DA 18-135mm WR - possible home clean?

pevik · 05-11-2023, 08:17 AM

I've boight my K-70 (or maybe K-50?) with this lens as a kit. One day I decided to test its weather seals and went shooting in a rain. Little I knew about the construction of my lens, I trusted that "WR" means nothing can get inside of it.

Unfortunatelly, since formentioned shooting session, there is a relatively big piece of a dust inside the lens. It gets visible on pictures quite early, from ~5.6/7.1 aperture. Is there any chances I could clean it myself? I've been looking for youtube videos on how to disassemble this lens, but there are no videos like this. There is alsno nothing in Pentax Lens Disassembly Database - PentaxForums.com .

I have some experience with unscrewing things

plus I have some manual skills, but not sure about WR lens (or modern lens in general). If it's relatively easy, I'd like to give it a try (I love to learn new things) but definitely gonna need some assistance (totrial/guidelines). Can you share your experience so I can decide between self cleaning or professional cleaning services?

hcarvalhoalves · 05-11-2023, 11:38 AM - **1 Like**

Depending where it is, it might require minimal disassembly or a complete disassembly. If it’s on the frontal element it tends to be easier, as you can access by unscrewing the nameplate.

**paulh** · 05-11-2023, 11:59 AM

Are you sure the dust is in or on the lens? It could be a dirty sensor. Easy to rule out - does it show up using a different lens?

Kozlok · 05-11-2023, 01:33 PM - **1 Like**

The 18-135 is pretty dust resistant. I've had mine in many dirty, wet, windy conditions. Can you physically see the dust in the lens? If it's just in the pictures, I'm with paulh, it's maybe on the sensor, which is quite common.

pevik · 05-11-2023, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by hcarvalhoalves

If it’s on the frontal element it tends to be easier, as you can access by unscrewing the nameplate.

Originally posted by Kozlok

Can you physically see the dust in the lens?

I think it is the one on pictures I posted here. I believe this is the one marked with green marker. Blue marker tells the lens on which I THINK it is located (not sure is it front or back of the glass, though).

Originally posted by paulh

does it show up using a different lens?

No, other lenses seems not to be affected.

pevik · 05-11-2023, 03:26 PM

And resulting image is this (green marker for the dust, red marker is probably a dirty sensor)

que es tu · 05-11-2023, 04:15 PM - **2 Likes**

It is my understanding that dust INSIDE a lens doesn't show on a photo, but will result in loss contrast if it is very bad. The dust you showed doesn't seem all that abnormal, and if it was my lens, I wouldn't worry about it. I think the lens can't focus inside itself, so it is more likely that the dust on the image is from the sensor, not he lens. I am no expert so, I may be corrected, but that is how I understand it. Hope this helps, and good luck!

Iron · 05-11-2023, 05:01 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pevik

And resulting image is this (green marker for the dust, red marker is probably a dirty sensor)

That dust in the front element won't show up in the final image. Those aberrations will only show up the further you go toward the sensor. You may just have a dirty sensor. You can do a visual inspection first and then clean it properly afterwards. If you are not comfortable with that, you can just have it serviced.

Regarding WR, yes it's pretty dust resistant as long as it is paired with the body. Dust ingress in these types of lenses usually come from the rear when they are not mounted. So it's possible that there is a concern with the storage of the lens for dust to infiltrate the groups.

Anyway, you don't have to worry about opening a modern lens as plenty of the components are glued. Have your sensor cleaned and make sure to store the lens in a vacuum as much as possible. Cheers.

pevik · 05-12-2023, 12:45 PM

Thank you for all the answers, I'll proceed with sensor cleaning and then (if still needed) try to clean the lens.

**Rondec** · 05-13-2023, 02:31 AM - **1 Like**

It is what the others said. Dust in the lens won't produce that sort of issue on the photo. That is sensor dust. Dust in the lens could produce a little bit of flare if you shoot right into the sun, but otherwise you can have amazingly dirty glass and not have it show up in images.

pevik · 05-14-2023, 12:32 PM - **2 Likes**

As said by many, it was dirty sensor. Thanks for explanation, I'm glad I asked you all!

