Summary
Need a lens for your kids?
The 18-55 f/4-5.6 IS STM is a great option for them for a couple of reasons.
One is that the small size makes this lens ideal for kid-sized hands and the light weight keeps photography fun for them – and fun for longer periods of time.
Another is that you do not need to worry about them damaging your more-valuable lens(es).
Need a potentially sacrificial lens?
Sometimes getting an extreme photo is worth risking gear to capture and the low cost of this lens makes it a good choice for potentially damaging situations, especially those without a strong budget behind them.
If your wallet is light or you need to keep your DSLR light, this lens might be a good choice for you.
But if this lens gains you entrance into the incredible world of Canon EOS DSLR cameras
and the impressive image quality they deliver, this lens is worth starting with.
You can upgrade to a better lens later.
Oh BTW, your phone has terrible image quality.
Sometimes, there is a reason why this lens may even be the best choice for bear photography.
Not very often, but … I had a good reason.
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens is a low end starter lens with reasonable performance.
The light weight and small size are big values and the low price tag makes it a good value.
The savings of buying this lens in the kit vs. standalone are strong, strong enough to make upgrading your DSLR a good idea vs. buying this lens alone.
Bringing you this site is my full-time job (typically 60-80 hours per week). Thus, I depend solely on the commissions received from you using the links on this site to make any purchase. I am grateful for your support! — Bryan
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Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens
- Sample Pictures
- Specifications
by Bryan Carnathan
Manufacturer ID:1620C002Review Date: 2017-05-25
Navigate the Reviews« Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Review» Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens Review
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Качество сборки Canon EF-M 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 и особенности конструкции
Объектив EF-M 18-55 мм ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS STM маленький и легкий – 210 г: он темно-серого цвета. Объектив небольшой, но он недостаточно мал, чтобы вы могли поместить фотоаппарат в большой карман пальто.
Линза имеет одиннадцать элементов в тринадцати группах с тремя асферическими элементами и имеет закругленную апертуру с семью лепестками. Нет переключателей или других элементов управления, только кольцо ручной фокусировки, поэтому его простая конструкция хорошо сочетается с камерами EOS-M.
Фокусирующее кольцо имеет небольшую ширину, пластиковую ребристую поверхность. Конструктив фокусировки электрический, поэтому кольцо будет вращаться в любом направлении без остановок. При фокусировке длина объектива не изменяется. Передний элемент (и любые прикрепленные 52-миллиметровые светофильтры) не будут вращаться во время манипуляций по фокусировке.
Кольцо трансфокатора немного больше шириной (~ в 5 раз), и также пластиковое с штриховым текстурным рисунком. зумирование занимает около 75 градусов, чтобы пройти через весь диапазон фокусных расстояний. При увеличении ф.р. объектива на 55 мм объектив выдвигается ~ на 2,5 см. Эффект масштабирования хорошо достигается, и для это требуется всего около двух пальцев. Нет переключателя блокировки зума, для объектива такого размера он вряд ли понадобится.
EF-M 18-55mm оснащен стабилизацией изображения, который отлично работает.
Дополнительный аксессуар бленда EW-54 продается отдельно.
Alternatives to the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens
While this lens becomes the best or nearly the best EF-S 18-55mm STM Lens available to date, it is not the best lens in a variety of regards.
It may be the lightest and the smallest of similar zooms.
It’s IS and STM features are desirable assets.
But, I suggest consideration be given to the lenses listed in the general purpose lens recommendations.
Specifically comparing the f/4-5.6 IS STM to its predecessor, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens,
we see the older lens performing better in the wide angle periphery and the newer lens performing significantly better at the long end.
I prefer the results of the f/4-5.6 overall, though if using the lens primarily at 18mm with scenes requiring sharper corners (such as landscapes), the older lens may be the better choice.
The f/4-5.6 has more lateral CA and slightly stronger pincushion distortion at 55mm.
The f/4-5.6 is smaller (though not lighter), but it is also slower, having a narrower max aperture over some of the focal length range.
The f/3.5-5.6 has a high maximum magnification spec.
