Canon 18-135 or something else?

I'm looking for a decent all-around lens and I was planning on buying the Canon 18-135 EF-S lens but don't know if I should consider something else, perhaps something from Sigma like the 18-125 or something else altogether.

Any opinions?

Perhaps the Canon 28-135 EF lens is sharper?

Oh, and this is for a crop sensor camera.

PatrickYo said:

I'm looking for a decent all-around lens and I was planning on buying the Canon 18-135 EF-S lens but don't know if I should consider something else, perhaps something from Sigma like the 18-125 or something else altogether.

Any opinions?

Click to expand...

Take a look at sites like photozone.de, http://www.imaging-resource.com/ , and fredmiranda.com for opinions on comparitive lens sharpness and imperfections. Look at pbase.com where you can search for shots taken by a specific lens (list of lenses are in the search by camera section) and decide if the 18-135 is good. "Decent all-around lens" is too vague without a budget number.

If your budget is around $400 to $500 (firm), I'd consider the 18-125 or 18-200. I'd go for focal range convenience over all else. I'd crank up the ISO and stop down whenever I feel I need better sharpness in the corners (don't always need it). Above all else, I'd learn what is good enough for my current needs. If you share photos on the web or print 4x6 or no bigger than 8x10, you don't need the ultimate in sharpness. I would then buy and learn to use decent post processing software and get an external flash and learn to use that. You'll photographic skills will grow with such an approach before you get caught up in buying $700+ zooms or L glass.

In that respect, if I did it all over again on a tight budget (I started with a 300D, the first 18-55 kit, a 50/1.8, and a 75-300 II), I'd stick with the 18-55 IS kit and get a 55-250. I'd then go for an external flash and learn how to use it.

If I had an extra $700, I'd replace the kit with a 15-85 and still get the 55-250.

I never tried the 18-135, but, I have used the 18-200. The 18-200 is OK, but, then I'd work around its limitations (which is half the fun/challenge).

That's some good advice. One thing I will add is at that price range ($400-500), I don't think any zoom lens is going to be head and shoulders over any other, unless you get a deal on a used one.

To OP:

I have the 18-135 (I got it as a kit, so it was only about $200 over body only) and it is utterly ordinary in just about every aspect, but I will say that I have been impressed by the IS. I can handhold 135mm shots at 1/30s with relative ease.

If I hadn't gotten the lens as part of a kit, I'd probably get the Sigma 18-125mm since it's about $100 cheaper. But that's only because I use my 18-135mm exclusively for casual shots. You'll probably want something that is wider than 28mm (as in the 28-135) for an all-around on a crop camera.

I have this lens as my kit lens with 60D

It performs well and the range is good.

Two 'problems' when I use this lens:
1. not good for indoor photos
2. not good for video recording

To conclude, it is a cheap and reasonable lens for 'walk around' but I think it is a bit expensive if you buy it separately.

If you really want to try it, I recommend that you look for a second hand one.