Pentax D FA 28-105MM F3.5-5.6ED DC WR

Pentax D FA 28-105MM F3.5-5.6ED DC WR

Pentax
61 Overall Score
vs
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

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

Sony
92 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Pentax D FA 28-105MM F3.5-5.6ED DC WR

85 out of 100 high confidence 34 reviews

The Pentax HD D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR lens is widely praised as an exceptional value, delivering sharpness and clarity that rivals or exceeds more expensive zooms like the 24-70mm f/2.8. Users consistently highlight its compact size, light weight, weather resistance, and versatile focal range as ideal for travel and everyday photography on full-frame K-1 cameras. While a few note the variable aperture as a minor limitation, the consensus is that this lens punches far above its price point and is a no-brainer for Pentax shooters.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness for the price
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Weather-resistant construction
  • Versatile 28-105mm focal range
  • Great value for money
Cons
  • Variable aperture (f/3.5-5.6)
  • Slightly narrow at wide end (28mm vs 24mm)
  • Zoom ring requires slight effort
  • No infinity focus indicator
👍 Value for money 12
👍 Image quality 14
👍 Build quality 8
👍 Size and weight 10
👍 Weather resistance 5
🤔 Aperture speed 6

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

Scores

Budget
Pentax
60
Sony
96
Street
Pentax
51
Sony
89
Portrait
Pentax
42
Sony
89
Travel
Pentax
67
Sony
89
Wildlife Sports
Pentax
50
Sony
84
Video Cinema
Pentax
43
Sony
82
Landscape
Pentax
63
Sony
76
Professional
Pentax
50
Sony
74
Macro
Pentax
52
Sony
68

Specifications

Pentax D FA 28-105MM F3.5-5.6ED DC WRSony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min28 mm18 mm
Focal Length Max105 mm135 mm
Elements1516
Groups1112
Aspherical Elements—1★
ED Elements—2★
CoatingSuper Protect & HD Multi-Layer Coatings—
Aperture
Max Aperture22-32★f/3.5
Min Aperture3.5-5.63.5-5.6
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades9★7
Build
MountPentax KSony E
Formatfull-frame★APS-C
Weather Sealed✓★✗
Weight0.44 kg0.33 kg★
Filter Thread62 mm55 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSupersonic Direct-Drive AF MotorLinear motor★
Stabilization✗✓★
Focus
Min Focus Distance500 mm450 mm★
Max Magnification1:4.55★0.29x

Pros & Cons

Pentax D FA 28-105MM F3.5-5.6ED DC WR

  • Strong versatility (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong social proof (77th percentile)
  • Strong build (75th percentile)
  • Strong optical (69th percentile)
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

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

Verdict

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

Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports