18 - 135 short review (vs 16-50 kit lens) for Street Photography

skanter · May 9, 2018

After a few weeks of shooting, here are my nontechnical impressions of 18-135 (for street photography):

PROS:

1. Reach and range. Wonderful flexibility with 27-200 equiv. range.

2. Sharpness. Somewhat sharper than 16-50 in some situations. Perhaps a bit better in corners, though not that essential for me.

3. Color and contrast. Definitely better than 16-50. Very important for JPG shooters. For me, not so important as I shoot RAW and PP every photo individually.

4. Generally the 18-135 renders images very well.

CONS:

Size and weight; though compact and light for an 18-135, it is still considerably bigger and heavier than the other lenses I use for SP -16-50, 35mm 1.8, 10-18. I do much of my shooting with one hand (with hand strap) at differing POVs, and need to be able to move camera quickly to any position. The 6300 with 16-50 or 35mm feels like an extension of my hand. With the 18-135, it is not - and usually requires both hands to balance.

Conclusion: 18-135 is a fine lens, I will keep it. It is not ideally suited for SP, but serviceable with the great advantage of range and reach. It will not replace my 16-50 however.

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” — HCB
—
Native New Yorker:
http://www.blurb.com/b/7943076
—
Street Gallery:
http://skanter.smugmug.com/NYC-Street-Photography

Martin_99 · May 9, 2018

Thanks for comparison. Dont be shy and share some photos!

I know that this lens is not some bokeh beast, but anyway, do you like the bokeh at f5,6 above 100mm?

skanter · May 9, 2018

Martin_99 said:
Thanks for comparison. Dont be shy and share some photos!

Look under my name and recent photos from here and Doc and Street forum - all with 18-135.

Martin_99 said:
I know that this lens is not some bokeh beast, but anyway, do you like the bokeh at f5,6 above 100mm?

Yes...will post a few telephoto later...

Jared Weber · May 9, 2018

18-135 @ 5.6 above 100mm

The bokeh at 5.6 is pretty nice in my opinion. It’s not a dedicated portrait lens but it can fill that gap if you don’t have one.

skanter · May 9, 2018

A few from past week, SEL 18-135

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” — HCB
—
Native New Yorker:

Native New Yorker by Sam Kanter | Blurb Books

Photographs by New York City Photographer Sam Kanter — Softcover Book (not a magazine) 140 Pages, 100 photographs

www.blurb.com

—
Street Gallery:

CURRENT AND ARCHIVED STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - Sam Kanter

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skanter.smugmug.com

Arizona Sunset · May 9, 2018

Good shots and example of this lens.

Martin_99 · May 9, 2018

Thank you Skanter! Very nice photos. I will go for it this month. I have portrait lens, but I want to avoid changing lenses on trips, so I will try this zoom.

I would like to have f4 at the long end, but available options have its negatives (price, size...)

Merlin Tor · May 9, 2018

skanter said:
Conclusion: 18-135 is a fine lens, I will keep it. It is not ideally suited for SP, but serviceable with the great advantage of range and reach. It will not replace my 16-50 however.

Why will it not replace your 16-50? Is it because it's more bulky than 16-50? I'm actually considering this lens to replace my 16-50.

skanter · May 9, 2018

Martin_99 said:
Thank you Skanter! Very nice photos. I will go for it this month. I have portrait lens, but I want to avoid changing lenses on trips, so I will try this zoom.

I would like to have f4 at the long end, but available options have its negatives (price, size...)

If yu are OK with the size and weight, it is certainly a fine general-purpose lens with a great range, especially with new lower price.

For me, the A6300 with 16-50 feels like a compact camera; with the 18-135, more like a DSLR - so the two “kit lenses” are not really comparable.

skanter · May 9, 2018

Arizona Sunset said:
Good shots and example of this lens.

Hope it helps potential buyers...

skanter · May 9, 2018

Merlin Tor said:
skanter said:

Conclusion: 18-135 is a fine lens, I will keep it. It is not ideally suited for SP, but serviceable with the great advantage of range and reach. It will not replace my 16-50 however.

Click to expand...

Why will it not replace your 16-50? Is it because it's more bulky than 16-50? I'm actually considering this lens to replace my 16-50.

