Picked up a Sony SAL18135 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6... wondering if it's okay due to low price.

I walked into Best Buy today hoping I could pick up something with zoom. I have been using a fixed lens Minolta 50mm for a while (my kit lens bit the dust after my son spilled milk on it), and wanted something different.

I ended up getting a Sony SAL18135 for $180 (The other lens that was in stock was a 300mm for $300). When I went home, I saw that Amazon and other places were selling the 18-135 for $500. Yikes, I thought I just robbed Best Buy, but soon discovered that my receipt said "Clearance."

My nature is to think that clearance = messed up. Is there anything I should look for to indicate a defective or abused lens? It looks great, and there are no scratches on the body or lens. Pictures seem good, but they have all been at night.

Well, if it also works fine and sharp at daytime, if it sounds good and runs smoothly, and if it doesn't cause heartburn or flatulentia, why not simply be happy with it ever after? BestBuy - for what I know - is not your average gloomy pawnshop in a backstreet under the railway arches... Are they known for grey import stock without warranty?

Enjoy!

Bart

Take a few photos in good light where detail is available. Post them here. You'll get plenty of opinions on your new lens ;-)

Congrats on the bargain.

I bought a nice used one on ebay in December for $180 plus shipping. There are many used ones available for about $300.

It is a nice lens for the money. I sold my a65 to a friend for a Christmas gift for his wife. Since I liked the lens I wanted to keep it for my a77ii so I bought one for him.

Clearance means it may explode and destroy your camera: Send it to me for safe keeping!!

Bargin of the month!! BB has a odd relationship with A-mount. a few stores seem to stock them but mostly online.

How the odd a-mount body or lens shows up in a Clearance sale who knows. But they will sell stiff really low if it has sat for a while

Enjoy the lens! I am sure its fine

That was a good and lucky find, I'm a big fan of the 18-135. Enjoy your lens!

JajoB said:

I walked into Best Buy today hoping I could pick up something with zoom. I have been using a fixed lens Minolta 50mm for a while (my kit lens bit the dust after my son spilled milk on it), and wanted something different.

I ended up getting a Sony SAL18135 for $180 (The other lens that was in stock was a 300mm for $300). When I went home, I saw that Amazon and other places were selling the 18-135 for $500. Yikes, I thought I just robbed Best Buy, but soon discovered that my receipt said "Clearance."

My nature is to think that clearance = messed up. Is there anything I should look for to indicate a defective or abused lens? It looks great, and there are no scratches on the body or lens. Pictures seem good, but they have all been at night.

Click to expand...

The price is irrelevant. If there's an issue with the lens you should have a right to an exchange or refund and 'clearance' usually means getting rid of discontinued lines hence the low price, so has nothing to do with the lens itself. However, having done a 20 second search, this should answer your question, and here's the Best Buy clearance outlet page.

That being said, if it's a brand new copy in it's box, then you should have a 1 year manufacturers warranty, though you can just as easily go to www.mackcam.com and go through the warranty purchase procedure if it's under 2 months old (I think - it'll say what the criteria is to buy a warranty on their website), though also check on the Sony website just to check if they have any current free extended warranty offers if you register your lens online (like Sigma and Tamron in the UK/EU) or any mail-in rebate offers ongoing.

As for issues, I would check against the lens model on the Dyxum forum (lenses section) and read the specs and owner 'reviews' and check image samples.

Even if you do find small 'imperfection(s)' (which it doesn't sound like you did), take a look at this before you assume it's defective. http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

Thanks to all of you who responded and commented here!

I took the lens out for a spin today, and it seemed to be just fine. I'll continue using the heck out of it in the next few days, and make sure I want to keep it before the return window is up (15 days). I think that $180 for a $500 lens is well worth it, so I dont anticipate it leaving my possession. I confess, I haven't visited these forums much as of late, but now that I'm browsing around again, the update bug is starting to nibble. I'm looking at you a77ii. Currently I am using an a57.

Again, thanks for all the help! I think this lens will be good to use for the summer, capturing my little man and the trouble he gets into.

If the lens has no defects it's a near to perfect lens for that price.