Feedback on EF-S 10-18 f4.5/5.6 IS STM?

I'm looking to add the inexpensive 10-18 to my lightweight travel bag. I currently have a T3i with the following two lenses:

- EF-S 18-55mm 3.5/5.6 IS II
- EF-S 55-250mm 4/5.6 IS II

I would like to have the wide angle option of 10mm, but two nagging issues I have are the slow aperture and the plastic mount.

My two current kit lenses are also slow and have plastic mounts. I haven't had them long enough to have an opinion on them other than I find myself having to shoot at higher ISO speeds in low light conditions to compensate for their slow aperture.

The intended purpose for this set up is for travel/vacation shots. Would I be better off getting a faster non-OEM prime, or is the 10-18 a decent buy?

I don't want to spend the extra money on the 10-22. Again, this is for a travel kit and I want to stay within budget.

Any suggestions/opinins/fe​edback is welcome. Thanks.

Heya,

The 10-18 is excellent in every way, and priced at a point that makes total sense. Go with it. You'll probably use it more than the 18-55 while traveling.

A wide prime that is wider than 18mm is going to be costly, heavy, and bigger. If your goal is light and small, this is not the way to go. The options would be Rokinon 16 F2, Rokinon 14 F2.8, etc, without going to Fisheye look stuff (8mm F3.5).

You don't need fast aperture on wide angle unless you're trying to do astrophotography. So don't worry about aperture here. Wide angles are fun because F5.6~F8 and you have depth of field forever, focus a few feet in front of you, and everything is always in focus.

Very best,

I don't have the big bucks to spend and I picked up the 10-18stm....totally enjoy the lens.

For the money, I don't think you will be disappointed....

MalVeauX wrote in post #17662028
Heya,

The 10-18 is excellent in every way, and priced at a point that makes total sense. Go with it. You'll probably use it more than the 18-55 while traveling.

A wide prime that is wider than 18mm is going to be costly, heavy, and bigger. If your goal is light and small, this is not the way to go. The options would be Rokinon 16 F2, Rokinon 14 F2.8, etc, without going to Fisheye look stuff (8mm F3.5).

You don't need fast aperture on wide angle unless you're trying to do astrophotography. So don't worry about aperture here. Wide angles are fun because F5.6~F8 and you have depth of field forever, focus a few feet in front of you, and everything is always in focus.

Very best,

Thanks for the feedback!

Bikervon wrote in post #17662040
I don't have the big bucks to spend and I picked up the 10-18stm....totally enjoy the lens.

For the money, I don't think you will be disappointed....

Thanks! How well has it held up for you (any loose play when mounted)?

For UWA you generally won't need to stop motion, so the 4 stops of IS should be more than enough to make up for the slow aperture.

As far as the plastic mount complaints. For travel, I'd much prefer a plastic mount to a metal one. For travel I'm always going to want a smaller, lighter kit.

If you want a faster lens, then pick up a 50 f/1.8 STM, they're amazing for the price, but obviously not UWA.

I bought one for a recent vacation and even though I didn't use it as much as I thought I would, I was glad I had it. For the price, it can't be beat, and it's small enough and light enough that I didn't worry about carrying it along.

The mount fits the camera as snug as any metal lens mount I've used. Don't forget that Canon has been using plastics in cameras since the 1970's and has a lot of experience with them.

I just picked up a 10-22 used/demo for $100 more than a new 10-18. That might be a budget buster for you, but I couldn't be happier.

I recently completed a "weekend warrior" setup of a Rebel T6s, and the 10-18, 18-55, and 55-250 STM lenses, and I love it. Get it to complete a versatile (if slow) triple threat kit. I had a 10-22, but gave that to my brother to enjoy-with the 10-18, I do not miss the 10-22 at all, and I like the added bonus of image stabilization.

Update:

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I ordered the 10-18 and received it a few minutes ago. It is probably the quietest lens I have ever owned! Can't wait to test it this week.

p.s. Now I need to find a slightly bigger shoulder bag to fit it in. My T3i and 3 lenses are way too tight in my Canon 100 EG bag...

Holding up great and no loose play! Enjoy your new lens!!

Thanks!

Thanks for starting this thread! I'm looking more forward to getting mine now too(ordering one in a couple days). I am going to use it on my T5i and pairing it with the 18-135mm IS non-STM version lens.

anscochrome wrote in post #17664364
I recently completed a "weekend warrior" setup of a Rebel T6s, and the 10-18, 18-55, and 55-250 STM lenses, and I love it. Get it to complete a versatile (if slow) triple threat kit. I had a 10-22, but gave that to my brother to enjoy-with the 10-18, I do not miss the 10-22 at all, and I like the added bonus of image stabilization.

Would like to see pics!

Phoenixkh wrote in post #17662420
I just picked up a 10-22 used/demo for $100 more than a new 10-18. That might be a budget buster for you, but I couldn't be happier.

I'm now considering adding 3 Canon lenses - 1 of which is the EF-S 10-18mm stm. - and I'm already a big fan and owner of the EF-S 10-22mm

The 10-22mm is a sweet lens. I just returned from several days in manhattan with the 10-22 (+ 24 stm, 17-55, & tamy 16-300) on a 70D/SL1 combo w/a fuji x100s on the side. primarily shooting street stuff - mostly on the lower east side, chinatown, little italy, etc.

10mm (16mm equiv) is a fun FL in the city. I gained access to the rooftop of our hotel (friendly staff) & also took the 10-22 to both observation floors of the ESB. great lens. cool shots.

while I would have preferred the lighter weight of the 10-18, the 10-22 is a great wide-angle zoom (just front-end heavy on the little sl1, my wife's fave camera). eventually, I'll add the 10-18 - specifically for such trips. I don't know yet if I'll keep the 10-22 (itself tiny compared to the 11-24 - see below).

next week we've scheduled an end of summer couple days at the beach - coinciding with the arrival of cps evaluation copies of the 10-18, 11-24 and the 100-400 V2. this will be a heavier trip gear wise - full frames and aps-h bodies (along with the sl1).

I'm really looking forward to evaluating these new lenses - including the 10-18 stm...