topic Used 18-135mm Canon lens in EF & RF Lenses

Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tintype_18 — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 13:30:50 GMT

Wife and I spent a lot of $$$ at McKay's Used Books yesterday. I wandered by the display of music instruments, sound equipment, etc. to see what they had in photography items. One was an 18-135mm Canon lens for $89.95. Exterior looked good. We are aware of the Caveat Emptor here. I was going to call the store to see what return terms exist, if any. I thought of taking the T7 body to make sure it fits and works. Your thoughts? TIA.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

shadowsports — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 13:59:29 GMT

If you have a use for it, the 18-135mm is a nice lens. I loved it on my T6s. Low light performance is average, IQ is decent. Super versatile kit lens. Used items, make sure it can be returned if you find any problems.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tintype_18 — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 16:26:26 GMT

Thanks. Will check with management.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tintype_18 — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 18:50:46 GMT

Rick, one always has a use for another lens. Support says they have a 30 day return with receipt or price tag. Also said it is OK to have the camera body for fit and operation. Again, thanks. Anything else I need to watch or look for? Exterior looked good.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tronhard — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 19:10:38 GMT

There are about 4 (correction 3) versions of this lens, and I would avoid anything that was not a STM or USM version. The latter is the newer version but optically both versions are pretty close - I have both. Both should focus quickly and silently.

Apart from the obvious of checking autofocus and the optical performance, I would confirm that you can do autofocus without switching the AF/MF switch to MF.

I would get a protective filter and/or lens hood to protect the front of the lens - of course the latter will help with light control as well. Much depends on the conditions you will shoot under. The filter helps protect the front element from things like abrasion from dust, salt etc. and SOME impacts, while the lens hood is good for direct impacts and light control. I use both, (BTW I always buy a 3rd party lens hood, they work just as well and are WAY cheaper).

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

MikeSowsun — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 19:08:16 GMT

There are 3 different versions of the EF-S 18-135mm.

The IS is the first version. The IS STM and IS USM versions have slightly better Image Quality and Auto Focus.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tronhard — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 19:09:25 GMT

Oops, thanks Mike - typo... need coffee 🙄
To me, the fly by wire feature of the STM and USM set them apart from the original. One should not have to keep using a switch to use MF. Focus is definitely faster. I compared an original against one of my STM models not that long ago and the difference was not insignificant.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

FloridaDrafter — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 02:20:28 GMT

@Tronhard wrote:
"I would get a protective filter and/or lens hood to protect the front of the lens - of course the latter will help with light control as well. Much depends on the conditions you will shoot under. The filter helps protect the front element from things like abrasion from dust, salt etc. and SOME impacts, while the lens hood is good for direct impacts and light control. I use both, (BTW I always buy a 3rd party lens hood, they work just as well and are WAY cheaper)."

I totally agree about a hood and protecto lens, but haven't had very good luck with 3rd party hoods. I've found them to be flimsy, don't usually fit snugly, and often will come loose and fall off. Newer Canon hoods snap firmly into place and have a button release, so you have to deliberately want them to be removed. Also, on the older Canon hoods, they had flocking which I found to be superior to flat black plastic (which is in the 3rd party hoods if you're lucky) at stopping unwanted light. This changed around the time that the EF 70-300mm mark II was released, and the hood for it had a flat black plastic interior, which worked ok and better than the $15 knockoffs, but I was still disappointed and even emailed Canon support to make sure I got a genuine Canon hood (which was confirmed). I've bought three 3rd party hoods for our non-L lenses and ended up getting the Canon hoods, so that's what I buy now. Yes, 3rd party hoods work, but I'm kinda odd about quality, and the Canon hoods are that in spades. As you probably know, Canon has done away with flocking in their RF L and RF hoods and gone to little rings of ridges, which seem to work well, but I do miss the flocking. Yes, it will gather lint, but I use a lint brush to clean the hood flocking of my older EF L lenses. Just a preference, I understand, but it instills confidence 🙂

On a side note: The Canon hood for the EF 70-300mm II works on the RF 100-400mm, so that was a bonus.

