Canon 18-55mm IS II
EF-S f/3.5-5.6 (2011-)
Sample Images Intro Compatibility Specs
Canon 18-55mm IS II (58mm filters, 7.0 oz./198g, 0.8'/0.25m close focus, about $199 or often kitted with Canon's basic DSLRs). bigger. I got mine at Adorama; I'd also get it at Amazon or at B&H.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
July 2017 Canon Reviews Canon Lenses Canon Flash All Reviews
Sample Images
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specs Performance Recommendations
Granite Springs, August 2016. Canon Rebel T6, Canon 18-55mm IS II at 40mm, f/6.3 at 1/100 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely show these high resolution files properly).
Granite Springs, August 2016. Canon 80D, Canon 18-55mm IS II at 50mm, f/7.1 at 1/400 at Auto ISO 100. . bigger or camera-original file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely show these high resolution files properly).
Introduction
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specs Performance Recommendations
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This tiny Canon 18-55mm is a basic kit lens. It's ultralight, more than sharp enough and weighs nearly nothing. It's a perfect lens for use with any of Canon's smaller APS-C DSLRs, and often comes included with some of these cameras like the Rebel T6 with which I got mine.
Canon 18-55mm IS II. bigger.
Compatibility
This EF-S lens mounts only on Canon's APS-C DSLRs. It won't fit Canon's full-frame cameras.
It works on Canon's mirrorless EOS-M cameras if you use the EOS-M adapter.
Specifications
Name
Canon calls this the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II.
EF: Electronic Focus, as all Canon's lenses have been since 1987.
-S: Only fits Canon's APS-C DSLRs.
IS: Image Stabilization.
II: Canon's second version of this lens.
Optics
11 elements in 9 groups.
1 aspherical element.
Diaphragm
Canon 18-55mm IS II. bigger.
6 rounded blades.
Stops down to f/22～38.
Focal Length
18 ～ 55mm.
When used on an APS-C camera, it sees the same angle of view as a 28 ～ 85 mm lens sees when used on a 35mm or full-frame camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View
74.3º ～ 27.8º diagonal on APS-C.
Autofocus
Front of lens rotates.
Focus Scale
No.
Infinity Focus Stop
No.
Depth of Field Scale
No.
Infrared Focus Index
No.
Close Focus
0.8 feet (9.8" or 0.25 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:2.94 (0.34×).
Image Stabilizer
Rated 4 stops improvement.
Filters
Plastic 58mm filter thread.
Hood
Size
2.7" maximum diameter × 3.33" extension from flange.
68.5mm maximum diameter × 84.5mm extension from flange.
Weight
6.980 oz. (197.9g) actual measured weight.
Canon specifies 7.1 oz. (201g).
Quality
Canon 18-55mm IS II. bigger.
Made in Taiwan.
Announced
07 February 2011.
Promised for
End of March, 2011, with the simultaneously introduced Rebel T3 and Rebel T3i.
Canon Model Number
2042B002.
Price, USA
$199, August 2016-July 2017.
Performance
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specs Performance Recommendations
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus
Overall
The Canon 18-55mm IS II is a tiny plastic kit lens that works very well.
Autofocus
Autofocus is fast enough, but uses a noisy little motor. It's not silent.
Manual Focus
Manual focus is goofy; you have to move the switch on the lens to MF and then turn the thin little front section of the lens.
Distortion
The Canon 18-55mm IS II has strong barrel distortion at 18mm, moderate barrel distortion at 24mm, and no visible distortion from 35-55mm.
If this bothers you and your camera can't be set to correct it automatically, use these figures in Photoshop's lens distortion filter to rectify it.
These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.
at 10'/3m |
|
18mm |
+4.50* |
24mm |
+2.70 |
35mm |
±0.00 |
55mm |
-0.50 |
© 2017 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
* Some waviness remains
Ergonomics
Most of the lens is its zoom ring; that's good.
The manual focus ring is the tiny ring around the front of the lens. It's not much fun to focus manually, for which you have to move a switch as well.
If you want instant manual-focus override, get the newer 18-55mm IS STM instead.
Falloff
I see no falloff. Be sure to set any camera lens compensation to ON if this is likely to bother you.
Lateral Color Fringes
I can see some lateral color fringes, but most of them go away if you have a camera with automatic corrections.
Macro
Macro performance is very very good. It gets very close and it's very sharp:
Kienzle Flieger Automat 800/2843, 01 August 2016. Canon T6, 18-55mm at 55mm at close-focus distance wide-open at f/5.6 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).
If this crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 x 30" (50 x 75cm). In this case, you're seeing the texture of the silver paint on the watch face.
If this crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 40 x 60" (1 x 1.5 meters). In this case, you're seeing the texture of the silver paint on the watch face.
Mechanical Quality
Canon 18-55mm IS II. bigger.
It's a very well made all-plastic lens.
Filter Threads, Hood Bayonet Mount & Focus Ring
All one-piece plastic.
Front Barrel
Plastic.
Zoom Ring
Rubber-covered plastic.
Rear Barrel
Plastic.
Identity
Painted around front element and on rear barrel.
Internals
Plastic.
Moisture Seal at Mount
No.
Mount
Plastic.
Made in
Taiwan.
Sharpness
This lens is sharp all the time, and it can get even sharper stopped down a little bit.
Just look at the Sample Images.
The biggest limitation to sharpness is your skill as a photographer.
Sharpness isn't everything; here are two super sharp images from this lens that aren't exactly exciting:
Fabric at 18mm and f/10. bigger or camera-original file.
Fabric at 47mm and f/10. bigger or camera-original file.
Sunstars
The 6-blade diaphragm makes 6-pointed stars on brilliant points of light as stopped down:
Stars on The Star at f/16. bigger.
Stars on The Star at f/36. bigger.
Recommendations
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specs Performance Recommendations
This is a swell little lens, ideal for the small cameras with which it's kitted.
If I was buying a lens outright, I'd spend a little more for the newest 18-55mm IS STM which is the same size and has faster, silent autofocus with instant manual override and has incredible macro ability.
The very best protective filter for either of these is the Hoya multicoated HD3 58mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints, but costs 1/3 as much as the lens.
For less money, the B+W 58mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt, and since filters last a lifetime, you'll use it on your next lenses. No big deal, I'd get the basic Hoya filter if all you're worried about is today.
Yes, you can lust after the 17-55mmm f/2.8 IS or 18-135mm IS USM, but either of those weighs more than some of the small Canon cameras that are ideal for use with this 18-55mm lens! Never underestimate the power of a small, lightweight lens: it will let you feel better and carry your camera longer and farther to make more pictures than a big heavy lens that you'd rather leave home.
I got my lens at Adorama; I'd also get it at Amazon or at B&H.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Help Me Help You
I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.