Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS f/3.5-5.6 Lens

Product Information

Our mirrorless cameras are easy to carry and distil the best of Canon technologies into a compact body with interchangeable lenses. It's a little less sharp than some of my others but it does render reds better than some other lenses I've used.

Save time and money with a Canon subscription service that puts your printing needs first and lets you print your way. 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). I've shot street, architecture, various portraits, candid shots, a bit of sports action, much landscape and occasional close-ups, learned the weaknesses of the lens and how to make the best out of it, so I got to review my copy.While the 18mm example is very colorful, that is not what we want to see here – there was only black and white in the subject. The IS version of the lens is perhaps 2mm longer, to fit in the new aspherical lens and moving lens element that is used for image stabilization. A lightweight construction means it's easy to carry, and Canon's acclaimed optical Image Stabilization offers a 4-stop advantage to ensure sharp images at maximum zoom and when shooting in low light. Many camera blotto the exposure when they get this close, especially when left on Program which leaves the lens wide open as I did here.

These filters are rotated to dial in just the right amount of effect and when focusing turns the front filter threads, that effect can be adjusted to something less than optimal. FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing is not available - manual focusing should only be done with the AF/MF switch in the MF position. Objects near the horizon on the other hand appear a little mushy especially in the corners (centre sharpness is still usable at infinity focus). In the real world, lens defects do not exist in isolation with spherical aberration and spherochromatism generally found, at least to some degree, along with axial CA.

The (very rough) rule for handholding a camera is that you need a shutter speed of 1/(focal length x FOVCF) or faster to avoid camera shake-caused blur. This allows photographers to use shutter speeds up to four times slower than normal with no perceptible increase in image blur - ideal for shooting in low light. Not only does rotating the focus ring change focus, but even slight side-to-side pressure changes both the focus and the subject framing.

As everyone would expect from a kit lens, this lens is designed for everyone's most-common focal length needs. This twisting causes the focus ring to turn - which drives the gearing inside the lens if in AF mode. The lens is not of particularly high image quality, which is much more obvious on modern higher resolution cameras.Best is to get a grip on the inner barrel (preferred) or turn the focus ring in M mode until it reaches the end of its travel before twisting the lens hood to its desired position. The IS works great, 4 stops is entirely possible, and the focus is just as fast as early USM lenses, despite not being USM.