettering over time.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact design
- Sharp image quality
- Fast autofocus
- Excellent VR for handheld shooting
- Well-balanced on D500 and D850
Cons
- Autofocus issues in low light
- Autofocus hunts with small subjects
- Button lettering wears off over time
- Swirly backgrounds when pointed at sun
- Expensive for non-professionals
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Nikon NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR 500mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 500 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 500 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 19 |
| Groups | 12 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | — | Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings, Fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/32 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 1.46 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 95 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | Silent Wave Motor |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm★ | 3.00 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:5.55★ |
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
Nikon NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR 500mm
- Strong social proof (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong optical (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average bokeh (8th percentile)8th %ile
- Below average build (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (23rd percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 27.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.
