Canon 28-135 IS vs Canon 18-55 IS

Just looking for some feedback...Both kit lenses... I have a 28-135 that I may be looking to sell to get some money for a flash. Thinking of picking up a used 18-55 IS to replace it so I have the short focal length.

In terms of quality, what is the better lens? Taking length out of the equation...is image quality similar? Would I be a fool for trading these?

The EF 28-135mm IS USM is the better lens in terms of overall build quality.

As far as image quality, I'm not sure...I don't have the EF-S 18-55mm IS lens. The EF-S 18-55mm will be more noisy since it's not a USM lens.

Samanax

I sold my 28-135 mm IS simply because i got a 24-70 mm F2.8 L , but in terms of the lens it's self..it's relaible and decent enough IQ. I can't comment as I have never used an 18-55 mm IS, only the non-IS version which i only use between f8-f11

The 18-55 IS takes nice shots and the 4-stop IS really helps in low light, but it feels cheap and it's noisy as hell, at least when compared to my 30mm Sigma (which is damn near silent and feels like a brick).

The 18-55 IS has better optical quality overall than the 28-135 and the focus is fast and quiet by most folks standards. The new IS works better and is much quieter than the old version on the 28-135. The 18-55 IS really is a remarkably nice lens. It doesn't come close in the build quality but for normal usage it should last many years and it's a nice light load to carry if you use it as your walk around lens. However, if you wear your camera out every year or two, look elsewhere.

My $.02 worth...

Jim

Thanks everyone... Sounds like it might be the thing to do...Just committed to buying a flash so looks like I will try and sell my 28-135...I see a ton of them for sale, so hopefully someone will buy it...

I am also wondering if I will miss the 55-70mm range since my sigma is a 70-300...

Jim Holtz wrote in post #5625780
The 18-55 IS ... the focus is fast and quiet by most folks standards.

You think? It is fairly quick (although not as quick as the Sigma 30mm) but I wouldn't call it quiet. You can hear mine from pretty far away. It's fine for outdoor shots but I wouldn't want to use it around other people as it it draws way too much attention.

litkaj wrote in post #5626459
You think? It is fairly quick (although not as quick as the Sigma 30mm) but I wouldn't call it quiet. You can hear mine from pretty far away. It's fine for outdoor shots but I wouldn't want to use it around other people as it it draws way too much attention.

Hi Jason,

I wasn't being snide when I posted that. Mine is pretty darn quiet. It's not USM for sure but the low level buzz it makes for a fraction of a second isn't obtrusive to me.

I think folks around me would be a lot more concerned about the camera I had pointing at them than the lens focus noise, but I could be wrong.

Jim

compared to the 50mm F/1.8, the 18-55mm IS is a touch quieter, if not more.

I have both the 28-135mm IS and the 18-55mm IS, and the quality between them is almost indiscernable, and i even have two copies of the 18-55mm IS.

Jim Holtz wrote in post #5626828
Hi Jason,

I wasn't being snide when I posted that. Mine is pretty darn quiet. It's not USM for sure but the low level buzz it makes for a fraction of a second isn't obtrusive to me.

I think folks around me would be a lot more concerned about the camera I had pointing at them than the lens focus noise, but I could be wrong.

Jim

It could just be me. My hearing is really good (vision, up until I got Lasik, was not); I can hear when someone turns on a CRT television next door from the 15735...