Canon EF-S Kit Lenses, What Does the Future Hold?

My first experience with Canon EF-S kit lenses was in 2005 when I bought a 350D specifically to take on my travels around SE Asia. At the time I was working for a newspaper but my boss wouldn't allow any of my issued gear to leave the country. I was issued with a 1D MkII and 20D as a back up. I also had access to some the best Canon equipment available at that time.

I really never used the old EF-S 18-55mm that came with my 350D. Took a few 'test' shots and put it in a draw. My daughter now has my old 350D which still works fine, but the old kit lens is long gone.

18 months ago I bought a EOS M for primarily for its video capabilities. I also bought an EF-S 18-135mm STM not long after buying the EOS M. I was quite amazed with the image quality for both video and stills, and it works great with my 50D and 20D. I've also got a few fast Canon primes including the 135L.

Late last year I bought a 700D. The plan was to use it as a travel camera as I prefer to travel light, and general purpose camera. It came with the 'new' EF-S 18-55mm IS STM which is quite a good lens. Heaps better than the 'old' EF-S 18-55mm. I've hardly used it and I'll give it to a friend who still has the 'old' 18-55mm.

Last weekend I bought a EF-S 10-18mm STM. I'm quite impressed with this lens. Great value for money and heaps of fun to use for both stills and videos. I know the 10-18mm STM isn't quite a kit lens but for me it fits the mold.

My wife and I are off to Ubud in Bali in about a month. I'll be taking the 18-135mm STM, 10-18mm STM and 40mm f/2.8,, along with my 700D. Normally I'd take a swag of fast Canon primes and my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non VC.

A long post I know, but where are Canon kit lenses heading in the future? What can the consumer expect?

Please discuss.

i'd imagine all the current EF-S lenses that aren't STM will be replaced with STM.

Nothing too exciting...I think the 18-200mm will be next to be released in an STM version. Maybe they will improve the IQ as they did with the 55-250mm lens.

Canon and the other manufacturers needed to improve the sharpness of their lenses to justify the increased resolution of the sensors. And the APS-C format is steadily increasing in respectability, and require these fine lenses to support the format.

It is an amazing thing to see. Now we have these cheap lightweight lenses that are amazingly sharp, approaching and matching the IQ of the expensive pro lenses.

The build might be way short of the pro lenses, but I don't think I will ever wear one out. So for me, the build quality is not an issue.

But I'm grateful for the light weight!

The speed of the STM from the 18-135 shocked me. Dead silent and blazing quick!

I'd imagine that extends down to all the other STM lenses.

Hopefully soon enough the will be optically-better lenses to match up to the high pixel density sensors.

Hopefully something that can match Sigma 18-35 f/1.8

yogestee wrote in post #17114016
My first experience with Canon EF-S kit lenses was in 2005 when I bought a 350D specifically to take on my travels around SE Asia. At the time I was working for a newspaper but my boss wouldn't allow any of my issued gear to leave the country. I was issued with a 1D MkII and 20D as a back up. I also had access to some the best Canon equipment available at that time.

I really never used the old EF-S 18-55mm that came with my 350D. Took a few 'test' shots and put it in a draw. My daughter now has my old 350D which still works fine, but the old kit lens is long gone.

18 months ago I bought a EOS M for primarily for its video capabilities. I also bought an EF-S 18-135mm STM not long after buying the EOS M. I was quite amazed with the image quality for both video and stills, and it works great with my 50D and 20D. I've also got a few fast Canon primes including the 135L.

Late last year I bought a 700D. The plan was to use it as a travel camera as I prefer to travel light, and general purpose camera. It came with the 'new' EF-S 18-55mm IS STM which is quite a good lens. Heaps better than the 'old' EF-S 18-55mm. I've hardly used it and I'll give it to a friend who still has the 'old' 18-55mm.

Last weekend I bought a EF-S 10-18mm STM. I'm quite impressed with this lens. Great value for money and heaps of fun to use for both stills and videos. I know the 10-18mm STM isn't quite a kit lens but for me it fits the mold.

My wife and I are off to Ubud in Bali in about a month. I'll be taking the 18-135mm STM, 10-18mm STM and 40mm f/2.8,, along with my 700D. Normally I'd take a swag of fast Canon primes and my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non VC.

A long post I know, but where are Canon kit lenses heading in the future? What can the consumer expect?

Please discuss.

Heya,

Ever year, I'm seeing less and less a gap between entry and mid-tier glass, and the red ring.

These entry STM lenses are excellent and very affordable.

Very best,

I haven't used any modern EF-S glass but I was pleasantly surprised by the EF-M 18-55mm and 22mm lenses I bought with my EOS M. It's hard to find much to criticize in the context of their size and price.

MalVeauX wrote in post #17114939
Heya,

Ever year, I'm seeing less and less a gap between entry and mid-tier glass, and the red ring.

These entry STM lenses are excellent and very affordable.

Very best,

I tend to agree with you Mal. We kind of live in a disposable society. Many consumer goods have life of only few years before we can throw them away. I'm thinking what's the average life span of an EF-S kit lens before it's totally unserviceable. Do people actually repair kit lenses or do they buy a new one, or move up to the next level?

I bought my 700D in Thailand. We get across the border once a month or so. Got it for a great price. It came with the 18-50mm IS STM. I asked the sales girl what about the body only. I would have only saved about $50 had I taken the body only. 50 bucks for a brand new Canon lens is good value in anyone's language.

zarray wrote in post #17114214
The speed of the STM from the 18-135 shocked me. Dead silent and blazing quick!

I agree. The 18-135mm STM is great value for money. Quick focusing (not up to the same speed as the EF 85mm f/1.8 but quick never the less) and very sharp even wide open.

I'm also a fan of the 18-135 STM lens. Sucha versatile good performing lens. Never lets you down.

Am I the only one who thinks Canon should make some fast, (relatively) inexpensive efs primes? Especially in the wider-than 50mm category. The fast L-primes are quite expensive. If they can make a 10-18 IS zoom for $300, is a 15mm f/2 for $400 too much to ask? The comparable EF 24L II is about $1700... oh, now I see why there's no efs 15mm f/2.

GeoKras1989 wrote in post #17116064
Am I the only one who thinks Canon should make some fast, (relatively) inexpensive efs primes? Especially in the wider-than 50mm category. The fast L-primes are quite expensive. If they can make a 10-18 IS zoom for $300, is a 15mm f/2 for $400 too much to ask? The comparable EF 24L II is about $1700... oh, now I see why there's no efs 15mm f/2.

No you are not the only one. I'd love an EF-S 22mm f/2.8 pancake type lens that I could pair on the SL1.

I'm waiting for the f/1.8, STM version of my EF-S 18-200mm IS "kit" lens.

actually, they could make it 18-300 and make it TC-compatible. who needs a 500 f4?

daleg wrote in post #17117860
I'm waiting for the f/1.8, STM version of my EF-S 18-200mm IS "kit" lens.

actually, they could make it 18-300 and make it TC-compatible. who needs a 500 f4?

For only $399 in a store near you.

Hahahahaaaaa,,,,,, don't hold your breath