Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Nikon
90 Overall Score
vs
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Sony
90 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
No customer feedback yet
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
82 out of 100 high confidence 117 reviews
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
Image quality 35
Build quality 12
Value for money 18
Vignetting 6
Low light performance 10
Zoom range 25
Scores
Budget
Street
Travel
Wildlife Sports
Portrait
Video Cinema
Landscape
Professional
Macro
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 9 | 16 |
| Groups | 7 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-6.3 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.14 kg★ | 0.33 kg |
| Filter Thread | 46 mm | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Stepping Motor | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4.5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 200 mm★ | 450 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.2x | 0.29x★ |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
- Strong stabilization (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong build (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong af (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
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
Pricing
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR0.200score per dollar
vs
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS0.115score per dollar
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR offers 1.7x better value for money
Verdict
Tie
Both products are closely matched - Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR wins 4 specs while Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS wins 3.
