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Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is STM Camera Lens
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Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Canon |
Focal Length Description | 18-55mm |
Lens Type | Standard |
Compatible Mountings | Canon EF |
Camera Lens Description | 7 |
About this item
- Minimum focusing distance: 0.82 ft./0.25m (full zoom range)
- High magnification, compact and lightweight EF-S standard zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilizer for up to four equivalent stops of shake correction.
- Supports Canon EOS Movie Servo AF feature for smooth and quiet continuous AF during movie shooting by utilizing a new six-group zoom system plus a stepping motor and focus mechanism.
- Manual focus adjustment possible while in AF Mode.
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Price | $150.00$150.00 | -8% $114.99$114.99 Typical price: $125.00 | -34% $365.00$365.00 List: $549.00 | $199.00$199.00 | $199.00$199.00 | $199.00$199.00 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | Get it Mar 26 - 28 | — | — | Get it Mar 26 - 27 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Picture quality | 4.7 | — | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
Image stabilization | 4.6 | — | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Auto focus | 4.5 | — | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
Quality of material | — | — | 4.7 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Durability | — | — | — | 4.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Sold By | PIXIBYTES | PRIME CELLUTIONS | BH 52 Innovations | Adorama | K&M Camera Since 1976 | Amazon.com |
lens type | Standard | Wide Angle | Telephoto | Normal | Telephoto | Telephoto |
compatible mountings | Canon EF | Canon EF-S | Canon EF | Canon EF-S | Canon EF | Canon EF |
lens design | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom |
focus type | Manual Focus | Manual Focus, Auto Focus | Stepper motor | Micromotor | Auto Focus | Auto Focus |
minimum focal length | 18 millimeters | 18 millimeters | 18 millimeters | — | 75 millimeters | 75 millimeters |
max focal length | 55 millimeters | 55 millimeters | 135 millimeters | — | 300 millimeters | 300 millimeters |
Videos
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Canon EF 50mm vs Canon EF-S 18-55mm #thisorthat
Matthew Pate
Videos for this product
0:41
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Canon EF-S 18-55mm Camera Lens: Is It Worth It?
Cast and Spear
What's in the box
From the manufacturer
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Zoom Lens
An affordable standard zoom lens suited to a variety of subjects. Enjoy smooth, near-silent focusing when shooting video, with STM motor technology and Movie Servo AF. A four-stop Image Stabilizer reduces camera shake.
Benefits:
- Versatile zoom range - great for landscapes, portraits and travel
- Compact lightweight design
- Avoid camera shake with a four-stop optical Image Stabilizer
- STM Motor gives smooth, near-silent focusing when shooting video
- 0.25m close focusing distance
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Product Dimensions | 2.95 x 2.72 x 2.72 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 7.2 ounces |
ASIN | B00BW6LVW2 |
Item model number | 8114B002AA |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #81 in SLR Camera Lenses |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | March 19, 2013 |
Manufacturer | Canon Cameras US |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product guides and documents
Product Description
TBD
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the versatility, value, and image quality of the camera lenses. For example, they mention it's great for shooting videos, the dust seals are satisfactory, and the images look really good. Some appreciate the noise level, saying the autofocus motor is pretty much totally silent. They also like the quality, autofocus, and weight. That said, some disagree on softness.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the lens. They mention that it works great, is much better than expected, and produces clear pictures. Some say that it's a great little lens for everyday photography and makes a good hiking lens. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"Prompt delivery, safely packaged, works well as expected to replace the same 12 year old lens that developed focusing issues on our Canon Rebel T3..." Read more
"...The photos come out nice and clear though, and good lord it's so quiet! Have I mentioned how quiet it is??..." Read more
"...On the other hand, it's lightweight and makes a great hiking lens...." Read more
"...The IS is really good, and will allow shutter speeds down to 1/15 sec or so verses the traditional 1/60 (or faster depending on focal length)...." Read more
Customers like the autofocus of the camera lens. They mention that it's competent, quick, and accurate. Some say that it struggles if there's a lot going on. That said, most are happy with it. They also appreciate the quiet operation and the smooth focus ring. Customers also like that they can adjust the focus manually after autofocus.
