First DSLR - 70D 18-55 or 700D 18-135

Hello,

I'm a newcomer to the world of DSLR photography. After an extensive search for systems (useless, since I always wanted a Canon), cameras and lenses, the decision to buy a camera is now constrained to the budget. Previously, I was interested in the 700D (t5i), then it came to decide if I'd go for the kit 18-55 or the 18-135, and almost decided for the 18-135.

For me, this new DSLR camera will be a learning tool and a travel companion (not for pro video or pro sports). When shooting with compacts, I always wanted "more zoom", you know, when you are traveling and there is something really far away, the extra zoom is nice.

But then, considering my budget, I'm unsure if I'd pick the 700D 18-135 or the 70D 18-55 (since they are around $1000).

So a have a few questions, I know it is hard to answer them, but if you can share your opinions based on your experience, I'd appreciate.

1) What is the practical difference between 18-55 and 18-135? I know the technical stuff was asked dozen times before and I also read about 18-55 + 55-250, but I'm more into a 18-55 or 18-135 plus a 50mm prime f1/4 (and maybe also a 40mm pancake).

2) Considering I'd use this camera for travelling, the extra ~200g (7oz) of 70D is too much? Had you decided not to bring it with you just because it was too heavy?

3) And, finally, 70D 18-55 or 700D 18-135? Except for the side-by-side comparison (yes, I'd used it), is there a strong point in favor of paying more for the 70D based on your experience? I mean, would you pay more for it if you want to become a pro in the (long term) future?

Thank you in advance.

Marlos

70D & 18-55STM. Better camera, better lens.

My property was big enough that I needed the the 55-250mm STM IS in addition to the kit lens.  It is always discounted when bought with the body.  The zoom is also handy for trips to the park.  That combined with my budget limited me to the 700D.  The camera can do more than I have the skills to employ so I didn't need to upgrade the body and downgrade the lens.

You really need to get an idea of what you want to photograph so you know what lenses you need (if you want the 50mm f1.4).  That will adjust your budget and let you know how much you can spend on the camera.

Buying either camera will be fine in the end.  There are always better cameras one price point above and one year away

Factors in consideration based on OP text:

1. Newcomer to DSLR photography.
2. Learning and travel
3. Not for video and sports
4. "More zoom"
5. Budget approx. $1000

Recommendation: Canon 700D/T5i w/ 18-135 IS STM kit ($949)

Questions by OP:

"1) What is the practical difference between 18-55 and 18-135?"

Portraits. Classical portrait focal lengths on full-frame (such as the 6D and 5D Mark III) is at the 85-135mm range. To match the perspective on crop (such as the 700D and 70D), a lens that goes well beyond 53mm is necessary.

"2) Considering I'd use this camera for travelling, the extra ~200g (7oz) of 70D is too much?"

• Weight of EF-S 18-55 IS STM: 205g
• Weight of EF-S 18-135 IS STM: 480g
• Weight of 700D: 580g
• Weight of 70D: 755g
• Total Weight of 700D + 18-135 IS STM: 1060g
• Total Weight of 70D + 18-55 IS STM: 960g

Net result: the 70D w/ the 18-55 is actually 100g lighter than the 700D with the 18-135. Thus, if you can travel with with the latter, you can travel with the former.

"3) ... is there a strong point in favor of paying more for the 70D based on your experience? I mean, would you pay more for it if you want to become a pro in the (long term) future?"

Video and action photography is the 70D's advantage. Due to your requirements (1) and (3), you are better off starting with the 700D so you can figure out what it is you actually like to shoot before you even think of becoming a professional photographer. There's a saying here in the Canon forums: "Upgrade the photographer before upgrading the gear."

For all you know, in that long-term future, you may realize you don't even want to be a pro because, to be frank, professional photography is more of a business activity than a photography activity.

Save money, buy right the first time.

Hello. Depends on your other needs. 700D is maybe a bit on expensive side when we compare sensor performance with other/older "brothers" of Canon. If you don´t need a bit faster continuous shooting FPS, some better metering for low light, I´d consider to buy SL1 or even EOS 600D, which has the same image quality for less money, so you can invest in better glass, because this is what will make real difference in image quality.

