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18-135mm Good lens or NOT??

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cdempsey

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Would appreciate anyone's opinion on the 18-135 as only lens with the D60? You opinion on the lens itself - I read lots of talks on other lenses but haven't heard anything about this one?
 
I bought one and used it for a few months before selling it. It was sharp across the frame and at most apertures. I sold it because I wanted VR in a similar sized lens, and because I didn't like the plastic mount, since I knew I'd be changing lenses fairly frequently. If it's going to be your only lens, you may be OK with the plastic mount.

Pros:
Good range
Sharp
Fairly compact and light

Cons:
Cheap plastic mount
No VR
Slow aperture
 
Not many options in the same budget range. I got the 16-85mm VR. I wanted at least as much range as the 18-70mm that I already had, and at least 18mm on the wide end. You can get an 18-135 cheap used, since many people who bought these as part of a kit with the D80 are selling them to upgrade either to the 18-200 VR, 16-85VR, or 17-55 f/2.8. I got a nice, sharp focusing mint copy for a little over $100 from someone selling their D80 and kit lens, upgrading to the D300. I sold the lens for $180, which made the 16-85 VR a little more affordable. Since I already have many lenses, I could be patient to wait for a deal buying it, and patient to get a good price selling it.
 
I find that the 18-135 is a superb kit lens. I got mine with a D80, but when I purchased a D40 for my gal last year, I had to buy another for her. She kept grabbing mine out of my bag when I wanted to use it.

We had originally purchased an 18-200. I traded it for that second 18-135. The longer zoom had VR and had the additional range, but it lacked the sharpness and punch the 18-135 has. I'm not sure what to call it other than POP. The lens has great contrast and colors. Like I mentioned, it's very very sharp. It also focuses very close, not quite a macro mind you, but close enough not to need to change to a macro as often.

I'm not the least concerned about the plastic mount. More and more lenses have them and industrial grade plastics and carbon fibers have been shown to be quite durable over time. For the price, this lens has a good solid feel to it and is one more reason not to need to go third party in this range.

If you want VR, and I personally don't care about it, you might wait until Nikon releases the 18-105vr that is rumored to be about to happen.

--
Cheers, Craig
 
cdempsey said:
Would appreciate anyone's opinion on the 18-135 as only lens with the
D60? You opinion on the lens itself - I read lots of talks on other
lenses but haven't heard anything about this one?
Click to expand...
IMO, it's a very good lens. And VR is overrated... :-)

BG
 
BasilG said:
IMO, it's a very good lens. And VR is overrated... :-)

BG
Click to expand...
...unless you really need it, like I do. I'm getting too old to hand hold reliably at 1/5th, but easily can with the 16-85 VR. It definitely is more effective than my 18-200 VR, at the same focal lengths, in that respect.
 
Wonderful news! I justed wanted to hear someone's opinion about the lens except for the saleman's...

It wil be the 18-135mm then. Will post some pics after I received my D60 and the lens, then you can judge..
 
Ted said:
BasilG said:
IMO, it's a very good lens. And VR is overrated... :-)

BG
Click to expand...
...unless you really need it, like I do. I'm getting too old to hand
hold reliably at 1/5th, but easily can with the 16-85 VR. It
definitely is more effective than my 18-200 VR, at the same focal
lengths, in that respect.
Click to expand...
Tripod?

BG
 
Great lens if you get a good one. Razor sharp at all lengths and wide open.

But: Inclined to vignette, CA and distort. Yet in something like DXO these are fixed automatically. In short 18-135 plus DXO is fantastic.

Enjoy
 
It's my most used lens these days, plastic mount and all. The plastic mount thing is overblown, although if I were a "front line" photojournalist in the trenches so to speak, I would probably want a pro grade lens on my camera.

Regards, Paul
--
Lili's Dad
 
I love the range of this lens. Color, contrast, sharpness and overall IQ is good enough. I shoot weddings primarily and considered trading this lens up for a 24-70mm f2.8 but I found I can get by with 18-135 on my D300 and a fast prime on my other body.
 
