Which lens is your favourite all round performer

After testing my 18-135 against my only Ltd (35mm macro) I succumbed to lens envy and decided a 16-50* and a 50-135* was the way to go. SRS let me spend a morning playing around with both in their showroom.

I managed to get shots at several identical apertures and focal lengths of a test target some 40 odd feet away and using the x16 preview, to my eye, the 18-135 looked very slightly better than the demo 16-50 DA*.

Back home the PC screen confirmed that the 18-135 was the better performer against the DA* at f3.5 and f4. I wish I'd tried some more moderate apertures.

The 50-135 DA* was however an obvious winner. I would have been happy to buy both but sadly my walk around bag does not include the hoped for matching DA* lenses.

The 50-135 is superb but I am content to know that the 18-135 is not easily bettered up to 50mm, at least not in the centre.

I think I still regret not getting the 18-50 anyway.

Malcom, looking at the price of these DA* models, I might think of them if and when I win a jackpot .

It looks like I will be going for an 18-135 as it is the favourite all rounder for majority of you here (or 18-270 if I can find a bargain). As Mike mentioned I have noticed used ones being listed here. I also find new ones online starting at about £325.00 at the moment and who knows the prices may go down further in the new year?

I purchased a K30 in the summer and when I tested it in the store it was equipped with the 18-135 WR. I liked it so much that I went back and picked one up. It now is my everyday lens and rarely comes off the camera. The photo of the model train was taken at 135mm f8 1/125 iso 3200.

Mike

I took a Pentax 18-250 on holiday, because I had a weight limit for luggage, and was pleasantly surprised. link

I have been very happy with my 18-135 and if I only had one lens this would be my choice.

It is small, light, weather resistant, good range, silent. A good all-rounder. I have better zooms for long and short but the range on this one is very useful for lots of occasions. I've had mine about 2 years and it has been out in rain, cold, sun, blizzards, up and down a few mountains with never a problem. May not be as sharp as a prime but its usefulness is it's all round performance.

If you have a look in my portfolio you will find all of the mountain and landscape shots on the 1st and second pages are taken with the DA18-135

I don't think you will be disappointed if you go for it.

Another vote for the 18-135, only regret is that I didn't have something longer when a rehearsal cropped up for the N. Cyprus independence celebration airshow on 15th Nov!

Gajan. There is a Tamron 18-250 for sale in the classified for under £200.00. It's a Tamron. Worth a look I would say.
CHEERS Vic.
PS. It was on the 13th.
Vic.

Thank you for that Vic, but I decided that I would go for a weather resistant 18 - 135 and have actually acquired one.

Best regards,

Gajan

You wont regret it

Don't forget to let us see some of the results!

No Problem. CHEERS Vic.

Stan, just tried with my recently acquired K5 and impressed with the lens' solid build and quiet focussing. Looking forward to take more shots at different focal lengths and share them here.

Best regards,

Gajan

Bob, sure, hoping to share some shots with you all soon.

Best regards,

Gajan

I'd back Vic on the 18-250 / 270. I have found that you will get the best out of it at f8, but then that's what people are saying about the 18-135 as well.

Forever late to the party ... here is my vote for the 18-135.

I purchased my lens as a kit with the K5 and it has consistently proven itself as a good all rounder.

During a recent city break doing the tourist thing in London, the K5 / 18-135 combination was perfect: a lightweight, flexible, nimble set-up, whether at The Shard, the Natural History Museum or on the street.

The pictures I have from the few days in town are vibrant, sharp and pleasing to me, with very few duds. With my sometimes ham-fisted approach this is a great result.

My only (occasional) wish is that it was a bit faster (f/3.5 at the wide end) but, of course, this would mean greater weight and cost. As it stands, the lens is a fine judgement between quality, performance and cost.