Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Tamron B008S 18-270mm
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 B008S 18-270mm
The Tamron 18-270mm lens is widely praised as a versatile all-in-one travel lens, offering good image stabilization and fast autofocus at a reasonable price. Users appreciate its compact size and lightweight build, though some note that the 270mm reach offers less visual difference than expected compared to 200mm. A few concerns include compatibility issues with certain Sony camera models and slightly darker images compared to OEM lenses.
Pros
- Versatile all-in-one zoom range
- Effective vibration control
- Fast and responsive autofocus
- Compact and lightweight design
- Good value for money
Cons
- 270mm reach less impressive than expected
- Compatibility issues with some Sony cameras
- Slightly darker images than OEM lenses
- Zoom creep in middle range
- VC draws more battery power
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Tamron B008S 18-270mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 270 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 16 |
| Groups | 12 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | 22-40★ |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony/Minolta Alpha DT |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.45 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm★ | 490 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:3.8★ |
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 B008S 18-270mm
- Strong versatility (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Strong social proof (71st percentile)
- Strong optical (66th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 1.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 92 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 20 specs.
