Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
What Buyers Say
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
The Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC manual focus lens is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and outstanding performance in astrophotography. Users note that it requires patience and practice to master manual focusing, especially at f/2, but the image quality rivals much more expensive lenses. The build is solid but heavy, and it lacks weather sealing and electronic communication with the camera. Despite these drawbacks, it is considered a fantastic value for photographers who can work with manual focus.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Solid build quality
- Great value for money
Cons
- Heavy weight
- No autofocus
- No weather sealing
- No electronic communication with camera
- Stiff focus ring initially
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
Scores
Specifications
| Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 135 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 11 | 16 |
| Groups | 7 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 1★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Ultra Multi-Coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/2 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.82 kg | 0.33 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 77 mm | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 800 mm | 450 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 0.29x★ |
Pros & Cons
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average build (21st percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
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
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 5.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.
