Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens Review

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens Review

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens is one of the two lenses (the other is the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, and then there are two STM lenses for the EOS M) that have been designed to work smoothly with the Movie AF Servo mode that’s featured on the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D. In Movie AF Servo mode the camera can focus continuously while it is recording video. Moreover, the STM (Stepping Motor) AF should allow for a silent focusing (so you don’t record disturbing noise while in video mode).

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens sports a newly developed image stabilization system of which Canon claims it gives you 4 stops. The Canon is a good walk-around and everyday lens. It covers photographic settings from landscape (wide angle) to portrait photography. The lens will also sense if you are shooting normally or panning, and will activate the most appropriate IS mode to capture the best possible image. When shooting movies, Dynamic IS automatically engages, countering any shake caused by movement. On a crop sensor (1.6x magnification) the lens has a range of 29-216mm. The usual price tag of the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is $549, and it has the following specs:

  • 18-135mm Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
  • Aperture Range: f/3.5-36
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • Stepping Motor and Inner Focusing System
  • Supports Movie Servo AF Feature
  • Smooth and Quiet AF Ideal for Video
  • EF-S Mount for APS-C Format EOS Cameras
  • Compact Design

Steve’s Digicams took the lens and tested it. They used a Canon EOS 60D for the tests. In the conclusion they write:

Canon’s new 18-135mm IS STM lens is a high quality, versatile and affordable (~$550 USD) standard zoom lens. This lens can easily be used as an all-in-one lens, as it is all you need for most standard shooting situations. It is also one of just two of the STM lenses currently available (Oct. 2012), which is a must for anyone that uses their Canon dSLR regularly for shooting video. The new functions of the lens will automatically increase your video quality. As it is equipped with the new T4i kit, we recommend that you buy the kit for this lens, whether you are getting your first dSLR or upgrading from a previous Rebel. You will find yourself using this lens for all of your day to day shooting.

A more exhaustive description of the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens follows after the break.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens price check: B&H Photo, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon Rebel T4i/EOS 650D price check: B&H Photo, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon EOS 60D price check: B&H Photo, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

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[Review] Rebel T4i/650D With 18-135mm IS STM Reviewed And Compared

Cameralabs published a detailed review of the Rebel T4i/650D with the EF-S 18-135mm IS STM lens. One of the highlight of the T4i/650D is the Auto-Focus system (emphasis mine):

The hybrid CMOS AF sensor combined with improvements to the stand alone phase detect AF provides the T4i / 650D with one of the most sophisticated focusing systems of any Canon DSLR, particularly for continuous autofocus during movie recording. Coupled with one of the new quiet STM lenses its movie autofocusing is on a par with that offerred by touch-screen mirrorless compact system cameras.

It’s the same AF that is featured on the recently announced EOS M. We wrote before about how much the Rebel T4i/650D was a testbed for the technologies later employed on the EOS M. Camerlabs compares the T4i/650D to Nikon’s D3200. The Rebel T4i/650D gets a “highly recommended” final score. From the verdict:

With the Rebel T4i / EOS 650D Canon has neatly addressed […] issues. The Hybrid CMOS AF sensor improves AF capability in Live view but, more importantly, makes this the first Canon DSLR to provide truly effective continuous AF during movie recording, putting it on a par with Sony’s SLT models and touch-screen mirrorless CSC’s like the Olympus PEN E-P3 and Panasonic Lumix GX1.

Its 3 inch touch-screen […] is intended to pull in compact upgraders and will succeed, but even those who love to use physical controls will find it enhances the handling characteristics in a very positive fashion. Other enhancements, like built-in stereo microphones, 5fps continuous shooting, the Multi shot noise reduction stacking mode and built-in correction for chromatic aberration make the Rebel T4i / EOS 650D an excellent all-round performer and a hard act to beat for first time buyers with a little extra in the budget or those looking to move up to the next level. I highly recommend it.

[via Cameralabs]

Rebel T4i/EOS 650D With EF-M 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM In Stock And Ready To Ship (Update)

Edit: I was referring to the wrong lens, it is a 18-135mm IS STM.

Update: Check sample pics shot with a Rebel T4i/650D and the 18-135 IS STM lens – click here

Great news if you live in the States and can’t wait to get your hands on Canon’s new Rebel, the T4i/650D. B&H has the T4i as a kit with the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens available for (free) shipping ($1,199.99 click here). Limited quantity, so be quick before others are. Core specs of the T4i/650D:

  • STM Lens Support for Quiet AF in Movies
  • 18.0MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 5 Image Processor
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touch Screen LCD
  • ISO 100-12800, Expandable to 25600
  • Full HD Movie Mode with Continuous AF
  • 5.0 FPS Continuous Shooting
  • 9-Point All Cross-Type AF System
  • Multi Shot Noise Reduction
  • EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
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[Rumor] Does Canon Have Problems With The EF-S 18-135mm STM IS Lens?

There are reports of customers that saw their orders for the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with the EF-S 18-135mm STM IS lens cancelled, apparently without any reason. It’s also rather curious that the only shop that has the EF-S18-135mm STM IS in stock and ready to ship is the Canon Store itself ($549.99, click here). Except for DigitalRev (click here, price depends by check-out location), none of the shops in my database have the lens in stock. Isn’t that strange enough?

[via CR]

[Pre-Order] EOS 650D/T4i/X6i And EF-S 18-135mm STM IS Available For Pre-Order At Amazon Germany

Looks like Amazon Germany is the only one of Amazon’s European branches that has the new EOS 650D (T4i/X6i) and EF-S 18-135mm STM IS lens (both announced yesterday) ready for pre-order. The following kits are available:

  • EOS 650D & EF-S 18-55 IS II for EUR 899,00 (click here)
  • EOS 650D & EF-S 18-135mm STM IS for EUR 1.149,00 (click here)
  • EOS 650D body only for EUR 799,00 (click here)
  • EF-S 18-135mm STM IS for EUR 499,00 (click here)