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Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM vs Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM

Canon

EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM

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Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Canon

EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Buy on Amazon

Verdict at a glance

  • Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM is lighter by 95g.
  • Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM goes wider (15mm vs 18mm).
  • Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM reaches further (135mm vs 85mm).
  • Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM is the newer design (2012 vs 2009).
Specification comparison
Spec EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Brand Canon Canon
Mount Canon EF-S Canon EF-S
Type Zoom Zoom
Focal length 18-135mm 15-85mm (wider)
Max aperture f/3.5 f/3.5
Released 2012 2009
Blades 7 7
Format aps-c aps-c
Groups 12 12
Af motor STM USM
Elements 16 17
Weight g 480.0 (lighter) 575.0
Filter mm 67 72
Length mm 96.0 87.5
Stabilized Yes Yes
Diameter mm 76.6 81.6
Min focus m 0.39 0.35 (closer focusing)
Max magnification 0.28 0.21

Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM

A mid-range superzoom for Canon APS-C cameras with a stepping motor tuned for smoother video autofocus, plus optical stabilization.

Pros

  • Wide 18-135mm range
  • Quiet STM focusing
  • Image stabilization
  • One-lens versatility

Cons

  • Variable aperture
  • Plastic build
  • Corner softness at long focal lengths

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

A standard zoom for Canon APS-C cameras with a wide 24-136mm equivalent range, combining USM focusing with image stabilization.

Pros

  • Starts wide at 15mm
  • Image stabilization
  • USM focusing
  • Good image quality for a zoom

Cons

  • Variable aperture
  • Larger than an 18-55
  • Not weather-sealed

More comparisons for Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM

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