18-130 IS STM is very good all-arounder glass. Can do a bit of everything, but does not shine in anything. So you have to decide if you go for universal choice, or if you go for better results and sacrifice your comfort (two lenses, changing and stuff). I myself bought my first DSLR with 18-55, and could not put it much in use. Just... To short for somebody who is used to do a lot of zooming with compact cam. Actually, in other quirks and problems, the reach was the last drop why I dropped DSLR and went back for compact cams for some time (and also thought about price of better glass was present). Now I came back and I can put in use this short lens and I even like non-zoom prime lenses more. One needs to develop his photostyle and gearstyle... If I bought new body, and didn´t know how I put all that features in use, I´d buy lower class. Any body will get obsolete anyway, but lenses NOT. So good lenses first, good body with developed personality and needs AFTER. If you change your old body for better one, You´re stuck with not really good lenses....

Anyway not easy decision. Everybody here has some good reason to recommend this or that. So you need to decide what you really need and what will fit you better. I believe no choice here is really bad. Wish you good luck and hope you´ll like your decision even after a month or so....

For me, this new DSLR camera will be a learning tool and a travel companion (not for pro video or pro sports). When shooting with compacts, I always wanted "more zoom", you know, when you are traveling and there is something really far away, the extra zoom is nice.

But then, considering my budget, I'm unsure if I'd pick the 700D 18-135 or the 70D 18-55 (since they are around $1000).

The 70D plus the 18-135mm STM (the newer STM version) gives you tons of zoom and is a great travel companion. It is good for video as well.  I managed to pick up the 18-135mm STM and did not give it much thought, but the more I play with it the more I have 'wow' moments.  Go to flickr.com, you will find a lot of great pics being taken with this kit lens.

If you wanted to push it a bit, see if you can pick up the 50mm 1.8 II.  Between these two, you would have tons of options and when you start to feel constrained, you can buy additional equipment. All that said, it could be that you would find this as a wonderful combination for the foreseeable future!

Thank you everyone for your opinions and help with this difficult choice for me.

Abu Mahendra wrote:

70D & 18-55STM. Better camera, better lens.

The 18-135 is the better lens.

Read the Lensrental's blog and its reviews of your beloved 7x zoom with dreaded zoom creep to disavow yourself of your amateur delusions. Let me give you a dose of reality; yours is an average lens at best.

On second thought this stands out to me

"Nothing of the foregoing discussion is surprising. It is, after all, a 7x+ Zoom lens,"

You are basically a lens racist with a biased opinion that's worth nothing. Not worth debating with. But I would like to see any evidence you have to backup your claims or the lens zoom creep you were talking about.

Pal, read up on basic lens design and trade offs, and then we will talk. On second though, never mind. Enjoy your mediocre lens. Ignorance is your bliss.

Abu Mahendra wrote:

On second thought this stands out to me

"Nothing of the foregoing discussion is surprising. It is, after all, a 7x+ Zoom lens,"

You are basically a lens racist with a biased opinion that's worth nothing. Not worth debating with. But I would like to see any evidence you have to backup your claims or the lens zoom creep you were talking about.

Pal, read up on basic lens design and trade offs, and then we will talk. On second though, never mind. Enjoy your mediocre lens. Ignorance is your bliss.

The 18-135mm has weaknesses, but I'm not sure I have ever seen it generally referred to as mediocre. In fact, it is generally referred to as many as an exceptional kit lens. Yet, if you feel the 15-55mm is superior, I suspect the OP can find plenty of blogs and reviews that will back you up on this. Conversely, I have seen the reverse to be true as well.  Each to his own.

Dear Fellow..

I would advise you to invest in the lenses rather than a body.. and as you mentioned, you are totally new to photography.

About the camera...

