AstrHori Macro Probe A25B-E 18mm
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
What Buyers Say
AstrHori Macro Probe A25B-E 18mm
The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, fast autofocus, and low-light performance. Users highlight its suitability for both photography and video, with many noting a significant upgrade from previous lenses. A few Q&A entries address concerns about internal movement when powered off, which is confirmed as normal stabilizer behavior. Overall, it is praised as a professional-grade zoom that delivers outstanding results.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Fast and snappy autofocus
- Great low-light performance
- Excellent for video
- Internal zoom mechanism
Cons
- Internal movement when powered off
- Not parfocal
- Focus-by-wire system
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
Scores
Specifications
| AstrHori Macro Probe A25B-E 18mm | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | macro | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 23 | 16 |
| Groups | 17 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 1★ |
| ED Elements | — | 2★ |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/28 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/8 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✗ |
| Weight | 1.78 kg | 0.33 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | — | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 488 mm | 450 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 2:1★ | 0.29x |
Pros & Cons
AstrHori Macro Probe A25B-E 18mm
- Strong social proof (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong optical (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong macro (77th percentile)
- Below average build (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average aperture (8th percentile)8th %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
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
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 4.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 20 specs.
