Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
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
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
The Meike 85mm f/1.8 lens receives mixed feedback. Many users praise its sharpness, bokeh, and value for the price, especially for portrait and low-light photography. However, a significant number of reviewers report issues with autofocus noise, inconsistent autofocus performance, and even complete focus motor failure. Build quality concerns, such as a loose focus ring, are also mentioned, leading to a polarized sentiment where the lens is either loved for its image quality or criticized for reliability.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Great bokeh
- Excellent value for money
- Good for low-light photography
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Loud autofocus noise
- Inconsistent autofocus performance
- Focus motor failure reported
- Loose focus ring on some units
- Compatibility issues with some adapters
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 11 |
| Groups | 12 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | — | multi-coated on both sides, fingerprint- and oil-resistant coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | — |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | STM |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm★ | 650 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.17X |
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 (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average build (31st percentile)
Verdict
Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.