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Sony E 18 135mm f 3.5 5.6 OSS Lens Review

In our Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens review, we try out this versatile zoom lens while making a hands-on Sony A6000 review. Given the 27-202.5mm (in full-frame equivalent) zoom range, we aim to see how well this lens performs across various genres, including for people, landscapes, and for closer wildlife photography. As a compact and lightweight lens we also tested its performance as an everyday walk-around lens, to see if it could replace multiple primes for day-to-day shooting.

The lens was mounted on a used Sony A6000 body for the entire test, a setup that gave us the chance to explore its Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilisation, image quality, and autofocus capabilities in different shooting situations. So join us as we discover whether the 18-135mm lens for Sony is one to add to your repertoire.

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

A new Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS costs £499.00, making it a cost-effective option considering its versatility and performance, and positions it as a significant upgrade from a kit lens. You can also find a used Sony E 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 OSS from just £264.00, which is excellent value.

Both new and used compare really well to more expensive professional lenses that we have covered for example in our Sony E 16-55mm F/2.8 G Lens review. While this does offer a fixed aperture it comes with a price of over £1000.00, which will put-off some users.

Sample image 01 flowers at 135mm. Camera settings: 1/320 sec. f/5.6. ISO 640.

Sony 18-135mm lens sample images

The Sony 18-135mm lens sample images used here are all unedited JPGs unless otherwise stated, and highlight its versatility across different styles and situations. Whether you are looking to get into landscapes, use the 135mm for close-ups, or capture distant subjects the lens offers a versatile range and should be on your shortlist.

Sample image 02 moon at 135mm. Camera settings: 1/320 sec. f/5.6. ISO 100.

Key features

Before we dive into more details, lets look at the key features of this lens:

• 7.5x zoom range
• Ultra compact and lightweight at 325g and 88mm long
• Excellent resolution across the frame
• High image magnification and 0.45m focus distance allows for close-up shooting
• Fast and quiet AF for photo and video

Sample image 03 water lilies at 135mm. Camera settings: 1/160 sec. f/5.6. ISO 125.

Is the Sony 18-135mm Lens Full-Frame?

No, the Sony 18-135mm is not a full-frame lens, but is designed for APS-C type Sony mirrorless cameras from the Sony a6000 series, including the Sony A6400 that we review here. While you can mount it on a full-frame body it will apply a crop factor, so the lens is better for smaller sensors, giving you a compact and lightweight option.

Sample image 04 pheasant at 135mm. Camera settings: 1/250 sec. f/5.6. ISO 640.

What is an 18-135mm Lens For?

The Sony 18 135mm lens is a versatile option for photographers who want an all-in-one solution. With a full-frame equivalent zoom range of 27-202.5mm on APS-C bodies, it covers wide-angle to telephoto subjects without needing to switch lenses, which is ideal for everything from landscape photography, to portraits, travel and wildlife.

The ability to zoom from 18mm to 135mm means that this lens can handle virtually every subject you want to capture, outside of more distant wildlife, sports or action.

Sample image 05 flower at 135mm. Camera settings: 1/320 sec. f/5.6. ISO 500

Does the Sony 18-135mm Have Image Stabilisation?

Yes, the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS features built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilisation. This is useful for reducing camera shake in low-light or when shooting handheld while zoomed in at longer focal lengths.

Paired with a Sony a6000-series camera, the OSS allows you to capture sharp images with reduced need for a tripod, making it perfect for travel and everyday use. This is especially good when shooting with a camera body like the A6000 which doesn’t include and in-body stabilisation, instead relying on the lens to help maintain sharpness.

Sample image 06 dragonfly at 135mm. Camera settings: 1/640 sec. f/5.6. ISO 1000.

Is the Sony 18-135mm Weather-Proof?

The Sony 18-135mm does not have weather sealing. While it feels robust enough in the hand, it’s worth keeping in mind that this is not designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions like rain or dust. If weather-proofing is essential, consider other options like the Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G.

Filter Size

The Sony E 18-135mm has a filter size of 55mm, making it compatible with a wide range of camera lens filters, including UV, ND, and CPL filters. This smaller size is fairly common, so finding the right accessories should be simple enough.

Park Cameras recently launched the Urth brand, who make some specific options for this thread size, including:

1. Urth 55mm UV Lens Filter Plus+
2. Urth 55mm Circular Polarising (CPL) Lens Filter
3. Urth 55mm ND4 (2 Stop) Lens Filter Plus+

Sample image 07 duck at 126mm. Camera settings: 1/200 sec. f/5.6. ISO 800.

Image quality

The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS delivers great image quality across its entire zoom range, thanks to the optical design, which features 16 elements arranged in 12 groups, including one aspherical lens element and two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements. These specialised elements are responsible for reducing chromatic aberrations and maintaining sharpness across the frame, especially in the corners.

The aspherical element helps to minimise distortion, such as barrel distortion which is common at wide angles, while the ED elements are designed to correct chromatic aberration, improving clarity and colour accuracy. This optical construction ensures this is capable of producing vibrant colours with excellent contrast, even in challenging lighting conditions, which is highlighted by some of the sample images included in this review.

Despite there being only 7 aperture blades, with a variable aperture range, I found I was able to create smooth rounded bokeh and beautifully soft defocus areas in images, especially when placing the subject further from the background. I like the bokeh effect you can get, which is particularly obvious in the close-up shots of the red dragonfly.

Sample image 08 backlit leaves at 135mm. Camera settings: 1/200 sec. f/5.6. ISO 100

Pushing image quality even further, the lens benefits from Multi-Coating Technology, which suppresses ghosting and flare, especially when shooting in bright, backlit situations, or straight towards the sun. This coating enhances contrast and overall image quality, providing crisp and sharp images when combined with the optical design.

While looking at image quality it’s worth noting that the maximum 0.29x magnification and 0.54m minimum focus distance do allow for excellent close-ups of anything, such as food, flowers, and wildlife.

Sample image 09 dragonfly flight (Edited and cropped). Captured at 135mm. Camera settings: 1/1000 sec. f/5.6. ISO 800.

Ergonomics and handling

During use I found the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS to be an excellent all-rounder, offering solid image quality, a really versatile zoom range, and the convenience of built-in OSS for handheld shooting, but how did it handle? The short answer is really well!

It’s a seriously lightweight lens, yet it doesn’t feel too plasticky or fragile, but zooms smoothly, feels perfectly balanced on a camera like the A6000, which I was testing it on, and is ideal as an all-day walk around option. It would also make an excellent travel lens, due to being small, light and offering a brand zoom range.

There aren’t many controls, just the usual zoom ring, a focus mode switch and the focusing ring, which is all you really need.

Sample image 10 landscape (Tripod mounted). Captured at 101mm. Camera settings: 1/20 sec. f/8. ISO 100.

While it may not be the absolute sharpest option, or weather-sealed, its versatility and price point make the E 18 135mm f 3.5 5.6 OSS one of the best lenses for Sony camera users. It’s the perfect next step up from a kit lens, and ideal when you’re expanding your lens repertoire with a comprehensive zoom to complement a prime or two.

Shop for your new Sony E 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens today, or why not save with a used E 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 OSS and discover just how versatile this can be for your content creation.

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By Nick Dautlich on 30/09/2024