"...Took a little to get used to that.It usually focuses pretty well right away, though sometimes it struggles if there's a lot going on in..." Read more
"...focusing (not only is silent but faster and more accurate), rear focus instead of front (means the front element doesn’t rotate), really it’s better..." Read more
"This lens is my go-to for silent autofocus, yet is the lightest for vlogging so your arm doesn't get tired...." Read more
"...The autofocus is competent. The manual focus override is clumsy, but I rarely use it...." Read more
Customers like the image quality of the camera lens. They say it captures brilliant colors, and is great for landscapes. Customers also say the design is straight forward, and the STM video is great and smooth.
"...I am so happy to finally replace it The quality of the pictures are very clear. Can't believe I waited over a year to replace...." Read more
"...Image quality is nearly identical too. This lens is great for landscapes, large machinery, real estate, architecture, or even some fun distortion..." Read more
"...The design is straight forward, its about the size of a mini soda can and has ridges towards the middle of the body; this is for twisting and using..." Read more
"...well built, sturdy and solid like the original but the pictures just don't seem as crisp as the originals did...." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the lens. They mention it's a great little lens on the cheap, with satisfactory weather and dust seals. The 58mm filter thread means inexpensive filters, and it has an excellent photo value for your Canon DSLR.
"...7. Other stuff – 58mm filter thread means inexpensive filters, if you are into that...." Read more
"...Weather/dust seals are satisfactory for the price, though I would say that's the weak point of this lens...." Read more
"...Great lens. Very affordable, but make sure it works correctly...." Read more
"...with a new born and I am not worried if I break this lens the its cheap enough and I can even get a little blurr at 3.5" Read more
Customers are happy with the noise of the camera lens. They mention that the drive motor is quieter, the front element is quiet, and the autofocus motor is pretty much totally silent. They also say that there's no sound when it refocuses and that the auto focus is smooth.
"...The photos come out nice and clear though, and good lord it's so quiet! Have I mentioned how quiet it is??..." Read more
"...4. STM Focus – Canon’s silent and smooth focus, this is ideal for video...." Read more
"...Yes, the IS and the STM are very quiet when operating...." Read more
"This product is exactly what I expected, it was completely silent, great image quality, and great quality build...." Read more
Customers like the versatility of the camera lens. They mention it's great for shooting videos, movieing, and handheld video. It's quiet and makes a huge difference for making videos.
"...For the price you aren't going to do better. It's probably really great for shooting videos as there's no sound when it refocuses." Read more
"...Note - IS makes this lens good for video shooting, reducing the amount of shakiness in the footage considerably! Great for vloggers...." Read more
"...It's excellent for shooting video with, too, since the autofocus motor is pretty much totally silent." Read more
"This lens is very nice for handheld video, it's super light, fast and smoth focus. Wouldn't recommend it for 4k, but for 1080p is OK...." Read more
Customers find the weight of the camera lens to be very light and compact. They say it's easy to carry around all day.
"...2. Lightweight – Maybe not something you have thought of if you are still a little new to photography and DSLRs, but believe me when I say it will..." Read more
"This lens is my go-to for silent autofocus, yet is the lightest for vlogging so your arm doesn't get tired...." Read more
"...On the other hand, it's lightweight and makes a great hiking lens...." Read more
"...this thing is more flexible, smaller and lighter than my other zoom, and still gives great shots...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the softness of the lens. Some mention it's smooth and comfortable, while others say it'll soften a little around the edges.
"...Its very smooth and becoming a staple on most setups from what I can see...." Read more
"...Sharp in the center, softens a little on the outsides, contrast tends to be a little so-so, but that is to be expected from a kit lens...." Read more
"Unbelievable! Sooo smooth!" Read more
"A nice comfortable lens for mainly in house shooting. Not to far and not to close. A perfect lens for anybody." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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It usually focuses pretty well right away, though sometimes it struggles if there's a lot going on in the frame. So it was with my last kit lens, and so I expected it to be here as well. The photos come out nice and clear though, and good lord it's so quiet! Have I mentioned how quiet it is??
For the price you aren't going to do better. It's probably really great for shooting videos as there's no sound when it refocuses.
