Build quality of Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM?

[Gino]

Hi,

I just purchased a Canon 70D kit with the ef-s 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens for my sister, and I noticed the front part of the lens has a tiny bit of play, both when the lens is retracted and extended. When I say a tiny bit of play, it is tiny, but it is still noticeable. I'm comparing the 18-135 lens to my Canon L zoom lenses, and my L lenses don't have any play at all, so that is why I'm wondering if this 18-135mm lens is defective.

Is this tiny bit of play normal for this lens, or should I exchange the lens? I took about 75 photos with the camera and I don't see any issues with the photos.

thanks

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

The small swing you describe is normal in zoom lens "not L". Canon 28-135mm for example is much worse than that.

 

[Rocky]

The small swing you describe is normal in zoom lens "not L". Canon 28-135mm for example is much worse than that.

Thanks for putting my mine at ease. When I first got my 28mm-135mm, the 'play" of the front part of the lens can be up to 1mm, whether the lens has been extended or not.

 

[dgatwood]

The small swing you describe is normal in zoom lens "not L". Canon 28-135mm for example is much worse than that.

Thanks for putting my mine at ease. When I first got my 28mm-135mm, the 'play" of the front part of the lens can be up to 1mm, whether the lens has been extended or not.

Heh. When I got my 28–135, I screwed a filter on it, and the lens promptly slammed to maximum zoom from the weight of the filter. I swapped it for another one, which did the same thing, at which point I gave up and stuck with the 24–105L kit lens, despite desperately wanting more reach than that.

I'm still waiting for Canon to release a full-frame lens that's comparable to my 17-85 range-wise and build-quality-wise (besides the 28–300L monster). I'm not holding my breath, but then again, I think the 28–135 is the oldest non-updated Canon EF lens, so....

But I digress. Yes, as previously noted, some horizontal play is common in non-L lenses.

 

[Rocky]

The small swing you describe is normal in zoom lens "not L". Canon 28-135mm for example is much worse than that.

Thanks for putting my mine at ease. When I first got my 28mm-135mm, the 'play" of the front part of the lens can be up to 1mm, whether the lens has been extended or not.

Heh. When I got my 28–135, I screwed a filter on it, and the lens promptly slammed to maximum zoom from the weight of the filter. I swapped it for another one, which did the same thing, at which point I gave up and stuck with the 24–105L kit lens, despite desperately wanting more reach than that.

I'm still waiting for Canon to release a full-frame lens that's comparable to my 17-85 range-wise and build-quality-wise (besides the 28–300L monster). I'm not holding my breath, but then again, I think the 28–135 is the oldest non-updated Canon EF lens, so....

But I digress. Yes, as previously noted, some horizontal play is common in non-L lenses.

the 28mm-135mm lens will extend itself to 135mm( due to the weight of the front element group) when you let the front element points down. That is normal

 

[TeT]

I do not notice anything on my 18 135...

go to a camera store and start tugging on some used zooms till they kick you out... If it is enough that you noticed and were bothered, check it out, otherwize you will always wonder...

Newest STM version should be a touch tighter than the older 18 135's. been my experience so far.

 

[dgatwood]

The small swing you describe is normal in zoom lens "not L". Canon 28-135mm for example is much worse than that.

Thanks for putting my mine at ease. When I first got my 28mm-135mm, the 'play" of the front part of the lens can be up to 1mm, whether the lens has been extended or not.

Heh. When I got my 28–135, I screwed a filter on it, and the lens promptly slammed to maximum zoom from the weight of the filter. I swapped it for another one, which did the same thing, at which point I gave up and stuck with the 24–105L kit lens, despite desperately wanting more reach than that.

I'm still waiting for Canon to release a full-frame lens that's comparable to my 17-85 range-wise and build-quality-wise (besides the 28–300L monster). I'm not holding my breath, but then again, I think the 28–135 is the oldest non-updated Canon EF lens, so....

But I digress. Yes, as previously noted, some horizontal play is common in non-L lenses.

the 28mm-135mm lens will extend itself to 135mm( due to the weight of the front element group) when you let the front element points down. That is normal

That is poor design, as it is very rough on the lens to violently slam to a stop like that a hundred times per day....