Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Rokinon 50M-C
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
Rokinon 50M-C
The Rokinon 50mm f/1.4 lens receives generally positive feedback for its excellent value, sharp optics, and solid build quality, especially for astrophotography and low-light use. However, many users note that the autofocus can be inconsistent and unreliable for fast-moving subjects, and some copies have decentering issues. The lens is fully manual on certain mounts, which is a key consideration for buyers.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Sharp optics for the price
- Solid all-metal build quality
- Great for astrophotography
- Good low-light performance at f/1.4
Cons
- Inconsistent autofocus performance
- Autofocus unreliable for fast-moving subjects
- Some copies have decentering issues
- Soft corners at f/1.4
- Fully manual on certain mounts
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Rokinon 50M-C | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 50 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 9 |
| Groups | 12 | 6 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | — | Ultra Multi-Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 8★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 450 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:6.25★ |
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
Rokinon 50M-C
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong build (67th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Rokinon 50M-C offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
