Is the Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS STM worth it over the 18-55mm III for a Canon 200D?
Asked 3/13/2018
6 views
2 answers
0
I’m choosing a kit lens for a Canon 200D. The EF-S 18-55mm III is much cheaper, while the EF-S 18-55mm IS STM costs more. For mostly still photography with some occasional video, what practical advantages does the IS STM version have over the III? Besides video, does image stabilization or the STM focus system offer meaningful benefits for still photography?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
2
(This is really the only part of your question that isn't off topic as a shopping question or primarily opinion based.)
Are there any advantages of the IS and better focus motor in photography besides the more stable handheld photography?
Yes, there are benefits to using IS when taking still images with a handheld camera. It allows one to use slower shutter speeds than would otherwise be the case before blur due to camera motion becomes noticeable in the resulting image.
Regardless of how good your handheld technique is, you can stretch that good technique even further using a lens with good IS if your subject is stationary.
On the other hand, if you are using your camera secured to a tripod for very long exposures or are using it to take photos of moving subjects in low light, IS doesn't do anything at all for you. IS has no effect whatsoever on subject motion.
For more about IS and its uses for still photography, please see:
Is image stabilization a necessary feature for wide angle lenses?
What is more important, f-stop or IS
What reduces blur from camera movement more: large aperture or image stabilisation?
What's the difference between using an Image Stabilization and not using it?
The same is true of STM: It is an advantage if you need faster, smoother, and quieter autofocus. It's not an advantage at all if you shoot astrophotography or landscapes (or anything else) and manually focus the lens.
STM vs Non STM lenses for still photography?
What does STM mean on a Canon lens?
Why is the battery required to manually focus through the viewfinder?
There are other differences between the two lenses as well. How applicable they are to a user depends on what the user desires to do with the lens.
For example, the non-rotating front element on the STM version is useful if you plan to use polarizing or graduated filters on the front of the lens. It's a total non-factor if you don't. And typically, those who use such filters are more advanced photographers that have long since moved on to nicer lenses than an 18-55mm kit lens by the time they start using such filters.
For these reasons, we can't tell you if the extra cost is worth it for you. Only you can answer that.
For further reading, please see:
What advantages does the Canon EF-S 18-55mm III have over the IS II version?
Is there an IQ gain in going from Canon 18-135 IS to 18-135 STM lens?
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—if your budget allows, the 18-55mm IS STM is generally the better choice.
For still photography, image stabilization is useful well beyond video. It lets you handhold at slower shutter speeds with less blur from camera shake, which helps in low light and for static subjects like landscapes, architecture, and everyday shooting. It won’t help freeze subject motion, and it’s less useful on a tripod or when subjects are moving quickly.
The STM version also brings practical handling benefits:
- quieter, smoother autofocus, especially helpful for video
- better AF behavior overall
- non-rotating front element, which is nicer if you use filters
- proper manual focus ring
- full-time manual focus
- compatible with a petal hood design
So the main stills advantage is definitely IS, and the STM design adds convenience and better usability. If you expect to shoot handheld in lower light or want to try video at all, the IS STM is the more versatile lens. The cheaper III version mainly makes sense if cost is the top priority.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI8y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Is the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM a worthwhile upgrade over the 18-55mm kit lens at 24mm?
Canon EF-S 18-55mm III vs 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM: what’s different, and which has better image quality?
Does the Canon EF-S 18-55mm III have any advantage over the 18-55mm IS II?
What is the difference between the Canon EF-S 18-55mm III and EF-S 18-55mm IS II kit lenses?
Is the Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS better than the older non-IS 18-55mm?