Canon 18-135mm STM Lens Review - Perfect Kit Lens Upgrade
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- In this review we take a look at the Canon 18-135 STM Lens and ask is this the perfect kit lens upgrade?
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Many new Canon cameras come with an 18-55mm kit lens. People are often surprised about how limiting that range can actually be and quickly look to upgrade. The Canon 18-135 STM Lens offers an impressive range so may seem like on obvious upgrade at the time of purchase or as a replacement for the 18-55mm. So let's delve into this and have a look.
I recently went to the Lake District to test out this lens, using the range fully to capture both landscapes and more zoomed in detailed shots.
The Canon 18-135 STM Lens is an EF-S lens so is only suitable for APS-C cameraslike the Canon 750d/Rebel T6i or Canon 80d. With the crop factor of those cameras taken into account, the lens has a 35mm equivalent of 29-216mm. This is an amazing range that will be suitable for so many different areas of photography. When starting out in photography, this versatility is extremely useful allowing you to try lots of different styles of photography without having to switch lenses all the time and invest more money.
The lens has a maximum aperture between f/3.5 and f/5.6 depending on the focal length you are using. This is very similar to the 18-55mm kit lens. However thanks to those longer focal lengths, a much better background blur can be achieved. With 7 aperture blades the bokeh is not as creamy as you might find in more expensive lenses but anything from 85mm and above will achieve decent results.
The Canon 18-135 STM has 4-stop image stabilisation that is extremely useful on a lens with this focal range. The image stabilisation is particularly impressive on this lens. The IS on the Canon 18-135 STM performs better than the 18-55mm at the same focal range. At the longer focal lengths the stabilisation is capable of smoothing out some pretty severe movements. This is especially useful for shooting video and can provide some very steady footage even when handheld like this shot. The stabilisation also improves low light performance allowing you to reduce your shutter speed up to 4 stops slower than normal. The Canon 18-135 STM also has the STM focus motor meaning smooth focus adjustments can be made whilst shooting video.
Image quality of the Canon 18-135 STM is at the level you would expect for a lens in this price range. It is not the sharpest lens in the box but the quality is very reasonable for a lens with this amount of zoom range. At the wide end, the lens acts as a perfectly reasonable landscaping lens. The ability to zoom in so far also opens up opportunities that do not always exist when going out to shoot landscapes with a wide angle or normal kit lens. If you want to take your landscapes even further the Canon 10-18mm matches up very nicely to this lens giving you a combined focal range from 10-135mm for relatively little money.
This lens is £275/$285 so it’s offering very good value for money when it comes to camera lenses, particularly in the US. Alternatives include lenses with an 18-200mm zoom range from Sigma, Tamron and Canon themselves. These are older lenses though. The quality does not quite match up to this one and they don't have that all important STM focus motor that makes this lens so good for video.
Overall I really like the Canon 18-135 STM. Thanks to the versatility and the excellent image stabilisation the lens was a joy to use for both still images and videos. With good build quality and more than reasonable image quality this lens will be the only lens many casual shooters will ever need. If you are looking to buy a good quality family camera system with the versatility to do a few other things then this is the lens for you. If you are buying your first DSLR camera I would heartily recommend getting it with this lens as opposed to the standard 18-55mm. If you already own the 18-55mm this lens could be a worthy upgrade, particularly if you are not interested in changing lenses too often and just want a DSLR that is ready for anything.
I was very surprised how good this lens is. I wasn't expecting it to be as sharp, good contrast, and image stabilization. worth every dollar in my opinion. Definitely very versatile and I use this with the 10-18 efs with IS and I love the combination.
Yes, I agree with everything good you said about this lens. This is the lens I have on my 80D and I hardly ever find the need to replace it with another lens. It is also good on my 70D.
Herminigildo Jakosalem as
I've been thinking about buying this lens a lot but after watching your review I pulled the trigger and got it. I can't wait to try it out. Thank you for taking the time to review all these products.
Try the Canon 55-250mm STM as that lens is another dirt cheap light weight sleeper, has sharp focus, good colors and resolution & nice for video.
Your Welsh countryman, Christopher Frost gives this a thumbs up and actually purchased it as have I..!!
pjf I used it on several canon 10 to 18 megapixel bodies and was surprised that even the Sony A6300 with 24 megapixels produced very sharp images. It can track my dog, wildlife and birds in flight. A perfect lens for me :)
@@godofhope What adapter were you using?
