Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS

• Specifications
• Reviews
• Sample Images
• Initial launch information

Canon's introduction of image stabilisation to the EF-S18-55 range was accompanied by a redesign of the optical formula, giving a distinct improvement over the mk1 and mk2 lenses (kit and USM versions).

Optically this lens is similar to the later mk2 (IS II) and mk3 (III) versions.

Available from: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | B&H | Adorama

Lens specifications

Marketed	September 2007
Original Price	33,000 yen
Lens Construction (group)	9
Lens Construction (element)	11
No. of Diaphragm Blades	6 (circular aperture)
Minimum Aperture	22-36
Closest Focusing Distance (m)	0.25
Maximum Magnifcation (x)	0.34
Filter Diameter (mm)	58
Maximum Diameter x Length (mm)	68 X 70
Weight (g)	200

EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS reviews and articles

• Canon UK / US Information Page
• Amazon
• Northlight Images
• Canon CPN article
• Fred Miranda
• Lens Tip
• Digital Picture
• PhotoZone
• SLR Gear
• Lens Review
• ePhotozine

Sample images

Product launch

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 20 August, 2007: Canon today strengthens its EF-S series of lenses with the launch of the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS.

With equivalent focal lengths of 29-88mm and 88-400mm respectively, the lenses are the first in the EF-S series to incorporate a 4-stop Image Stabilizer, dramatically extending low-light performance. Both lenses incorporate specialist optics to achieve exceptional image clarity - the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS employing an aspherical lens element with the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS benefiting from an Ultra-Low Dispersion (UD) lens element.

The lenses are built to fit exclusively on those EOS cameras with an EF–S lens mount – including the new EOS 40D, EOS 30D, EOS 400D and earlier models.

The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is a lightweight general-purpose zoom lens that is ideal for handheld photography in a wide range of lighting conditions. Offering high optical quality, the lens has an 11 element, 9 group construction, including one aspherical element for crisp corner-to-corner detail. The lens maintains a closest focusing distance of just 25cm throughout the zoom range, giving photographs the flexibility to frame up close when needed.

Canon’s latest optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology provides up to 4-stop compensation for image blur caused by camera shake and slow shutter speeds. Photographers normally shooting handheld at 1/250 sec can switch on IS to obtain a similarly steady and blur-free result with a shutter speed of just 1/15 second. The inclusion of automatic panning detection makes it easier for photographers to track wildlife and other moving subjects. To ensure consistently accurate results at all zoom positions, the IS system within each lens has been optimised for that lens’ specific focal length range. Since the IS system is based within the lens, the results are visible through the viewfinder when framing the image.

From UK press info:

EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Developed in response to consumer demand for a high-quality yet affordable optically image stabilized lens, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS standard zoom lens adds a phenomenally flexible lens to the EOS 40D SLR shooter's imaging arsenal. While it features the wide-angle to mid-range zoom flexibility of its non-IS predecessor, this new EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens offers the significant advantage of a true lens-shift image stabilization system that yields up to a full four stops of image-shake correction.

The higher performance provided by Canon's lens shift IS system (compared with the in-camera sensor shift type offered in some competitive SLRs) includes the ability to optimize the lens performance for specific shooting situations such as low-light, long-zoom, or movement while shooting (or virtually any combination of the three). What's more, the shooter can see the image stabilization effect in the viewfinder. As the image already appears steady, more accurate framing and composition is possible, the AF point can be placed more precisely, and the photographer can concentrate on the optimal shot more comfortably.