In this review, we will be comparing Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM and Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II, two Standard Zoom lenses by Canon. Both lenses have the same focal range of 18-55mm but different max apertures: Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM has a max aperture of F4-5.6 while the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II has a max aperture of F3.5 - F5.6.
We will start with briefly looking and the main specs of these two lenses and in the section, we will start analyzing in more detail and list the pros and cons of each lenses.
What type of photography are the Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM and Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II lenses good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM and the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
| Photography Type |
Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM |
Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II |
| Bird/Wildlife | Fair | Fair |
| Sports | Fair | Fair |
| Portrait | Good | Good |
| Travel | Good | Good |
| Street | Good | Good |
| Wedding | Good | Good |
| Walk Around | Very Good | Very Good |
| Vlogging | Good | Good |
| Landscape | Very Good | Very Good |
| Macro | Average | Poor |
Size and Weight Comparison
Size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses.Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II is the longer of the two lenses at 80mm. The Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM with a length of 62mm is 18mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II also has a larger diameter of 69mm compared to Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM's 67mm diameter.
Weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II weighs 190g, 11% (25g) lighter than the Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM's weight of 215g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the 'Standard Zoom Lenses in Canon EF-S Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Zoom Lenses in Canon EF-S Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both Canon EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM and Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II has the same Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF-S lenses are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3.
Focal Range