Great to get your endorsement on these two lenses thank you Adam - I got my first DSLR about a year ago and I'm using both the 18-135 and the 10-18 with my Canon 1300D. I find the combination extremely versatile and easy to carry with me when I go out walking - almost always covers most eventualities and situations. I've also shot an informal wedding using only the 18-135 and 10-18 and again they had everything I needed on the day - I like the philosophy of why make things more complicated - and from my point of view with these two lenses you don't really need much else for landscapes or people shots, although I do have a couple of prime lenses the nifty 50mm and 85mm plus a 75mm - 300mm I don't use them anywhere near as often.I love your video and vlogs.
I don't wholly agree with you that this 18-135 is the perfect upgrade from a 18-55 kit lens. If you are looking for more zoom range, then that is true. But I personally never really felt limited by the 55mm maximum zoom range on my kit lens, I did find myself limited by the maximum aperture however... For almost exactly the same price as the 18-135, I would recommend the Sigma 17-50 F2.8 lens. It has a much better aperture and even more so, its aperture is constant over the whole zoom range. I found this to open up much more creative possibilities than upgrading the zoom range.
All in all it is to personal preference. I wanted more aperture, others may want more zoom range.
Hi, Adam 👍🏻👍🏻 Great review of the Canon 18 - 135 lens, I have a Canon 80D and it came with the 18-135 lens and I am so happy with this lens. I have taken over 400 photos of my Granddaughter From birth to now she is 6 months old, I am still learning how to use all the functions and settings of the 80D to get better at taking outdoor photos and videos, I’m trying to save up to get the 70 - 200 lens so when I start doing hiking adventures I will be able to capture some awesome scenery. Thanks for sharing, enjoy and have a Great week !!! Danny
Try the 55-250 I own that one and it's great for hiking photography
I have it, I love it. Many times I don't need to switch for the whole day when I just do general shooting (still and video). I also like the image quality.
I am going on a weekend trip to Washington DC (it's a Honor Flight for Vietnam Veterans). Photography is not the main intent of this trip but, I do want to document my experiences. I want to carry only my A6600 and a single lens as an easy to carry combination. I purchased this 18-135mm lens because of its size and weight and fairly decent image quality. I am bringing a small flash for low light conditions. I purchased the lens used at a good price with the rationale that I can buy it, use it for the trip and then resell it, without losing too much money...
I'm getting my first DSLR and this video hit almost all of my main questions about lenses. Thanks for your clarity and simplicity!
Spot on. This lens is in fact excellent for Enthusiasts like me for both the purposes i.e., still images and video. The IS is great and being supported by the new Dual Pixel AF of the 3G bodies, this lens performs wonders that were not possible earlier. However, as I said, this is for Enthusiasts like me. Professionals will perhaps need different lenses and body.
I've been looking at reviews and comparences on the 18-55mm to 18-135mm lens and this video just made it clear to me which one i wanted to get as an aspiring videographer! Thank you!
I am just started photography and i have canon 750D 18-135
Thank you for your useful information
Thanks for this informative presentation. I bought this lens about 6 months ago as a second lens for my t5 Cannon Camera. I'd taken hundreds of photos for literary gatherings at the Carnegie Center for Literacy in Lexington, KY. However, most of the rooms are quite large and my 18-55mm was forcing me to have to move around a lot and get close to my subjects for good, even clarity. The 18-135mm turned out the be the perfect match for camera and distance. However, at night, this lens brings in significantly more light than the 18-55mm and can result in duplicate light spots, so I'll have to study f stops and other settings to compensate. I'm also considering moving up the the t7 Canon camera body for faster processing.
Its a fantastic all around lens, sturdy, great images and silent and fast focus. A perfect upgraded kit lens. and so affordable
Ive been using this lens for everything, all my projects have been filmed with this lens, pretty decent, i mainly do video too
Thank you very much for this informative video. I already have 18-135 lens and love it.
Nice review. I got a second hand one about a week or so ago and haven't touched my Canon 24-70 f/2.8 mkii since. Im not saying the 18-135 is better, but it is better for me as a light weight walk around lens. Before i got it i would take out my 24-70 and 70-300L. You can imagine the weight and size reduction now i have the 18-135.
+Dave Pearce I agree. It's mix of versatility, quality, weight and cost is pretty much second to none.
thanks for your video. I just bought the t6I with that kit. based on what you said I made a great choice.
+William Reape Awesome. I'm excited for you.