Otherwise, these lenses are quite similar overall.
Specifications
Name
Canon calls this the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
EF: Electronic Focus, as all Canon’s lenses have been since 1987.
-S: Only covers the small APS-C sensors.
IS: Image Stabilization.
STM: Stepper autofocus Motor.
Optics
Canon 18-55mm IS STM internal construction. IS section and Aspherical elements.
12 elements in 10 groups.
1 aspherical element.
The rear element appears to be a fixed optical flat to prevent dust from being pumped in and out of your camera.
Diaphragm
Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. bigger.
7 rounded blades.
Stops down to f/22 ～ 32.
Focal Length
18 ～ 55mm.
When used on APS-C, it sees the same angle of view as a 28 ～ 85mm lens sees when used on a 35mm or full-frame camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View
74°20′ ～ 27°50′ diagonal.
64°30′ ～ 23°20′ horizontal.
45°30′ ～ 15°40′ vertical.
Lead Screw-type STM
Internal focus: no external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Size
2.62″ maximum diameter × 2.43″ extension from flange.
66.5 mm maximum diameter × 61.8 mm extension from flange at 18mm setting.
Weight
7.510 oz. (213.0 g) actual measured weight.
Canon specifies 7.6 oz. (215 g).
Обзор Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS II
За возможность обзора Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS II огромная благодарность Яковлеву Виталию.
Обзор Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS II
Данная модель объектива очень слабо отличается от более ранней модели Canon Zoom LENS EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS. Оптически, скорее всего, это один и тот же объектив. Вот, визуальная разница:
Разница между IS, IS II
Вообще, у Canon имеется достаточно много объективов класса 18-55 3.5-5.6. После того, как я сделал табличку, меня сильно удивило, что оптическая схема у объективов практически одинаковая.
Объективы Canon EF-S 18-55
Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS II — это простенький, дешевый объектив, который идет в комплекте с зеркальными камерами Canon. Комплект поставки камеры вместе с объективом называется ‘kit’, а такой объектив чаще всего называют ‘китовым’. Объектив из этого обзора шел вместе с камерой Canon EOS 650D, как сказал мне владелец объектива, разница между Canon body и Canon kit 18-55 составляла порядка 30 у.е., потому он решил взять kit, чтобы сразу проверить камеру.
Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS II подходит только для кропнутых камер формата APS-C с байонетом Canon EF-S. ЭФР объектива составляет 29-88мм, такой диапазон очень удобный для большинства несложных снимков. Объектив не может похвастаться ничем особым, кроме стабилизатора изображения. Стабилизатор позволяет компенсировать слабую светосилу объектива при съемке с рук. Стабилизатор работает довольно неплохо. Я не заметил серьезного улучшения стабилизации по сравнению с первой версией объектива ‘IS I’.
Вид объектива Canon 18-55 IS II с блендой
При фокусировке передняя линза вращается и выезжает вперед. При зумировании хобот объектива ходит волнообразно, то убирается во внутрь, то выезжает вперед. На объективе имеется два переключателя: переключатель режима фокусировки и переключатель работы стабилизатора.
Байонет объектива пластиковый, как впрочем и сам корпус объектива. На самом деле мне в чем-то нравятся китовые объективы, они очень легкие, дешевые, их несложно брать с собой куда угодно, не нужно переживать за то, что с объективом может что-то случиться. Я часто рекомендую китовый объектив как базис, с которого стоит начать фотографировать, а иногда можно обойтись только одним этим Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS II
Важно как фотографировать, а не с помощью каких средств. В связи с тем, что IS II очень похож на версию IS I, я не стал писать детальный обзор данного объектива
Объективы без стабилизатора изображения:
Версии USM:
Версии со стабилизатором изображения IS:
Версии с STM-мотором:
Версия для камер с байонетом EF-M
Точный и полный список всех объективов Canon EF-S/Canon EF-M можно посмотреть здесь.
Примеры фотографий:
Все фото без обработки. Уменьшен размер и впечатаны данные из EXIF. Все снято с включенной системой стабилизации. Экземпляр из этого обзора оказался не самым резким.
