Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
What Buyers Say
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
Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
The Samyang 16mm f/2.0 manual focus lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, micro-contrast, and image quality, especially given its affordable price. Users love it for landscape and astrophotography, praising the fast f/2.0 aperture and solid build, though many note it is quite large and heavy on APS-C bodies. Manual focus is generally well-accepted for static subjects but challenging for moving ones. A few buyers were surprised by its size due to misleading product images but still found the optical performance excellent.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Great micro-contrast and rendering
- Fast f/2.0 aperture
- Solid build quality
- Excellent for landscapes and astro
Cons
- Large and heavy on APS-C
- Challenging for moving subjects
- Manual focus only (no AF confirm chip on some)
- Misleading product images (size mismatch)
- Not ideal for full frame (vignetting)
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 16 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 13 |
| Groups | 12 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | — | UMC |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 8★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF-S |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.58 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 200 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | — |
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
Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
- Strong macro (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong optical (78th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average bokeh (19th percentile)19th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.