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
Sigma APO DG OS HSM 737101 150-500mm

Sigma APO DG OS HSM 737101 150-500mm

Sigma
51 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

Sigma APO DG OS HSM 737101 150-500mm

85 out of 100 low confidence 8 reviews

Users are overwhelmingly positive about this Sigma 150-500mm lens, praising its excellent image quality, sharpness, and value for money compared to expensive Nikon alternatives. The optical stabilization is highly effective, and the build quality feels solid and professional. However, the lens is noted to be very heavy, and its slow aperture (f/5-6.3) makes it challenging for indoor or low-light sports photography. Some users also reported autofocus issues after extended use or in low light.

Pros
  • Excellent image quality and sharpness
  • Great value for money
  • Effective optical stabilization
  • Solid and professional build quality
  • Smooth zoom and focus rings
Cons
  • Very heavy and bulky
  • Slow aperture for low light
  • Autofocus issues after extended use
  • Autofocus unreliable in low light
  • Lens cap feels flimsy
👍 Image quality 7
👍 Value for money 5
👍 Build quality 5
👎 Weight and size 5
👍 Optical stabilization 4
🤔 Autofocus performance 4

Scores

Budget
Sony
96
Sigma
50
Street
Sony
89
Sigma
44
Portrait
Sony
89
Sigma
42
Travel
Sony
89
Sigma
46
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Sigma
50
Video Cinema
Sony
82
Sigma
47
Landscape
Sony
76
Sigma
57
Professional
Sony
74
Sigma
44
Macro
Sony
68
Sigma
51

Specifications

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSSigma APO DG OS HSM 737101 150-500mm
Optics
Typezoomtelephoto
Focal Length Min18 mm150 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm500 mm
Elements1621
Groups1215
Aspherical Elements1★—
ED Elements23★
Coating—super multilayer lens coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/22
Min Aperture3.5-5.65-6.3
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountSony ECanon EF
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗—
Weight0.33 kg★1.78 kg
Filter Thread55 mm86 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeLinear motor★HSM
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—4 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm★2.20 m
Max Magnification0.29x1:5.2★

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

Sigma APO DG OS HSM 737101 150-500mm

  • Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong versatility (84th percentile)84th %ile
  • Strong social proof (71st percentile)
  • Below average build (8th percentile)8th %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
  • Below average macro (33rd percentile)

Verdict

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

Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports