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

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

Sony
92 Overall Score
vs
Zeiss Aatma Prime 50mm T1.5 50mm

Zeiss Aatma Prime 50mm T1.5 50mm

Zeiss
13 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

Zeiss Aatma Prime 50mm T1.5 50mm

82 out of 100 medium confidence 12 reviews

The Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar is a lens with legendary character, offering beautiful rendering and sharpness when stopped down, but it comes with a notable focus shift issue that requires compensation. Users praise its build quality, compact size, and value compared to Leica alternatives, though the focus shift and expensive hood are common complaints. It's a lens that demands patience but rewards with stunning portraits and a classic glow.

Pros
  • Beautiful rendering wide open
  • Very sharp when stopped down
  • Solid build quality
  • Compact size
  • Great value for money
Cons
  • Noticeable focus shift
  • Expensive lens hood
  • Focus shift requires compensation
  • Not compatible with Contax IIIa
👎 Focus shift 4
👍 Image quality 6
👍 Build quality 4
👍 Value for money 3
👍 Size and portability 3
👎 Lens hood cost 2

Scores

Budget
Sony
96
Zeiss
12
Street
Sony
89
Zeiss
14
Portrait
Sony
89
Zeiss
24
Travel
Sony
89
Zeiss
6
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Zeiss
6
Video Cinema
Sony
82
Zeiss
19
Landscape
Sony
76
Zeiss
6
Professional
Sony
74
Zeiss
14
Macro
Sony
68
Zeiss
11

Specifications

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSZeiss Aatma Prime 50mm T1.5 50mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min18 mm50 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm50 mm
Elements166
Groups124
Aspherical Elements1★—
ED Elements2★—
Coating—T*
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/22
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/1.5
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades716★
Build
MountSony EARRI PL
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗—
Weight0.33 kg★1.22 kg
Filter Thread55 mm46 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeLinear motor★manual focus only
Stabilization✓★✗
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm★460 mm
Max Magnification0.29x★0.0520833333

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

Zeiss Aatma Prime 50mm T1.5 50mm

  • Below average build (13th percentile)13th %ile
  • Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
  • Below average optical (18th percentile)18th %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)

Pricing

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

Zeiss Aatma Prime 50mm T1.5 50mm

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 7 of 21 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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