Quick answer
A mid-range zoom with stabilization and USM focusing. It was a mainstream Canon kit lens for many EOS bodies.
Pros
- Image stabilization
- Wide-to-tele range
- USM focusing
Cons
- Variable aperture
- Distortion at the wide end
- Plain build
Verdict
A useful all-rounder, if not outstanding optically.
About this lens
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM: a superzoom lens with a 28-135mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6, made for Canon EF mount cameras, with Image Stabilizer and ultrasonic-motor autofocus. A long-running general-purpose zoom with image stabilization, a common kit lens in the film and early digital era.
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 28-135mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/28.0
- Lens type
- Superzoom
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 1998
- Optical construction
- 16 elements in 12 groups
- Aperture blades
- 6
- Image stabilization
- Yes
- Autofocus motor
- USM
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.5 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.19x
- Filter thread
- 72 mm
- Weight
- 549 g
- Length
- 97 mm
- Diameter
- 78 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM?
- Travel
- Family photography
- Everyday use
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 28–135mm | 15.2–65.5° | 18.2–75.4° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 45–216mm | 9.5–43.8° | 11.4–51.6° |
Frequently asked questions
Does the Canon EF 28-135mm IS USM have image stabilization?
Yes, it has optical IS, which was a notable feature when it was a popular kit lens.
Is the EF 28-135mm compatible with full-frame cameras?
Yes. It covers full-frame and works on APS-C bodies as roughly a 45-216mm lens.
EF 28-135mm or EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 STM: which is better?
The 24-105 STM is wider and quieter for video. The 28-135 is older, with a USM motor.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
Tamron
AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
28-300mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 28-105mm f/2.8 LD Aspherical IF
28-105mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro
28-75mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) Macro
24-135mm · f/24.0 · Canon EF
More Canon lenses for Canon EF
All Canon lenses
Other 28-135mm lenses
Browse by focal length: 28mm lenses, 135mm lenses