Sigma Sports 185956 500mm
Sigma
56 Overall Score
vs
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon
86 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Sigma Sports 185956 500mm
No customer feedback yet
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
Scores
Portrait
Budget
Video Cinema
Street
Travel
Landscape
Wildlife Sports
Professional
Macro
Specifications
| Sigma Sports 185956 500mm | Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | super-telephoto | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 500 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 500 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 16 |
| Groups | 11 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 1★ |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Super Spectra Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/32 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sigma SA | Canon EF-S |
| Format | Full-Frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 3.17 kg | 0.52 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 46 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 4 stops |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 3.50 m | 390 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:6.67★ | 0.28x |
Pros & Cons
Sigma Sports 185956 500mm
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong bokeh (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong optical (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong aperture (71st percentile)
- Below average build (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average macro (30th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
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)
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.