Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Tamron All-In-One Zoom AFB028N700 18-400mm
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
Tamron All-In-One Zoom AFB028N700 18-400mm
The Tamron 18-400mm lens is widely praised for its incredible zoom range and versatility, making it an ideal all-in-one travel lens. Users highlight its sharpness, quiet autofocus, and close-focus capability, though some note minor compromises like weak image stabilization at long focal lengths and chromatic aberration at 400mm. Overall, it is seen as a fantastic value for those prioritizing convenience over absolute optical perfection.
Pros
- Incredible 18-400mm zoom range
- Excellent sharpness across focal lengths
- Quiet and fast autofocus
- Versatile all-in-one travel lens
- Good close-focus / macro capability
Cons
- Weak image stabilization at 300mm+
- Chromatic aberration at 400mm
- Slow aperture (slow lens)
- Minor distortion at edges
- Tripod collar cannot be mounted without affecting zoom
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Tamron All-In-One Zoom AFB028N700 18-400mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 400 mm |
| Elements | 16 | — |
| Groups | 12 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 1★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.70 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 79 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | HLD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 79 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:2.9★ |
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 All-In-One Zoom AFB028N700 18-400mm
- Strong versatility (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong user sentiment (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average optical (18th percentile)18th %ile
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 1.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 20 specs.
