18-55 STM or 18-135 STM kit with the 70D?

Hi all,

Buying my first DSLR(played around with a few before). After a lot of research, I've settled on the 70D. Just deciding now which kit I want.

The additional range on the 135 is nice but I'm not too concerned over it.

Will the extra $300 I'm spending on the 18-135 get me better performance in any respect other than obviously range? Perhaps better focusing, image quality, build, anything?

Edit: Just asked a Canon rep and she told me the only difference is the range. So I guess that's that.

You would be very happy with the 18-135 if you are only planning on getting one lens for a while.
Well actually even if you went with a 55-250 (also a very excellent lens) you would probably want that extra zoom length.
And yes you do get better build quality. The 18-200 is much better build quality than the 18-55 so I'm assuming same with 18-135.

For example a metal mount.

Get it with the 18-55 STM. If you need more range, the perfect compliment would be the 55-250 STM. I'd pass on the 18-135 for $200 more than the 18-55.

I have both STM versions of the 18-55 and 18-135. My crop camera is the SL-1.

While I have gotten excellent results with both, I really stopped using the 18-55 a few days after the 18-135 STM arrived. It's better built, balances better on the camera (will certainly balance better on the bigger and heavier 70D), has IQ equivalent to the even better built and nearly same price 15-85.

It's not L quality but I still consider it an excellent lens. Far better than the original 18-135 without STM.

However, if you are going to end up buying the STM version of the 55-250, then maybe stick with the far cheaper 18-55.