Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Sirui Aurora 35mm F1.4 35mm
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
Sirui Aurora 35mm F1.4 35mm
The Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 lens receives mixed reviews. Some users praise its value for money, compact size, and smooth autofocus, while others report severe sharpness issues and poor corner performance. A verified buyer called it the worst lens they've ever seen, but another verified buyer says it's an amazing deal compared to the Sony GM. The Q&A confirms a 62mm filter thread.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Compact and lightweight
- Smooth autofocus for video
- Beautiful bokeh at f/1.4
- Good build quality
Cons
- Inconsistent sharpness across copies
- Poor corner performance
- Chromatic aberration present
- Autofocus not as snappy as Sony GM
- Some users report terrible image quality
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Sirui Aurora 35mm F1.4 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 16 |
| Groups | 12 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | — | Protective Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 15★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.49 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | step motor |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 35 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:7.14★ |
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
Sirui Aurora 35mm F1.4 35mm
- Strong bokeh (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong macro (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong optical (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
- Below average social proof (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 1.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
