Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony
89 Overall Score
vs
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES35100 35-100mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES35100 35-100mm

Panasonic
84 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

82 out of 100 high confidence 117 reviews

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
👍 Image quality 35
👍 Build quality 12
👍 Value for money 18
👎 Vignetting 6
👎 Low light performance 10
👍 Zoom range 25

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES35100 35-100mm

85 out of 100 medium confidence 18 reviews

This lens is highly praised for its sharpness, compact size, and constant f/2.8 aperture, making it an excellent travel and run-and-gun lens for Micro Four Thirds shooters. Video users appreciate the micro-step aperture control and linear focus option on newer bodies, though some report micro-jitter at the long end. Overall, it is seen as a versatile workhorse that pairs well with Lumix and Olympus cameras.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Constant f/2.8 aperture
  • Internal zoom and focus
  • Weather-sealed construction
Cons
  • Micro-jitter at long end in video
  • O.I.S. not compatible with Olympus bodies
  • Focus-by-wire may not suit all users
👍 Image quality 6
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Portability 5
🤔 Video performance 4
🤔 Compatibility 3
👍 Value for money 2

Scores

Budget
Sony
100
Panasonic
85
Portrait
Sony
89
Panasonic
88
Professional
Sony
74
Panasonic
89
Travel
Sony
89
Panasonic
80
Street
Sony
88
Panasonic
81
Video Cinema
Sony
83
Panasonic
85
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Panasonic
80
Landscape
Sony
73
Panasonic
78
Macro
Sony
68
Panasonic
70

Specifications

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSPanasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES35100 35-100mm
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min18 mm35 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm100 mm
Elements1618
Groups1213
Aspherical Elements11
ED Elements23★
Coating—Nano Surface Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/2.8
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountSony EMicro Four Thirds
FormatAPS-C★micro-four-thirds
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.33 kg★0.36 kg
Filter Thread55 mm58 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeLinear motor★Autofocus
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—2.5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm★850 mm
Max Magnification0.29x1:10★

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 (90th percentile)90th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (81st percentile)81st %ile

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES35100 35-100mm

  • Strong optical (90th percentile)90th %ile
  • Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Strong build (80th percentile)80th %ile

Pricing

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES35100 35-100mm

No current pricing available

Verdict

★ Winner: Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Scores 89 overall, wins 4 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Better at:

BudgetStreetTravelWildlife Sports

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES35100 35-100mm Better at:

MacroLandscapeProfessionalVideo Cinema

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