Больше примеров, с исходниками в формате RAW, можно найти в обзоре Canon 100D (правда, для обзора 100D использовался другой, не самый удачный экземпляр объектива).
Цены на объектив в популярных магазинах можете посмотреть по этой ссылке, либо в блоке цен ниже:
Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS II — неплохой объектив за свои деньги, отличный вариант для начала, имеет удобный диапазон фокусных расстояний с 3-х кратным зумом и стабилизатор изображения, который помогает при фотографировании с рук.
Материал подготовил Аркадий Шаповал.
Introduction
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is a new standard kit lens for Canon’s APS-C DSLR cameras. Featuring an equivalent focal length of 29-88mm, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm features a newly developed stepping motor for smooth and quiet continuous AF while capturing video and in live view mode, 4-stop optical image stabilisation, a short minimum focusing distance of only 25cm, Super Spectra coatings that minimize ghosting and flare, a circular seven-blade aperture, and a non-rotating front element. The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is available either as kit lens or seperately for £239.99 / €299.99 / $249.99.
Price and Value
As I mentioned in the beginning of the review, this lens, especially when included in a DSLR kit, is all about value.
Its purpose is to provide as much functionality as possible for a very cheap price.
It is successful in this regard, but its adoption will be limited to the budget-restricted and to those who are not aware that better lenses exist or aware of the differences the lens makes in regards to image quality.
That said, this will be one of the most common lenses in use.
As also mentioned earlier, but just to avoid mistakes, this lens is not compatible with full frame cameras.
EF-S lenses will only mount on Canon EOS APS-C cameras such as the EOS Rebel series / EOS ***D models (such as the Canon EOS Rebel T7i / 800D
this lens shared a press release with), EOS 1***D models (such as the 1300D), EOS **D models (such as the 80D, 77D, etc.), EOS 7-Series models and EOS M models via an adapter.
The review lens was sourced retail/online.
18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens |
18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
Introduction
The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is a standard zoom lens for Canon compact system cameras (currently just the EOS M model). Featuring an equivalent focal length of 29-88mm, the Canon EF-M 11-22mm offers a stepping motor for smooth and quiet continuous AF while capturing video and in live view mode, 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer and Dynamic IS for movies, manual focus override, minimum focusing distance of 25cm, circular seven-blade aperture, and a non-rotating front element. The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is available either as a kit lens or seperately for £269.99 / $299.99.
Performance
Autofocus
Autofocus is very, very fast, and it’s completely silent.
This is great for video, as well of course for still shots.
The STM lenses are in a class by themselves for autofocus speed.
Manual Focus
Just grab the rear focus ring at any time while the AF system is active for instant manual-focus override. You may need to .
Focus Breathing
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It’s important to cinematographers because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image «breathes» by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The image from this Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM gets slightly smaller as focussed more closely.
Bokeh
Bokeh, the feel or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is quite good. Backgrounds don’t distract.
As with all zooms, the softest backgrounds are had at the longest zoom setting at the closest focus distance at the largest aperture.
Davis 6250 weather station, 25 May 2017. bigger or camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolutions images properly).
Davis 6250 weather station, 25 May 2017. bigger or camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolutions images properly).
Distortion
This 18-55mm has a lot of barrel distortion at 18mm, and only minor to moderate distortion at other settings.
You can use these factors with Photoshop’s
lens distortion filter to correct it if you worry about it — and if your camera can’t correct it automatically.
|
Correction factor at 10’/3m |
|
| 18mm | +4.50* |
| 24mm | +1.00 |
| 35mm | -1.50 |
| 55mm | -2.00 |
2017 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
* Some waviness remains after this correction.
Ergonomics
Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. bigger.
Ergonomics are easy; most of the lens is the zoom ring, and the thin focus ring is made of grippy, rubbery plastic.
The IS and AF switches fit right under my thumb.
There are no color fringes after default automated correction.
This is marvellous.
Macro
It’s sharp!
Ryan shows off his new full braces! Canon SL2, Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM IS at 55mm at f/5.6 at 1/100 at Auto ISO 400, Perfectly Clear. bigger.
