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Is Canon EF-S 18-135 STM lens too soft in large apertures?

Started Feb 28, 2013 | Questions thread
photonius Veteran Member • Posts: 6,895
Re: Is Canon EF-S 18-135 STM lens too soft in large apertures?

massud wrote:

photonius wrote:

massud wrote:

maarensv wrote:

photonius wrote:

the 135mm is almost sharper than the 50mm, should be the other way round.

I presume you did live-view focusing with 10x.

It does look like your lens is softer than expect from e.g. photozone tests

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/776-canon_18135_3556stmis?start=1

i.e. at 18mm in the center, it should already be quite sharp.

From my (short) experience I think both wide and tele should have been sharp in the centre wide open. Photozones test corresponds with that. It looks to me that your 18-135 STM is under par.

Regards, Sandor.

Thanks. What a disappointment. Can this be a lens calibration issue?

in the first (18mm) image it looks like the focus could be behind the branch.

but you said you did life-view focusing at 10x (on tripod and 10 sec timer or remote ??) so front or back-focusing should not be an issue?

As you said, the photo was taken in live view mode on a tripod. I am pretty sure it's not a focus issue. I tested the lens using a focus test pattern (45 degree) and there is no sharp area in the photo. Also, turning IS off did not help.

hmm, you should try another copy then.

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