Canon EF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is STM
NANO USM autofocus delivers fast, silent performance for hybrid shooting, paired with 4-stop stabilization and a 454g build covering a 28.8–216mm equivalent range. One UD and one aspherical element suppress aberrations, and the optional PZ-E1 Power Zoom Adapter enables motorized zoom control for video. This lens suits hybrid creators and frequent travelers needing a single stabilized all-in-one solution on APS-C Canon DSLRs.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Score jumped 10 points to 89. Now trades blows with the Sigma 16-300mm, Tamron 18-300mm, and Nikon 28-400mm. Better sharpness and autofocus than most rivals. A top pick for all-in-one zoom shooters.
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 88 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 |
| Focal Length Max | 135 |
| Elements | 16 |
| Groups | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF-S |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | No |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | STM |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 135 |
| Max Magnification | 0.28x |
vs Competition
The updated top 5 shakes things up. The Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 offers a wider starting focal length but softer corners. The Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 is lighter and cheaper but lacks stabilization. The Nikon 28-400mm f/4-8 reaches further but is slower and pricier. The Panasonic 50-200mm f/2.8-4 is a different beast entirely, a premium telephoto for MFT shooters. The Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 is a compact kit lens that cannot match this lens's range or build. Against this field, our lens stands out for balancing reach, sharpness, and speed better than any single competitor.
| Spec | Canon EF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is STM | Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 | Sony G SELP28135G.SYX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 18-135mm | 17-70mm | 17-28mm | 16-28mm | 12-60mm | 28-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Fujifilm X | Nikon Z | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 454 | 544 | 450 | 450 | 320 | 420 |
| AF Type | STM | RXD | Stepping Motor | Stepping AF Motor | linear motor | SSM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is STM | 87.4 | 75.5 | 60.5 | 58.5 | 81.9 | 77.5 | 95.7 | 46.5 | 93.4 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare | 53.7 | 87.1 | 69.8 | 85.8 | 91 | 84.3 | 89.3 | 85.4 | 83.3 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87.4 | 87.1 | 76.1 | 85.8 | 88 | 84.3 | 67.3 | 69.6 | 37.7 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Compare | 87.4 | 87.1 | 76.1 | 77.8 | 97.2 | 84.3 | 67.9 | 63.6 | 37.7 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare | 98.1 | 87.1 | 84.6 | 51.7 | 91 | 84.3 | 93.1 | 68.6 | 83.3 |
| Sony G SELP28135G.SYX Compare | 94.4 | 78.1 | 77.9 | 34 | 88 | 66.7 | 92.3 | 56.6 | 93.4 |
Read more
Verdict
A massive leap forward. The score jump from 79 to 89 reflects real improvements that push this lens into must-consider territory. It now competes head-to-head with heavy hitters like the Sigma 16-300mm and Tamron 18-300mm, holding its own with sharper optics and faster focus. If you passed on it before, it is time to look again.