And this lens gets super close:
Kienzle Flieger Automat 800/2843 at close-focus distance at 55mm and f/7.1, 25 May 2017. bigger or camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).
It doesn’t look that sharp, but remember that most of this is out of focus because of the nonexistent depth of field at macro distances.
If this crop is about 6″ (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 x 30″ (50 x 75cm). In this case, you’re seeing the texture of the silver paint on the watch face.
If this crop is about 12″ (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 40 x 60″ (1 x 1.5 meters). In this case, you’re seeing the texture of the silver paint on the watch face.
Mechanical Quality
Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. bigger.
It’s all plastic, except for the glass and electronic contacts.
Made in
Taiwan.
Sharpness
This is a super-sharp lens at all settings. Your only limitation will be your skill as a photographer.
It’s sharp corner-to-corner at every setting; just be sure you’re actually in focus and everything holds still.
Canon 18-55 f/4-5.6 IS STM MTF
Примеры фотографий на Canon EF 18-55mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS II
Фото сделаны камерой Canon EOS 600D, камерный jpg без постобработки.
f/9, 55мм Объектив выдает неплохую резкость по всему полю кадра.
f/5, 18мм
f/5,7, 53мм На максимальном фокусном расстоянии и максимально открытой диафрагме иногда можно увидеть боке.
f/4, 24мм Резкость достаточно хорошая
f/5,7, 55мм
Ниже фото сделаны камерой Canon EOS 1100D, камерный jpg без постобработки.
f/9,1, 55мм
f/9,1, 18мм
f/18,2, 18мм При сильном контровом свете происходит незначительное падение контраста
f/7, 32мм, 1/20с Стабилизатор позволяет получать несмазанные кадры с рук даже при достаточно длинных выдержках.
f/5,7, 55мм Размытый фон
Focal Length Range
As everyone would expect from a kit lens, this lens is designed for everyone’s most-common focal length needs.
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens’ focal length range falls squarely in the recommended general purpose zoom lens
focal length range for ASP-C/1.6x FOVCF sensor format DSLRs including the Rebel series, **D, ***D, ****D and 7-series models
(this lens is not compatible with full frame DSLRS as its image circle is not large enough to cover such sensors).
An 18mm focal length acts like a 28.8mm angle of view on a full frame DSLR camera (the conversion is helpful to many of us).
This is a moderately wide angle of view that is common with EF-S zoom lenses, but 18mm may leave you wishing for modestly wider on occasion, especially when photographing wide landscapes, interiors and architecture.
The 55mm end frames like 88mm on a full frame camera.
This is a nice angle of view that encompasses portraiture, though you might want to save the tight headshots for a longer telephoto lens.
Portraits taken from a close distance will start to show a bit of perspective distortion (including big noses) and are best avoided.
Here is an example of the 18-55mm focal length range.
18mm |
24mm |
35mm |
55mm
Note that these images were captured with the predecessor lens.
The same images from the new lens would look … the same.
Really, this focal length range finds usefulness practically anywhere, from in the house to at the park, from in the city to in the wilderness.
It is useful for capturing life as it happens.
Recommendations
This is a great lens to use on any Canon APS-C digital camera. It’s better than any L lens because L lenses are for full frame, and too big and heavy. This lens is also sharper than most wide L lenses like the 17-40mm.
The only reason to consider other lenses is if you need other focal lengths or faster speed.
The very best protective filter is the Hoya multicoated HD3 58mm UV, which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints, and is also multicoated.
For less money, the B+W 58mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
I got mine at B&H; I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield.
This all-content, junk-free website’s biggest source of support is when you use those or any of when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on since you’ll have no way of knowing if you’re missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
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Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
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Ease of Use
Weighing a mere 210g and measuring 61cm in length, the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is one of the smallest and lightest standard zoom lenses that Canon offers. Being an EF-M lens, you can only use it on a Canon compact system camera body like the EOS M that we tested it with, for a 29-88mm equivalent angle of view.