Sick man will definitely thing about this but prob not good for vlogging ! Could u please make a video of your settings on the 700d Or the best setting for vlogging on the 700D would be so fucking happy !
+Rhino TV I used it a fair bit on my vlog the other day. Not so much for shooting myself but for the other shots it was useful.
I'll knock out a quick video for vlog camera settings. Had a few requests for this now.
+First Man Photography Ah thanks so much ! will help me out so much
Thank You 🙏🏾 I Appreciate Your Recommendation And Your Guidance 😊
Thanks! I have the Canon t3i and my 18-55mm kit lens got messed up. I was looking to purchase a replacement, but figured that I might as well upgrade. I still consider myself a beginner, so I don't need anything super fancy, as I am still learning. I am a fashion designer so I need it for photography of my designs as well as RUclips videos. I think I may go ahead and get this one then. Thanks!
Nice video. Thank you for taking the time to explain all the details! As we're now in 2020, would it be there now another lens that you could recommend as an upgrade to this one? I would like at least the same focal length but maybe a larger aperture than 3.5.. It would be interesting even for a higher price.. Thank You!
I have this lens and i use it with my Canon 90D ... Awesome Equipment
Thank you very much for your video on this lens. I have been following you for a while and I do trust your judgement on this lens. I plan on picking up this lens son. Again thank you Adam!
Thank you for this video. I came across this lens in searching out “faster” lens than the Canon 18-55 F4 kit lens that I purchased with my Canon Rebel T7i. I liked the expanded focal length and all the versatility points you made in the video. What I’m torn between is the maximum focal length @ F3.5 relative to some prime lens in the low and even lower focal lengths and the quality boost they provide. I also have that 70-300 kit lens giving me those higher focal lengths, and I understand your point about the convince of not having to change lens. Thus, I think you can see my dilemma. I’m still a hobbyist beginner in my life-long and resurrected interest in photography, and haven’t determined if a really fast prime lens for close up stuff is the way to go. I was thinking this 18-135 might be the way to go if I just opted to use close up filters. See where I’m going? Might save changing lens all the time.
Albert Disessa You don’t want to change lenses and still buying a DSLR? You might better look at a Panasonic FZ1000/2000 or a Sony RX10 ...
Hi Adam,
Love the channel.
I got the 18-135 as a part of the system when I bought my 60d on ebay a few months back.
Prior to this I was shooting with the 18-55 on my 350d.
I have found the 18-135 a fantastic lens producing really great sharp images. One trap I fell into was trying to take night shots with the image stabilisation turned on (the 18-55 doesn't have IS). Images had slight movement at long exposure (30sec). It was explained to me that you should not use IS when mounted on a tripod (sounds counter intuitive). I turned off the IS and the images sharpened up.
Have taken some lovely shots with my new kit.
Please keep up the good work. I am learning so much from you. I am going on a holiday to Iceland in 2 months and hope to put all this landscape info into practice and "take my photography to the next level".
+Steven Hollander Hi Steven. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. I'm glad you are getting good results with the lens. It was such a pleasant surprise how good it was.
Good to hear you've solved your Astro problems. Sounds like you've already taken things up a couple of notches.
Good luck in Iceland.
Thank you very much. Great video. I'm going to purchase the USM version as I want it for photography more than videos.
Luv the lens.Thanks for video👍
Thank you for this video. It was very helpful for me and I think for other people too. Great job!
The perfect camera for me is always the latest, greatest most-hyped revolutionary game-changing model that I can't afford...
very good review!!
Best and simple review
I got the 18-136 stm as my kit lens on my 7DII, found a deal where it was cheaper with the lens than any other deal without it. I rarely use it as my usual starting point on that camera is the Sigma 18-35 f1.8 or the 70-200 f4 IS if I have the 16-35 f4 IS on the 5DIII. But even though I rarely use it I won't part with it "just in case". It's a true 'Jack of all trades, but mast of non'.
Love it on my 7d mark ii
Love the video. I have this lens and the EF-S 10-18 and find them to be a great combo on my Canon 650D. If I upgraded the camera I would probably keep these lenses because they are great.
Thanks much. Very timely because I was looking for a lens to go with a 77d I am considering.
That was my 2nd lens I bought. The zoom broke and I took it apart. I have never been able to put it back together doh! Great lens
Very informative ... thanks a lot... so cool that you were in the Lake District ... I visited there 2 months ago... Windermere... Amazing Sceneries
Will it work with EOS1200D please?
