topic Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal? in EF & RF Lenses

ef-s 18-135 stm wobbles normal?

gtangas — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:17:54 GMT

Hello friends

first big hello to everyone!

need some info... i bought a second hand lens 18-135 stm that shows some wooble on the barrel.

extended to the 135mm the barrel woobles a bit and full rectracted at 18mm and i shake the lens i can hear the barrel woobles inside!

can anyone tell me if that is normal on this model??

Best regards

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

TTMartin — Wed, 03 May 2017 20:55:02 GMT

@gtangas wrote:
Hello friends

first big hello to everyone!

need some info... i bought a second hand lens 18-135 stm that shows some wooble on the barrel.

extended to the 135mm the barrel woobles a bit and full rectracted at 18mm and i shake the lens i can hear the barrel woobles inside!

can anyone tell me if that is normal on this model??

Best regards

No it does not sound normal. I just checked mine and it has no wobble even when fully extended.

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

gtangas — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:00:37 GMT

thanks for your repply

i saw some reviews and the non stm version ad some reports of this issue but i cant find none of the stm version!

Its not a big wobble but if you shake the camera (in my case a 70d) with the barrel extended or even retracted you can feel that barrel shaking...

i like the IQ but not very happy with this problem!

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

TTMartin — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:08:37 GMT

@gtangas wrote:
hi

thanks for your repply

i saw some reviews and the non stm version ad some reports of this issue but i cant find none of the stm version!

Its not a big wobble but if you shake the camera (in my case a 70d) with the barrel extended or even retracted you can feel that barrel shaking...

i like the IQ but not very happy with this problem!

Canon upped both build quality and image quality when they added the STM focus motor to their lenses. Mine is rock solid with no wobble. I would not consider any wobble as normal in an STM lens.

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

gtangas — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:21:45 GMT

its better to return the lens and wait for another deal on the second hand market... one without this issue!

i sold an old sigma 18-200 that never gave very nice results and no doubt that this new stm lenses are awesome!

i bought very recently the 10-18 and im very pleased with the results!

Thanks for your help TTMartin!

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

TCampbell — Wed, 03 May 2017 22:46:02 GMT

How much shaking are you doing? Most image-stabilized lenses will make a bit of noise with a strong shake. The in-lens image stabilization involves lens elements that have to move (physically) and if you shake it hard enough you can hear it knock.

One probably shouldn't be making a habbit of shaking the lenses aggressively. But if you hear it with just casual movement of the lens then I might give this a more careful inspection and testing.

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

Waddizzle — Wed, 03 May 2017 23:20:42 GMT

Wobbles and noises are abnormal. Can it still auto focus properly?

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

gtangas — Thu, 04 May 2017 07:32:32 GMT

You can ear that rattle with a small shake of the.camera... its not a too loose sound but...

With the barrel full extended it wiggle a little bit

The focus work ok, stab works ok too

I was testing my canon 10-18 and there is a little play to (almost nothing) not as pronounced as the 18-135 but they have different weights and sizes

Maybe it's normal and I'm making problem of it but my older sigma didn't make this symptom

I will try visit a store and check a brand new just for comparison.....

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

gtangas — Thu, 04 May 2017 09:24:49 GMT

So Just tried the non stm version and brand new... it rattles and wobbles...

tried too the 55-250 stm and rock solid... definitely the stm versions have another build quality....

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

gtangas — Thu, 04 May 2017 10:12:17 GMT

Update info...
Went to fnac and tried brand new 18-135 stm and the new nano usm version.

The stm shows the same amount of rattle and wobble that the one I have.(mine shows a little more since it's used)

The nano usm is rock solid... different construction... different value too.

The guy from fnac show me 2 lens of the stm version and the two reveals the same behaviour.

So I have to concluded that the small wobble and rattle is ok and a not a problem... annoying at least but ok

Funny is that the 55-250 doesn't wobble... is an smaller barrel and the weights less... and maybe that's the reason for is solid construction

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

TTMartin — Thu, 04 May 2017 11:03:17 GMT

@gtangas wrote:
Update info...
Went to fnac and tried brand new 18-135 stm and the new nano usm version.

The stm shows the same amount of rattle and wobble that the one I have.(mine shows a little more since it's used)

The nano usm is rock solid... different construction... different value too.

The guy from fnac show me 2 lens of the stm version and the two reveals the same behaviour.

So I have to concluded that the small wobble and rattle is ok and a not a problem... annoying at least but ok

Funny is that the 55-250 doesn't wobble... is an smaller barrel and the weights less... and maybe that's the reason for is solid construction

As long as you are comfortable with it then that is what is important.

Re: ef-s 18-135 stm woobles normal?

gtangas — Thu, 04 May 2017 14:07:55 GMT

Yeap!

On fnac they have the canon 18-200 and a tamron (a nikon model) and in a more discrete manner the barrel shows some small play.... and that was/is my complaint... I have to admit that I'm a guy that demands a lot from the equipment (I'm Portuguese and we have a funny name for people like me... picuinhas lol ) and I'm not buying an L Lens.... It's not the entry kit lenses but...

Besides this issue the lens shows good pictures and the stab is very nice and in terms of business I payd half the money of a new one.

Definitely a huge upgrade from my old sigma 18-200 non stab

I wish to thank you all for your support and comments

Obrigado