Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Sony
92 Overall Score
vs
Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
Pentax
50 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
Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Budget
Street
Portrait
Travel
Wildlife Sports
Video Cinema
Landscape
Professional
Macro
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 16 |
| Groups | 12 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | — | HD Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.71 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | PLM (Pulse Motor) |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.24x |
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
Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
- Strong optical (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Pentax Star-series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW
No current pricing available
Verdict
Winner: Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