The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
Side of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
Side of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
Side of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
Side of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
Despite this being a fairly inexpensive, lightweight lens, build quality is very good. The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM feels solid in your hand, thanks to the mostly metal construction, and the metal lens mount is good to see. The focusing ring is quite wide given the size of the lens, but only has a very narrow ridged grip to assist with finger-tip operation. The zoom ring is much wider and covered almost entirely in the same ridged coating.
Side of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
Side of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, extended
Side of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM boasts Image Stabilisation which Canon claims offers an advantage of up to 4 f-stops over lenses without a stabilizer. This is activated via the camera’s menu system, rather than an On/Off switch on the side of the lens.
Front of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
Rear of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens
The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens in-hand
The lens doesn’t ship with either a lens hood or a protective bag. It accepts 52mm filters.
Focal Range
At the 18mm focal length the angle of view is 74º 20′.
Field of view at 18mm
At the 55mm focal length the angle of view is 27º 50′.
Field of view at 55mm
Focusing
The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens has quite a wide focusing ring but annoyingly only about 3mm of its width has a textured surface, making it trickier to locate and use in a hurry. There are no hard stops at either ends of the range, making it more difficult to set focus at infinity. Manual override of the autofocusing system is available at any time. Polariser users should be pleased that the 52mm filter thread doesn’t rotate on focus.
When it comes to auto-focusing, the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM zoom is a fairly quick performer on the EOS M with the latest firmware installed (version 2.02), taking about 0.7 seconds to lock onto the subject. We didn’t experience too much «hunting», either in good or bad light, with the lens accurately focusing almost all of the time. It’s also a virtually silent performer too, thanks to the built-in STM (Stepping Motor), which makes this lens well-suited to video recording and more candid photography.
Chromatic Aberrations
Chromatic aberrations, typically seen as purple or blue fringes along contrasty edges, are not particularly well controlled with this lens, appearing in quite a lot of our test shots. The examples below show the worst-case scenario.
Light Fall-off
With the lens wide open at f/3.5 at 18mm, you can see some significant light fall-off in the corners, although the Canon EOS M can automatically correct for it when shooting JPEGs. There’s also some obvious barrel distortion too.
Vignetting at 18mm
Vignetting at 55mm
Macro
The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is not really a macro lens, but the close-focus point is a useful 25cm from the film/sensor plane, and Canon quotes a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.25x for the lens at the 55mm focal length. The following example illustrates how close you can get to the subject, in this case a CompactFlash card.
Close-up performance
Bokeh
Bokeh is a word used for the out-of-focus areas of a photograph, and is usually described in qualitative terms, such as smooth / creamy / harsh etc. The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM has an iris diaphragm with 7 rounded blades for a pleasing rendering of the out-of-focus highlights. Below you’ll find some examples, but you are also encouraged to check out our sample images.
Sharpness
In order to show you how sharp this lens is, we are providing 100% crops on the following pages.
- Ease of Use
- Sharpness: 18mm
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35mm
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55mm
- Sample Images
- Lens Specs
- Rating & Conclusion
- Main Rivals
- Review Roundup
Image Stabilization
Advances in DSLR low light performance (reduced high ISO noise), make even slow (narrow aperture) lenses more useful and, image stabilization comes to the rescue for low light motionless-subject photography.
Image stabilization has (practically) become a standard zoom lens feature these days and it is extremely valuable to me.
In-lens IS allows sharp images to be captured from a camera handheld at very long exposures and it also provides a stabilized viewfinder image that aids in subject framing.
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens, like its predecessor, features a 4-stop-rated IS system.
With each stop being a 2x change in the amount of light reaching the sensor, 4 stops of assistance means that you can shoot in 1/16th as much light as without IS (1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2).
That difference is huge.
Image stabilization does not stop subject motion, but it makes a remarkable difference in still subject photography.
Image stabilization has matured significantly over the years.
This lens’ IS implementation performs similarly to its predecessor (and that is good).
This system is virtually silent (inaudible in sound recorded in-camera during video capture) and the image framing does not jump around at startup or shutdown.
For the price of the lens, the overall IS system quality seems remarkable.
EF-s f/4-5.6 IS APS-C
Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM (58mm filters, 7.5 oz./213g, 0.8’/0.25m close focus, about $249) bigger. I got mine at B&H; I’d also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield.
