Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Sony SEL18135
What Buyers Say
Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens is overwhelmingly praised by users for its excellent image quality, sharpness, and fast autofocus, especially for wildlife and bird photography. Many reviewers highlight the convenience of the internal zoom mechanism and the great value for the price. While the lens is noted to be somewhat heavy, most find it manageable for handheld use, and the weight is often considered a worthwhile trade-off for the reach and performance. A few users mention the extensive use of plastic in construction and the lack of a dedicated case as minor drawbacks.
Pros
- Excellent image quality and sharpness
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Great value for the price
- Convenient internal zoom mechanism
- Good for wildlife and bird photography
Cons
- Heavy for some users
- Extensive use of plastic in construction
- No dedicated case included
- Battery drain on some camera bodies
- Not as sharp as top-tier primes
Sony SEL18135
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
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR | Sony SEL18135 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | super-telephoto | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 180 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 600 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 25 | 16 |
| Groups | 17 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 1 |
| ED Elements | 6★ | 2 |
| Coating | Fluorine Coat | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/5.6 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 5.6-6.3 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 1.95 kg | 0.33 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 95 mm | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5.5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 1.30 m | 450 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.25x | 0.29x★ |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
- Strong optical (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong stabilization (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Below average build (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average macro (29th percentile)
Sony SEL18135
- 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
Pricing
Sony SEL18135 offers 2.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 91 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
