Sunday, February 24, 2008

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

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6G DX ED IF (2006 Release)

FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS

Focal Length : 18-135mm focal range (7.5x zoom) for use in a wide variety of situations (Better than all exsisting kit lenses starts with 18-xx , except 18-200mm VR) (equivalent to a 27-202.5mm lens in the 35mm format)
Aperture: f/3.5 at 18 mm, f/5.6 at 135mm. Seven-bladed rounded diaphragm stopping down f/22 (18 mm) to f/38 (135 mm)
Optics: 15 elements in 13 groups. That includes one ED glass element (shown in yellow) and two aspherical elements shown in blue.
Closest Focus: 45 cm(0r 1.5 feet) throughout the entire zoom range.
Macro Ratio: 1:4.1
Filter size: 67mm Non rotating
Accesories: Lens rear/front caps, Flower-shapedHB-32 Bayonet Lens Hood . CL-0915 Flexiable Lens pouch
Dimensions: 73.5 mm(2.9") diameter. 86.5 mm (3.4") length.
Weight: 385 grams (13.5 oz)

MY REVIEW ABOUT THIS LENS
Just used this lens for a very short time as a kit lens on my first digital Nikon, D80 , did not like the resolution at all. This is my least liked Nikon lens used ever after 18-55mm DX...

If you are a street candid photographer or journalist with a very tight bugdet and this lens came as an occasion to you, 18-135mm may answer your needs.

Very simple : This lens need a VR II on it.

Smooth bokehs on shallow depth of field conditions like portraits.

PAY ATTENTION :
- No focus scala. Might be confusing for the ones who are used to or working manual focus usually. At 18mm, there is quite hefty (3,3%) positive barrel distortion
- This lens' weakest point is this: Extreme vignetting and resolution loss in the corners. Resolution is good at the center.
- Vignetting is seen on widest apertures and wide angles, but 2 stop formula will erase that problem too.
- Chromatic Aberrations are exceeding 1 pixel limit, suffering from purple fringing.

VERDICT : If the bugdet is only thing you are after, this lens may be a solution with 7.5x zoom. But, save some more for a 18-200mm VR. NOT Recommended (6/10)

MY SAMPLE SHOTS :


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