Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

★★★★☆ 4.4 (7)

A built-in Image Stabilizer providing up to 2 stops of shake correction and a fast, quiet USM autofocus motor distinguish this 28-135mm zoom for EF-mount DSLRs. Its Super Spectra Coating and precise EMD aperture control deliver consistent image quality across a versatile focal range, all in a 726g package. This lens is best for hobbyist photographers seeking a single, affordable walkaround solution for generalist shooting from landscapes to casual portraits.

Focal length 28-135mm
Aperture f/28
Mount Canon EF
stabilization Yes
Weight 536 g
af type Ring-type USM
lens type standard
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens
33 Overall Score

No current retailer price

Snapshot

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong af (93rd percentile) 93rd
  • Strong versatility (93rd percentile) 93rd
  • Strong stabilization (79th percentile) 79th

Cons

  • Below average bokeh (6th percentile)
  • Below average aperture (8th percentile)
  • Below average optical (18th percentile)
  • Below average build (20th percentile)

What owners think

How owner sentiment changed over time

Exclusive

Based on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.

Owner sentiment has improved over time
1★2★3★4★5★Q2 '25: 4.0★ · 1 reviewQ3 '25: 5.0★ · 2 reviews12Q2 '25Q3 '25
Avg ratingHappy (4-5★)Unhappy (1-2★)Bar height = number of reviews

Based on 3 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.

The proof

Performance

Performance Percentiles

AF 93.2
Bokeh 5.5
Build 20.4
Macro 55.6
Optical 17.5
Aperture 7.8
Versatility 92.7
Social Proof 30.3
Stabilization 79.4

Specifications

Full Specifications

Optics

Type Standard
Focal Length Min 28
Focal Length Max 135

Aperture

Max Aperture f/28
Min Aperture 3.5-5.6
Constant No

Build

Mount Canon EF
Format full-frame
Weight 0.5 kg / 1.2 lbs

AF & Stabilization

AF Type Ring-type USM
Stabilization Yes

Focus

Min Focus Distance 500

vs Competition

Spec Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Nikon NIKKOR 20059 Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Focal Length 28-135mm 28-300mm 18-55mm 17-40mm 12-35mm 18-135mm
Max Aperture f/28 f/4 f/3.5 f/1.8 f/2.8 f/3.5
Mount Canon EF Sony E Nikon F Fujifilm X Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Stabilization true true true false true true
Weather Sealed false true false true true false
Weight (g) 536 590 205 535 306 326
AF Type Ring-type USM VXD linear motor pulse stepping motor HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) Autofocus Linear motor
Lens Type standard zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare
Product AFBokehBuildMacroOpticalApertureVersatilitySocial ProofStabilization
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM 93.25.520.455.617.57.892.730.379.4
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare 97.783.663.183.196.370.997.950.779.4
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 Compare 84.881.483.795.354.682.882.986.292.3
Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Compare 53.99767.172.296.695.375.894.134.4
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare 53.986.683.94986.288.380.586.296.4
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare 97.781.47137.57882.895.890.779.4

Usage Scores

Macro (32.8)Overall (33)Budget (37.3)Street (27.3)Travel (35.7)Portrait (18.9)Landscape (31.9)Professional (25.3)Video Cinema (30.4)Wildlife Sports (38.2)

A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.

Other Configurations1

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