The new announced Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens now available for pre-order at B&H Photo/Amazon/Adorama. The US price for this lens is $598.00, will be shipping in the middle of February. Below are first hands-on reviews of this lens by Cameralabs and Digitalphotopro.
Conclusions from Cameralabs:
The Sony E 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 OSS is a compact, lightweight and versatile general-purpose zoom for its cropped-frame mirrorless bodies, this Sony’s version is noticeably smaller and lighter than those from Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm, while also boasting smoother and quieter focusing. After a string of disappointing general-purpose zooms for their cropped-frame bodies, the E 18-135mm thankfully delivers fairly crisp results across the frame and throughout the range. I still think there’s room for a higher-end model sacrificing reach for weather-sealing and a brighter focal ratio, perhaps a 16-50mm f2.8-4, but for the money the E 18-135mm is a no-brainer for all A6000, A5000 and NEX owners looking for a compact general-purpose zoom or an upgrade from the 16-50mm. It’s an easy lens to recommend and one I hope becomes Sony’s future kit zoom for APSC bodies.
Conclusions from Digitalphotopro:
It’s amazing to me the quality of lenses these days. Each new generation of lens, even those at a consumer-level price point, provides excellent optical quality and performance. I’m not about to ditch my small prime lenses when I’m shooting travel photography, but the E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS makes for a trustworthy lens, and a nice, affordable backup lens as well.