For a small and relatively inexpensive lens, the Canon EF-M 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS STM provides very good results, typically of kit zoom lenses.

Engineered exclusively for the EOS M digital camera, the new Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is a compact and lightweight lens with good technical specs that offers an efficient performance with easy portability.

The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM ($299.99 direct) is the standard zoom lens for the EOS M compact interchangeable lens camera . You can buy the EOS M bundled with it or the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM , so buying it separately to supplement the prime lens is not out of the question.

Sharp; Optically stabilized; 3x zoom range; Well built

Small aperture; Noticeable distortion; Electronic manual focus; Hood not included

The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM ($299.99 direct)($74.91 at Amazon) is the standard zoom lens for the EOS M( at Amazon) compact interchangeable lens camera. You can buy the EOS M bundled with it or the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM($249.00 at Amazon), so buying it separately to supplement the prime lens is not out of the question. It features a 3x zoom ratio that covers a 29-88mm (35mm equivalent) field of view. The lens has an all-metal design, so it feels impressively sturdy. The lens is bigger than its 22mm prime counterpart, adding quite a bit of depth to the svelte EOS M. It measures 2.4 by 2.4 inches (HD), weighs 7.4 ounces, and has a standard 52mm filter thread. The lens can focus as close as 9.8 inches through its zoom range. Despite a narrow f/3.5-5.6 aperture range—it's f/3.5 at 18mm, but narrows to f/5.6 at 55mm—you can still create a good amount of background blur when working close to your subject. There is a manual focus ring, but it utilizes an electronic focus design. M...

The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM is sharper and better made than many 18-55mm lenses, but shows noticeable distortion at wider angles.

Sharp; Optically stabilized; 3x zoom range; Well built

Small aperture; Noticeable distortion; Electronic manual focus; Hood not included

I purchased this lens to go with my Canon T4i as I wanted the best possible video performance and the flexibility of zoom lens. I had considered the 40mm STM lens but for the $ difference this lens is a much better value.

Full Time Manual Focus; Lightweight; Sharper Than Previous; Virtually Soundless Focus

Looks cheap

Handling and features This is the latest incarnation of Canon's 18-55mm image stabilised kit lens for EF-S compatible EOS cameras sporting their new STM stepping motor technology, which promises to provide smooth, silent autofocus, especially well-suited for shooting video.

Every now and then, it is time for a new "kit" lens in the Canon lens lineup. Normally this is nothing to get overly excited about since most of the "upgrades" are just on the cosmetical side.

Canon's new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens is offered as a cheaper alternative to the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens which was developed to match the EOS 650D (and which we reviewed in July 2012) .

A must have for any EOS M owner. I owned two of the previous iterations of the 18-55mm (EF-S) and this one is clearly the sharpest. Pixel-peeping between this lens VS my 60D with the 15-85mm EF-S shows almost no noticeable différences (apart from the field of view obviously).

Gary Wolstenholme reviews Canon's latest EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM kit lens.

Good sharpness throughout the zoom range; Lightweight; Fast focusing; Effective stabiliser; Close focusing

High CA levels; Plastic lens mount; A touch expensive when bought on its own