Review: Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

This is a quick review of the new Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM with some “random” test footage I shot on my way to a client-meeting. Overall a pretty impressive Lens (especially for the Money) on a APS-C sensor like the CANON EOS 70D but also the Canon C100 since the Autofocus really work quite nice and super silent as well. It seem Canon had video shooting in mind by crating that lens.

Its sharp and has a nice overall look, there are no noticeable real nasty unsharp edges or corners like the Canon 10-22mm or the Tamron 10-24mm. The non-constant aperture is not really a big issue it seems, the iris works kinda smoothly. The lens just is not made for low light … thats all 😉 Zoom-range is OK, I liked the Tamron 10-24mm for the 24mm but its nothing that i really miss on a super wider angle lens.

pro’s:
– makes optically nice & sharp pictures
– great wide-angle look
– great & silent Auto-focus works smooth in Video-mode
– good Images stabilizer (IS)
– good close focus range … almost macro feel to it
– works good for taking stills
– good price (around 270 EUR in Germany and $299 in the US)

con’s:
– manual focus ring is small and has no hard stops or markings on it so its a bit hard to manually focus
– non-constant aperture
– built quality is not the best / its not exactly weather sealed
– does not come with a Lens Hood

But thats it … it might not work as good on non auto focus cams and is not as super cinematic as a wide open Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 but then again the Canon EF-S 10-18mm is a pretty nice lens for the money after all.

It also is pretty great for taking stills:

more info on the STM Focus “thing”:

Video: Comparing Canon’s USM and STM Lenses Using the 70D’s Dual Pixel AF

more info about the Lens:

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_s_10_18mm_f_4_5_5_6_is_stm