05-11-2023, 08:17 AM	#1
pevik Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: North of Poland, Europe Posts: 98	DA 18-135mm WR - possible home clean? I've boight my K-70 (or maybe K-50?) with this lens as a kit. One day I decided to test its weather seals and went shooting in a rain. Little I knew about the construction of my lens, I trusted that "WR" means nothing can get inside of it. Unfortunatelly, since formentioned shooting session, there is a relatively big piece of a dust inside the lens. It gets visible on pictures quite early, from ~5.6/7.1 aperture. Is there any chances I could clean it myself? I've been looking for youtube videos on how to disassemble this lens, but there are no videos like this. There is alsno nothing in Pentax Lens Disassembly Database - PentaxForums.com . I have some experience with unscrewing things plus I have some manual skills, but not sure about WR lens (or modern lens in general). If it's relatively easy, I'd like to give it a try (I love to learn new things) but definitely gonna need some assistance (totrial/guidelines). Can you share your experience so I can decide between self cleaning or professional cleaning services?

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05-11-2023, 11:38 AM - 1 Like	#2
hcarvalhoalves Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,019	Depending where it is, it might require minimal disassembly or a complete disassembly. If it’s on the frontal element it tends to be easier, as you can access by unscrewing the nameplate.

05-11-2023, 11:59 AM	#3
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,267	Are you sure the dust is in or on the lens? It could be a dirty sensor. Easy to rule out - does it show up using a different lens?

05-11-2023, 01:33 PM - 1 Like	#4
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	The 18-135 is pretty dust resistant. I've had mine in many dirty, wet, windy conditions. Can you physically see the dust in the lens? If it's just in the pictures, I'm with paulh, it's maybe on the sensor, which is quite common.

05-11-2023, 04:15 PM - 2 Likes	#7
que es tu Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Smoky Mountains, NC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,602	It is my understanding that dust INSIDE a lens doesn't show on a photo, but will result in loss contrast if it is very bad. The dust you showed doesn't seem all that abnormal, and if it was my lens, I wouldn't worry about it. I think the lens can't focus inside itself, so it is more likely that the dust on the image is from the sensor, not he lens. I am no expert so, I may be corrected, but that is how I understand it. Hope this helps, and good luck!

05-11-2023, 05:01 PM - 1 Like	#8
Iron Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: New Zealand Posts: 98	Originally posted by pevik And resulting image is this (green marker for the dust, red marker is probably a dirty sensor) That dust in the front element won't show up in the final image. Those aberrations will only show up the further you go toward the sensor. You may just have a dirty sensor. You can do a visual inspection first and then clean it properly afterwards. If you are not comfortable with that, you can just have it serviced. Regarding WR, yes it's pretty dust resistant as long as it is paired with the body. Dust ingress in these types of lenses usually come from the rear when they are not mounted. So it's possible that there is a concern with the storage of the lens for dust to infiltrate the groups. Anyway, you don't have to worry about opening a modern lens as plenty of the components are glued. Have your sensor cleaned and make sure to store the lens in a vacuum as much as possible. Cheers.

05-12-2023, 12:45 PM	#9
pevik Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: North of Poland, Europe Posts: 98 Original Poster	Thank you for all the answers, I'll proceed with sensor cleaning and then (if still needed) try to clean the lens.

05-13-2023, 02:31 AM - 1 Like	#10
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	It is what the others said. Dust in the lens won't produce that sort of issue on the photo. That is sensor dust. Dust in the lens could produce a little bit of flare if you shoot right into the sun, but otherwise you can have amazingly dirty glass and not have it show up in images.

05-14-2023, 12:32 PM - 2 Likes	#11
pevik Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: North of Poland, Europe Posts: 98 Original Poster	As said by many, it was dirty sensor. Thanks for explanation, I'm glad I asked you all!