Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens
by Canon
List Price:
Our Price: $121.26
You Save: $158.74 (57%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $94.99 (click here)
Category: Digital Camera
See more product details
Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: CanonRelease Date: 2007-10-22
Model: EFS18-55mm
Product features:
- Focal Length & Maximum Aperture - 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
- Lens Construction - 16 elements in 12 groups, including UD-glass and aspherical lenses
- Diagonal Angle of View - 74 20' - 7 50' (with APS-C image sensors)
- Focus Adjustment - Gear-driven
- Closest Focusing Distance - 1.48 ft./0.45m (maximum close-up magnification 0.24x)
- 58MM UV Filter
- Opteka OPT UV 58mm 58mm High Definition II UV 0 Ultra Violet Haze Multi-Coated Glass Filter
- Dolica CF3-ND58 58mm 0.3ND 2X Neutral Density Filter
- Dolica CF-C58 58mm CPL Filter
- Opteka OPT CPL 58mm 58mm High Definition II Multi-Coated Circular Polarizing Glass Filter
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens
Customer Review: A Good Kit Lens
Summary: 5 Stars
There are a number of good reviews already for this lens, but I would like to write this review from the perspective of someone who got this lens as part of a camera kit. Last year I bought the Canon EOS Rebel T1i which came with this lens in the package. I have also read a couple photography books (David Busch's T1i Guide and Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure, both which I highly recommend), and I have done a lot of research on lenses.
The main two rivals of this lens are:
1) Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
2) Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Both of those lenses are considerably more expensive than this one. The obvious advantage of the 18-200mm is range. If you don't ever want to switch lenses, you could probably buy this one and leave it on your camera. The 18-55mm IS and the 18-200mm IS have similar properties in terms of image quality, and they come with similar features. Basically, the 18-200mm is more convenient at a higher price, but you should expect similar performance.
The 17-55mm, however, is simply a better lens with better glass and near L performance at the price of an L lens. The 17-55mm has USM, which focuses faster, quieter, and more accurately, and the lens doesn't spin around when focusing. The 17-55mm has full-time manual focusing (you don't have to switch the AF off in order to adjust the focus manually), and it has a focal distance scale. These are very useful features for taking storytelling photos and other times when you need to set the focus manually. The 17-55mm is faster, having a constant f/2.8, and is much better at taking portraits and other type of photos that isolate the subject. Also, the 17-55mm has better IS. More than one reviewer of the 17-55mm has said, "throw out your kit lens, and buy the 17-55mm."
Well, I didn't throw out my kit lens (the 18-55mm IS), but I did think about selling it on eBay and buying the 17-55mm. Why, then, did I keep this lens? Well, the 18-55mm IS has three advantages over the 17-55mm, 1) it's much cheaper, 2) it's much lighter, making it more pleasant to carry around, 3) it came with my camera, so I had it already. Really, the 18-55 IS is not a bad lens. It can take some excellent pictures. In many situations it can take pictures that are just as good as those taken with the 17-55mm. Just keep in mind that you will never be able to get much bokeh with this lens, and it doesn't have USM. This lens is very sharp and doesn't have many image/color distortion problems. My main gripe with it is the auto focus, which is slow and sometimes jumps around trying to find the focus.
Just to let you know, instead of replacing this lens with the 17-55mm, I took that money and instead bought two less expensive but very good lenses:
1) EF-S 10-22mm USM (really the only lens to buy if you want to take any wide angle shots)
2) EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (a great portrait and indoor lens, which, in my opinion, can actually take better portrait photos than the 17-55mm; you might also consider the 50mm f/1.8)
I like my 18-55mm IS lens, and I think that I will never buy the 17-55mm. The next time I have $1000 to spend on a lens, I will probably buy the 100mm f/2.8L IS USM 1:1 macro lens. One last reason not to replace your kit 18-55mm IS lens with the 17-55mm is that if you ever replace your crop dSLR with a full frame dSLR, you won't be able to use your $1000 lens on it. If I spend that much on a lens, I would rather buy an L lens, which will last a lifetime.
The EF-S 18-55mm IS is not the best lens, but it is an excellent lens for the money. DON'T THROW AWAY YOUR KIT LENS! Keep it, and compliment it with other focal length lenses. I suggest:
1) EF 50mm f/1.8
2) EF-S 10-22mm USM
3) a telephoto zoom
4) EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM 1:1 macro
***UPDATE 12/21/2010***
First, I'd like to say that my kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm IS) is still working well and taking great photos. Very lightweight. Very good. No problems or complaints. Further, everyone should check out the tests and comparisons of DxO Labs. They compare different sensors, and different lenses on different cameras. This website provides invaluable information. Well, based on their tests on the T1i, the 17-55mm f/2.8 only slightly outperforms the 18-55mm IS. Given that small difference, is it worth all that money? Why not save up cash for L lenses that you can use on the full frame camera we all want to buy in the future?
Second, I can no longer recommend the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. The USM motor in mine started having some problems, and now the autofocus is often slightly off. If you are shooting at f/# less than 2, that means your shots will definitely be soft. Not good. Go with the EF 50mm f/1.8 instead. DxO labs actually ranks that lens as having better optics than either the f/1/4 or the f/1.2L! Save yourself some money and buy the EF 50mm f/1.8.
