I could not get a sharp picture with this lens, even though it was brand new. Out of the first 200 photos, I got probably 1 genuinely sharp photo. I was using Pentax k-1 camera mounted on a tripod. Both still-life and people portraits were generally less sharp than my iphone 1.

The Pentax lens features an internal "direct current" (DC) motor for focusing which is reasonably fast combined with low noise emissions. The focus accuracy of our test sample was very good. "Quick Shift" - manual focusing in single-shot AF - is supported.

The Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR ($476.95) is a compact, long range zoom with a weather-sealed design to match the Pentax SLR lineup. It's price isn't bad, especially when you consider its build quality, but image quality drops off significantly as you zoom, delivering soft results at 70mm and beyond. Coupled with the distortion that's typical of this type of lens, we don't recommend buying it, which is a shame as there aren't any third-party alternatives available with an all-weather design. The Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM ($399.00 at Amazon) is a fair-weather lens, but one that delivers a longer zoom range and better optical performance, all for less money. Design The 18-135mm ($399.95 at Amazon) is a sturdy, compact zoom. It measures 3.0 by 2.9 inches (HD) when set to the 18mm position and weighs about 14.3 ounces. It's finished in black, with a green accent ring, and its barrel is a mix of metal and polycarbonate elements. A reversible lens ho...

The Pentax SMC DA 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR lens features an all-weather design and delivers on its promise of a long zoom range, but its image quality is disappointing.

7.5x zoom range; All-weather design; Compact and light

Soft edges and weak telephoto performance; Noticeable distortion

"I'll start and say right off the top, if you're looking for a great pro quality lens, this isn't it. Think of this as more an extended range kit lens. Don't get me wrong, I have seen some astounding images taken with this lens, but it's not up there with the pro quality lenses.

John Riley reviews the SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC, a weather resistant, compact lens.

Superb handling; Weather resistance; Silent DC motor; Close focusing; Quick Shift manual focus; Visually appealing images

High distortion levels; High CA levels; Low fine resolution at longer focal lengths; High price

Really sturdy, practical lens with an ideal (for me) zoom range. If you've never had a lens with a DC motor, it will astound you how silent it is. The biggest issue is zoom creep, which happens any time I walk around with it. Too bad they didn't include a lock button.

Practicality; build quality; weather sealing

Zoom creep; lack of distance scale

Very compact, not too heavy but feels sturdy. Performs very well on my Pentax K3.

That's right, not to big, and not to small. I used the 18-55 kit lens for about ten years on my K-100D. However, after moving up to the K-50, I noticed that my old 18-55 was getting a little stiff on the focus-not to mention noisy.

The new Pentax 18-135mm lens is a very welcome addition to the Pentax lens lineup, and seems like a natural companion to the K-5 and K-30. It boasts impressive AF performance as well as above-average image quality, and offers a flexible multi-purpose zoom range, which when combined with its...

Weather-resistant finish for use in all manner of conditions

Fuss-free operation

Distortion at extreme focal lengths