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019
It usually focuses pretty well right away, though sometimes it struggles if there's a lot going on in the frame. So it was with my last kit lens, and so I expected it to be here as well. The photos come out nice and clear though, and good lord it's so quiet! Have I mentioned how quiet it is??
For the price you aren't going to do better. It's probably really great for shooting videos as there's no sound when it refocuses.
Robert Woodbury
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2023
Robert Woodbury
Pros
1. Takes good photos – The most important aspect of all lenses is that they take good photos. For a kit lens, this one isn’t bad (A kit lens is a general term for the lenses that typically come bundled with cameras). It might not be the sharpest lens in my bag, but I have some pretty impressive (and expensive) lenses, so that is an unfair comparison. Compared to previous offerings like the IS II model, it is a clearly better lens (see comparison at the end). Sharp in the center, softens a little on the outsides, contrast tends to be a little so-so, but that is to be expected from a kit lens. For people learning photography this will not be a big deal, at least not for a while. This lens is plenty good to get some good shots and learn the game.
2. Lightweight – Maybe not something you have thought of if you are still a little new to photography and DSLRs, but believe me when I say it will become important to you at some point. Big lenses get heavy, and if you will be carrying all day then it will make a difference. This lens is super light, thanks to the all plastic design. Even the mount is plastic. But it is made from a nearly unbreakable polymer; the force needed to break it would also break your camera.
3. IS – 4 stops of image stabilization makes up for the limited aperture. This lens has trouble getting light into it, since its max aperture is F3.5-5.6, depending on the focal length you choose. IS lets you slow the shutter down considerably to capture as much as 16 times more light! This however comes at a cost. IS will only be good for shooting still or very slow subjects, it does nothing for a moving subject. If that is what you need to do, you will need a “fast” lens. See my suggestions at the end for this. Note - IS makes this lens good for video shooting, reducing the amount of shakiness in the footage considerably! Great for vloggers.
4. STM Focus – Canon’s silent and smooth focus, this is ideal for video. It works for stills as well, so long as you are not shooting a lot of action shots. It isn’t snappy fast; it’s made more for tracking smoothly. I personally use continuous focus for action shooting anyway; as long as you can track your subject it will work pretty decent. Note – For whatever reason, the base models like the T6 and T7 do not feature support for silent focusing. I am not sure why Canon omitted this, since it is not in the hardware of the lens, it is the software of the camera that supports it. So if you want to use silent focus for video, then you need a higher level model like the SL2/SL3, or T7i. Also, older models do not support silent STM focus. The T4i would be the first model to do so, and is one of the first Canons to use continuous auto focus in a DSLR.
5. Bundled Price – Most commonly part of bundles where it adds an additional 50- 100 USD to the price (sometimes less). You can’t get a zoom lens in this range for this price. If you are ok with used lenses, these are available all over the place for as low as 30 USD. I would not advise getting one at its full retail price of 250 USD (this is part of the reason I am writing this review, to get this info out there). It is just too easy to find them cheaper than that elsewhere. Even on Amazon I have seen the bulk “white box” version for around 80 USD. Really, there is little reason to buy one of these lenses in the full retail box, since they can be found so cheap. I put this info here for anyone that might be looking to “upgrade” from an older version. Please see my notes on that at the end.
6. Useful range – After crop, this lens is 28-88mm. (That’s right, even a crop only lens has to have crop factor applied to it.) That makes this a “standard zoom”. The standard zoom features some of the most important focal ranges in all of photography. A high degree of your shots you take will be in that range. This is what makes the standard zoom so useful, nay, critical to learning photography. I cannot stress enough how often you will be shooting in these ranges.
7. Other stuff – 58mm filter thread means inexpensive filters, if you are into that. Common size filter too so you can also share with other lenses, like the EF-S 55-250mm lens that often is bundled with new cameras. Front element does not rotate during focus, good for using polarizers or graduated filters, which I would recommend to anyone shooting landscapes a lot. I don’t suggest a UV filter, since this is such a cheap lens it would just be a waste of money.
Cons. Most this is for your information only, not warranting the removal of a star (I will note why if I do remove a star). It is up to the user to know what they are getting and how to use it.
