DA 18-135 WR, Show us what it can do

cali92rs · 04-09-2013, 06:01 AM - **1 Like**

These were all taken in the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert in Arizona.
Beautiful part of the country

**TER-OR** · 04-09-2013, 06:41 AM

Nice shots of the petrified wood, that's a very cool subject.

jpyykonen · 04-09-2013, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by David L

Nice shots!

How do you compared this lens to other Pentax zoom lenses you have used?

It's a bit hard as I haven't used them long enough and taken enough shots to form reasonable opinion (I haven't had them even one year, excluding 18-55WR and DA18-250). I don't really do "controlled" comparisons, I just want to see how they perform in my kind of shooting and compare pictures. But about image quality, I think DA 17-70/4 is best overall. Pretty good across the range and corner to corner. Most uniform. But build quality is not the best why I prefer DA*16-50 and DA18-135WR more (tighter construction). I had DA16-45/4 for a while but didn't really like the build quality and I found 17-70/4 to be better IQ wise.

DA*16-50 is pretty similar to DA18-135WR as center sharpness is excellent but corners are bit soft especially wide open. Also it's so-so at 50mm 2.8. But build quality and feel is top-notch why I like to use it. Also it has it's purposes as it is 2.8. Also it's a big lens and takes room in your bag. DA18-135WR seems to be excellent walkabout lens. I bought this to replace my 18-55WR for bad weather/hikes etc. Seems to do lot of things well. Sometimes I miss the 16mm at wide end, but obviously you can't get everything in one package. 18-55WR is pretty good and affordable but can't compete with the previous ones.

I have also DA18-250 which is surprisingly good for what it is. It does lot of things well but doesn't excel in anything. Its also quite good at long end at F8 for bird/wildlife shots. But bokeh is ugly. And top of them I have also FA28-70/2.8 which is not very convenient to use compared to previous ones as it's BIG and heavy. And also it has some retro star wars look and those buttons and clutches. But it has it's charm.

I don't find vignetting, distortion or CA big of a problem with these lenses as those are easily corrected with lens profiles in Lightroom. You may ask why I have all those lenses that cover pretty much same focal lengths? Well one reason is that somehow I find uses for them all. One reason is that I haven't really made my mind which to keep and which to sell. One reason is also that I don't believe in web reviews too much anymore. Best thing is to try it yourself and see if it fits. And when I think about it there is DA18-270 which I haven't tried but it's supposed to be pretty similar to 18-250 so I don't see any reason to be interested

jpyykonen · 04-21-2013, 02:22 AM

Here are few more shots with the DA18-135WR (more or less processed):

**mattb123** · 04-21-2013, 05:21 AM

Climbed and skied a local classic route, the Spoon Chute on Carbon Peak
K-5 & 18-135

RonakG · 05-23-2013, 05:21 PM

First set of pictures from my new 18-135

**ramseybuckeye** · 05-27-2013, 06:35 PM

These are very tiny flowers

**klh** · 05-28-2013, 04:53 AM

Taken last Saturday, 1/200, f/8, ISO3200 at 135mm with the K-5 handheld. Could have done better, but time was short.

bass3587 · 05-29-2013, 05:00 AM

I can officially join this thread now. Picked up a 18-135mm lens for $365. Some of my first shots set ever taken with the lens. These are all unedited images no image correction done.

jcdoss · 05-29-2013, 02:43 PM

This is the day after my K30/18-135 combo took a header off a chair. The K30 cracked the glass in the viewfinder, but is otherwise A-OK. The lens has no damage at all.

manacho2005 · 05-29-2013, 07:58 PM

Basie · 05-30-2013, 01:57 PM

Lovely very useful lens. The WR is very comforting

**mattb123** · 06-03-2013, 08:52 AM

Great photos here lately! Here's one from a hike near Independence Pass on Saturday.
K-5 & DA 18-135 WR

szmatefy · 06-03-2013, 08:59 AM

I'm in an unfortunate situation that I might have to give up my Tamron 28-75 for this one. I'm tempted because of the zoom range, the WR, the fast AF, but afraid of IQ. What's sour impression guys?

**mattb123** · 06-03-2013, 09:33 AM

It's IQ is almost as good as the 28-75 but not quite. Low light focus is much better on the Tamron but the zoom range is much more versatile on the 18-135.
I take the Tamron when it's going to be a low light scenario (indoor sports, dance recitals, etc) and take the 18-135 for action days on the mountain bike or skiing where there is like to be lots of light and the zoom range may be more handy.
I really wish the 18-135 had a zoom lock like the Tamron. I didn't take it on my Black Rapid strap spring skiing over the weekend because the zoom creeps out on that and it was going to be too warm to have my regular camera-carrying jacket on.

