Canon 18-135mm Zoom Issue?

Hi all, I'm new to this forum, and a recent convert back to DSLR photography having been using shoot an go digital cameras for last few years, albeit 20 years ago I was pretty into my photography with OM1 and the likes.....things have moved on a bit.

I recently bought a EOS 55OD c/w 18-135mm IS f/3.5-5.6 Canon lens, guess thats fairly basic Canon kit but good enough for now to get me back into it, and have been blasting away both at home and on a recent high alpine holiday and have a couple of questions/ observations, and ask if anyone can assist with clarification for me:-

1. First the stupid question - what does the outer ring do, is this just for manual operation focus? I've only used so far in autofocus programs and it doesnt appear to do anything in this mode.

2. Secondly - When I have the camera slung around my shoulder and am walking about the hills etc the zoom slides out and is a bit of a nuisance and annoying, is this normal? I read somewhere about "zoom creep", is that what I am getting, and if so how can I stop this?

Look forward to comments/ replies............go steady I'm a newbie here!

Hi Mark and welcome to POTN.

I don't own your gear combo but I can confirm that zoom creep does exist on some lenses. I use a 5D with 24-105 and both are over six years old. When the 24-105 was new it was reasonably tight and stayed in place. As it got older and used A LOT (likely 50,000+ shots) it did get loose and would creep as you described. I ALWAYS keep a hood on it for a couple of reasons so if it bumps something the hood takes it.

I recently had the lens serviced for another issue and commented about its "zoom creep." I asked the tech if he could address that and now it's as tight as when it was now. Welcome to the land of digital Mark and I hope you like the forum. There is a ton of useful info here and more.

The wierd thing is the lens is brand new so I don't think should be like that. Thanks for your reply.

I have that lens and it creeps all the time!

My 18-135 creeped out from day 1. Annoying, but it is a good walking around lens.

Mine creeps like that as well. It's normal.

Yep, mine creeps, too. I use one of those "Speed Strap" things that work very well, but the zoom creep is extremely annoying. Like sapearl said, a hood is a great idea to offer some protection while out and about. I have mine on at all times.

Just to take this discussion on a tangent, I notice that when this lens is for sale in the classifieds, there is always poor response. Is it such a crappy lens? Maybe I'm not such a good photographer I don't notice, but it seems to do the job.

Is there a replacement that is "wow"??

dropmyload wrote in post #15017470
Just to take this discussion on a tangent, I notice that when this lens is for sale in the classifieds, there is always poor response. Is it such a crappy lens? Maybe I'm not such a good photographer I don't notice, but it seems to do the job.

Is there a replacement that is "wow"??

I have been using a 18-135 for about 2 years. It does creep, but I've had worse. I keep looking at replacing this lens with either a 15-85 (loss of range, slower) or 24-105 (expensive). I just can't pull the trigger; I don't see THAT much IQ difference in real photos. My 18-135 has served me well. If I go FF, I will get it with the 24-105 kit lens.

I have this lens and use it quite a bit. I really like it. It is lightweight, takes sharp pictures and focuses reasonably fast. Lens creep has not been an issue for me. But if it is for you call Canon service and ask them if anything can be done about it. The outer ring is for manual focus. Don't be turning it when auto focus is active.

Mike

Lens creep with this lens from day 1, when I had it.

When I got the 15-85 I noticed two things.
1. Focus speed (compared to a USM lens, the 18-135 focuses pretty fast).
2. An actual difference in IQ, not just "I have a new lens it's better!"

Only newbies upgrade their 18-55 to this lens, that's why it doesn't sell well. There isn't a massive market for it. Other than that I think it's a good starter lens with remarkable range and good IQ. I'd suggest it as a lens to anyone, lens creep comes with the size and price of this lens.