Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
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 | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF-S |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | No |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | STM |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 390 |
| 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-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 18-135mm | 28-300mm | 18-50mm | 17-28mm | 12-35mm | 18-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 515 | 590 | 290 | 450 | 306 | 326 |
| AF Type | STM | VXD linear motor | stepping motor | Stepping Motor | Autofocus | Linear motor |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM | 86.8 | 75.4 | 53 | 42.4 | 82.2 | 77.3 | 30 | 95.8 | 77.7 | 93.3 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 98 | 77.9 | 65.1 | 85.8 | 96.7 | 66 | 91.2 | 97.7 | 55.8 | 82.4 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 86.8 | 81.8 | 86 | 91.7 | 82.2 | 83.9 | 80.9 | 78.6 | 89.8 | 36.8 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 86.8 | 87 | 75.2 | 85.8 | 88.2 | 83.9 | 91.2 | 68 | 69.8 | 36.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.9 | 81.8 | 85.4 | 51 | 86.5 | 83.9 | 63.7 | 80.6 | 85.5 | 96.9 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 98 | 75.4 | 72.5 | 40.3 | 78.5 | 77.3 | 44.7 | 95.8 | 89.8 | 82.4 |
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.
