Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens review: The best bang-for-your-buck ultra-wide APS-C lens?
posted Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 12:10 PM EDT
Are you a Canon photographer with an APS-C camera and need an ultra wide-angle zoom? Do you want the best value for your money? Look no further than Canon's new $299 EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens. Announced back in May, the new Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM ultra wide-angle zoom lens is small, lightweight, very affordable, and as it turns out, quite the solid performer.
Canon already released an APS-C ultra wide-angle zoom lens -- the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5–4.5 USM -- back in 2004, and earned a lot of praise for its image quality. However, it's significantly larger, heavier and pricier than this new 10-18mm lens, albeit a little faster with the ƒ/3.5-4.5 aperture range. As a compromise for the slower apertures, the Canon 10-18 features a IS system -- rated up to 4-stops at 18mm -- and combined with Canon's STM focusing, this new lens should make it a hit with those looking for a small, fast-focusing lens as well as with HD-DSLR video shooters.
The 10-18mm, however, it not meant as a replacement to the 10-22mm. The small, lightweight build is constructed most from solid-feeling polycarbonate plastic and is designed primarily as good match with Canon's smaller, more entry-level DSLRs like the Rebel T5i or SL1. And based on our test results, the new budget-friendly Canon 10-18mm lens is going to give the older 10-22mm lens a run for its money!
Head on over to SLRgear to read the full Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM review, complete with our in-depth report, final conclusion as well as our full range of test results and sample images.
The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is currently available for purchase at the low price of $299 (ships with front and rear caps; a lens hood and soft carry bag can be purchased separately), and can be purchased at one of our trusted affiliates: Amazon, Adorama and B&H. Purchasing this lens, or any other item, at one of these retailers helps support this site and keeps the reviews coming!
In the meantime, check out some sample photos shot by our senior lens technician Rob Murray using the Canon 7D. You can view more sample photos, plus download the full-resolution files, over at our Flickr page.
