Hands-on w/ SMC DA 18-135mm/3.5-5.6 Lens (Many Photos)

Fl_Gulfer · 11-23-2010, 08:22 PM

I got mine about a hour before dark and didn't have much time to get any outside photo's.
But one thing is that it's built like a Tank and feels as heavy as my DA 18-250 but it goes & looks quit nicely on the K-5.
It makes no sound when zooming it's kind of eriee.
I think I'll sell my Tamron 18-250mm and give the wife the DA 18-250mm and use this new lens as my walk around.

This was rite at the Sun and I got no flair.

Looks kind of nice I have to say.

tentacles · 11-23-2010, 10:16 PM

Sounds like the new DC motor is a winner, if it's reliable then it solves at least a few problems. I like that it doesn't seem to make the lens a bazooka, has anyone else noticed that the SDM(/USM/HSM/SSM/ETC) lenses are all really big in diameter, more so than a non SDM equivalent?

I just wish they'd stop foisting in-lens motors on us.. glass lives forever.

frank · 11-23-2010, 10:21 PM

Originally posted by Nick Siebers

Thanks Frank! Very interesting. I will say, I thought your DA 35/2.4 pics looked a little nicer. Apples to oranges, obviously, but do you agree with what you can see? Thanks again, Nick

Yes, the DA35/2.4 is optically better, but only at 35mm or thereabout

frank · 11-23-2010, 10:58 PM

Originally posted by tentacles

Sounds like the new DC motor is a winner, if it's reliable then it solves at least a few problems. I like that it doesn't seem to make the lens a bazooka, has anyone else noticed that the SDM(/USM/HSM/SSM/ETC) lenses are all really big in diameter, more so than a non SDM equivalent?

I just wish they'd stop foisting in-lens motors on us.. glass lives forever.

The DC (or brushless DC) motor used in this new lens is known to be maintenance free and long lasting. The rotor of the motor is part of the turning lens barrel, and there is no need to put in high voltage circuit (which is needed for supersonic or ultrasonic motors) or reduction gears (to link the AF motor from camera body or an in-lens ultrasonic motor to the turning lens barrel), that's why the new DC lens can be smaller and more compact, and I'm sure it'd be much reliable than the SDM lenses.

Brushless DC motor is known to be more efficient and quieter solution too

bdery · 11-24-2010, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by frank

Quite a lot of PF... :-(

I think what you're looking at is the pink version of the 18-55...

GeneV · 11-24-2010, 07:04 AM

Thanks for posting. It looks like a very worthy successor as a kit lens. One could buy the camera with this lens and not be tempted to immediately start a thread about replacing the kit lens.

At the point I am ready to snag a K5, I'd be very tempted to get this lens as part of the kit.

RMabo · 11-26-2010, 11:17 AM

The lens is fast because it has a short focus throw. All Pentax consumer zooms has short focus throw. The pro-zooms from Pentax has long focus throw. Short focus throw = fast AF, long focus throw = slower AF.

The reason for the pro-zooms to have long focus throw is because this gives higher accuracy and precision when manually focusing the lens. Pentax believes that professional photographers and advanced enthusiasts are more likely to manually adjust focus than entry level customers.

Parallax · 11-26-2010, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by frank

Yes, the DA35/2.4 is optically better, but only at 35mm or thereabout

**NaClH2O** · 11-26-2010, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

I see some fringing at the extreme wide and long ends, but certainly no more than any other kit zoom. Looks great to me, and nice writeup, Frank.

Mine ships today... excited to get it soon.

+1 (about the fringing anyway)

NaCl(I'll be excited to get mine too...in a few months

)H2O

**NaClH2O** · 11-26-2010, 12:49 PM

Another "real world" review. Much better IMHO than what we get from the photo sites and their staged compositions. BTW it is the way I "test" my new/new-to-me lenses, go out and shoot with them. The results mean more to me and besides I have a lot more fun doing it.

NaCl(if it ain't fun, you better be making money)H2O

Frogfish · 11-26-2010, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by bdery

I think what you're looking at is the pink version of the 18-55...

Thanks for the review Frank.

ybo1 · 11-26-2010, 01:10 PM

Nice pics and I agree with the above posters regarding colors rendition and bokeh. It's also interesting to note the lens has no vignetting at 18mm( unless you PPd that ?).
Interesting offering from Pentax but the price point for the lens as a standalone is a bit excessive.... might be interesting to get it in conjunction with a camera body. They should bundle it like Nikon does with the 18-105.

+1 for a 55-300 WR !

Eric J · 11-26-2010, 02:21 PM

I like what I'm seeing here, very capable it seems with great bokeh and colour. Contrast looks very good too. Thanks for the information, much appreciated.

typical8o8 · 11-26-2010, 02:36 PM

looks good. gonna have to put it on my wish list as a dedicated hiking lens, maybe even with a K-5 attached to it. i really like that it's only a tad larger than the kit lens. even more reason for it to replace the 18-55 WR.

inferno10 · 11-26-2010, 02:48 PM

Frank, would you be so kind as to record some video or audio of the 18-135's AF in action? I'm curious how it sounds compared to a screw-mounted lens and especially a lens with SDM.

Thanks! The lens is looking great so far!

