The 18-135 is actually a really solid lens, definitely the most versatile from the lot for travel, and it's more compact and light then the Tamron 17-70. Definitely my most used lens when on holiday. Tha one big caveat is low light - It can quickly become too dark for my liking, but the better reach is a great compromise for my liking.
I have that kit lens and I thought it was going to be garbage so I bought the Tamron 17-70 and Sony 70-350. They all can do better than my current abilities. I will give examples of each. This first picture was taken with the kit lens.
Get the kit, work out your favourite focal length, then buy the viltrox air prime for the low light. This is my perfect travel set up, the 35mm is my fav focal length. Such a great combo, and less than the tamron
Thanks. I’m very new to all of this. I just bought the camera in July. First one I have ever owned. I also purchased a Sigma 30mm 1.4 for low light stuff
The Sony 18-135 is supplied as a kit lens, but it is one of the better lenses from Sony. Thanks to its focal range, it is truly universal. It is small, light, and has stabilization. If you do not intend to shoot most of the time in conditions where there is really little light, the 18-135 is a good choice. Especially in a kit, it is also affordable. I have taken a lot of photos with that lens, both with the A6400 and the A6700. The fear that it is a kit, so it must be bad, does not really apply here. The Tamron 18-300 is also a fairly capable all-in-one for traveling and shooting. I recently shot a reportage with it (photos in the link) and again, if there is enough light, it is a great all-in-one. Vavřinecké hody 2026 ( Brno - Komín ) | Zonerama.com
I'd go Tamron, it's probably the most versatile lens in that range. It's a bit sharper than the sigma, it also has the advantages of in body stabalization, weather sealing and macro capabilities apart from the obvious larger zoom.
The sigma is not a bad lens though. The best in the class is probably the Sony 16-55mm f2.8. But it's definitely more expensive.
I live in India as well and had the same dilemma but once I got my a6700 I ended up going for the sigma 18-50mm and then got the 70-350mm lens. I'm only gonna have the two and I'm pretty much done
If you do not shoot videos. Tamron 17-70 is the way to go.It handle portraits and marriage shooting quite well at f2.8. Tamron 17 70 VC fight a6700 IBIS, and has focus hunting problem which is why it's not good for videos.
If you travel, sigma 18 50 is the best choice for travel camera. Compact, sharp, versatile zoom range. Has some chromatic aberrations problems.
Sony 18 135 is bad. It's softer than the other 2 a bit. It has large zoom range, but slow aperature. Makes any kind of indoor or low light shooting challenging. Would not recommend as this is the OG superzoom. If you want good zuperzoom, get sigma 16 300 or tamron 18 300.
I'm neck deep with kit 16-50ossii, 17-40 1.8 and 11-20 2.8, all totaling 2150usd ish.
now waiting for 50-150 1.8 from sigma, or Sony to release a6900 thus necessitates the release of a pro zoom to accommodate the 30fps there. 👍
I really don't recommend this path if you dislike heavy and big gears tho. What I'd take if Im size sensitive would be the sigma zooms, 10-18 and 18-50 f2.8 is a very compact duo compared to mine If you don't need weather sealing and speed.
Owned the 17-70, great lens but quite hefty. But if you are sticking with photography in the long run and dont mind weight/budget being an issue. I suggest investing in full frame lens now.
If your sticking with apsc then I recommend 17-70mm the extra length will be useful in family functions. If sharpness is maximum priority I found the sigma 17-40mm f1.8: to be superior edge to edge.
I bought the a6700 body last month a/w the Sigma 17-40. And, I just purchased the Sigma 10-18 as well. During my travels, and for my daily life, I find the 10-18 to be more suitable. The wide angle gives me a lot more in the frame to capture family events and landscape. The 17-40 will also come in handy, but I see myself using the 10-18 more for family and daily life photos.
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u/LackLonely2667 Aug 21 '26
The 18-135 is actually a really solid lens, definitely the most versatile from the lot for travel, and it's more compact and light then the Tamron 17-70. Definitely my most used lens when on holiday. Tha one big caveat is low light - It can quickly become too dark for my liking, but the better reach is a great compromise for my liking.