Nikon 18-135mm AF-S DX Lens
18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
Type of lens: G-Type AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens with built-in CPU and Nikon bayonet mount
(Designed exclusively for use with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras)
Aperture range: f/3.5 to f/22
(at 18mm) f/5.6 to f/38
Lens construction: 15 elements in 13 groups (with one ED glass element and two aspherical lens elements)
Focus method: Compact SWM (Silent Wave Motor)
Weight: (approx.) 13.6 oz
Versatile, High-power 7.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens (Approximates the picture angle performance of a 28-200mm lens on 35mm SLR).
A Nikon Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass element delivers superior optical performance. ED glass minimizes chromatic aberrations, contributing to superb contrast and resolution performance.
Internal Focus (IF) provides fast and quiet auto-focusing without changing the length of the lens, retaining subject-working distance through the focus range.
Focus as close as 1.47 ft throughout entire zoom range.
Non-Rotating front element provides for convenient use of circular polarizing filters and the Nikon Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System.
A compact Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables fast and quiet auto-focusing, along with quick switching between auto-focus and manual operation (M/A and M).
A seven-blade rounded diaphragm opening, out-of-focus elements appear more natural. 67mm filter attachment size.
Available: September 2006
Images
Michael Hoyt - Jun 4, 2007 6:24 pm - Voted 5/5
Great Lightweight LensI verified the degradation by taking pictures of the an object using the Nikon 18-135mm AF-S DX lens then one of my “older” all-glass lenses at the same focal length. When I compared the two resulting pictures at high magnification, I could easily see that the all-glass lens gave a higher quality result.
That being said, one of the reasons I purchased the D80 kit was so I could reduce the weight I carry while hiking/climbing. I knew I would be giving up some picture quality by using a partially plastic lens, but I’m willing to live with it. The degradation is so slight (when compared to all-glass) that it’s insignificant in most cases – macro photography being the exception.
It’s a good lens, and I’d buy it again.