No big differences between the Canon 60D and it's new sister 70D. I would recommend you to consider starting with Canon 600D, which is slightly different than its new sister canon 700D SEE HERE .... however if you consider value for money go for the 600D, which is lighter and a bit smaller than the 60/70D and have all the basic features a which the photographer would need meanwhile its quality is good. the 700D is bit more expensive as it's a new camera that carry some more features than it's older sister 600D. while the photo quality differences (if any) is not noticeable.

Now about lens...

The canon kit lens 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 that comes with the camera is a crap lens I don't recommend it at all. try to avoid it or upgrade to Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM which is a better quality lens. It provides you with a long focal length, has a better built and good image sharpness.

You mentioned the 50mm f/1.4, this is a good one. Also consider the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM the monster of portraits photography.

Invest in good lenses, then later if you found that photography is your missing passion, you can upgrade your camera body with a canon 60/70D or the 7D, or go to the full frame camera bodies.

Also note that camera body never do a good photo, the good photo comes from the eye of the photographer then the lenses used.

I added some good links for you, check them out they are good. And I hope my reply is helpful for you.

Tamer Ragheb

www.TamerRagheb.com

Thought I'd offer some feedback on the 18-135 STM having actually owned it with my T4i/650D since its release (almost 2 years).  I also briefly owned the 18-55 STM for comparison testing and sold it.  I also own the 35 IS, 60 Macro, 70-200 F4 IS, etc., and previously owned a 17-55 2.8, so I know "sharp" lenses.

Photozone shows slightly higher MTF50 scores across the board for the 18-55 STM, but only 2-4% in most cases, and I assume that's from a single copy of each lens.  The Digital Picture's Lens Image Quality comparison is a wash between the two, if not a win for the 18-135 STM at 18mm and 50/55mm wide open.  So take your pick of reviews.

I did my own "real world" comparison and saw no practical difference in IQ.  Overall, both are really quite good for general use.  But for me, the extra reach and better build quality of the 18-135 STM tipped the scales in its favor.  Mine has a very smooth zoom action with no creep after nearly 2 years.  I've played with other copies in Best Buy, etc. which I'm sure are used and abused more than mine, and it's the same.  I found the build quality better than the 17-55 2.8 I had, which zoomed unevenly at the wide end and also creeped significantly.  The 18-135 STM also has a zoom lock, were this ever to become an issue.

Perhaps it's being confused with the older, inferior non-STM version?  That seems to be a common fallacy on these boards, especially with folks who haven't owned the STM.

Anyway, since the OP is looking for a one-zoom-lens solution (as opposed to 18-55 + 55-250) with longer reach for travel, I'd strongly recommend the 18-135 STM over the 18-55 STM, as I think the (debatable) difference in IQ is less critical.  It's great on the T5i/700D.  I will say I found the 18-135 STM more comfortable to hold on the 70D due to the larger grip and better balance, despite the overall increase in weight.  But if the 70D + 18-135 stretches the budget too thin, or precludes the addition of a fast prime for low light, the T5i/700D is the way to go.

So I made up my mind to buy 700D 18-135 and now I'm really satisfied with this great acquisition. I have posted some photos in flicker (you can check the link in my profile, leave your thoughts and add me there).

To note why I decided go for the 700D, I'll show why I not decided the others, in case someone has the same doubts:

Why not 600D:

Non-STM which would hinder me of using it to record informal videos.

Only one cross-point AF. While it's really not that much of an issue, if the price difference was bigger, than I could go for 600D, but I got a discount in 700D.

Why not 70D:

More expensive. As @ZX11 said:

There are always better cameras one price point above and one year away

Why not 18-55:

As @RadEncarnacion said:

Portraits. Classical portrait focal lengths on full-frame (such as the 6D and 5D Mark III) is at the 85-135mm range. To match the perspective on crop (such as the 700D and 70D), a lens that goes well beyond 53mm is necessary.

And @UmCamera:

The canon kit lens 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 that comes with the camera is a crap lens I don't recommend it at all.

I really appreciate all comments and I must say all of them helped me decide which camera to buy. Thank you everyone.
Now it is time to improve the photographer.