This all-content, junk-free website’s biggest source of support is when you use those or any of when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on since you’ll have no way of knowing if you’re missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. Buy only from the for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
May 2017 Canon Reviews Canon Lenses All Reviews
Build Quality & Features
When you buy one of the cheapest zoom lenses available, there are sacrifices being made in the lens design to make that low price possible.
Build quality is one area where a sacrifice is frequently made.
The second 18-55 STM seems built very similarly to the first 18-55 STM and the lens has a reasonable feel to it.
Here is a look at the 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM to the right of the f/3.5-5.6 IS STM (center) and the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens:
Here is a closer look at the EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens:
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w/ Hood: MFD |
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The zoom ring is nicely-sized (though shorter than the previous 18-55mm STM lens’ ring) and it is smooth-operating.
This lens extends modestly when zoomed to 55mm, but it is still not a very long lens even at that point.
One construction detail that is readily apparent with the rear cap removed is the plastic lens mount.
Even slightly-higher grade lenses feature a metal mount.
A priority for this lens’ design was small size and light weight and it is hard to find complaint about this lens in either of those departments.
Few lenses are smaller or lighter, and as mentioned, smaller is one of the benefits this lens brings over the previous EF-S 18-55 STM.
You can carry this lens indefinitely without fatigue.
| Model | Weight | Dimensions w/o Hood | Filter | Year | ||
| Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens | 13.6 oz | (385g) | 3.3 x 3.5″ | (84 x 90mm) | 77mm | 2004 |
| Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens | 20.3 oz | (575g) | 3.2 x 3.4″ | (81.6 x 87.5mm) | 72mm | 2009 |
| Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens | 16.8 oz | (475g) | 3.3 x 3.8″ | (84 x 97mm) | 77mm | 2003 |
| Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens | 22.8 oz | (645g) | 3.3 x 4.4″ | (83.5 x 110.6mm) | 77mm | 2006 |
| Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens | 16.8 oz | (475g) | 3.1 x 3.6″ | (79 x 92mm) | 67mm | 2004 |
| Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens | 7.6 oz | (215g) | 2.6 x 2.4″ | (66.5 x 61.8mm) | 58mm | 2017 |
| Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens | 7.2 oz | (205g) | 2.7 x 3″ | (69 x 75.2mm) | 58mm | 2013 |
| Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens | 7.1 oz | (200g) | 2.7 x 3.3″ | (68.5 x 84.5mm) | 58mm | 2011 |
| Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens | 7.1 oz | (200g) | 2.7 x 2.8″ | (68.5 x 70mm) | 58mm | 2007 |
| Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens | 6.7 oz | (190g) | 2.7 x 2.6″ | (69 x 66mm) | 58mm | 2006 |
| Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens | 6.7 oz | (190g) | 2.7 x 2.6″ | (69 x 66mm) | 58mm | 2004 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens | 18.2 oz | (515g) | 3 x 3.8″ | (77.4 x 96mm) | 67mm | 2016 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens | 16.9 oz | (480g) | 3 x 3.8″ | (76.6 x 96mm) | 67mm | 2012 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens | 16.1 oz | (455g) | 3 x 4″ | (75.4 x 101mm) | 67mm | 2009 |
| Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens | 21.0 oz | (595g) | 3.1 x 4″ | (78.6 x 102mm) | 72mm | 2008 |
| Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens | 18.5 oz | (525g) | 3.3 x 4.1″ | (83.4 x 104mm) | 77mm | 2014 |
For many more comparisons, review the complete Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens Specifications using the site’s Lens Spec tool.
It always helps to see a lens beside some of its peers.
Positioned above from left to right are the following lenses:
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM LensCanon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM LensCanon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM LensCanon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens
The same lenses are shown below with their hoods in place.
Use the site’s product image comparison tool to visually compare the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens to other lenses.
Note that the hood will sometimes create a shadow in some images taken using a camera’s built-in flash.
Without the hood, this little lens will stay out of the flash’s light path.
