Pentax SMC DA 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 SDM Lens Review

Pentax SMC DA 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 SDM Handling and features

All things considered, this lens is incredibly lightweight for the range it covers, weighing only 453g. As a result is balances perfectly on the Pentax K-5 IIs used for testing, even without a battery grip. High quality plastics have been used throughout the construction of the lens barrel and the lens mount is metal. Unlike many recent Pentax lenses, this lens is not sealed against dust and moisture.

Focusing is performed internally, so the 62mm filter thread does not rotate, making it perfect for use with polarising and graduated filters. The wide rubberised zoom ring is smooth to operate, not tightening up considerably at any point in the range, but having enough resistance to avoid zoom creep. A thinner manual focusing ring rotates during auto-focus, so care may need to be taken to prevent it accidentally catching your fingers during operation. Even so, it doesn't move all that quickly. Manual focusing action is smooth, but not damped at all, which can make applying fine focus adjustments slightly fiddly. This lens isn't equipped with the Pentax 'Quick Shift' feature either, which means autofocus needs to be completely disengaged to apply manual adjustments. The focusing ring is locked in place, engaged with the focus motor in AF mode.

Although focusing is powered by a supersonic motor, it isn't overly quick, especially at 270mm, where it can hunt for focus for what seems like quite a while. The minimum focus distance of 49cm is fairly close for a lens covering this range.

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