My EF-S 10-22mm and EF-S 55-250mm are still performing well. I am selling my 50mm f/1.4 to buy the 50mm 1.8 and a lensbaby composer. Happy shooting :)
Description of Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens
Equipped with Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm standard zoom lens is ideal for just about any application. IS technology compensates for camera shake by providing the equivalent effect of a shutter speed up to four stops faster. This allows you to take sharp handheld shots even in low-light conditions--a must for sports and nature photography. The lens also offers an aspherical lens element that corrects for aberration, thus producing a topnotch image throughout the zoom range, and a circular aperture that exquisitely renders out-of-focus backgrounds. Despite its minimal size, weight, and cost, the lens expands the picture-taking possibilities any time slow shutter speeds are needed.Equipped with Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm standard zoom lens is ideal for just about any application. IS technology compensates for camera shake by providing the equivalent effect of a shutter speed up to four stops faster. This allows you to take sharp handheld shots even in low-light conditions--a must for sports and nature photography. The lens also offers an aspherical lens element that corrects for aberration, thus producing a topnotch image throughout the zoom range, and a circular aperture that exquisitely renders out-of-focus backgrounds. Despite its minimal size, weight, and cost, the lens expands the picture-taking possibilities any time slow shutter speeds are needed.
Specifications
- Focal length: 18 to 55mm
- Maximum aperture: f/3.5 to f/5.6
- Lens construction: 11 elements in 9 groups
- Angle of view: 74 degrees @ 20 feet to 27 degrees @ 50 feet
- Focus adjustment: Autofocus (DC motor) with manual focus option
- Closest focusing distance: 9.8 inches
- Filter size: 58mm
- Dimensions: 2.7 inches in diameter and 3.33 inches long
- Weight: 7.1 ounces
- Warranty: 1 year
Lenses
Digital Cameras and Photo Categories
Bestsellers in Lenses
Sigma 180mm f/ 3.5 EX IF HSM Macro Lens for Canon SLR CamerasSIGMA; Digital Camera
Best price: $706.26
Price in other shops:
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO Macro Super Lens for Pentax-AF CameraSigma Corporation; Digital Camera
Best price: $239.00
Price in other shops:
Sigma 300mm F2.8 EX APO HSM Lens for Pentax-AF CameraSIGMA; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Tamron AF28-200 f/ 3.8-5.6 Super II Macro Minolta Mount Lens (Silver)Tamron; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Tiffen 72mm Wide Angle Rubber Lens ShadeTiffen; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Pentax SCMP-FA, 100-300mm Autofocus Zoom LensPentax; Digital Camera
Best price: $350.00
Price in other shops:
Pentax SMCP-FA 35-80mm Autofocus Zoom LensPentax; Digital Camera
Vivitar 75-300mm Manual Focus Zoom Lens for Pentax/ Ricoh CameraVivitar; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Vivitar 28-210mm Manual Focus Zoom Lens for Nikon CameraVivitar; Digital Camera
Best price: $325.00
Price in other shops:
Minolta Maxxum 24mm-85mm f3.5-4.5 Zoom LensKonica Minolta; Digital Camera
Best price: $399.00
Price in other shops:
Similar digital cameras and accessories
Wireless Shutter Release Remote for Canon EOS, RebelHDE; Digital Camera
Best price: $0.95
Price in other shops:
![0.42X FISHEYE LENS W/ MACRO FOR CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL [Camera] Image](/images/0-42X-FISHEYE-LENS-W-MACRO-FOR-CANON-EOS-DIGITAL-REBEL-Camera-B000FW1X4K-X.jpg)
0.42X FISHEYE LENS W/ MACRO FOR CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL [Camera]Digital Innovations; Digital Camera
Best price: $22.75
Fotodiox Canon EOS Macro Extension Tube Set Kit for Extreme Close-up, fits Canon EOS 1d,1ds,Mark II, III, IV, 5D, Mark II, 7D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, 60D, Digital Rebel xt, xti, xs, xsi, t1i, t2i, t3, t3i, 450D, 500D, 550D, 1000D, 1100DFotodiox Inc.; Digital Camera
Best price: $7.75
Price in other shops:
Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG for Canon EOS SLR Cameras (Black with Green Accent)Canon Cameras US; Digital Camera
Best price: $33.99
Price in other shops:
58mm Tulip Flower Lens Hood For Canon 55-250mm 55-250eForCity; Digital Camera
Best price: $0.54
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/ 4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR CamerasCanon; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only)Canon; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Professional 58mm Digital Tulip Flower Lens Hood For canon 18-55mm , 28-80mm , 28-90mm , 28-105mm , 55-250mm , 70-300mm , 75-300mm , 100-300mm , 50mm 1.4 , 85mm 1.8 with Lens cap Holder and Lens cleaning KitA&R; Digital Camera
Best price: $2.41
Tiffen 58mm UV Protection FilterTiffen; Digital Camera
Best price: $2.85
Price in other shops:
Canon EF 50mm f/ 1.8 II Camera LensCanon; Digital Camera
Price in other shops: