24.07.2012: Have the SAL 18-135 received today and a few first test pictures taken with it (the entire focal length range, moving subjects, people, portraits, and landscape). I'm very satisfied with the result, the photos are all very sharply across the board. The lens has the LENS ID 65 and 65 with my Alpha firmware 1:05 the lens is detected and the internal corrections (distortion, chromatic aberration, shading) all work wonderfully, which I find very convenient. Without correcting the distortion is in the range 18-24 already quite pronounced - without camera with correction function, or if you have any subsequent correction before, only partly recommendable. I must therefore still try something on.
21/08/2012: The lens is now my standard lens on the A65. The direct competitor to this objective was the acclaimed SAL 16-105 for me. Of the optical characteristics of the 18-135 16-105 the least equal, I think it's even a bit sharper / brilliant. In addition, these benefits come (for me) to: - Much quieter - DMF - A little easier - More focal length at the telephoto end