1. Limited variable aperture – The bane of all inexpensive zoom lenses, this lens features an aperture that loses light as you zoom in. So as you go from 18mm to 55mm, you lose over half your light. To compound on that, the max aperture of F3.5-5.6 isn’t very bright. But, as long as you shoot in good light it won’t matter. Also, the IS on the lens helps overcome this too, as described earlier in the review.
2. Focus by wire – The STM focus motor is all electronic, even for manual focus. This means there is no mechanical connection to the focus ring, so it is not as precise as lenses that do have a mechanical focus. Not bad though, just a bit harder to use manual focus if that is what you are into. Also, this requires power to activate the focus, so if looking for accessories such as extension tubes or adaptors for other camera mounts, be sure they supply power to the lens. For the most part I don’t mind focus by wire, since I don’t do a lot of manual, but I don’t know one photographer that prefers it over mechanical focus. STM lenses don’t seem able to have the mechanical connection to focus, so that is the tradeoff for silent video focus. Not a big deal for most shooters that will be using this lens.
3. Lens extends during focus and zoom – As to be expected on a lens like this, whenever you focus or zoom the lens extends out. Remember that you don’t want to leave it like this when not using it; always retract it back to the base when putting it away or even when leaving it hanging on the strap, since it is not as sturdy when extended; a hard jarring can break it much easier at full extension. I would imagine that over time this would develop a creep issue, where it will tend to extend on its own when hanging from a strap. I haven’t had that happen, but my lens is not very old and doesn’t see much use these days (as I said, I have a large library of lenses).
4. Crop only – This isn’t so much a con as much as just wanting to put this info here. The most common question I answer is “will this lens fit my camera?” So, this lens will work on any Rebel, all the mid-range models (20D to the 80D), and also the 7D. It will not work on the 6D, 5D, or 1D cameras, which are Canon’s full frame line. For the mirrorless line, it can be adapted if you have the adaptor that allows the use of EF and EF-S lenses. In this case, even the full frame models (EOS R and RP) can adapt it.
5. Overall mediocre – Even though I think this is a good lens to learn with, in the end it is one that you will outgrow pretty quickly. I can’t really in good faith call this a 5 star lens, since it just lacks overall punch. Colors are not as vibrant, contrast is not as strong, it’s uses are limited to outdoor shooting unless shooting nearly still subjects or at very high ISO, lacks snappy focusing for fast subjects, lens coatings aren’t as good as higher level lenses so flaring can be an issue, you will notice aberrations and fringing in certain situations, it just goes on. I mean, this is the whole point of a kit lens; it is just good enough to get you somewhere. It isn’t meant to be there for the long haul. So, this is why I took a star off, since I just don’t feel I can give an overall mediocre lens 5 stars, even if it is a cheap lens. At the retail price of 250 USD I would take off 2 stars, just to emphasize how you should never pay that for this lens.
6. Other stuff – All plastic build, even the mount. Shouldn’t be a big deal as long as you don’t abuse the lens, and is better built than previous models. Vignettes a bit when shooting wide open at the wider angles (easily fixed in post and sometimes looks kind of cool). Really wish it was 15-55mm instead to make it 24mm at the widest angle after crop. Chromatic aberrations will be more obvious with strong backlight. No hood is included, which is common for Canon lenses. If you want to get a hood, look into Promaster. They are just as good, but are cheaper, without being as bad as some of the really cheap brands.
Compared to the older models – This is the third version of this lens. The previous model, the IS II, improved considerably over the first gen, and is still included in the lower models like the T6 and T7. The IS STM model improves even further over the IS II in the following ways: Better optics for a sharper image, better focusing (not only is silent but faster and more accurate), rear focus instead of front (means the front element doesn’t rotate), really it’s better in all categories. However, if you have the older model, there is not really any reason to invest in the IS STM model. Sure, it’s better in all ways, but it’s still not a great lens. The money you would put into it would be better used for a different lens. Check out my list at the end for some suggestions.
