The Canon EF-S 18–55mm F/3.5–5.6 IS STM: A Power Kit Lens

Before all the pro photographers out there get sniffy about standard kit lenses, they do have their place and can be quite useful in the right situations.

One lens that is bundled with many Canon APS-C DSLR cameras is the Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS STM. This lens doesn’t just represent good value for money, but it also produces respectable images in the right circumstances.

This lens provides an equivalent focal length of 29–88mm, a close focusing distance of 25cm, plus a highly useful image stabilization system offering four stops of compensation.

Although it may not be able to compete optically with higher-end lenses, if you consider its asking price, this lens packs in a whopping amount of functionality for the money. So, let’s dig deeper and see exactly what this versatile zoom lens is all about.

Design

When you first lay your hands on the Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS STM, it’s immediately apparent how lightweight and compact this lens is. At only 205g and 75mm in length, this lens feels very balanced on most crop sensor Canon bodies, with a focal range that goes from more or less standard views to medium telephoto.