In this review, I’m going to compare the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di-III A VC RXD versus Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS to find out which one is better.
Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di VC RXD
- Focal Length: 17-70mm
- Max Aperture: f/2.8
- Mount: Sony E
- Stabilized: ✔️
- Weather-Sealing: ✔️
- Weight: 525g
- Released: 2023
- Amazon ($$)
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
- Focal Length: 18-135
- Max Aperture: f/3.5-5.6
- Mount: Sony E
- Stabilized: ✔️
- Weather-Sealing: ❌
- Weight: 325g
- Released: 2018
- Amazon ($$)
Both lenses are aimed at all-around travel photographers, but there are quite a few major differences between them.
Most notably, the Tamron 17-70mm features a big f/2.8 aperture that lets in way more light, and it’s also fully weather-sealed.
The Sony 18-135mm on the other hand has a lot more zoom and weighs noticeably less, making it a better all-in-one lens.
In this comparison, I will also go over how they both compare at different photography types, along with a detailed table of their most important features. If you’re in a hurry, the advantages below are all you need to make the final decision.
Advantages of Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD VC
Advantages of Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Now, let’s see which features and advantages are actually important for your specific needs and which ones only sound good on paper.
Tamron 17-70mm vs Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6: Detailed Comparison
🔭 1. Focal Length
- Tamron 17-70mm: From 17mm to 70mm
- Sony 18-135mm: From 18mm to 135mm
- Winner: Sony 🏆
The Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS offers an incredible reach, from wide angle 18mm up to 135mm which is quite well in the telephoto range.
It’s truly an all-in-one lens for traveling and daily photography. Going from 18 to 135mm in a single twist saves you a lot of time, especially if your subject is moving all over the place.
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di RXD VC also has a very good focal length range, but it’s simply not as good for long range work. An example would be simple wildlife/zoo shots or outdoor events where the subject is far away.
For wide-angle work, the difference between 17 and 18mm may seem negligible, but is useful if you do a ton of real estate or landscape photography.
🎥 2. Maximum Aperture
- Tamron 17-70mm: Constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 at all focal lengths
- Sony 18-135mm: Variable aperture; f/3.5 at 18mm and f/5.6 at 135mm
- Winner: Tamron 🏆
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di VC RXD is a clear winner here, as it lets in a lot more light.
It’s perfect for low light and night time photography, whereas the Sony 18-135mm lets in between 1/2 – 2 stops less light. That’s the difference between being able to shoot at 1/125 (with the Tamron) or 1/30 (with the Sony) in identical conditions!
Here’s the deal.
If you buy the Sony 18-135mm, you’ll most likely have to get yourself a prime lens with a very big aperture.
Why?
Because you’ll need something for those low light situations. It could be a birthday party, or shooting in the evening. The difference between f/2.8 and f/5.6 is huge.
A big aperture also makes the background appear blurry, which is often considered more “professional”. It’s great for portraits, animals and food photography.
Whatever the Sony lens gives you in zoom performance, it loses out in the low light performance.
📏 3. Dimensions & Weight
- Tamron 17-70mm: 525g
- Sony 18-135mm: 325g
- Winner: Sony 🏆
The Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS weighs 38% (200g) less than the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di VC RXD.
This is definitely an important factor to consider. Some people simply don’t want to travel with anything heavy, as it reduces their chance of using the camera.
If you’re looking for something even more lightweight, check out my Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 review. It only weighs 290g!
- Tamron 17-70mm: 74.6 x 119.3mm
- Sony 18-135mm: 67.2 x 88mm
- Winner: Sony 🏆
The Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is 26% shorter and takes up less volume overall.
Lenses with more zoom are usually longer, but the Tamron 17-70mm is bigger due to its constant f/2.8 aperture. Brands always have to make the compromise between size and aperture.
While the difference is not enormous, it’s enough if you often travel with a small camera bag and have limited space. The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di RXD VC isn’t huge, but it’s definitely the biggest all-around zoom for Sony’s APS-C system.
🎥 4. Minimum Aperture
- Tamron 17-70mm: f/16
- Sony 18-135mm: f/22-36
- Winner: Sony 🏆
The Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS can stop down up to f/22 and f/36 at 135mm.
Therefore, the Sony lens can achieve a greater depth of field than the Tamron 17-70mm can at its smallest aperture value.
To be honest, f/16 is good enough for 90% photographers. For certain landscape or time lapse uses, having the ability to stop all the way down to f/36 (2.5 stops smaller than f/16) could be beneficial.
Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about this difference.
🔬 5. Minimum Focusing Distance
- Tamron 17-70mm: Minimum focusing distance of 19cm
- Sony 18-135mm: Minimum focusing distance of 45cm
- Winner: Tamron 🏆
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di VC RXD offers an excellent minimum focusing distance of 19cm. It’s a much better choice for macro and close-up photography of details, products and flowers.
