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Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM SLR Lens for EOS Digital SLRs
SLR Gear:
As an entry-level “kit” lens, cost of manufacture was almost certainly a key design parameter for the Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, but it nonetheless manages to do pretty well optically, particularly when stopped down a little. That said though, performance wide open is indeed a little rough, until you get toward the telephoto end of its range. This is a lens that likes to be stopped down for best performance, the “sweet spot” coming at about f/8 at 18mm, f/8-11 at 27mm, and f/11 from 35-55mm. This lens is better than you’d normally expect for such an inexpensive design, but our lab tests have led us to realize that it’s not quite as good as we’d previously thought: If you use it more toward the tele end of its range, and stop down a little from wide open, it’s impressive indeed. Wide open, and particularly at wide angle though, it didn’t perform as well as we’d have anticipated, based on our prior impressions. All in all, a good “starter” lens, but one that you’ll almost certainly end up replacing after your budget has absorbed the initial shock of buying the camera in the first place. READ FULL REVIEW
Other Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM EF-S Reviews
Photo.net
The 18-55/3.5-5.6 is a very good lens for $100. It’s weaknesses show up at the ends of its zoom range (18mm and 55mm), especially in the corners of the frame when used wide open where resolution and contrast can be rather poor. To get decent sharpness in the corners requires stopping to f8 at 18mm or f11 at 55mm – but you still won’t get the same image quality as you would from a a prime or “L” series zoom lens. In the mid range (28mm), performance is pretty good at both center and edge. For a cheap, plastic mount, low end consumer lens, the 18-55 is certainly better than I would have expected. It’s not a rival for an “L” series lens, but much of the time it can hold it’s own against Canon’s full frame coverage mid-range consumer lenses, especially in the center of the frame. READ FULL REVIEW
Pop Photo
DSLR makers, in attempts to offer cameras in kit form at the lowest possible prices, have been creating no-frills, bare-bones, moderate- wide-to-tele zooms. Surprise! Optically, many are terrific. This is one. Well-made plastic barrel and lensmount. No ultrasonic motor. Easy to grip, rubber ribbed zoom ring moves fairly smoothly, but with slightly more resistance toward 24mm and 18mm. Excellent SQF performance at all focal lengths. Go take high-quality pictures and forget the rest. READ FULL REVIEW
Ken Rockwell
I haven’t tried one yet, but experience with the 18-55mm EF-S II and other IS lenses suggests that this lens ought to be super sharp, easy to use and zoom, and have great IS performance. READ FULL REVIEW