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
Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

Tamron
49 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

Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

82 out of 100 low confidence 9 reviews

This Tamron 60mm f/2 macro lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its sharpness, excellent bokeh, and versatile use for both macro and portrait photography. Users appreciate the good working distance, solid build, and value for money, though some note the autofocus can be slow and noisy, and one verified reviewer reported a severe front-focusing issue that could not be fully corrected. Overall, it is highly recommended for APS-C DSLR users seeking a capable macro and portrait lens.

Pros
  • Excellent sharpness
  • Great bokeh
  • Versatile for macro and portrait
  • Good working distance
  • Solid build quality
Cons
  • Slow autofocus speed
  • Noisy autofocus motor
  • Front-focusing issues on some copies
  • Autofocus hunts in low contrast
  • Lens hood interferes at close range
👍 Image quality 7
🤔 Autofocus performance 6
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Value for money 5
👍 Versatility 4
👎 Focus accuracy 2

Scores

Budget
Sony
96
Tamron
43
Street
Sony
89
Tamron
44
Portrait
Sony
89
Tamron
36
Travel
Sony
89
Tamron
38
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Tamron
36
Video Cinema
Sony
82
Tamron
43
Landscape
Sony
76
Tamron
43
Professional
Sony
74
Tamron
46
Macro
Sony
68
Tamron
69

Specifications

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSTamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm
Optics
Typezoommacro
Focal Length Min18 mm60 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm60 mm
Elements1614
Groups1210
Aspherical Elements1★0
ED Elements22
Coating—Broad-Band Anti-Reflective Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/22
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/2
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountSony ESony A
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed✗✗
Weight0.33 kg★0.39 kg
Filter Thread55 mm55 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeLinear motor★Autofocus
Stabilization✓★✗
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm231 mm★
Max Magnification0.29x1:1★

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

Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

  • Strong macro (78th percentile)
  • Strong optical (73rd percentile)
  • Strong social proof (69th percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Pricing

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

No current pricing available

Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 Macro 60mm

Verdict

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

Scores 92 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.

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

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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