Camera Labs

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

I quite like this lens. Given that its a kit lens, the 7.5x range is very nice and the focusing is quick and quiet while the focusing distance of 0.45m and maximum telephoto of 135mm give it decent macro ability. The build quality isn't great, but for a kit lens I think it's acceptable. The manual focusing ring is pretty bad with about 1mm of free play in either direction and its not very smooth either, fortunately, manual focusing is rarely required. I'm quite happy with the sharpness, not so happy with the barrel distortion. Without VR you're quite susceptible to shake towards the telephoto end.

50mm, f/8.0


100% crop from the centre


100% crop from the corner


135mm, f/5.6


Here's an example of the barrel distortion. 18mm, f/8.0


If you've seen any of the other images I've posted around the forums, they were also taken with this lens.

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Graham
Flickr

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Thanks for including some 100% crops, Graham. Without them it's almost impossible to tell much about the quality of a lens.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

No problem.

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Graham
Flickr

Those are nice, crisp and clean shots. Looks like a great lens!

Thanks for sharing...very educational.

Deam, how good looks that D80 with 18-135. Blue flower is just breathtaking.

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Canon 400D + 18-55mm | Hama Star 63 | Lowepro Off Trail 1
Nikon D80 + 18-135mm
My Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17959284@N03/
My Sony H1 gallery:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DrazenGall

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I've split f_hidri's post about not being able to select manual focus on this lens, together with the subsequent replies, and placed it in the Nikon forum as the Lens Gallery is intended to show off the capabilities of lenses rather than to discuss faults.

Please continue that discussion in the new thread Nikkor 18-135mm - Can't select Manual Focus in the Nikon forum. Thanks.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

the last picture is taken at 18mm f: 1.8?

that isn't possible is it? ore am i missing something, 3,5 is the lowest f number possible right?

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Nikon D700/D50, Tokina 28-70,
Nikkor 70-300 VR, Nikkor 28mm 2.8,Nikkor 50mm 1.4

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23447671@N04/

Thanks for pointing that out HS. It was supposed to be f/8, I've edited to show the true aperture setting.

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Graham
Flickr

Thanks for sharing Grahamnp,
I agree with you, the 18-135 is really flexible with its x7,5 zoom range.

However is 45cm decent for macrophotography? I know its not a macrophotography lense but I sure regret the lack of proximity I can have. Stand too close and it just won't take the picture, kind of annoying really. Isn't it bizarre that it won't take the shot even if is blurry?
I noticed that swithing to manual focus allows to take the shot even if it is blurry.

Quentin

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Quentin

Hey, I told you I was going to get my pro account someday!

My blog (in French!)

Here I got off-topic again...

Quentin, if you set your body to AF-C, the camera will take the shot even if it hasn't focused yet.

45cm is for me, fine for most things. It isn't a true macro lens so I don't expect that of it. It doesn't even have the word "macro" slapped on the end of it's name like some lenses!

I plan to get a macro lens some time this year so not a big problem for me.

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Graham
Flickr

I took this during a class I took in London. It's on Queen's Walk along the River Thames. This was just as I was learning to use my DSLR, so I feel kind of stupid with some of my settings, as you will see below.


Nikon D80
Nikkor DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal Length: 26mm
Exposure: 1/750 sec @ f/13
ISO 500

No alterations.

Only the ISO is a bit high, the rest is quite ok i believe.

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Nikon D700/D50, Tokina 28-70,
Nikkor 70-300 VR, Nikkor 28mm 2.8,Nikkor 50mm 1.4

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23447671@N04/

yeah, that's what i mean. i should have had the ISO at 100. I think i might have been using a polarizer on this shot too... anyway, i quite like it.

hi everyone thought some of you may be interested in some of my pictures taken indoors in a museum, but without any flash. I closed th aperture right up and used a tripod, some shutter speeds up to five secs. Any comments good or bad welcome.
lens 18-135 on a d80.
regards GCJ

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Nikon D80, D40 and various lenses.

is this at Duxford? Verrrrry cool museum