Newton

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tronhard — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 02:16:44 GMT

Certainly, I am with you to a degree. Over here, we have some suppliers whose 3rd party hoods are pretty solid, and while not the cheapest, are still much more economical than the official Canon ones.

If buying on line, I would suggest examining the feedback on the vendors' product performance.

I personally agree with the frequent complaints I see that Canon should include a lens hood with all lenses, not just the majority of L series units.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

shadowsports — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 05:26:51 GMT

Hi Newton,

Hood for the EF 70-300 II USM fits the RF100-400. Thanks for this helpful info. I ordered the latter this evening. Now I can swap. 🙂 My 18-135 was the IS STM. I always use a clear protective filter and hood as well, Thanks Mike and Trevor for mentioning both.👍

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tronhard — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 05:35:08 GMT

I didn't know about the hood from the EF 70-300II fitting the RF 100-400 - that's very handy to know if I ever get that one. I have the EF 100-400 and am currently happy using that on occasion, but I have the 100-500, so I'm not sure if I shall need it.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tintype_18 — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 13:01:26 GMT

Mike, good info to check before buying. Thanks!

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

shadowsports — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 13:35:53 GMT

Trevor,

Sending you a PM this morning.

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

amfoto1 — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 17:26:34 GMT

It is always a good idea to check online at popular auction web sites to see what used copies of a lens (or other item) are selling for, to see if what you've found is a good deal or not. The most well known auction site allows you to do some filtering that can be really helpful. I looked at each version of EF-S 18-135mm, N. America only and "sold" items for actual selling prices, rather than asking prices. It was easy to search for the USM or STM version, simply by specifying those versions. To search for the non-USM/STM version on that particular website, just put a minus sign in front of any word you want to exclude. In this case "-USM" and "-STM" search terms brought back only that earliest version of the lens.

Latest and greatest USM versions in working condition are selling for as little as $112 to $240. A couple very low priced ones seemed like outliers... under-priced "Buy It Now" (seller error) or just bad luck auctions.

The optically identical, but not quite as fast focusing STM version appear to be selling for between $120 to $180.

The oldest version with slower, noisier micro motor focus ([not STM or USM) and a tad bit lower image quality, in working condition are selling for roughly $85 to $180 incl. shipping.

In all three versions there were some offered for a bit more that included accessories such as lens hood, filters, etc.

Of course, you also might want to visit some of the retailer web sites to see what the items sell for used and new. The EF-S 18-135mm IS USM lens new costs $599. The STM version new costs $100 less. The non-USM/STM version appears to no longer be available new... at least not anywhere I could find. Several of the retailers have used copies of all three versions. I'll leave it to you to visit those, if you wish.

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2), EOS M5, some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tronhard — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 17:47:53 GMT

Hi RIck - got it, lost it during reply, but had another shot so you should have the response!

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tintype_18 — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 18:22:45 GMT

Bought the lens and it is the IS series; $89.95 plus tax. I took some photos in the store and was pleased with them on the camera screen. I plan on taking more outside and loading them on my laptop to view. Will be in touch.

BTW, looked at the camera at the store: lenses are perfect, a couple of minor dings on the exterior, has IS, MF, AF marked on the camera body. The guy at the electronic counter took off the front cover to let me see the lens!

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tintype_18 — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 23:15:32 GMT

f/5.6, 1/60, ISO-800, 0 step, 28mmf/5, 1/100, ISO-640, 0 step, 70mmf/8, 1/80, ISO-1600, 0=0.3 step, 135mm

Re: Used 18-135mm Canon lens

Tintype_18 — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 23:17:54 GMT

Got ahead of myself. First photo was taken in the store on Auto. Others were taken on AV on cloudy day setting. Not editing of the photos, just as they came from the camera.