Reading mode: Light Dark

18-135 WR Observation..

Go to last post
O

olynik969

Senior Member
Messages
1,895
Solutions
1
Reaction score
297
Location
US
In looking at Pentax Zooms, it "appears" (unless what I'm seeing is incorrect), that the 18-135WR is the only "newer zoom" that has the manual focus ring closest to the body, rather than the front of the lens. All others have the manual focus ring located at the front of the lens.

Not sure if this is a biggie, (and not intended as a negative) but an interesting anomaly in what otherwise appears to be a very consistent handling design for lenses. Wonder "why" they would find this necessary - gotta believe it was not an oversight.

--
Nik-Nik
 
The Nikon has the same with the focussing ring int he back. Its a lot easier to use and keeps out of the way of zooming.
 
Ed Woodson said:
No, mine is the same as yours. My reference to the DA 16-45 is the way the barrel extends when its at is widest. Kind of ass backwards. :D Like having the zoom ring in front of the focus ring.
Click to expand...
Not a unique feature though:

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/184-canon-ef-24-70mm-f28-usm-l-test-report--review

Longest at 24mm, shortest at 70mm. Interestingly enough, Canon covers almost exactly the same range on film as DA 16-45mm does on APS-C in terms of angle of view. (Although I doubt it really matters, flange distance is about the same so optical design must be significantly different.)
 
As auto focus keeps getting better I believe lens design will continue down this path as fewer photogs use manual focus their fingers will be rotating the zoom to frame up more frequently than quick shifting. Best balance of lens and camera is achieved at the front of the lens.
--
Regards Dean - Capturing Creation
 
The focus ring at the front of the lens (like most Pentax zooms are positioned). Personally, I hope this situation w/the 18-135 does not become the trend for Pentax zooms.

Sometimes w/the lens hood mounted on the lens for storage (reversed), I'll grab the cam for a quick shot and need to zoom to frame the image and can't get to the zoom ring rapidly (on some lenses) due to the position of the zoom ring (at the front of the lens, with the hood covering the zoom ring). Most of my NIkon lenses are positioned that way and it has been a constant frustration... hence, another reason for preferring Pentax handling.

--
Nik-Nik
 
I had nikkor 18-105VR and 16-85VR lenses with D5000, and both of them have the manual focus ring close to the body (same with Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, BTW) - and I think it works better when do MF in Video mode (or in live view mode) !

Ari

--


  • Ari Aikomus -
'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'
 
With autofocus cameras and zoom lenses, the zoom ring is often more used than the focusing ring. The traditional way of handholding a camera is by letting it rest in the left palm and using the fingers of the left palm to move the rings on the lenses. Having the zoom ring closest to camera is often found to be the most convenient way.

--
Take care
Raphael
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raphaelmabo/
 
Tan68 said:
a review at this German site:
http://www.tzcobretti.de/Testberichte/TestberichtDA18-135.pdf
has this to say via a translation provided in this post:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=37345308

"Unfortunately, the printed distance scale of the cutbacks was the victim. This, in my opinion, very unfortunate, but sometimes it is an effective tool for pre-focusing and distance estimation."

they got rid of the distance scale...?
Click to expand...
I don't use distance scales any more. On many zooms they aren't accurate at all focal lengths anyway. If they are going to use distance scales at all on varifocal zooms (most zooms) they need the distance scales they printed on old zooms that had adjustment marks for 3 or so focal lengths.

Eric

--
I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object
be what it may - light, shade, and perspective will always make it
beautiful. - John Constable (quote)

See my Blog at: http://viking79.blogspot.com/ (Weekly)
Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28177041@N03/ (updated daily)
See my PPG Shots: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/erictastad (8/31/09)
 
--
Nik-Nik
 
viking79 said:
I don't use distance scales any more. On many zooms they aren't accurate at all focal lengths anyway. ...
Click to expand...
yeah, i might use distance scale along with aperture scale but only very rarely use that. i realise neither this lens nor others of it's type will have aperture scales.

it just seems odd... like not having a home telephone. for years, i continued to pay for one. never used it. just used the cell. finally dropped the home phone.
 
Unlike (most?) other Pentax lenses, the 18-135 has its focusing group at the rear. Using the smaller rear elements for focusing reduces the mass the focus motor needs to move which may allow for faster focusing, lower battery drain, and quicker CDAF. Presumably this determined the focus ring location. For a relatively compact lens like this, the zoom ring should still be easy to reach.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top