Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Sony
92 Overall Score
vs
Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
Tamron
67 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 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Budget
Street
Portrait
Travel
Wildlife Sports
Video Cinema
Landscape
Professional
Macro
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 24 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 70 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 17 |
| Groups | 12 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | — | eBAND, BBAR, and Fluorine Coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.90 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 82 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | USD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 381 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:5★ |
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 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
- Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong optical (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong versatility (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong social proof (73rd percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS0.183score per dollar
vs
Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G20.102score per dollar
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 1.8x better value for money
Verdict
Winner: Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Scores 92 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 2 of 22 specs.
