Customer Reviews

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens for EOS Digital SLR Rebel XT, XTI, 20D & 30D Digital Cameras

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I agree totally with the other reviewers who say that it's fine for basic "snapshots" but that's about all. If you're simply looking to step up to a Digital SLR from a point and shoot, then buy the Canon Digital Rebel XT kit that comes with this lens. It's lightweight and fine for nice quality landscapes and snapshots. This however would NOT be my first choice.

If you want exceptional pictures or if you think that you might ever step up to a nicer camera, buy only the camera body and get an images stabilized all purpose lens like the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens. This lens will let you take hand held pictures that will be sharp 2 whole shutter speeds slower than a non-stabilized lens will. The zoom range will allow every thing from nice wide angle landscapes at the lower end to moderate telephoto and excellent portraits at the higher magnification end.

You'll probably end up keeping this on your camera as your default lens. I have an IS 75-300 and a 60mm macro that I use on occasion, but the 28-135 is my workhorse.

I purchased this lens after buying an EOS 30D body-only, and discovering that the 1.6 crop factor was far too severe for my shooting requirements and existing EF lenses. This lens was intended to be used as the equivalent of my old EF 28-105mm, and in wide angle, it does an extremely good job getting me just as wide as I'm used to going, plus just a bit more, even if I don't get quite the reach on the zoom end even after the 1.6 crop factor.

Intending to use it as a knock-around low-end lens, I bought mine used, and couldn't be happier with what I got for the price, and frankly was amazed at the sharpness and clarity and comparable quality of image I'm getting as compared to my more expensive EF lenses.

The only awkward thing about this lens is that the focal ring is on the outer edge of the lens. If you use a polarizing filter, where the orientation of the filter is critical, you'll find that the act of focusing will spin the filter along with the focal ring. There's not enough resistance on the focal ring to allow for filter adjustment after AF has been locked on target. In essence, this renders this lens incompatible for use with any sort of adjustable filter.

This is easily my lightest weight lens I now own. It feels like nothing at all at the end of my camera, which took some getting used to. Despite good performance, feels a bit like a toy, like something you'd expect to screw onto a Kiddie camera not a Canon.

This lens is plenty quiet and quick focusing for my needs although a quieter, faster fousing USM version is also available.

This is an adequate lens but the new kit lens (Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS) for the 450D/Rebel XSi sells for $137.80 on its own...and that lens has image stabilization! Looking at the prices for the 400D/Rebel XTi with and without this lens, the price for this lens is around $40-$80.

The folks who are selling this lens at this price must be laughing pretty hard each time they make a sale.

For some reason this lens gets a very bad rap and for the life of me I cannot understand why. The lens is slow but it isn't made for indoor shooting. The heart of the problem is that most people really don't know how to use the lens. A photographer with some skill can make pictures sing with this lens if you don't believe me go to Canon Digital Forum and look at all the wonderful pictures produced with this glass. You have to use it outdoors when there's plenty of light at F9 or higher and you will find the lens is suprisingly sharp, If you want a fast lens for indoor shoots Canon, Sigma and Tamron all make plenty but you have to spend more money. This lens is cheap but the results are nice if you know what you are doing, now go out and keep practicing.

Ok, so i bought this last night from a friend for $50...What a steal. I have been shooting on a 50mm f/1.8 and i love that lens, but it cant zoom. I shot for a whole day yesterday on this lens and it was pretty good, but not worth the $299 its selling for on here. I would recommend the 18-55mm IS lens, the extra stops really make a difference. This lens has a soft focus (well to me anyway). None the less, i have enjoyed shooting on this lens with my XTi and it is a good starter lens, but you are better off buying different lens (unless you can finds this one for under $100)

Five stars for price to performance ratio. I feel I got a lot of lens for the money spent. Go ahead buy one.

I purchased a used Canon camara lens and just love it. The buyer gave an excellent description of the product and I received it earlier than I expected it. I would definitely recommend this buyer.

This kit lens came with my Xsi which is my first digital camera. I didn't have much knowledge or experience on lenses back then so I couldn't tell how good or bad the lens was. Later on I found out that the images were far from being sharp and serious chromatic aberrations were common. If you have money, consider these lenses instead of the kit lens Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras or Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras. If you have limited budget, consider this guy Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras. If you don't trust my words, go ahead and get the kit lens! You would want to throw it into the trash (since it has practically no resale value) when you get your hands on the better ones.
Bottomline: Buy the camera body, don't buy the kit lens, seek for a better option!

This lens is only good if you lost all your other lenses. this is my last resort lens that can with the camera. Although i have taken some great pics with, i hardly ever use it.

It is little bit difficult to believe Canon is giving away this type of lenses as a standard with their cameras... This will make your camera shine even more!