[d4vr0s]

Has anyone tried pairing these together? I'm interested in opinions and/or experiences. I recently purchased the 18-135 and am waiting on the K5 I ordered. I've been using a K10D with the standard 18-55 lens and have been fairly pleased with the macro shots it's given me. When I ordered the 18-135 I didn't think to check if it had a macro function and I'm trying to decide whether or not to get a DCR-150 for it.

[Deimos]

Even if it does you'll get closer focus with the Raynox. There may be a vignette at the wider end though. I'd go for the 150

[RioRico]

You will NOT get vignetting with either Raynox. I use the DCR-250 on my DA18-250 with 62mm front thread, no problem. The Raynoxi will mount on lenses up to 69mm thread. Note that the DA18-135 close-focus distance (unaided) is ~400mm.

CORRECTION: I goofed. I *do* see vignetting with the Raynox on my DA18-250 -- I was thinking of my FA100-300 instead. Now I remember why I got that 62mm +1+2+4 dpt closeup set for my wider-objective lenses. I heartily apologize. Please ignore the following advice about using Raynoxi on the DA18-135.

What's important are the characteristics of the Raynoxi, which are +dioptre achromat (corrected) optics. They shorten the focus distance to the same range no matter what focal length the host lens. Here are their strengths and focus distances:

DCR-150: +4.8dpt, ~170-210mm
DCR-250: +8.0dpt, ~125mm

To calculate magnification: M = F*D/1000 where M is magnification, F is host lens focal length, and D is dioptre of the add-on lens. So with the DA18-135 zoomed out to 135mm and set to far focus, the magnifications for the Raynoxi are:

DCR-150: 135*4.8/1000= ~0.65x
DCR-250: 135*8.0/1000= ~1.1x

So if you want less magnification and a greater working distance, get the DCR-150. And if you want more magnification and a closer working distance, get the DCR-250. You can also increse magnification and decrease working distance with either by adding 49mm close-up optics (the kind sold as +1+2+3 or +1+2+4 dpt sets for a few bucks) to the front of the Raynox. Have fun!

[d4vr0s]

I hadn't thought of putting close up filters on the Raynox, that's a cool idea.

[luftfluss]

The Raynox DCR-150 will be sweet on the 18-135.

This is the full frame @ 133mm on my Raynox + Quantaray 70-300 combo, handheld. This little lady's wingspan is about 1/2".

[RioRico]

I hadn't thought of putting close up filters on the Raynox, that's a cool idea.

Here's a pervy setup:

The Raynox optic has a rear thread of 43mm and a front thread of 49mm. Add a 49mm +2dpt closeup optic onto the +8dpt DCR-250 for a total of +10dpt, with a focal length of 100mm. (FL= 1000/Dpt) Because the Raynox's minimum diameter is ~39mm, this gives an aperture of ~f/2.5. Instead of the Raynox 'universal' clip-on mount, screw a 42-43mm step ring onto the back of the Raynox optic and mount it on cheap bellows.

Now you have a soft-focus 100/2.5 lens that focuses out to infinity, and in to maybe 20cm, depending on extension. Nifty for VERY romantic (or blurry) headshot portraits, eh? Also try it with contrasty subjects -- centered hi-contrast areas will be fairly sharp, everything else will 'glow'. Have fun!

[Deimos]

You will NOT get vignetting with either Raynox. I use the DCR-250 on my DA18-250 with 62mm front thread, no problem. The Raynoxi will mount on lenses up to 69mm thread. Note that the DA18-135 close-focus distance (unaided) is ~400mm.

Interesting. Just curious Riorico, I tried a my raynox 150 with my (briefly owned) Sigma 30mm f1.4 (62mm thread?) and that vignetted. is there a reason why say the 18-xxx (with the same 62mm thread) wouldnt vignette somewhere on the wide end if not ~30mm?

/OT

[audiobomber]

Has anyone tried pairing these together? I'm interested in opinions and/or experiences. I recently purchased the 18-135 and am waiting on the K5 I ordered. I've been using a K10D with the standard 18-55 lens and have been fairly pleased with the macro shots it's given me. When I ordered the 18-135 I didn't think to check if it had a macro function and I'm trying to decide whether or not to get a DCR-150 for it.

The 18-135 is a close focus lens. It has about 1:4 magnification compared to 1:3 for the 18-55. My 18-135 is sharper than my 18-55, so it would be no problem cropping to the same 1:3 magnification.

I tried the Raynox adapters when I first bought the 18-135 and I believe there was pretty strong vignetting. I'll try to check sometime this weekend.

[RioRico]

Interesting. Just curious Riorico, I tried a my raynox 150 with my (briefly owned) Sigma 30mm f1.4 (62mm thread?) and that vignetted. is there a reason why say the 18-xxx (with the same 62mm thread) wouldnt vignette somewhere on the wide end if not ~30mm?

OOPS! I GOOFED!! MEA CULPA!!!

I've corrected the above entry. I *DO* see vignetting with the DA18-250 -- I was thinking of using the DCR-250 on my FA100-300. Brain fart! I heartily apologize.

[audiobomber]

OOPS! I GOOFED!! MEA CULPA!!!

I'll correct the above entry. I *DO* see vignetting with the DA18-250 -- I was thinking of my use of the DCR-250 on my FA100-300. Brain fart! I heartily apologize.

IIRC, the 18-250 vignettes quite a bit with the Raynox 250, but not with the 150. The 150 is a better match with such a long lens anyway.

[d4vr0s]

luftfluss: That's a neat picture!

audiobomber: That would be great if you have time to check it out.

I was looking at the 150 for my purposes. I'm a little concerned about the vignetting, but as an inexpensive macro alternative I wouldn't expect it to perform as well as the real thing.

Thanks for the replies.

[Deimos]

It will likely only vignette for the wider end of the zoom, and you will likely prefer to be user the longer part of your zoom for more reach anyways. Its well worth it.

Here is an example of the vignette I got at 30mm with a Sigma prime (I may have cropped a bit out), but not bad really (at least for a dark scene like this), plus as I said you will likely prefer to zoom.

I end up always adding a bit of vignette to my shots in post anyways, although not usually so strong at the edges

[luftfluss]

luftfluss: That's a neat picture!

audiobomber: That would be great if you have time to check it out.

I was looking at the 150 for my purposes. I'm a little concerned about the vignetting, but as an inexpensive macro alternative I wouldn't expect it to perform as well as the real thing.

Thanks for the replies.

Thanks, I just wanted to give you an idea of the kind of magnification you could get with the DCR-150 + your 18-135mm. The Raynox adds no discernable image degradation, so if you are pleased with the image quality of the 18-135 I think you'll be happy with the DCR-150 added to it.

[newarts]

The max magnification to expect with the Raynox 150 on the 18-135 zoom should include the mag of the zoom itself which someone earlier said is 1:4 or .25x

The magnification with 135 focused at infinity with the Raynox 150 added will be 135/208 = 0.65x.

If the 18-135 does purely internal focusing, the total magnification when the main lens is fully extended will be

m = 0.65 + 0.25 = 0.90

If the 18-135 has no internal focusing the total magnification when the main lens is fully extended will be

m = (1+.65)(1+.25) - 1 = 1.06x

Not a big difference, but the magnification range will be useful.

The difference is because an IF lens achieves magnification by shortening its focal length, while a non-IF lens does not - rather the whole lens is moved away from the camera.

Dave in Iowa

[audiobomber]

The 18-135 is definitely an IF lens (focal length decreases at focus distances below infinity).

Sorry d4vr0s, I didn't get around to checking for vignetting. Lots going on, I'll try tomorrow.