Conclusions
So why did I want to review the kit lens? As I said before, no one ever talks about kit lenses. I know that Canon has a few versions of this lens, and that is confusing to people that don’t know a lot about camera gear. People see that there is a new version of something and they think they need it to make better photos. In cases like kit lenses and Rebel cameras, there is little reason to get the latest model if your model is only 1 or 2 generations old. There rarely are large enough differences from one to the other to justify the cost, especially if you have little to spend on camera gear. I would suggest instead investing in a variety of lenses that will add new dimensions to your photo game. With that being said, here is a list I call, “the four lenses to buy first for Canon APS-C/crop cameras”. All these lenses will work on any Canon APS-C camera as described in the review. These are not in any specific order of preference:
1. EF 50mm F1.8 STM – This should be your first lens, after the 18-55mm. For 125 USD, it can’t be beat. The wide F1.8 aperture and 80mm equivalent angle of view makes it ideal for portraits that have that classic look. Possibly the best value in all of photography!
2. EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM – The newest version of this lens, it’s probably the best telephoto you can get for less than 1000 USD. Great for soccer games, wildlife at the park, or whatever you like. There is an older version, the IS II, which is cheaper, but is completely outclassed by the newer IS STM model. Bundle the IS STM for 200, otherwise it is 300 USD, but can be found used for 150 or less.
3. EF-S 10-18mm F4-5.6 IS STM – At 300 USD it is less than half the price of the EF-S 10-22mm that it is often compared to, and has the advantage of IS. Image quality is nearly identical too. This lens is great for landscapes, large machinery, real estate, architecture, or even some fun distortion shots. Often discounted to 280 USD or less.
4. EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM – Adds better low light shooting to your kit on a budget, and is an all-around a great lens. Makes a great compliment to the 50mm F1.8, having a wider angle of view with a fast aperture.
All these lenses will add something different to your kit, are highly rated, and affordable. The 18-55mm will make a nice compliment to them, but I think you will at some point just leave it behind once you see what more you can do with any of these.
That is all I got, all that is left is to check out the images. Thank you for reading my review! For more gear reviews, check out my profile by simply clicking my name, and if you found this review helpful please remember to click the helpful button. Thanks again!
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2019
Pros
1. Takes good photos – The most important aspect of all lenses is that they take good photos. For a kit lens, this one isn’t bad (A kit lens is a general term for the lenses that typically come bundled with cameras). It might not be the sharpest lens in my bag, but I have some pretty impressive (and expensive) lenses, so that is an unfair comparison. Compared to previous offerings like the IS II model, it is a clearly better lens (see comparison at the end). Sharp in the center, softens a little on the outsides, contrast tends to be a little so-so, but that is to be expected from a kit lens. For people learning photography this will not be a big deal, at least not for a while. This lens is plenty good to get some good shots and learn the game.
2. Lightweight – Maybe not something you have thought of if you are still a little new to photography and DSLRs, but believe me when I say it will become important to you at some point. Big lenses get heavy, and if you will be carrying all day then it will make a difference. This lens is super light, thanks to the all plastic design. Even the mount is plastic. But it is made from a nearly unbreakable polymer; the force needed to break it would also break your camera.
3. IS – 4 stops of image stabilization makes up for the limited aperture. This lens has trouble getting light into it, since its max aperture is F3.5-5.6, depending on the focal length you choose. IS lets you slow the shutter down considerably to capture as much as 16 times more light! This however comes at a cost. IS will only be good for shooting still or very slow subjects, it does nothing for a moving subject. If that is what you need to do, you will need a “fast” lens. See my suggestions at the end for this. Note - IS makes this lens good for video shooting, reducing the amount of shakiness in the footage considerably! Great for vloggers.
4. STM Focus – Canon’s silent and smooth focus, this is ideal for video. It works for stills as well, so long as you are not shooting a lot of action shots. It isn’t snappy fast; it’s made more for tracking smoothly. I personally use continuous focus for action shooting anyway; as long as you can track your subject it will work pretty decent. Note – For whatever reason, the base models like the T6 and T7 do not feature support for silent focusing. I am not sure why Canon omitted this, since it is not in the hardware of the lens, it is the software of the camera that supports it. So if you want to use silent focus for video, then you need a higher level model like the SL2/SL3, or T7i. Also, older models do not support silent STM focus. The T4i would be the first model to do so, and is one of the first Canons to use continuous auto focus in a DSLR.
