Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS vs Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS compared with E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS

	SonyVario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS	SonyE 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
Overview
Released
Released	September 2013	February 2018
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	16–70 mm	18–135 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/4	f/3.5–5.6
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22–36
Optical construction
Optical construction	Sixteen elements in twelve groups	Sixteen elements in twelve groups
Special elements
Special elements	Four aspherical elements, including one AA advanced aspherical, and one ED element	One aspherical element and two ED glass elements
Coatings
Coatings	ZEISS T* coating	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Seven rounded blades	Seven rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	83°–23° APS-C	76°–12° APS-C
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Sony E	Sony E
Image circle
Image circle	APS-C	APS-C
Image circle detail
Image circle detail	APS-C-only image circle; 24–105 mm equivalent field of view	APS-C coverage; 27–202.5 mm equivalent field of view
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Sony 1.4× and 2× teleconverters unsupported	Not compatible with SEL14TC or SEL20TC
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.35 m	0.45 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.23×	0.29×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Linear motor and internal focusing	Linear autofocus motor; no XD designation published
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	–	0.45 m minimum focus
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	–	0.29× maximum magnification
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Built-in Optical SteadyShot; no stop rating published in read current maker pages	Optical SteadyShot; no maker lens-only stop rating published. Digital Camera World found approximately 2.5 stops in its test, not a maker guarantee
Design
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	55 mm	55 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	66.6 mm	67.2 mm
Length
Length	75 mm	88 mm
Weight
Weight	308 g (better)	325 g
Controls
Controls	Separate focus and zoom rings; camera controls focus mode and optical stabilisation	Separate zoom and manual-focus rings and AF/MF switch
Zoom design
Zoom design	–	Extending zoom barrel; Photography Blog measured approximately 25 mm additional extension at 135 mm
Filter detail
Filter detail	55 mm front filter thread	55 mm front filter thread; filter does not rotate during focusing (Photography Blog)
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	–	67.2 mm maximum diameter × 88 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	–	Approximately 325 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded
Lens hood
Lens hood	ALC-SH127 petal bayonet hood, supplied	ALC-SH153 petal bayonet hood
In the box
In the box	ALC-SH127 hood, front and rear caps, soft case	ALC-SH153 hood, ALC-F55S front cap and ALC-R1EM rear cap; no case listed
Release detail
Release detail	Sony Japan 27 August 2013 announcement specifies 13 September first sale; no earlier sale established in read sources. UK advanced-vlogging product list retains SEL1670Z, whereas Japan product page says Sony Store sales ended.	Sony Europe announced 5 January 2018 and specified February 2018 availability. Full independent reviews: Photography Blog Mark Goldstein on Alpha 6500 and Digital Camera World Matthew Richards. Their long-end edge sharpness and distortion/fringing results differ; raw and corrected-image impressions are distinguished. Sony’s 325 g weight supersedes Digital Camera World326 g, and no listed case supersedes Photography Blog’s supplied-case claim. Sony’s 27 mm equivalent wide end supersedes Photography Blog28 mm. No unconfirmed coatings or weather resistance imported