Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135mm 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical review

According provided by Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135mm 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical lens is huge thanks to the store www.fotika.com.uawhere you can find a huge number of different used photographic equipment, including similar lenses.

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical was introduced with the camera Nikon D80 back in the fall of 2006. It was produced only in Thailand, like many other inexpensive zooms and fixes.

Main technical specifications of Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical:

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical

Diaphragm

Diaphragm lens consists of 7 rounded petalswhich form a fairly even hole. Diaphragm closes to F / 22 by 18 mm and to F / 38 by 135 mm of focal length.

Unfortunately, Nikon 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6G cannot boast good aperture.

There are marks with a focal length on the zoom ring, the following is a list with the minimum numbers F available for these marks:

• 18 mm - F / 3.5
• 24 mm - F / 4
• 35 mm - F / 4.5
• 50 mm - F / 5
• 70 mm - F / 5.6
• 105 mm - F / 5.6
• 135 mm - F / 5.6

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical

What you should pay attention to in the Nikon 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6G lens:

1. This is a camera lens class DX, that is, from cameras with a cropped matrix and using it at full frame will not do anything good. But due to the smaller coverage area of ​​the matrix, it turned out less.
2. The lens has built-in focus motor SWM, which allows you to use the lens on the entire line of Nikon digital SLR cameras, even on younger models of the type D40, D3000. It focuses really silently, but not very fast. For everyday life, speed is enough.
3. Convenient range of focal lengths. We get a 7.5x zoom lens. This is a pretty convenient thing, those who take off on fixes understand what I'm writing about.
4. The lens does not have an image stabilizer. Now this is a very convenient feature, and in this regard, the 18-105 VR, 18-200 VR and 16-85 VR lenses are winning, since the image stabilizer really helps when shooting.
5. The mounts of the mount are made of plastic, and not of metal in higher quality specimens. On the one hand, this is bad, but on the other hand it reduces weight.
6. Internal focus - It will help to use filters without any extra problems, and indeed, internal focusing is a pleasant trifle.
7. When zooming, the lens is decent sucks in air, well, dust with him, but you yourself already guessed the consequences.
8. The lens has a couple of super elements from ED (ultrafine glass), which are designed to improve the picture eliminating it from HA. But few people are surprised by this in our time, but for 2006 it was a great solution.
9. Convenient focus mode - to adjust the focus you do not need to switch to manual focus mode - just twist the focus ring.
10. Included lens hood. In the style of good tradition, the lens hood can be attached to the lens in the opposite position. This will allow you to always carry it with you, and most importantly, with its reverse position, it does not interfere with the zoom. For example, at 18-105, the lens hood slightly interferes with the zoom ring.
11. Pretty easy. 18-105 VR is much harder.
12. A serious drawback is small aperture, but we must remember that it is more inappropriate to demand from a lens of this class.

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical

Focusing

Nikon 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6G focuses quietly thanks to 'SWM'-motor (Silent Wbird Motor - quiet wave / ultrasonic motor) and refers to the lens'AF S'type (with built-in motor focusing), and therefore it will automatically focus on any Nikon digital SLR camera.

Auto Focus Speed ​​- average. On cameras Nikon D40, D90 the lens focuses tenaciously and does not release objects from the field of sharpness.

I used almost everyone Nikon Nikkor DX Universal Zoom Lenses and I can summarize that the Nikon 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6G autofocus speed is almost exactly the same as that of Nikon 18-105VR, Nikon 18-140mm VR, Nikon 18-200VR, Nikon 18-200mm GII VR, Nikon 18-300 / 3.5-5.6 VR, Nikon 18-300 / 3.5-6.3 VR, and if we compare the focusing time from infinity to MDF and vice versa (the analysis can be done using video from the network). Of all the Nikon DX zoom lenses, it only focuses noticeably faster Nikon 16-85VR, Nikon 17-55, Nikon 18-70 и Nikon 16-80VR . Funny but even the simplest lenses Nikon 18-55G, 18-55GI, 18-55 VR, 18-55VRII still focus a little faster.

During focusing, the front and rear lenses remain stationary, as the lens uses internal focusthat is indicated on the case by the letters'IF'-'Iinternal Focus' - 'Inner Focus'. The front lens does not rotate while zooming. It is possible to use any filters without problems.

When changing the focal length, the front lens does not rotate.

The minimum focusing distance is only 45 cm across the entire range of focal lengths, while you can shoot Macro with 1: 4.2 magnification (the smaller the second ratio, the better the lens's macro capabilities). Nikon 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6G does not have a window with a distance scale, depth of field scale and other useful marks.

In manual focus mode, the ring rotates about 120 degrees, when it reaches the extreme positions it does not rest, but continues to slide, without affecting the focus. Manual focus is easy.

On the lens housing you can find focus switch 'A - M'. In position 'A', automatic focusing works, and in position M - manual focusing.