As I said - the A6300 with 16-50 feels like a compact camera - small and light. With the 18-135, more like a DSLR in size and weight. It’s a different experience altogether. I certainly prefer walking around with the smaller, lighter kit, and will continue to do so much of the time. But other times I will appreciate the added range of the 18-135. YMMV

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” — HCB
—
Native New Yorker:
http://www.blurb.com/b/7943076
—
Street Gallery:
http://skanter.smugmug.com/NYC-Street-Photography

Merlin Tor · May 11, 2018

skanter said:
skanter wrote:

As I said - the A6300 with 16-50 feels like a compact camera - small and light. With the 18-135, more like a DSLR in size and weight. It’s a different experience altogether. I certainly prefer walking around with the smaller, lighter kit, and will continue to do so much of the time. But other times I will appreciate the added range of the 18-135. YMMV

snapa · May 11, 2018

Merlin Tor said:
Merlin Tor said:

skanter wrote:

As I said - the A6300 with 16-50 feels like a compact camera - small and light. With the 18-135, more like a DSLR in size and weight. It’s a different experience altogether. I certainly prefer walking around with the smaller, lighter kit, and will continue to do so much of the time. But other times I will appreciate the added range of the 18-135. YMMV

Click to expand...

Thank you. I'm still on 16-50 kit. I didn't want to get 18-135 as they are expensive at the moment and will turn my mirrorless size into a dslr with bigger zoom lense. I bought a mirrorless for a reason.

I don't think putting the 18-135 on the a6300 makes it dslr size, both the camera and lens is much smaller & lighter than comparible Nikon & Canon combos. Those are 2 APS-C dslr's one with a 18-105 lens, the other with a 28-135 lens. The a6300 with 18-135 lens is MUCH smaller & lighter. If you would like slightly better IQ and 2.5 times the reach, I would strongly suggest getting the 18-135 lens.

Merlin Tor · May 11, 2018

snapa said:
Merlin Tor said:

snapa said:

skanter wrote:

As I said - the A6300 with 16-50 feels like a compact camera - small and light. With the 18-135, more like a DSLR in size and weight. It’s a different experience altogether. I certainly prefer walking around with the smaller, lighter kit, and will continue to do so much of the time. But other times I will appreciate the added range of the 18-135. YMMV

Click to expand...

Thank you. I'm still on 16-50 kit. I didn't want to get 18-135 as they are expensive at the moment and will turn my mirrorless size into a dslr with bigger zoom lense. I bought a mirrorless for a reason.

Click to expand...

I don't think putting the 18-135 on the a6300 makes it dslr size, both the camera and lens is much smaller & lighter than comparible Nikon & Canon combos. Those are 2 APS-C dslr's one with a 18-105 lens, the other with a 28-135 lens. The a6300 with 18-135 lens is MUCH smaller & lighter. If you would like slightly better IQ and 2.5 times the reach, I would strongly suggest getting the 18-135 lens.

Eniigma_21 · May 11, 2018

skanter said:
A few from past week, SEL 18-135

I guess this one is from 16-50.

Great review from street photography perspective, this is a type of photography im always shy to try off.

skanter said:
--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” — HCB
—
Native New Yorker:
http://www.blurb.com/b/7943076
—
Street Gallery:
http://skanter.smugmug.com/NYC-Street-Photography

--
Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/156719406@N07/

skanter · May 11, 2018

Merlin Tor said:
snapa said:

Merlin Tor said:

Merlin Tor said:

skanter wrote:

As I said - the A6300 with 16-50 feels like a compact camera - small and light. With the 18-135, more like a DSLR in size and weight. It’s a different experience altogether. I certainly prefer walking around with the smaller, lighter kit, and will continue to do so much of the time. But other times I will appreciate the added range of the 18-135. YMMV

Click to expand...

Thank you. I'm still on 16-50 kit. I didn't want to get 18-135 as they are expensive at the moment and will turn my mirrorless size into a dslr with bigger zoom lense. I bought a mirrorless for a reason.

Click to expand...

I don't think putting the 18-135 on the a6300 makes it dslr size, both the camera and lens is much smaller & lighter than comparible Nikon & Canon combos. Those are 2 APS-C dslr's one with a 18-105 lens, the other with a 28-135 lens. The a6300 with 18-135 lens is MUCH smaller & lighter. If you would like slightly better IQ and 2.5 times the reach, I would strongly suggest getting the 18-135 lens.

--
Life is short, make the best of it while you can!
http://grob.smugmug.com/

Click to expand...

okay okay. What i meant is that it will be bigger.

http://j.mp/2jQVlRv

PZ 16-50 = 4 oz

SEL 18-135 = 11.5 oz

That’s 1/2 pound more weight. The A6300 with battery is 14 oz .

badef71d500748e0903410a08bf64ad1.jpg.png

Despite the added size and weight, the 18-135 is a fine lens, and I’m happy to use it.