5. Bundled Price – Most commonly part of bundles where it adds an additional 50- 100 USD to the price (sometimes less). You can’t get a zoom lens in this range for this price. If you are ok with used lenses, these are available all over the place for as low as 30 USD. I would not advise getting one at its full retail price of 250 USD (this is part of the reason I am writing this review, to get this info out there). It is just too easy to find them cheaper than that elsewhere. Even on Amazon I have seen the bulk “white box” version for around 80 USD. Really, there is little reason to buy one of these lenses in the full retail box, since they can be found so cheap. I put this info here for anyone that might be looking to “upgrade” from an older version. Please see my notes on that at the end.
6. Useful range – After crop, this lens is 28-88mm. (That’s right, even a crop only lens has to have crop factor applied to it.) That makes this a “standard zoom”. The standard zoom features some of the most important focal ranges in all of photography. A high degree of your shots you take will be in that range. This is what makes the standard zoom so useful, nay, critical to learning photography. I cannot stress enough how often you will be shooting in these ranges.
7. Other stuff – 58mm filter thread means inexpensive filters, if you are into that. Common size filter too so you can also share with other lenses, like the EF-S 55-250mm lens that often is bundled with new cameras. Front element does not rotate during focus, good for using polarizers or graduated filters, which I would recommend to anyone shooting landscapes a lot. I don’t suggest a UV filter, since this is such a cheap lens it would just be a waste of money.
Cons. Most this is for your information only, not warranting the removal of a star (I will note why if I do remove a star). It is up to the user to know what they are getting and how to use it.
1. Limited variable aperture – The bane of all inexpensive zoom lenses, this lens features an aperture that loses light as you zoom in. So as you go from 18mm to 55mm, you lose over half your light. To compound on that, the max aperture of F3.5-5.6 isn’t very bright. But, as long as you shoot in good light it won’t matter. Also, the IS on the lens helps overcome this too, as described earlier in the review.
2. Focus by wire – The STM focus motor is all electronic, even for manual focus. This means there is no mechanical connection to the focus ring, so it is not as precise as lenses that do have a mechanical focus. Not bad though, just a bit harder to use manual focus if that is what you are into. Also, this requires power to activate the focus, so if looking for accessories such as extension tubes or adaptors for other camera mounts, be sure they supply power to the lens. For the most part I don’t mind focus by wire, since I don’t do a lot of manual, but I don’t know one photographer that prefers it over mechanical focus. STM lenses don’t seem able to have the mechanical connection to focus, so that is the tradeoff for silent video focus. Not a big deal for most shooters that will be using this lens.
3. Lens extends during focus and zoom – As to be expected on a lens like this, whenever you focus or zoom the lens extends out. Remember that you don’t want to leave it like this when not using it; always retract it back to the base when putting it away or even when leaving it hanging on the strap, since it is not as sturdy when extended; a hard jarring can break it much easier at full extension. I would imagine that over time this would develop a creep issue, where it will tend to extend on its own when hanging from a strap. I haven’t had that happen, but my lens is not very old and doesn’t see much use these days (as I said, I have a large library of lenses).
4. Crop only – This isn’t so much a con as much as just wanting to put this info here. The most common question I answer is “will this lens fit my camera?” So, this lens will work on any Rebel, all the mid-range models (20D to the 80D), and also the 7D. It will not work on the 6D, 5D, or 1D cameras, which are Canon’s full frame line. For the mirrorless line, it can be adapted if you have the adaptor that allows the use of EF and EF-S lenses. In this case, even the full frame models (EOS R and RP) can adapt it.
5. Overall mediocre – Even though I think this is a good lens to learn with, in the end it is one that you will outgrow pretty quickly. I can’t really in good faith call this a 5 star lens, since it just lacks overall punch. Colors are not as vibrant, contrast is not as strong, it’s uses are limited to outdoor shooting unless shooting nearly still subjects or at very high ISO, lacks snappy focusing for fast subjects, lens coatings aren’t as good as higher level lenses so flaring can be an issue, you will notice aberrations and fringing in certain situations, it just goes on. I mean, this is the whole point of a kit lens; it is just good enough to get you somewhere. It isn’t meant to be there for the long haul. So, this is why I took a star off, since I just don’t feel I can give an overall mediocre lens 5 stars, even if it is a cheap lens. At the retail price of 250 USD I would take off 2 stars, just to emphasize how you should never pay that for this lens.