05-28-2013, 04:53 AM	#158
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827	Yu Garden, Shanghai Taken last Saturday, 1/200, f/8, ISO3200 at 135mm with the K-5 handheld. Could have done better, but time was short. Attached Images

05-30-2013, 01:57 PM	#162
Basie Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Windhoek, Namibia Photos: Gallery Posts: 991	Lovely very useful lens. The WR is very comforting Attached Images Last edited by Basie; 04-12-2015 at 12:56 PM.

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04-09-2013, 06:01 AM - 1 Like	#151
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	These were all taken in the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert in Arizona. Beautiful part of the country

04-09-2013, 06:41 AM	#152
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Nice shots of the petrified wood, that's a very cool subject.

04-09-2013, 07:06 AM	#153
jpyykonen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 191	Originally posted by David L Nice shots! How do you compared this lens to other Pentax zoom lenses you have used? It's a bit hard as I haven't used them long enough and taken enough shots to form reasonable opinion (I haven't had them even one year, excluding 18-55WR and DA18-250). I don't really do "controlled" comparisons, I just want to see how they perform in my kind of shooting and compare pictures. But about image quality, I think DA 17-70/4 is best overall. Pretty good across the range and corner to corner. Most uniform. But build quality is not the best why I prefer DA16-50 and DA18-135WR more (tighter construction). I had DA16-45/4 for a while but didn't really like the build quality and I found 17-70/4 to be better IQ wise. DA16-50 is pretty similar to DA18-135WR as center sharpness is excellent but corners are bit soft especially wide open. Also it's so-so at 50mm 2.8. But build quality and feel is top-notch why I like to use it. Also it has it's purposes as it is 2.8. Also it's a big lens and takes room in your bag. DA18-135WR seems to be excellent walkabout lens. I bought this to replace my 18-55WR for bad weather/hikes etc. Seems to do lot of things well. Sometimes I miss the 16mm at wide end, but obviously you can't get everything in one package. 18-55WR is pretty good and affordable but can't compete with the previous ones. I have also DA18-250 which is surprisingly good for what it is. It does lot of things well but doesn't excel in anything. Its also quite good at long end at F8 for bird/wildlife shots. But bokeh is ugly. And top of them I have also FA28-70/2.8 which is not very convenient to use compared to previous ones as it's BIG and heavy. And also it has some retro star wars look and those buttons and clutches. But it has it's charm. I don't find vignetting, distortion or CA big of a problem with these lenses as those are easily corrected with lens profiles in Lightroom. You may ask why I have all those lenses that cover pretty much same focal lengths? Well one reason is that somehow I find uses for them all. One reason is that I haven't really made my mind which to keep and which to sell. One reason is also that I don't believe in web reviews too much anymore. Best thing is to try it yourself and see if it fits. And when I think about it there is DA18-270 which I haven't tried but it's supposed to be pretty similar to 18-250 so I don't see any reason to be interested

04-21-2013, 02:22 AM	#154
jpyykonen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 191	Here are few more shots with the DA18-135WR (more or less processed):

04-21-2013, 05:21 AM	#155
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,873	Climbed and skied a local classic route, the Spoon Chute on Carbon Peak K-5 & 18-135

05-23-2013, 05:21 PM	#156
RonakG Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 603	First set of pictures from my new 18-135

05-27-2013, 06:35 PM	#157
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	These are very tiny flowers

05-29-2013, 05:00 AM	#159
bass3587 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 517	I can officially join this thread now. Picked up a 18-135mm lens for $365. Some of my first shots set ever taken with the lens. These are all unedited images no image correction done.

05-29-2013, 02:43 PM	#160
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,801	This is the day after my K30/18-135 combo took a header off a chair. The K30 cracked the glass in the viewfinder, but is otherwise A-OK. The lens has no damage at all.

05-29-2013, 07:58 PM	#161
manacho2005 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Red Oak, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 462

06-03-2013, 08:52 AM	#163
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,873	Great photos here lately! Here's one from a hike near Independence Pass on Saturday. K-5 & DA 18-135 WR

06-03-2013, 08:59 AM	#164
szmatefy Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 77	I'm in an unfortunate situation that I might have to give up my Tamron 28-75 for this one. I'm tempted because of the zoom range, the WR, the fast AF, but afraid of IQ. What's sour impression guys?

06-03-2013, 09:33 AM	#165
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,873	It's IQ is almost as good as the 28-75 but not quite. Low light focus is much better on the Tamron but the zoom range is much more versatile on the 18-135. I take the Tamron when it's going to be a low light scenario (indoor sports, dance recitals, etc) and take the 18-135 for action days on the mountain bike or skiing where there is like to be lots of light and the zoom range may be more handy. I really wish the 18-135 had a zoom lock like the Tamron. I didn't take it on my Black Rapid strap spring skiing over the weekend because the zoom creeps out on that and it was going to be too warm to have my regular camera-carrying jacket on.