Pros
Excellent wide-angle capability, perfect for tight spaces
Very affordable price ($299-$300)
Image stabilization (IS) included
Sharp image quality, even comparable to L-series lenses
Lightweight and compact
Silent and accurate STM focusing, good for video
Good build quality despite plastic mount
High quality for amateur use
Great for real estate and landscape photography
Cons
Slow aperture, not ideal for low light situations
Noticeable light falloff (vignetting) at larger apertures
Lens flare and internal reflections in night photography
Main Product Advantages
10 Price
The Canon EF-S 10-18mm lens is highly praised for its affordability, especially when compared to more expensive alternatives like the Canon EF-S 10-22mm and the Tokina 11-16mm. At around $300, it offers excellent value for wide-angle capabilities.
9 Wide Angle
The lens provides a very wide 10-18mm focal length range, making it exceptional for capturing expansive shots, small or cramped spaces, and unique perspectives. Users highlight its usefulness in both photography and videography.
9 Image Stabilization
This lens includes image stabilization (IS), which is particularly valuable for handheld shooting, making video more stable and compensating for the smaller aperture in low-light conditions.
8 Lightweight and Compact
The lens is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry and ideal for travel or quick changes. Despite its plastic mount, users find the build quality to be adequate for its price and usage.
8 Versatility
This lens is versatile for a range of uses, from real estate photography to landscapes and interiors. Its wide-angle capability and stable performance make it a popular choice among both amateur and professional photographers.
7 Image Quality
The lens is reported to produce sharp and high-quality images, with respectable performance, even in comparison to some L-series lenses. However, issues like vignetting and flare in certain conditions have been noted.
7 Autofocus
The lens features a Stepping Motor (STM) for fast and silent autofocus, which works well, especially in video recording. However, some users find the manual focus control a bit laggy and dependent on the camera being powered on.
6 Build Quality
Though primarily made of plastic, the build quality is generally deemed sufficient. The lens mount being plastic instead of metal is a frequent point of critique but hasn't posed major issues for most users.
5 Vignetting and Flare
Users have reported noticeable vignetting at wider apertures and some issues with internal reflections or flare, particularly in low-light scenarios with bright light sources. These issues can generally be corrected in post-processing.
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens - Overview
The EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens combines optical excellence with cutting-edge performance, providing an ultra-wide angle of view in a compact, portable package, perfect for EOS cameras with an APS-C sensor.
Features
It has a 4 group optical zoom system and includes a large-diameter element, an aspherical lens element, a UD lens element and enhanced lens coatings for high-contrast, high-resolution images with minimal glare and aberration. A circular, 7-blade aperture helps ensure fine background blur and the Canon Optical Image Stabilizer system provides up to four equivalent stops of shake correction.
Performance
The lens has a stepping motor (STM) and a refined focus mechanism for smooth and continuous AF during video recording. It also has a rear focusing system, plus a high speed CPU and improved AF algorithm for high-speed AF; and offers full-time manual focus for quick adjustments.
Ideal Usage
The EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM delivers reliable, speedy and quiet wide-angle performance, making it an ideal lens for everyday photography, travel, stills, and video recording.
Specifications
Focal Length & Maximum Aperture: 10–18mm 1:4.5–5.6
Lens Construction: 14 elements in 11 groups
Diagonal Angle of View: 107°30' – 74°20'
Focus Adjustment: Rear focus system
Closest Focusing Distance: 0.72 ft. / 0.22m
Filter Size: 67mm diameter
Max Diameter x Length, Weight: 2.9 x 2.8 inches, approx. 8.5 oz. / 74.6 x 72.0mm, approx. 240g
Conclusion
The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens stands out for its optical excellence and cutting-edge performance in a portable design. With advanced features such as a 4 group optical zoom system, Canon Optical Image Stabilizer, and smooth continuous AF during video recording, it is an excellent choice for photographers and videographers alike. Whether for everyday use, travel, stills, or video recording, this lens provides reliable, high-quality performance.