A shorter minimum focusing distance allows you to get much closer to your subject. Remember, these distances are measured from your camera’s sensor and not from the front of the lens.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS can “only” focus at 45cm or further, which is still okay but far from anything special. Basically, if a flower is closer than 45cm, you won’t be able to take a picture of it.
⛅ 6. Weather-Sealing
- Tamron 17-70mm:✔️
- Sony 18-135mm: ❌
- Winner: Tamron 🏆
In order to keep the price down, the Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS doesn’t feature any weather-sealing.
For casual use, all lenses can handle a normal amount of rain, snow and dust. It won’t simply stop working if a little bit of rain falls onto it, but the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 will allow you to travel worry-free.
For photographing in difficult weather (blizzards, near waterfalls, humid areas), it helps having a lens that won’t break down. This is a huge plus for the Tamron lens!
🎦 7. Image Stabilization
- Tamron 17-70mm: ✔️
- Sony 18-135mm: ✔️
- Winner: Tie
Image stabilization helps make your images appear less blurry when shooting with slow shutter speeds.
Both lenses come equipped with stabilization technology, which is especially useful when shooting at 70mm or 80mm. The longer the focal length, the more obvious any shake will be.
If your Sony mirrorless camera offers built-in stabilization, then you’ve got nothing to worry about anyways.
For recording videos, image stabilization can also help reduce some shake and jitter, although the positive effects are more obvious when taking pictures.
💿 8. Aperture Blades
- Tamron 17-70mm: 9 rounded diaphragm blades
- Sony 18-135mm: 7 rounded diaphragm blades
- Winner: Tamron 🏆
A lens with more diaphragm blades will usually produce smoother bokeh, aka background blur.
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di RXD VC has 9 blades versus 7, which is not a big difference, and the bokeh quality also depends on the quality of the lens itself. However, it never hurts to have more!
📽 9. Filter Size
- Tamron 17-70mm: 67mm filter size
- Sony 18-135mm: 55mm filter size
- Winner: Sony 🏆
The Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS uses 55mm filters, which are super affordable and very common in all photography stores.
For the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8, you’ll have to spend a little bit more money. If you need UV, ND and Polarizing filters, this extra cost can add up quite quickly. Still, 67mm is very common and somewhat affordable, depending on which filter company you’re going with.
If you already have a lot of filters, it’s often wise to consider a lens that uses the same filter size as your current gear. This way, you don’t have to buy a ton of new filters, something that many videographers need to keep in mind.
💲 10. Price
- Tamron 17-70mm: ~$699
- Sony 18-135mm: ~$648
- Winner: Sony 🏆
The $50 price difference between the two is probably not worth stressing about. Both Sony and Tamron often have deals, or you could also purchase a used lens.
Tamron 17-70mm vs Sony 18-135mm: Photography Type
From 1 being worst, 5 being the best.
It’s best to choose a lens that suits your favorite photography types, or offers you something that your current gear is not good enough for.
As you can see, both lenses are nearly identical for most types of photography.
Tamron 17-70mm vs Sony 18-135mm: Comparison Table
Better specifications are highlighted in green.
| 🎥 Lens Specification | Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 | Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 17-70mm | 18-135mm |
| 35mm Equivalent | 25.5-105mm | 27-202.5mm |
| Mount | Sony E (APS-C) | Sony E (APS-C) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 | f/3.5-5.6 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 | f/22-36 |
| Filter Size | 67 mm | 55 mm |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.21x | 0.29x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 19 cm | 45 cm |
| Aperture Ring | No | No |
| Focus Type | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Motor Type | Stepper Motor | Linear Motor |
| Lens Construction | 16 elements in 12 groups | 16 elements in 12 groups |
| Aperture Blades | 9 (rounded) | 7 (rounded) |
| Image Stabilization | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Weather Sealing | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Dimensions (mm) | 74.6 x 119.3mm | 67.2 x 88mm |
| Weight (g) | 525g | 325g |
| Hood Included | No | Yes |
| Released | 2023 | 2018 |
| Price | Amazon | Amazon |
So, which lens is the better one?
Choose the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 if:
- You often shoot in low light (indoors, night time, weddings)
- You often shoot portraits and want more background blur
- You want to try some macro and close-up photography
- You need weather-sealing for traveling in difficult conditions
Choose the Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 if:
- You want 1 lens with so much zoom it can handle any situation
- You want a travel lens that is very lightweight and compact
- You rarely shoot in low light, or are okay with buying an extra prime lens
They both cost nearly the same!
