Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Viltrox AF 85/1.8 II XF 85mm
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
Viltrox AF 85/1.8 II XF 85mm
This 85mm f/1.8 lens from Viltrox is widely praised for its sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and solid build quality, especially given its affordable price. Many users find it comparable to much more expensive Nikon or Sony lenses for portrait work. However, some reviewers report issues with chromatic aberration, occasional slow autofocus, and a notable problem with the lens hood being stuck in the reverse position. A few also note slight softness at the edges and an abrupt bokeh transition, but overall it is considered excellent value for the money.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Solid build quality
- Great value for money
- Fast autofocus
Cons
- Chromatic aberration issues
- Occasional slow autofocus
- Lens hood stuck in reverse position
- Slight edge softness
- Abrupt bokeh transition
Scores
Specifications
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Viltrox AF 85/1.8 II XF 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 10 |
| Groups | 12 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | — | HD Nano multi-layer coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Fujifilm X |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.33 kg★ | 0.48 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | STM |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm★ | 800 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.13x |
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 stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
Viltrox AF 85/1.8 II XF 85mm
- Strong bokeh (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong aperture (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong macro (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Viltrox AF 85/1.8 II XF 85mm offers 2.9x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 91 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