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” — HCB
—
Native New Yorker:
http://www.blurb.com/b/7943076
—
Street Gallery:
http://skanter.smugmug.com/NYC-Street-Photography

Merlin Tor · May 11, 2018

I was comparing having this 18-135mm lens against the cheaper kit lens+55-210mm combo.

Basically, the 18-135 is slightly sharper and slightly better across all focal lengths compared to the kit lens and 55-210mm combo.

I think its an excellent travel lens as i do not need to bring two lens.

However, I would not buy it as the price tag is hefty for the slight increase in sharpness and quality as compared to the kit+55-210mm.

skanter · May 11, 2018

Merlin Tor said:
I was comparing having this 18-135mm lens against the cheaper kit lens+55-210mm combo.

Basically, the 18-135 is slightly sharper and slightly better across all focal lengths compared to the kit lens and 55-210mm combo.

I think its an excellent travel lens as i do not need to bring two lens.

However, I would not buy it as the price tag is hefty for the slight increase in sharpness and quality as compared to the kit+55-210mm.

I usually don’t put lenses in categories, i.e. “travel” lens, “portrait” lens, Street Photography or “landscape” lens, etc. This puts the photographer in a box, thinking there is only one way to shoot subjects or genres.

That said, zooms are flexible and can be an advantage shooting many different situations and types of photography.

Silkroader · May 11, 2018

skanter said:
Merlin Tor said:

I was comparing having this 18-135mm lens against the cheaper kit lens+55-210mm combo.

Basically, the 18-135 is slightly sharper and slightly better across all focal lengths compared to the kit lens and 55-210mm combo.

I think its an excellent travel lens as i do not need to bring two lens.

However, I would not buy it as the price tag is hefty for the slight increase in sharpness and quality as compared to the kit+55-210mm.

Click to expand...

I usually don’t put lenses in categories, i.e. “travel” lens, “portrait” lens, Street Photography or “landscape” lens, etc. This puts the photographer in a box, thinking there is only one way to shoot subjects or genres.

That said, zooms are flexible and can be an advantage shooting many different situations and types of photography.

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” — HCB
—
Native New Yorker:
http://www.blurb.com/b/7943076
—
Street Gallery:
http://skanter.smugmug.com/NYC-Street-Photography

Well said Sam - I agree that categorizing lenses in this way restricts creativity and vision. I am soon off on a month long wander through northern India and while I may not have the "best" selection of lenses for all I may encounter on my journey, that is a minor consideration. For me, what is important is to continue to strive, as Yousuf Karsh suggested, to use my heart and mind as the true lens of the camera.

skanter · May 11, 2018

Silkroader said:
skanter said:

Merlin Tor said:

I was comparing having this 18-135mm lens against the cheaper kit lens+55-210mm combo.

Basically, the 18-135 is slightly sharper and slightly better across all focal lengths compared to the kit lens and 55-210mm combo.

I think its an excellent travel lens as i do not need to bring two lens.

However, I would not buy it as the price tag is hefty for the slight increase in sharpness and quality as compared to the kit+55-210mm.

Click to expand...

I usually don’t put lenses in categories, i.e. “travel” lens, “portrait” lens, Street Photography or “landscape” lens, etc. This puts the photographer in a box, thinking there is only one way to shoot subjects or genres.

That said, zooms are flexible and can be an advantage shooting many different situations and types of photography.

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” — HCB
—
Native New Yorker:
http://www.blurb.com/b/7943076
—
Street Gallery:
http://skanter.smugmug.com/NYC-Street-Photography

Click to expand...

Well said Sam - I agree that categorizing lenses in this way restricts creativity and vision. I am soon off on a month long wander through northern India and while I may not have the "best" selection of lenses for all I may encounter on my journey, that is a minor consideration. For me, what is important is to continue to strive, as Yousuf Karsh suggested, to use my heart and mind as the true lens of the camera.

+1

May you have a great trip to India - hope both your heart and mind are engaged for compelling photography.

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” — HCB
—
Native New Yorker:
http://www.blurb.com/b/7943076
—
Street Gallery:
http://skanter.smugmug.com/NYC-Street-Photography

18 - 135 short review (vs 16-50 kit lens) for Street Photography

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