The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is an older lens that lacks STM focusing capability, but is still a step up from your D-SLR's standard kit lens.

Very sharp; Long zoom range; Optically stabilized

Lacks STM capability; Some distortion

Canons EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is the company's new kit lens for up-market bodies, or those wanting to upgrade from the basic EF-S 18-55mm IS to something longer without breaking the bank.

Flexible 7.5x range zooms 2.5x closer than basic kit lens; Effective Stabilisation with 3 stops in our tests; Metal lens mount and non-rotating filter mount; Affordable step-up from basic kit lens

Soft in extreme corners; especially at larger apertures; Noticeable vignetting and geometric distortion; Loud AF motor; and MF ring rotates during AF; Some creep between 20 and 85mm (actual)

Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at this lightweight 7.5x superzoom lens for EF-S compatible Canon cameras with Image Stabilisation.

Good resolution at optimum apertures; Lightweight design; Effective Image Stabiliser

Chromatic Aberrations at 18mm; Barrel distortion at 18mm; No lens hood supplied

Bundled often as a kit with the Canon EOS 7D and 50D, this APS-C format zoom ($450, street) is for shooters who want more than a bare-bones 18–55mm kit lens without paying $575 (street) for the extra reach of Canon's 18–200mm IS superzoom.

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens is designed as a step up from the standard-at-review-time 18-55mm IS kit lens. The 18-135's most attractive features are a wide (7.5x) focal length range , a low price , a relatively light weight/small package, and a very nice IS (Image Stabilization)...

Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at this lightweight 7.5x superzoom lens for EF-S compatible Canon cameras with Image Stabilisation.

Good resolution at optimum apertures; Lightweight design; Effective Image Stabiliser

Chromatic Aberrations at 18mm; Barrel distortion at 18mm; No lens hood supplied

Bad lens.

erratic AF; awful CA; really short sharpening

good use range; good color; fast AF ***

The build quality of the Canon lens is slightly better compared to the typical low-end/"budget" class zoom lenses by Canon. The plastic quality is quite decent and the lens feels pretty "tight" in terms of build tolerances. The mount is made of metal.

Announced at the beginning of September, this new Canon standard zoom lens was designed to complement the EOS 7D body on which we tested it. Providing a focal length range equivalent to 29-216mm in 35mm format, the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS covers both wide enough angles for landscape photography...

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS ($499.99 direct)  isn't the newest lens on the block, but it's still around despite a newer version being available. The newer lens is the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM -it's $50 more, and its STM motor delivers smoother video focus when used with a...