Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon
86 Overall Score
vs
Sigma DC 203101 8-16mm
Sigma
47 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
Sigma DC 203101 8-16mm
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Portrait
Budget
Video Cinema
Street
Travel
Landscape
Wildlife Sports
Professional
Macro
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM | Sigma DC 203101 8-16mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 16 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 7 |
| Groups | 12 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 5★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/4.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 4.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.52 kg★ | 0.56 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | HSM |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | — |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 390 mm | 239 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.28x★ | 0.12x |
Pros & Cons
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
- Strong versatility (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Sigma DC 203101 8-16mm
- Strong optical (77th percentile)
- Strong versatility (72nd percentile)
- Below average build (19th percentile)19th %ile
- Below average social proof (21st percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
- Below average macro (35th percentile)
Verdict
Winner: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.