6. Other stuff – All plastic build, even the mount. Shouldn’t be a big deal as long as you don’t abuse the lens, and is better built than previous models. Vignettes a bit when shooting wide open at the wider angles (easily fixed in post and sometimes looks kind of cool). Really wish it was 15-55mm instead to make it 24mm at the widest angle after crop. Chromatic aberrations will be more obvious with strong backlight. No hood is included, which is common for Canon lenses. If you want to get a hood, look into Promaster. They are just as good, but are cheaper, without being as bad as some of the really cheap brands.
Compared to the older models – This is the third version of this lens. The previous model, the IS II, improved considerably over the first gen, and is still included in the lower models like the T6 and T7. The IS STM model improves even further over the IS II in the following ways: Better optics for a sharper image, better focusing (not only is silent but faster and more accurate), rear focus instead of front (means the front element doesn’t rotate), really it’s better in all categories. However, if you have the older model, there is not really any reason to invest in the IS STM model. Sure, it’s better in all ways, but it’s still not a great lens. The money you would put into it would be better used for a different lens. Check out my list at the end for some suggestions.
Conclusions
So why did I want to review the kit lens? As I said before, no one ever talks about kit lenses. I know that Canon has a few versions of this lens, and that is confusing to people that don’t know a lot about camera gear. People see that there is a new version of something and they think they need it to make better photos. In cases like kit lenses and Rebel cameras, there is little reason to get the latest model if your model is only 1 or 2 generations old. There rarely are large enough differences from one to the other to justify the cost, especially if you have little to spend on camera gear. I would suggest instead investing in a variety of lenses that will add new dimensions to your photo game. With that being said, here is a list I call, “the four lenses to buy first for Canon APS-C/crop cameras”. All these lenses will work on any Canon APS-C camera as described in the review. These are not in any specific order of preference:
1. EF 50mm F1.8 STM – This should be your first lens, after the 18-55mm. For 125 USD, it can’t be beat. The wide F1.8 aperture and 80mm equivalent angle of view makes it ideal for portraits that have that classic look. Possibly the best value in all of photography!
2. EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM – The newest version of this lens, it’s probably the best telephoto you can get for less than 1000 USD. Great for soccer games, wildlife at the park, or whatever you like. There is an older version, the IS II, which is cheaper, but is completely outclassed by the newer IS STM model. Bundle the IS STM for 200, otherwise it is 300 USD, but can be found used for 150 or less.
3. EF-S 10-18mm F4-5.6 IS STM – At 300 USD it is less than half the price of the EF-S 10-22mm that it is often compared to, and has the advantage of IS. Image quality is nearly identical too. This lens is great for landscapes, large machinery, real estate, architecture, or even some fun distortion shots. Often discounted to 280 USD or less.
4. EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM – Adds better low light shooting to your kit on a budget, and is an all-around a great lens. Makes a great compliment to the 50mm F1.8, having a wider angle of view with a fast aperture.
All these lenses will add something different to your kit, are highly rated, and affordable. The 18-55mm will make a nice compliment to them, but I think you will at some point just leave it behind once you see what more you can do with any of these.
That is all I got, all that is left is to check out the images. Thank you for reading my review! For more gear reviews, check out my profile by simply clicking my name, and if you found this review helpful please remember to click the helpful button. Thanks again!
On the other hand, it's lightweight and makes a great hiking lens. If you drop it, you're not out the price of a used Toyota Corolla like would be the casse with high-end lenses.
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2018
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2022
Belle finition. On sens que l'on est pas sur de l'entré de gamme.
Je recommande vivement ce modèle !
Reviewed in France on December 16, 2020
Belle finition. On sens que l'on est pas sur de l'entré de gamme.
Je recommande vivement ce modèle !