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

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

Sony
91 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

Nikon
69 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

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

92 out of 100 high confidence 37 reviews

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, versatile zoom range, and effective vibration reduction. Users highlight its superb build quality and excellent performance in low light, making it a favorite for portraits, landscapes, and general photography. While some note its significant weight and size, and a few mention tight filter threads or high price, the overwhelming sentiment is that it delivers outstanding image quality and is a worthwhile investment for serious photographers.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness and detail
  • Versatile 24-70mm zoom range
  • Effective vibration reduction (VR)
  • Excellent low-light performance
  • Superb build quality
Cons
  • Heavy and bulky
  • High price point
  • Tight filter threads
  • No tripod collar included
  • Not compatible with older DSLRs
👍 Image quality 12
👍 Build quality 8
👍 Versatility 7
👍 Low light performance 5
👎 Weight and size 6
🤔 Value for money 4

Scores

Budget
Sony
100
Nikon
68
Street
Sony
88
Nikon
50
Portrait
Sony
87
Nikon
45
Travel
Sony
85
Nikon
59
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Nikon
50
Video Cinema
Sony
83
Nikon
59
Landscape
Sony
76
Nikon
75
Professional
Sony
74
Nikon
60
Macro
Sony
68
Nikon
63

Specifications

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSNikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min18 mm24 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm70 mm
Elements1615
Groups1211
Aspherical Elements13★
ED Elements23★
Coating—Nano Crystal & Super Integrated Coatings
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/22
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountSony ENikon Z
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.33 kg★0.90 kg
Filter Thread55 mm77 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeLinear motor★Autofocus
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops—5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm380 mm★
Max Magnification0.29x1:3.7★

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 stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

  • Strong social proof (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong optical (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong versatility (81st percentile)81st %ile
  • Below average aperture (21st percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (24th percentile)

Pricing

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

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

No current pricing available

Verdict

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

Scores 91 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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