With this kind of feedback I'm much more confident with the decision to get this lens instead of the 18-55 and 55-200. Just to have one lens with a decent range and one that's sharp all around. And I still have the film camera with these lenses so I hope that will do the trick for now.

Thanks
Christine
 
Paul Pasco said:
... plastic mount and all. The plastic
mount thing is overblown...
Click to expand...
I noticed on my D300 that in portrait/vertical position, the mount would flex just enough to cause a problem with the contacts and the lens would hunt like crazy. If I placed a little upward pressure, it would make contact and focus fine. It never happens on all of my other lenses with metal mounts, so I attributed it to the plastic mount. I could have lived with it, if it were my only lens, but I didn't like having the problem crop up at the wrong time.
 
BasilG said:
Ted said:
BasilG said:
IMO, it's a very good lens. And VR is overrated... :-)

BG
Click to expand...
...unless you really need it, like I do. I'm getting too old to hand
hold reliably at 1/5th, but easily can with the 16-85 VR. It
definitely is more effective than my 18-200 VR, at the same focal
lengths, in that respect.
Click to expand...
Tripod?
Click to expand...
Weight? Bulk? No room in the given space? Not enough time to set it up? Not allowed in the venue?

Tripods are the answer to a lot of ills on steadiness, but they have a host of problems of their own at the same time.

--

 
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1039&message=28838459

I got this as a kit lens with the D300, as the only available D300 in the store was the kit.

I planned on getting a better glass, but when I saw how sharp it is, I kept it. I deferred that plan and will enjoy using this one for now.

Forget about vignetting, you won't notice that in real world.
Distortion is ok and correctable in PS.

It's a slow lens though for indoor shooting with available light. You can crank the ISO and shutter speed and you'll be ok, or just use a flash!
Maybe just get a 50mm f/1.8 for low light situations.

Sure, VR is nice to have, but you can get by without it.

--
just me :)
Teddy
 
I have enjoyed my 18-135mm. It's been a great lens with my D80. Now I also have a 70-300mm VR for more reach, and a 50mm f/1.8 for low light. The 18-135mm is stilll my most used lens. It's "issues" are not difficult to deal with, or so I've found anyway.

--
Craig
Nikon D80, 18-135mm, 70-300mm VR, 50mm 1.8, SB600, MB-D80
Manfrotto 190XDB tripod w/ 486RC2 Ball Head
Kenko 12/20/36mm Ext. Tubes
http://taallyn.zenfolio.com
http://4pphotoblog.blogspot.com/
 
I did not know what caused my cameras (both a D80 and D70s) to "lose the lens" when in the camera aperture indicator appeared "F-" sometimes....(like if it was a manual lens, but it would not respond to the aperture command dial , and the camera would take pictures black, probably at the smaller f22 aperture)

But here is the explanation...the lens contacts sometimes don't get to the camera!

I've just bought this lens in a D80 kit, I like it but this problem is horrible, it makes me miss some pictures!

This lens is a no go for me...and from now on, no one with plastic mount.

I will use my trusty 18-70mm instead (never fails) and get a 70-300mm VR for the extra reach.

Thanks Ted you saved me lots of guessing...

Cesar Rubio.
Cambridge Wisconsin, USA.
http://www.davidrubio3d.com/
Ted said:
Paul Pasco said:
... plastic mount and all. The plastic
mount thing is overblown...
Click to expand...
I noticed on my D300 that in portrait/vertical position, the mount
would flex just enough to cause a problem with the contacts and the
lens would hunt like crazy. If I placed a little upward pressure, it
would make contact and focus fine. It never happens on all of my
other lenses with metal mounts, so I attributed it to the plastic
mount. I could have lived with it, if it were my only lens, but I
didn't like having the problem crop up at the wrong time.
Click to expand...
--

It's the long term experience of problem solving that makes you successful! & what we do in life, echoes in eternity.
 
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