Canon 18-55mm STM

EF-s f/4-5.6 IS APS-C

Intro   Compatibility   Specifications

Accessories   Performance   Compared

Usage   Recommendations

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Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM

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 these links to my personally-approved sources 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 my personally approved list 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 approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.

 

May 2017   Canon Reviews   Canon Lenses   Canon Flash   All Reviews

 

Sample Images

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Yellow VW Bug

Yellow VW Bug, 17 August 2017. Canon SL2, Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM IS at 35mm at f/9 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © file.

 

Katie and Stella at Critter Camp

Katie and Stella at Critter Camp, 18 August 2017. Canon SL2, FLASH ON, Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM IS at 32mm at f/9 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 400, Perfectly Clear. bigger.

 

Katie at Critter Camp

Katie at camp, 14 August 2017. Canon SL2, FLASH ON, Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM IS at 34mm at f/5.6 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 400, Perfectly Clear. bigger.

 

Introduction

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Compatibility   Specs   Accessories

Performance   Compared

Usage   Recommendations

Adorama Pays Top Dollar for Used Gear

Amazon

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Crutchfield

I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below.

This new Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is an ultralight and high-performance lens.

It's sharp and focuses extremely closely; you probably won't need a macro lens if you have this one.

It is nearly 20 percent smaller than the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM it replaces.

Set your camera correctly, and it has instant manual-focus override.

 

Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM

Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. bigger.

 

Compatibility

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Compatibility   Specs   Accessories

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This is an APS-C lens that works on Canon's APS-C EOS DSLRs.

It works on Canon's mirrorless EOS-M cameras if you use the EOS-M adapter.

It won't work or mount on Canon's full-frame cameras.

 

Specifications

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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 f/4=-5.6 STM internal construction

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 STM

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.

 

Autofocus

Lead Screw-type STM

Internal focus: no external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.

 

Focus Scale

No.

 

Infinity Focus Stop

No.

 

Depth of Field Scale

No.

 

Infrared Focus Index

No.

 

Close Focus

0.8 feet (0.25 meters).

 

Maximum Reproduction Ratio

1:4 (0.25 ×).

 

Image Stabilizer

Rated 4 stops improvement.

 

Filters

58 mm filter thread.

 

Hood

Optional Canon EW-63C.

 

Case

Optional Canon LP1014 sack.

 

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).

 

Quality

Made in Taiwan.

 

Announced

15 February 2017.

 

Promised for

Early April 2017.

 

Canon Model Number

EF-S18-55F4-56ISSTM.

 

Canon Product Code

1620C002 (1620C001 in Japan).

 

JAN Code

4549292-075199.

 

Price, USA

$249, May 2017 (36,000 yen in Japan)

 

Optional Accessories

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Compatibility   Specs   Accessories

Performance   Compared

Usage   Recommendations

 

Canon EW-63C hood.

Canon LP1014 sack.

 

Performance

Top   Sample Images   Intro

Compatibility   Specs   Accessories

Performance   Compared

Usage   Recommendations

 

Overall   Autofocus   Manual Focus

Breathing   Bokeh   Distortion

Ergonomics   Lateral Color Fringes

Macro   Mechanics   Sharpness

 

Overall

Performance          top

This Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM is super sharp, focuses fast, close and silently.

 

Autofocus

Performance          top

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

performance          top

Just grab the rear focus ring at any time while the AF system is active for instant manual-focus override. You may need to set your camera for this.

 

Focus Breathing

Performance          top

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

Performance          top

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.

Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 Bokeh

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).

Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 Bokeh

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

Performance          top

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

Performance          top

Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM

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.

 

Lateral Color Fringes

Performance          top

There are no color fringes after default automated correction.

This is marvellous.

 

Macro

Performance          top

It's sharp!

Ryan shows off his new full braces!

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:

Canon 18-55mm STM macro performance

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).

 

Canon 18-55mm STM macro performance

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

Performance          top

Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 STM

Canon 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. bigger.

It's all plastic, except for the glass and electronic contacts.

Front Bumper

None.

 

Filter Threads

Plastic.

 

Hood Bayonet Mount

Plastic.

 

Front Barrel

Plastic.

 

Focus Ring

Rubber-covered plastic.

 

Zoom Ring

Rubber-covered plastic.

 

Rear Barrel

Plastic.

 

Identity

Painted around front element and on barrel.

 

Internals

Seem like all plastic.

 

Moisture Seal at Mount

No.

 

Mount

Plastic.

 

Markings

Paint.

 

Serial Number

Laser engraved in black on bottom of barrel.

 

Date Code

None found.

 

Noises When Shaken

Mild to moderate clunking.

 

Made in

Taiwan.

 

Sharpness

Performance          top

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

Canon 18-55 f/4-5.6 IS STM MTF

 

Compared

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Compatibility   Specs   Accessories

Performance   Compared

Usage   Recommendations

As of 2017, this is Canon's newest basic kit lens.

It's better than everything that came earlier because it has unbeaten sharpness, and also has super-fast and silent focus, great macro ability, and small size.

 

Usage

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Compatibility   Specs   Accessories

Performance   Compared

Usage   Recommendations

 

Instant manual-focus override

With most L lenses you just grab the focus ring for instant manual-focus override, but with this STM and other advanced electronic-focus-only lenses like the 50mm f/1 L and original 300mm f/2.8 L, depending on your camera you may have to set MENU > (location varies by camera) > Lens electronic MF > Enable after One-Shot AF.

 

Recommendations

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Compatibility   Specs   Accessories

Performance   Compared

Usage   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 these links to approved sources 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 my personally approved list 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 approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.

Thanks for helping me help you!

Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

 

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May 2017