Are kit lenses really bad, and is the Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS kit lens worth getting with a T4i?
Asked 1/5/2013
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I'm considering a Canon T4i and often hear that “kit lenses” are poor quality. However, the EF-S 18-135mm IS kit lens seems to get fairly good reviews.
Are kit lenses actually bad, or are they just designed with different priorities? For a beginner/general-purpose setup, would the Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS be a sensible choice, especially if I could spend more money if needed?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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Why are lenses included in kits so bad?
Kit lenses aren't bad -- they're just optimized for different parameters. A kit lens is meant to be a decent general purpose lens that'll get you started with your camera and at the same time keep the price of the total package down to a point where you'll still buy it. If you compare the EF-S 18-135 IS to lenses that cost as much as the whole t4i kit, then yes, it should be no surprise that the more expensive lens will win on points like sharpness, speed, etc.
I can afford to spend more money, if needed.
The EF-S 18-135 IS costs around $350-450 when you buy it by itself, but in a kit it only adds about $200 to the price of the camera. That's a pretty good deal. If you don't already have a specific idea about what you want, I'd say it's a good idea to get the kit -- it'll be a good lens to start out with, and by the time you're ready to add more lenses to your collection you'll already have gotten your money's worth out of the 18-135.
Originally by user4262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4262
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Kit lenses usually aren’t “bad” so much as built to a different goal: they balance versatility, acceptable image quality, and low cost so a new buyer can get started right away.
Compared with much more expensive lenses, a kit zoom will usually give up some sharpness, maximum aperture, build quality, or speed. That doesn’t mean it can’t make very good images. Kit lenses are popular because they’re mass-produced, affordable, and cover useful focal lengths for beginners.
The EF-S 18-135mm IS is generally a solid general-purpose option for a Canon crop-sensor body like the T4i. Its wide zoom range makes it convenient, and buying it in a kit is often a better value than purchasing it separately.
If you don’t already know you need something more specialized—such as a faster lens for low light, a sharper premium zoom, or a prime lens—the 18-135mm IS is a sensible choice to start with. You can learn what focal lengths and features matter to you, then upgrade later if needed.
So: no, kit lenses are not automatically poor, and this one is a reasonable starter lens for the T4i.
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