What’s the difference between Canon EF-S 18-55mm and EF-S 18-135mm kit lenses?
Asked 2/12/2013
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I’m considering a Canon EOS 600D and can choose between two kit lenses: the EF-S 18-55mm IS II and the EF-S 18-135mm IS. What practical differences do these lenses have in focal range, typical use, versatility, image quality, and why is the 18-135mm kit more expensive?
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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The 18-55mm lens in the first (cheapest) kit is a "standard zoom", an equivalent to the classic 28-80mm zoom for film SLRs. It's versatile range being wide enough at 18mm for most landscape and interior shots, and long enough at 55mm to shoot tight portraits (head and shoulders) whilst being a comfortable distance from your subject (which also avoids any weird perspective effects).
The 18-135 is encroaching on "superzoom" territory, going from the same wide angle 18mm but all the way to 135mm, allowing you to shoot subjects that are two and a half times as far away as the 18-55mm lens. This extra range adds to the complexity of the lens design accounting for the difference in price.
Whether this is worth the additional cost is up to you. In general it is better to get different lenses for different purposes rather than a single jack of all trades lens, however if you want to travel light, or are a casual photographer and don't want to change lenses all the time it may be the right lens for you.
There are several tools online (such as this one, select "DX" as the format and compare 18mm, 55mm and 135mm) to help visualise the results of different focal lengths.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The main difference is zoom range. Both start at 18mm, so both can handle general wide-angle shots like landscapes and interiors. The 18-55mm reaches 55mm, which is a typical “standard zoom” range and is enough for everyday shooting and portraits.
The 18-135mm goes much farther, giving you significantly more reach for distant subjects without changing lenses. That makes it more versatile as an all-in-one walkaround lens.
Why it costs more: a lens that covers a much wider focal-length range is more complex to design and build. It uses a more ambitious zoom range, so it generally costs more than the basic kit lens.
The trade-off is that longer-range zooms often involve more design compromises. In general, shorter-range zooms can offer slightly better image quality, while superzoom-style lenses prioritize convenience and flexibility.
So the choice depends on your priorities:
- Choose 18-55mm if you want the lower-cost, standard starter lens.
- Choose 18-135mm if you want more reach and fewer lens changes, and are willing to pay more for that versatility.
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AI13y ago
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