Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Canon
86 Overall Score
vs
Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 50mm

Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 50mm

Yongnuo
55 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

78 out of 100 high confidence 98 reviews

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens is widely praised as a versatile all-in-one walk-around lens for APS-C cameras. Users consistently highlight its silent and smooth STM autofocus, effective image stabilization, and useful zoom range that covers wide-angle to short telephoto. While image quality is considered very good for a kit-level zoom, some reviewers note softness at extreme focal lengths, barrel distortion at 18mm, and a variable aperture that limits low-light performance. Build quality is described as mostly plastic but adequate, though the focus-by-wire manual ring and occasional stiff zoom ring draw criticism.

Pros
  • Silent and smooth STM autofocus
  • Effective image stabilization
  • Versatile 18-135mm zoom range
  • Good image quality for a kit lens
  • Lightweight and compact design
Cons
  • Softness at extreme focal lengths
  • Barrel distortion at 18mm
  • Variable aperture limits low-light use
  • Focus-by-wire manual ring
  • Plastic build feels cheap
👍 Autofocus performance 25
👍 Image quality 30
👍 Image stabilization 12
🤔 Build quality 15
👍 Zoom range versatility 22
👎 Low light performance 10

Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 50mm

78 out of 100 medium confidence 11 reviews

This 50mm f/1.8 lens is widely praised as an excellent value-for-money prime lens for beginners and hobbyists. Users highlight its sharp foreground focus and pleasing bokeh, making it ideal for portraits and product shots. The build quality feels cheap and the autofocus is noisy and slow, but most agree the optical performance far exceeds the low price. A few issues with durability and incompatibility with newer lens hoods were noted.

Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Sharp foreground focus
  • Pleasing bokeh effect
  • Great for portraits
  • Lightweight and compact
Cons
  • Noisy autofocus
  • Slow autofocus
  • Cheap build quality
  • Durability concerns
  • Incompatible with newer lens hoods
👍 Value for money 6
👍 Bokeh and image quality 6
👎 Autofocus speed 4
👎 Autofocus noise 3
👎 Build quality 4
👍 Beginner friendly 5

Scores

Portrait
Canon
96
Yongnuo
53
Budget
Canon
93
Yongnuo
54
Video Cinema
Canon
89
Yongnuo
51
Street
Canon
81
Yongnuo
61
Travel
Canon
80
Yongnuo
61
Wildlife Sports
Canon
73
Yongnuo
48
Landscape
Canon
72
Yongnuo
50
Professional
Canon
72
Yongnuo
52
Macro
Canon
69
Yongnuo
54

Specifications

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USMYongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 50mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min18 mm50 mm
Focal Length Max135 mm50 mm
Elements168
Groups127
Aspherical Elements11
ED Elements11
CoatingSuper Spectra CoatingMulti-Coated
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/16
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/1.8
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountCanon EF-SSony E
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.52 kg0.16 kg★
Filter Thread67 mm58 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeNANO USM★Autofocus
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance390 mm★450 mm
Max Magnification0.28x1:6.67★

Pros & Cons

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

  • Strong versatility (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong aperture (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)

Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 50mm

  • Strong build (95th percentile)95th %ile
  • Strong social proof (76th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Pricing

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

No current pricing available

Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 50mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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