Originally posted by brofkand As long as manual focus works properly and you are OK with manual focus, then maybe buy it. But I would be concerned that the lens has been subjected to some sort of trauma and is no longer capable of producing sharp pictures.
I didn't think about it, I should ask about this to the owner.
Originally posted by wadge22 I'd say hold out and save up for a better condition one. They can be had for little more than double that (ignoring for now whatever additional costs to get it imported to your location, which I know can be considerable).
Even for triple that price, it's a good deal. Of course, another $55 or $110 may mean more to some than to others. Then again, if $55 is a relatively considerable amount to spend, then $55 for a possible paperweight probably seems like too much to risk.
Also, keep an eye out in the marketplace here for Europe sellers, one just may come up in better condition for a good price.
Yes, finding a good one for the price you suggest would be great. Unfortunately, when I check from time to time, the 18-135 is one of the lenses that I rarely see with a really affordable price tag, considering that its original price was pretty high for a kit lens. Luckily, I would not spend any additional fees for importing it, I would just pay for the delivery inside my country (from Italy to Italy). I roughly included the fees in the 55$ I mentioned in the post and that's why, even with its quirks, I am considering buying it. If it was the case of spending additional 10s of euros for importing it because of customs clearance or intercontinental delivery, I would not consider buying it. Nonetheless, I will check regularly here on the forum (It would be also nice to find a 55-300mm some time in future
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Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II I think at $55 you waste your money. Did you take into account that you have to pay taxes if you import it to your country? I would wait for a good working one. As Pepperberry Farm states keep your hands of it, you would only burn them. Brofkand is right: you only get that kind of extreme damages inside a lens if it has experienced a severe trauma. And if the owner says it "works fine apart from..." do not believe him. That lens belongs in the bin and nowhere else! And believe me, the seller knows that.
"for focusing in this focal range, he has to phisically pull and push the barrell" that would be for zooming, it is an IF lens and to me it seems there is nothing to push and shove with the barrel to get the object sharp in your OVF.
Thanks, Probably I got it wrong from his explanation about how the lens works. Anyway, yes, I am worried too about the real condition of the lens, I will probably check for other lenses instead of this one.
---------- Post added 07-11-22 at 10:50 AM ----------
Originally posted by cdw2000 I consider myself pretty handy with fixing things, but I think I would pass on this deal. The owner refers to the autofocus being an issue, but by the way it is described, it sounds like manual focus is not working properly either. You indicate he has to manually "push and pull" the barrel to focus, which sounds like the focus ring doesn't work either. If I recall correctly, this is one of the newer focus-by-wire lenses where the focus ring is not mechanically connected to the lens barrel, it's only electrically connected and still uses the AF motor.
Thanks for the useful insight, this shines an even brighter light on the condition of the lens.