The 'A-M' switch in this lens is non-standard. Normally, in all lenses equipped with such switches, manual focus cannot be performed in 'A' mode. But here is what the manual says for Nikon 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6G:

Manual focus can be performed even if AM lens mode is set to A. Set the camera to focus on AF-S and press the shutter-release button halfway to autofocus. Then, while holding the shutter-release button halfway, manually rotate the lens focus ring to fine-tune the focus. Note. Do not try to rotate the focus ring while the autofocus function is operating. When the autofocus function completes, release and press the shutter-release button halfway again.

Thus, in AF-S mode, after successful focusing, you can still rotate the focus ring to adjust the focus or refocus it. Unfortunately, such a property is only a miserable semblance of a full-fledged regime M / AM with the possibility of constant manual focus control.

You can find more information about lenses with a similar feature in the section Focus Features 'A', for some Nikkor lenses with the 'A-M' switch.

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical

About the picture:

Here you can write treatises and give many examples. But the final result of the picture in many respects depends not only on the lens and it is difficult to achieve a single accurate opinion. But still - the lens showed good sharpness on all focal ranges. At 18 mm, the corners are slightly soft, at 135 mm the sharpness is worse. But in general, sharpness is good, especially if you close the aperture a few stops.

The bokeh in the telephoto area is smooth, not aggressive - from a lens of this class is no longer necessary. Chromatic aberrations present - from them on a cheap zoom lens anywhere. Needless to 18mm HA the biggest and most terrible, just like distortion.

The vignetting of 135 and 18 mm, even on the cropped matrix, is quite strong and can be seen in the photo, but is easily removed in the editor.

Color rendering - all felt-tip pens taste and color are different, of course not the same as fast fixes.

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical

What else is there?

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm has two main competitors, this 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor  и 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR II AF-S DX Nikkor. They differ slightly in focal lengths and the presence of a stabilizer. The first of them I do not recommend, it gives a soft picture, the second I recommend because of its best performance. Also, competitors include Nikon 16-85mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR Nikkor, which attracts with its wide angle. What to choose from these four relatively cheap lenses is up to you. And there is still a good old Nikon 18-70mm f / 3.5-4.5G IF-ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor but everyone has already forgotten about it.

You can download the original photos in the '.JPEG' format at this link and another addition at this link.

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical

Recommendations:

When shooting in the body range, always remember that the lens does not have a large aperturebecause it will not be able to provide short excerpts low ISO, so as not to pick up the ISO try not to shoot at the long end with shutter speed below 1/125 to avoid grease. For portraits, the lens is quite suitable in the area of ​​105-135mm, makes it possible to feel the bokeh, which is even wow for the zoom lens.

Due to the large diameter of the front lens, I advise you to immediately buy protective filter. I also recommend shooting at 6,3-8,0 apertures at all focal lengths - then the lens gives a really high-quality picture.

Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical

Prices for the Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-135m 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM IF Aspherical lens in popular stores can look at this link.

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An accurate list of all Nikon DX Nikkor lenses

1. 10.5 mm/ 2.8G AF Fisheye [gold ring]
2. 35 mm/1.8G AF-S
3. 40 mm/2.8G AF-S Microphone
4. 85 mm/3.5G AF-S VR Microphone
5. 10-20mm/4.5-5.6G AF-P VR
6. 10-24mm/3.5-4.5G AF-S
7. 12-24mm/4G AF-S [gold ring]
8. 16-80mm/ 2.8-4IN AF S VR [gold ring]
9. 16-85mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
10. 17-55mm/2.8G AF-S [gold ring]
11. 18-55mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S [black / silver]
12. 18-55mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S [black / silver]
13. 18-55mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
14. 18-55mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S VR
15. 18-55mm/3.5-5.6G AF-P
16. 18-55mm/3.5-5.6G AF-P VR
17. 18-70mm/3.5-4.5G AF-S
18. 18-105mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Thailand / China]
19. 18-135mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S
20. 18-140mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Thailand / China]
21. 18-200mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Japan / China]
22. 18-200mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S VR
23. 18-300mm/3.5-5.6G VR
24. 18-300mm/3.5-6.3G VR
25. 55-200mm/4-5.6G AF-S [black / silver, Japan / China]
26. 55-200mm/4-5.6G AF-S VR
27. 55-200mm/4-5.6GII ED VR
28. 55-300mm/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR
29. 70-300mm/4.5-6.3G AF-P
30. 70-300mm/4.5-6.3G AF-P VR

Hack and predictor Aviator

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6G IF-ED pretty good universal lens for all occasions. When writing a review, I showed normal sharpness, the rest of the indicators are in the aisles of the norm - and I do not need to demand more from an amateur zoom for such money. The only thing that confuses is the lack of an image stabilizer. Also, if you decide to buy this lens to replace the whale 18-55 - pay better attention to more advanced Nikon 18-105VR и Nikon 18-200VR.

Full list of all lenses Nikon Nikkor DX You can find at this link.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.