Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Panasonic LUMIX S S-S85 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
Panasonic LUMIX S S-S85 85mm
The Panasonic Lumix 85mm f/1.8 lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and compact lightweight design, particularly for portraits and low-light photography. Users praise its fast and quiet autofocus, good build quality, and excellent value for money, though a few mention plastic construction and occasional autofocus hunting. It works well on Lumix S series bodies and is recommended for both photo and video work.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Compact and lightweight design
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Plastic build feels cheap
- Occasional autofocus hunting
- No built-in image stabilization
- Tight fit on camera mount
- Autofocus not fastest for action
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Panasonic LUMIX S S-S85 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 9 |
| Groups | 12 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1★ | 0 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/1.8 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | L-Mount |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.45 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | Linear AF Motor |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm★ | 800 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.13x |
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 (81st percentile)81st %ile
Panasonic LUMIX S S-S85 85mm
- Strong bokeh (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong aperture (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong social proof (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong user sentiment (76th percentile)
- Below average macro (28th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 91 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 20 specs.
