Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
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
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
The Laowa 180mm f/4.5 Ultra-Macro APO lens is highly praised for its sharpness, compact size, and lightweight design, especially compared to older Canon models. However, users note limitations with its autofocus, which is slow and has a minimum distance of 1.5m, and the lack of close AF for handheld macro work. A pleasant surprise is its image circle covering GFX sensors with only minor corner softness.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness and detail
- Lightweight and compact design
- 1.5:1 magnification ratio
- Surprising GFX sensor coverage
- Beautiful bokeh for macro
Cons
- Slow autofocus speed
- Minimum AF distance of 1.5m
- No close AF for handheld macro
- Manual focus needed for close range
- Tripod collar sold separately
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | macro |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 180 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 180 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 12 |
| Groups | 12 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | — | APO |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/32 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/4.5 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.52 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 62 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1.5:1★ |
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 (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
- Strong macro (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong build (70th percentile)
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average bokeh (7th percentile)7th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers 1.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
