Pentax 18-135mm Lens Review

All you will ever need to know!
Thanks to our American cousins...
http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/da-18-135mm-f35-56-ed-al-if-dc-wr/conclusion...

Hiya, Jules, Welcome back, Just wanted to ask if you would like your Fanotec Mount returned, ( Free of charge ) You sent it to me with your 300mm Lens, And to be honest i have no idea what to use it for ( Derr ). I still have your Address, So would be no problem to post to you, And sorry but no way am i sending your 300m lens back, Love it far too much.

Regards Bob.

I don't get the overall score of 8.5 given the 'Cons' and the fact that first time round (reviewed in August 2011) it only scored an 8.0.

They're putting it above some of the DA* and Ltd glass!

I reckon they're basing that on comparing it to similar lenses at a similar price (albeit they say there's only one other and that's double the price.) If it cost £25 a pop it would no doubt get a 11/10.

One has to agree that it is costs quite a bit less than any DA* or limited zoom lens and offers a larger range. The higher score this time around probably reflects its lower purchase price now. If I remember correctly, an original con of the lens was that it was quite expensive for what it was.

In August 2011 the lens cost well over £500 if I remember correctly and now it can be picked up for around £350 or less so I would imagine the extra .5 could be because of increased value for money.

Mine cost £400 new a couple of years ago and that was direct from the USA.

Personally I give up. If you went on the scores on DXO mark for example you'd never fork out for a limited lens or indeed some of the star lenses.

None of these reviews substitute for buying and trying and then feeding back into the market the ones you least like or use. Most of us here do that I believe.

IF the lens in question is soft in the corners wide I'd not notice as the corners are often foregrounds of my landscapes so irrelevant or out of focus any way. Just my experience. Someone doing street architecture would find otherwise no doubt.

If the thing shows its vignette from time to time (it does) I just fix it with the move of a slider in my software.No big deal. it's a long wide to tele zoom for heavens sake!

I do take issue with it being weather proof. Star lenses and consumer WR lenses are not the same thing. It's not bad though and suits the K5 it was designed for very well indeed. Mine stays in use.

You got a P.M. Bob, and thanks for your good wishes...

I think this Re-review's conclusion is as Mke P states, really a reevaluation of the lens's perceived value, as of now being around a third less in price that it was when released puts it into a whole different ballpark.
Bill your right, there is a huge difference between "Proof" and "Resistant"!
What I take from this is that the lens is nowhere near as bad as reviews like the one on Photozone for instance, (Guilty of believing that one and thus not giving the lens a chance!), it is what it is, a very convenient wide ranging all in one lens that can take a shower, there is a lot to like.
I have to admit I have a hard time resolving (See what I did there!) DXO Mark scoring as regards Pentax's offerings too, if we all believed those ratings none of us would be here!

Hi Jules nice to see your back or should that be your front.
The 18/135 is a great lens, never take much notice of reviews, only of people wno use lenses all the time (CANT SPELL RECULERY).
Cheers
Dave

Hi Dave, ta! Definitely my front but then it's all a front! Doh!
I don't normally listen to reviews too much myself but originally the conclusions from multiple reviews were on the whole so damning I never gave it a chance, now I can see myself picking one up sometime, it looks too useful to ignore...

Hey everyone. Let me know if you have any specific questions (or gripes) regarding the 18-135 WR at PF.

I'm also the author behind the HD 55-300 WR review (for better or worse )

-Heie

At Bournemouth airshow yesterday I decided to shoot the Red Arrows with the 18-135mm. It did a fantastic job, I have to say I was very pleased with it.


Bournemouth Air Festival 2014 by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr