Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony
89 Overall Score
vs
Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario H-HS35100 35-100mm

Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario H-HS35100 35-100mm

Panasonic
92 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

Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario H-HS35100 35-100mm

85 out of 100 medium confidence 18 reviews

This lens is highly praised for its sharpness, compact size, and constant f/2.8 aperture, making it an excellent travel and run-and-gun lens for Micro Four Thirds shooters. Video users appreciate the micro-step aperture control and linear focus option on newer bodies, though some report micro-jitter at the long end. Overall, it is seen as a versatile workhorse that pairs well with Lumix and Olympus cameras.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Constant f/2.8 aperture
  • Internal zoom and focus
  • Weather-sealed construction
Cons
  • Micro-jitter at long end in video
  • O.I.S. not compatible with Olympus bodies
  • Focus-by-wire may not suit all users
👍 Image quality 6
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Portability 5
🤔 Video performance 4
🤔 Compatibility 3
👍 Value for money 2

Scores

Budget
Sony
100
Panasonic
92
Portrait
Sony
89
Panasonic
86
Travel
Sony
89
Panasonic
82
Street
Sony
88
Panasonic
82
Professional
Sony
74
Panasonic
87
Video Cinema
Sony
83
Panasonic
87
Macro
Sony
68
Panasonic
84
Wildlife Sports
Sony
84
Panasonic
79
Landscape
Sony
73
Panasonic
71

Specifications

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSSPanasonic LUMIX G X Vario H-HS35100 35-100mm
Optics
Typezoomtelephoto
Focal Length Min18 mm35 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm100 mm
Elements163
Groups1213
Aspherical Elements11
ED Elements22
Coating—Nano Surface Coating Technology, HD coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/2.8
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountSony EMicro Four Thirds
FormatAPS-C★micro-four-thirds
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.33 kg★0.36 kg
Filter Thread55 mm58 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeLinear motorLinear motor
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—2.5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm100 mm★
Max Magnification0.29x1:10★

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 (90th percentile)90th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile

Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario H-HS35100 35-100mm

  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (85th percentile)85th %ile

Pricing

Both products are similarly priced.

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario H-HS35100 35-100mm

Scores 92 overall, wins 3 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Better at:

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitWildlife Sports

Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario H-HS35100 35-100mm Better at:

MacroProfessionalVideo Cinema

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