Sony SEL18135

Sony SEL18135

Sony
91 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR Z 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR

Nikon NIKKOR Z 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR

Nikon
83 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Sony SEL18135

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 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR

82 out of 100 medium confidence 24 reviews

The Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens is highly praised for its compact size, light weight, and sharp image quality, making it a versatile ultra-wide to normal zoom for DX mirrorless cameras. Users appreciate the smooth power zoom for video and the VR stabilization, though some note the plastic mount and lack of included lens hood as minor drawbacks. It is well-suited for landscapes, close-ups, and travel, with excellent edge-to-edge sharpness and vibrant colors.

Pros
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Sharp image quality edge-to-edge
  • Smooth power zoom for video
  • VR image stabilization
  • Versatile ultra-wide to normal range
Cons
  • Plastic lens mount
  • Lens hood not included
  • No digital focal length readout
  • Power zoom not ideal for stills photography
  • Crops full-frame sensor on Z7II
👍 Image quality 8
👍 Size and weight 7
🤔 Power zoom 6
👎 Build quality 2
👍 Value for money 3
🤔 Compatibility 4

Scores

Budget
Sony
96
Nikon
82
Street
Sony
87
Nikon
92
Travel
Sony
85
Nikon
89
Portrait
Sony
89
Nikon
84
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Nikon
85
Video Cinema
Sony
83
Nikon
80
Professional
Sony
73
Nikon
80
Landscape
Sony
73
Nikon
74
Macro
Sony
68
Nikon
66

Specifications

Sony SEL18135Nikon NIKKOR Z 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min18 mm12 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm28 mm
Elements1612
Groups1211
Aspherical Elements11
ED Elements2★1
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/3.5
Min Aperture3.5-5.63.5-5.6
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountSony ENikon Z
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.33 kg0.20 kg★
Filter Thread55 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeLinear motorinternal linear motor
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—4.5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm190 mm★
Max Magnification0.29x★0.21x

Pros & Cons

Sony SEL18135

  • 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

Nikon NIKKOR Z 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR

  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (95th percentile)95th %ile
  • Strong build (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong aperture (80th percentile)80th %ile

Verdict

★ Winner: Sony SEL18135

Scores 91 overall, wins 3 of 9 usage categories and 2 of 21 specs.

Sony SEL18135 Better at:

BudgetPortraitVideo Cinema

Nikon NIKKOR Z 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Better at:

StreetTravelProfessional