I bought recently the 18-135. It is significantly better than the Sony 18-105f4 lens inbreeds of sharpness at the edges and it can focus much closer. I had 2 copies of the 10-18 but they were unacceptable soft at the image borders and corners :(
The lens will work with the EOS R if the appropriate adapter is used.
THANK YOU! This is exactly what I was looking for! I've been unhappy with the kit lens lately, and wondering what a good upgrade would be. I'm going to get a new Canon t7i with this lens :)
Nice review
Thank you! This was super helpful.
Thank you for this great review.
Hello Adam, I just purchased a canon 80D camera and decided to go with the 18-135 lens to start. I have just started experimenting with taking some photos and so far I am quite impressed with the range and the autofocus, and the shots look great. Quick question: One of the main reasons I bought this camera is to shoot HD video (indoor); Do you think I should start shopping for a 50mm f/1.8 STM lens (or something of the like) as well, or do you think the 18-135mm lens will do a nice enough job? Having a shorter/lighter lens would be nice for filming from a joby, but I think I can work around the size for the time being if that's the only issue.
thanks Adam, nice review.
Hi there ,
Am a huge fan. LOVE the way you explain minor details. I was planning on buying myself a Canon 77d .As a beginner am a bit confused on the lenses I should consider.
Should I go for :
Set 1
Canon EF s 18-135mm
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L macro
Canon 50mm f1.8 atm
Or
Set 2
Canon EF s 18-55mm
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L macro
Canon 50mm f1.8 atm
Or
Set 3
Canon EF s 18-135mm
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L macro
Or
Set 4
Canon EF s 18-55mm
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L macro
jubin jo sabu set 1
Still recommend in 2020? The price has risen significantly now on this lens.
Very informative, Thank you!
Hi Adam, is this lens good for an event photography??? If not which one you suggest....
yes and thats what i often used to ,tha was my first camera lense indeed
Hi Adam, I love your attention to detail about every aspect of the lens, I need a good all rounder so I dont have to keep changing lenses due to all the weight of accessories and having a bad back :(
is this lens compatible with a Canon 750D?
+Hazel Brit Yes. Sounds perfect for you.
How does it. Compare to the 18-135 mm nano usm
Hi Adam, Thanks for this review. Will it fit my Canon 650d ok ?
+Bob Trotter Yes. It's perfect for that.
Thanks Adam
I don't see a link for the two videos you referenced:
The "making of" video of you in the Lake District (I like the shots you showed here).
and
The 10-18mm lens review.
I just ordered one of these for my EOS-M6 the other day. I got tired of using a vintage lens whose adapter wouldn't let me focus to infinity. (that'll be fixed soon)
The 10-18 might make a good 2nd or 3rd lens, depending if I keep using the vintage Takumar 50mm f/1.4.
Thanks for posting.
So will this lens work with the t3i ?
I do have the standard 18-55, but need a bit more wideangle in my videos. Does this Lens only help with zoom and not wider angle?
yeah, i won't let you take wider angles
I love this lens !1
Can we make the background blur while sitting pretty far away from the camera (like when making intro) like Sigma does?
Can I use this lens with an adaptor on my Canon EOS M200?
Is this lens good for pics of flowers? i dont know if your going to see this but if you do can you please reply?
It's an efs lens and hence the crop factor does not apply
C'est magnifique
+shah food Merci beaucoup.
I’m a newbie! I have this lens for my 70D and since it goes from 18-135 should I bother getting a 24mm to get some wide shots?
Hello Adam. First of all congrats about your channel! I stumbled on today, saw a couple of your videos and immediately subscribed!
Second, i bought a 600D with a 18-55 is (version 0.00001) which is h.o.r.r.i.b.l.e. and a 70-300 non is. I'm thinking selling them and getting a 18-135 is stm and a 50 1.8 stm. I want your opinion on this, if you were a beginner in photography, would it be a good move?
Thanks in advance and keep up the good work
+Ed Vin Hi Ed. Thanks for subscribing. Its much appreciated.
I would definitely make the switch you are suggesting. I don't like the 70-300 and the 18-55 is about as basic as it gets.
i have the new Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens and it's a beast. pin sharp
Will this lens fit on a canon rebel T100
great channel adam :-) what would be an upgrade to this then on apsc? i have this lens and the Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens and it's way sharper than the 18-135. is there a better 18-135 or close? thx
Hi.. is this compatible with my CANON EOS 1300D?
