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 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR | Sigma Contemporary 207975 | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R2060 | Yongnuo YN12-35mm F2.8-4M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 18-135mm | 17-70mm | 16-50mm | 10-18mm | 20-60mm | 12-35mm |
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Fujifilm X | Nikon Z | Sony E | L-Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | false | false | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | false | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 515 | 544 | 135 | 260 | 350 | 318 |
| AF Type | STM | RXD | Stepping Motor | Autofocus | stepping motor | STM stepping motor |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | wide-angle-zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM | 87.4 | 75.9 | 54.8 | 41.6 | 81.9 | 77.9 | 95.7 | 76.8 | 93.4 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare | 53.7 | 87.4 | 69.6 | 85.9 | 91 | 84.6 | 89.3 | 85.1 | 83.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Compare | 87.4 | 75.9 | 92.6 | 44.4 | 73.8 | 77.9 | 82.9 | 76.8 | 95.3 |
| Sigma Contemporary 207975 Compare | 53.7 | 82.3 | 88.7 | 92.7 | 83.1 | 84.6 | 68.4 | 29 | 37.8 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R2060 Compare | 87.4 | 85.5 | 82.5 | 66.9 | 78.4 | 77.9 | 81.4 | 69 | 37.8 |
| Yongnuo YN12-35mm F2.8-4M Compare | 87.4 | 82.3 | 84.8 | 56.8 | 92.9 | 84.6 | 80 | 34.9 | 83.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Amazon 10 offers From $257
Newegg 11 offers From $499
Price History
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.