- Jason

11-26-2010, 12:49 PM	#40
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	Thanks Frank Another "real world" review. Much better IMHO than what we get from the photo sites and their staged compositions. BTW it is the way I "test" my new/new-to-me lenses, go out and shoot with them. The results mean more to me and besides I have a lot more fun doing it. NaCl(if it ain't fun, you better be making money)H2O

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11-23-2010, 08:22 PM	#31
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	I got mine about a hour before dark and didn't have much time to get any outside photo's. But one thing is that it's built like a Tank and feels as heavy as my DA 18-250 but it goes & looks quit nicely on the K-5. It makes no sound when zooming it's kind of eriee. I think I'll sell my Tamron 18-250mm and give the wife the DA 18-250mm and use this new lens as my walk around. This was rite at the Sun and I got no flair. Looks kind of nice I have to say.

11-23-2010, 10:16 PM	#32
tentacles Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB Photos: Albums Posts: 48	Sounds like the new DC motor is a winner, if it's reliable then it solves at least a few problems. I like that it doesn't seem to make the lens a bazooka, has anyone else noticed that the SDM(/USM/HSM/SSM/ETC) lenses are all really big in diameter, more so than a non SDM equivalent? I just wish they'd stop foisting in-lens motors on us.. glass lives forever.

11-23-2010, 10:21 PM	#33
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Originally posted by Nick Siebers Thanks Frank! Very interesting. I will say, I thought your DA 35/2.4 pics looked a little nicer. Apples to oranges, obviously, but do you agree with what you can see? Thanks again, Nick Yes, the DA35/2.4 is optically better, but only at 35mm or thereabout

11-23-2010, 10:58 PM	#34
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Originally posted by tentacles Sounds like the new DC motor is a winner, if it's reliable then it solves at least a few problems. I like that it doesn't seem to make the lens a bazooka, has anyone else noticed that the SDM(/USM/HSM/SSM/ETC) lenses are all really big in diameter, more so than a non SDM equivalent? I just wish they'd stop foisting in-lens motors on us.. glass lives forever. The DC (or brushless DC) motor used in this new lens is known to be maintenance free and long lasting. The rotor of the motor is part of the turning lens barrel, and there is no need to put in high voltage circuit (which is needed for supersonic or ultrasonic motors) or reduction gears (to link the AF motor from camera body or an in-lens ultrasonic motor to the turning lens barrel), that's why the new DC lens can be smaller and more compact, and I'm sure it'd be much reliable than the SDM lenses. Brushless DC motor is known to be more efficient and quieter solution too

11-24-2010, 05:53 AM	#35
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by frank Quite a lot of PF... :-( I think what you're looking at is the pink version of the 18-55...

11-24-2010, 07:04 AM	#36
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Thanks for posting. It looks like a very worthy successor as a kit lens. One could buy the camera with this lens and not be tempted to immediately start a thread about replacing the kit lens. At the point I am ready to snag a K5, I'd be very tempted to get this lens as part of the kit.

11-26-2010, 11:17 AM	#37
RMabo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 845	The lens is fast because it has a short focus throw. All Pentax consumer zooms has short focus throw. The pro-zooms from Pentax has long focus throw. Short focus throw = fast AF, long focus throw = slower AF. The reason for the pro-zooms to have long focus throw is because this gives higher accuracy and precision when manually focusing the lens. Pentax believes that professional photographers and advanced enthusiasts are more likely to manually adjust focus than entry level customers.

11-26-2010, 11:56 AM	#38
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by frank Yes, the DA35/2.4 is optically better, but only at 35mm or thereabout

11-26-2010, 12:42 PM	#39
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	Originally posted by deadwolfbones I see some fringing at the extreme wide and long ends, but certainly no more than any other kit zoom. Looks great to me, and nice writeup, Frank. Mine ships today... excited to get it soon. +1 (about the fringing anyway) NaCl(I'll be excited to get mine too...in a few months )H2O

11-26-2010, 01:04 PM	#41
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by bdery I think what you're looking at is the pink version of the 18-55... Thanks for the review Frank.

11-26-2010, 01:10 PM	#42
ybo1 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 135	Nice pics and I agree with the above posters regarding colors rendition and bokeh. It's also interesting to note the lens has no vignetting at 18mm( unless you PPd that ?). Interesting offering from Pentax but the price point for the lens as a standalone is a bit excessive.... might be interesting to get it in conjunction with a camera body. They should bundle it like Nikon does with the 18-105. +1 for a 55-300 WR !

11-26-2010, 02:21 PM	#43
Eric J Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Dundas, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 28	I like what I'm seeing here, very capable it seems with great bokeh and colour. Contrast looks very good too. Thanks for the information, much appreciated.

11-26-2010, 02:36 PM	#44
typical8o8 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NE Posts: 28	looks good. gonna have to put it on my wish list as a dedicated hiking lens, maybe even with a K-5 attached to it. i really like that it's only a tad larger than the kit lens. even more reason for it to replace the 18-55 WR.

11-26-2010, 02:48 PM	#45
inferno10 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 342	Frank, would you be so kind as to record some video or audio of the 18-135's AF in action? I'm curious how it sounds compared to a screw-mounted lens and especially a lens with SDM. Thanks! The lens is looking great so far! - Jason