Is this lens compatible for Canon Rebel T6? I know you said it is for T6i...
I find that when you zoom in to the images taken, they aren't very sharply focussed. How to focus better with this lens?
Hi Adam, I've got this lens with my 70D, what lens would be a good implement for better bokeh? thx
I would go for a 50mm prime next. The Canon 1.8STM is very reasonable priced too. Check this video out - ruclips.net/video/S2NgDGmtM5k/видео.html
I also got this lens with my canon 70d
hi , i have a 80 d and a canon 24mm 2.8 usm lenses , shoot mostly landscape, urban scenario like huge graffitis, inside catedral and arquitecture , Is this lenses a good option or better buy a 24-105 mm ?
Thank you so much for doing this video. I have a question. My 18 - 135 has quite a bit of wobble in the section that retracts in and out. I'm not sure if this normal or is it something that should be repaired? The lens has very little use on it and was never dropped. Thanks
My lens had a wobble some creep. I live in Thailand. I sent it to the Canon agent in Bangkok and came fixed. No problems since. I cannot remember the cost but was not very much.
This one versus the 55-250mm? Anyone???
This lens fits rebel t6??
i think you would make a good robin leach sound-alike
which canon STM lense (Canon 18-135mm Vs 15-150mm) is good to use for Handheld B Roll?
Hello Adam great channel learned a lot from being here could you help me im new I have upgraded to the Canon 90d and I have the lens you have just reviewed my problem is does the lens move in auto focus as mine does not can you help thanks Mark
Can we use this lens for astrophotography
First and just bought the lens.
Boom. Love the decisiveness.
Works in a full frame camera?
well i find the 24-105mm canon L lens is the best upgrade for an APS-C sensor camera
its expensive AF tho
faudanke its not for APS-C this is a full frame lens. You don’t have wide angle on APS-C and have to carry around a heavy lens. It doesn’t make sense. Better buy a used Canon 6D and enjoy the full potential of the 24-105
Hi, any experience with lens creep? I need this lens for the overhead shots so creeping is NOT acceptable. Any info is appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Adam, i got eos 700 D with the reviewed lens. Is this good enough for astrophotography considering the fact that it has maximum aperture of 3.5?
I have a canon 800 D camera is this lens 18-139mm perfect for this camera?
Yes
Will it work on 750D ?
How can I make it work with the m50?
How will it work.in low light?
Thanks for this review. I'm going to the Maldives in a few weeks, do you think I should get a polarised lens filter for this lens?
+V8LC100 If you're gonna be shooting landscapes then yes.
how is canon d 77 camera for still photography
There's an 18-135mm STM and an 18-135 USM out right now, and it seems the USM is a bit more expensive. Any thoughts on the comparison between the two lenses? It seems the USM is compatible with the soon-to-be-released external zoom control, but I wonder if the STM is as well.
+TokyoXtreme Yeah. I didn't include it in the video because I don't really see the point in the UsM version. Its a slightly newer version with slightly better focus motor and slightly better build quality. Apart from that it's the same. Its a massive price bump though. If you're going to start spending that amount of money I'd be looking at something with an f/4 max aperture at least.
Actually there are 3 versions. The original is the USM version, then we have the STM version and the new Nano USM version. I agree about the latest version not being a big deal, although the AF is much faster and so better for tracking with the newer cameras.
TokyoXtreme
Хорошее стекло, надо купить.
Is it good for vlogging
Yes. Not ideal for filming yourself handheld though.
What do you mean? I just got canon m6 and am considering to buy this but i have to know if its wide angel lens?
+haitham baloch If you want to vlog by pointing the camera at yourself whilst holding it then this lens is not particularly wide enough. You'd be better with the 10-18mm.
What is it’s cost at present 🤑
Hi,
i am buying a dslr to shoot short films...will this lens be gud for that???plz reply
Very good yes.
Thnx for replying...
Will this work with my canon t6?
Yes
Strange to see all the people buying DSLR and don’t know any about the lens mount ... They should better stick with a G7X or RX100
will this work for my 7D?
+MrAndr144R Yes. Its an EF-S lens so will work with the 7D.
MrAndr144R It was the kit lens on my 7D II.
sir i m going to purchase 80d + 50mm prime but which kits lens i have to purchase 1855mm and 55250 or 135mm???
Which one did you bought finally ?
I'm in the same dilemma right now
And how was your experience