Canon 18-55 IS (First test shots)

Yes this is most strange, the IS was definately working on my copy, but it was really silent, I put my ear to the lens & still never heard a single thing!

I will know soon enough when I get hold of the second copy any day now.

I will let you know if this is also silent.

Rebel XT wrote in post #4414666
Does it make noise when you set it on the table, or it just makes the noise all the time? Several people have reported the IS is completely silent.

I have a pair of canon IS binoculars and absolutely love it. I would not go back to non IS ones. It make a high pitched noise if I move it around rapidly.

It makes this noise all the time. I'll attempt to record the sound this weekend.

Nick_C wrote in post #4364680
No way would I use this for money shots, but for general stuff, pics of the family, holiday snaps, everything it was intended to be used for is fine......

I realize that the build quality of the new 18-55 is likely not great and the front element rotates, but the Photozone testing showed their copy to be about as sharp as the 17-55 IS and I know many pros who use this lens for weddings, studio work, landscapes, etc. I realize that its not f/2.8, but used for handheld landscape shots it might give nice results.

versedmb wrote in post #4415040
I realize that the build quality of the new 18-55 is likely not great and the front element rotates, but the Photozone testing showed their copy to be about as sharp as the 17-55 IS and I know many pros who use this lens for weddings, studio work, landscapes, etc. I realize that its not f/2.8, but used for handheld landscape shots it might give nice results.

Yes its a great little lens, no major problems with it, its not in the same league as my L but you would hope it wouldnt be because otherwise why would anyone pay so much for L lenses.

While it is very sharp for a lens of this price, there are so many other factors that make for a good image, for money shots I would always ALWAYS use the 24-105L that I own, not because I couldnt do the same with say the 18-55IS, but I can guarantee the results with the L, the same reason why I would chose the Canon 18-55IS over the Tamron, if AF accuracy is only a little better on the Canon then I would chose that, providing of course I didnt require f/2.8 of course

Ive owned an f/2.8 lens, its obviously faster than say f/4.0 or in the case of the 18-55IS f/3.5-5.6, but for low light I still get more keepers with a slow IS lens than I do a fast non IS lens, f/2.8 is not what I class as fast glass, its "faster" glass, f/1.4 is fast.

looks like a really nice BEACH lens... no issues around the sand

Just got this lens today, unfortunately, I've been at work all day and didn't really have time to play with it in day light. I did take some shots outside to pixel peep myself and one stop down, the corners really get sharp. I agree with Klaus at photozone. If someone just gave me the images to look at, I'd be impressed by how sharp the lens is in the center and the corners.

The lens still feels like a toy but the new 17-55IS looking rubber pattern on the zoom ring is much nicer. The IS is dead silent to me but a younger female states that she can hear a very high pitch sound when I'm using it in a quiet place.

I broke down and got a UV filter on it as I don't intend to use a lenscap or a hood. I'm just gonna leave the filter on and use the 400D with the new kit as my point and shoot I carry around with me at all times.

I'll post some images if I can.

I just recently received my 50mm f1.8 lens and I'm already looking forward to getting this lens.

My 18-55IS should be here by tuesday, £85 delivered from hong kong, hope theres no extra charges,lol. Fed ex seem to be good at not adding things.

Theres one on ebay used, hope its not someones dodgy lens !

ALso the 55-250 IS lens will be on ebay come monday, £162.99 delivered so he says.

Balb0wa wrote in post #4418479
My 18-55IS should be here by tuesday, £85 delivered from hong kong, hope theres no extra charges,lol. Fed ex seem to be good at not adding things.

Theres one on ebay used, hope its not someones dodgy lens !

ALso the 55-250 IS lens will be on ebay come monday, £162.99 delivered so he says.

Hope you dont get a bad copy either, otherwise those savings would be wiped out if you had to send it back to HK for exchange.

Just bought one.

I love people who make fun of this lens. I could afford the 17-55mm f/2.8 and bought this anyways. What the hell, for $150 I don't care. I have gotten plenty of fantastic shots from my previous kit lens, including a cover.

sixsixfour wrote in post #4369036
you can probably say that. its more of an upgrade for the existing kit lens. afaik, its not yet part of a DSLR kit.

I bought the 1855IS and 55250IS as a kit with the 400D. It comes with a printed box too. So im guessing thats the kit lens now. The Canon Australia website makes no references to this yet though.

Also I saw a lot of 400D and 1855IS kit boxes at the camera shop window the other day.

This is in Australia btw.

fong777 wrote in post #4639661
I bought the 1855IS and 55250IS as a kit with the 400D

That's a nice 1-2 combo for the XTi. It's good to hear they are bundling them down under. Enjoy.

Nick_C wrote in post #4414773
Yes this is most strange, the IS was definately working on my copy, but it was really silent, I put my ear to the lens & still never heard a single thing!

Rebel XT wrote in post #4414666
Does it make noise when you set it on the table, or it just makes the noise all the time? Several people have reported the IS is completely silent.

I can confirm that IS on my copy is also absolutely silent. I can hear some VERY quiet clicking if I have my ear right next to the barrel in a quiet room. Very quiet. My 70-200 f/4L IS is very loud in comparison.

I have never ever owned a kit lens prior to purchasing the 18-55 IS on monday. Mine was AUD $215 in Australia (Around 185 USD).

I sort of regret buying it now mainly because I wasn't really blown away by the sharpness (all my lenses are sharper except perhaps the Tokina 12-24 I just purchased) but more so because I already have an excellent Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. I purchased the 18-55 IS to see how bad kit lenses really were, but got this one because I thought the IS and improved optics would salvage some usefulness from it.

The optics are decent for the price, but this lens cannot compare to my Tamron 17-50mm. The constant f/2.8 aperture of the Tamron stands up to serious use far better than the variable aperture of the Canon 18-55 IS. It is cheap, but there are far too many compromises in kit lenses. This is my first variable aperture lens and I hate this limitation already!!!

IS is pretty useful, but I have yet to be convinced by the worth of this lens. One possible benefit as Elan Remford said, is that if you are going into a prickly situation, using this less expensive glass may overcome some apprehension for the safety of your gear.

This kit lens sounds almost identical to the one on the Nikon d40x I used last week. I was amazed at how sharp the Nikkor was for something so inexpensive and lightweight (in fact, the un-scientific test shots I did showed the Nikkor 18-55 beating my 50mm prime in sharpness most of the time. I didn't use charts, just the impression I got from walking round pointing and shooting).

Sounds like it's another bargain bang-for-buck lens, if you don't mind stepping down to f/5.6 or f/8.