EF Lenses - which gap?

Mark Dobson · April 6th, 2013, 01:08 PM

Hi Pat,

If you've got the 40mm STM you will have a good idea of the quality of the optics. I've been very pleased with the 18-135mm. Whilst it definitely isn't an L lens in build quality it is pretty robust. I like the electronic focus on it, very smooth and precise, just need a light touch and it is also parfocal.

If you've not seen it yet here is the Photozone review.

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

Like many people with C300s and C100s I've also got the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM , and I would say that that is a superior lens in both the optics and the build - but it hasn't got the reach you need in certain situations.

If i had deep pockets I'd stick to L Lenses and would love to try out some of the Canon Cinema Lenses. Maybe I'll have a win on the lottery and buy the 30-300 a snip at $44,640. What are more affordable are the Primes with a 14mm at $5,220.

Andy Wilkinson · April 6th, 2013, 01:50 PM

Interesting info and thanks for the link Mark. Maybe I should give that lens a closer look!

One question - I don't want to derail this thread - but how noisy is the IS on that 18-135mm STM lens?

I find my Canon 17-55mm F2.8 IS has a remarkably quiet IS which of course is great. On the other hand, the Canon 70-200mm F4 IS tends to be significantly louder, the "grinding gears" noise being detectable by an onboard shotgun in environments with low background noise. A Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS (not the latest version) that a friend of mine lent me for a long period was equally loud, maybe even worse. The only other (image stabilised) Canon lens I have is the 100mm F2.8 Macro (HIS) and that is probably as quiet as the 17-55mm.

I find IS noise can be a factor in fast paced run-n-gun work where you are often forced to rely on sound from an on-camera shotgun (as well as a good lens zoom range for fast shot selection/reframing). However, this seems to be an area often overlooked, or at least rarely mentioned, when selecting IS zoom lenses.

I am just wondering how quietly these newer STM lenses perform image stabilisation. The review mentions auto focus is fast and quiet but does not inform on this specific aspect.

Mark Dobson · April 7th, 2013, 01:37 AM

Andy,

The 18-135mm STM IS is as quiet as a mouse and generally the image stabilisation is very efficient.

Dan Burnap · April 7th, 2013, 05:09 AM

I have a 24-105 on my my C100 and if I buy another C100 I was thinking about the 18-135 for it. A good all-round range, IS plus STM for the autofocus update somewhere along the line.

Anyone have opinions on this lens? Will it be good enough to pair with the 24-105?

Andy Wilkinson · April 7th, 2013, 09:57 AM

Dan,

Whilst investigating this lens last night I found a couple of good reviews. May help.

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

Canon 18-135mm STM Review

Brett Sherman · April 18th, 2013, 07:15 PM

I have the 18-200mm lens and have not been too pleased with it. I find the travel on the focus so short that it is quite difficult to get things in focus. Lack of parfocal is a PITA. I'm underwhelmed by the IS and find the image not particularly good. I find myself never actually using it. Would the 18-135mm STM make a better run and gun lens? Would it be more on par quality-wise with the 15-85mm that I'm quite pleased with?

April 6th, 2013, 01:08 PM	#16
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: EF Lenses - which gap? Hi Pat, If you've got the 40mm STM you will have a good idea of the quality of the optics. I've been very pleased with the 18-135mm. Whilst it definitely isn't an L lens in build quality it is pretty robust. I like the electronic focus on it, very smooth and precise, just need a light touch and it is also parfocal. If you've not seen it yet here is the Photozone review. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 STM IS - Review / Test Report Like many people with C300s and C100s I've also got the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM , and I would say that that is a superior lens in both the optics and the build - but it hasn't got the reach you need in certain situations. If i had deep pockets I'd stick to L Lenses and would love to try out some of the Canon Cinema Lenses. Maybe I'll have a win on the lottery and buy the 30-300 a snip at $44,640. What are more affordable are the Primes with a 14mm at $5,220.

April 6th, 2013, 01:50 PM	#17
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: EF Lenses - which gap? Interesting info and thanks for the link Mark. Maybe I should give that lens a closer look! One question - I don't want to derail this thread - but how noisy is the IS on that 18-135mm STM lens? I find my Canon 17-55mm F2.8 IS has a remarkably quiet IS which of course is great. On the other hand, the Canon 70-200mm F4 IS tends to be significantly louder, the "grinding gears" noise being detectable by an onboard shotgun in environments with low background noise. A Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS (not the latest version) that a friend of mine lent me for a long period was equally loud, maybe even worse. The only other (image stabilised) Canon lens I have is the 100mm F2.8 Macro (HIS) and that is probably as quiet as the 17-55mm. I find IS noise can be a factor in fast paced run-n-gun work where you are often forced to rely on sound from an on-camera shotgun (as well as a good lens zoom range for fast shot selection/reframing). However, this seems to be an area often overlooked, or at least rarely mentioned, when selecting IS zoom lenses. I am just wondering how quietly these newer STM lenses perform image stabilisation. The review mentions auto focus is fast and quiet but does not inform on this specific aspect. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

April 7th, 2013, 01:37 AM	#18
Mark Dobson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Horsham / United Kingdom Posts: 328	Re: EF Lenses - which gap? Andy, The 18-135mm STM IS is as quiet as a mouse and generally the image stabilisation is very efficient.

April 7th, 2013, 05:09 AM	#19
Dan Burnap Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 335	Re: EF Lenses - which gap? I have a 24-105 on my my C100 and if I buy another C100 I was thinking about the 18-135 for it. A good all-round range, IS plus STM for the autofocus update somewhere along the line. Anyone have opinions on this lens? Will it be good enough to pair with the 24-105?

April 7th, 2013, 09:57 AM	#20
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: EF Lenses - which gap? Dan, Whilst investigating this lens last night I found a couple of good reviews. May help. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens Review Canon 18-135mm STM Review __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

April 18th, 2013, 07:15 PM	#21
Brett Sherman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount Rainier, MD Posts: 428	Re: EF Lenses - which gap? I have the 18-200mm lens and have not been too pleased with it. I find the travel on the focus so short that it is quite difficult to get things in focus. Lack of parfocal is a PITA. I'm underwhelmed by the IS and find the image not particularly good. I find myself never actually using it. Would the 18-135mm STM make a better run and gun lens? Would it be more on par quality-wise with the 15-85mm that I'm quite pleased with? __________________ C300 - EX1 - T3i - FCP X - Adobe CS6