keep the EF-S 18-135mm?

Hey guys.. i just got the Canon EOS 7D yesterday in the kit version, so it came with the EF-S 18-135mm IS lens.. I'm just wondering, is it a good lens, or should I just sell it? The zoom-range is pretty ideal walk-around and pretty light in weight, especially for trips, etc..
I already have some decent lenses, so I figure not to keep lenses I won't use anyway and make some money back.
What do you guys think?

Have you used the lens, or are you reluctant to open the box of the lens until you decide? I would suggest actually trying the lens if you are considering keeping it, after all, only you can know if a lens is "good" for you. Looking at your line-up, the only place this lens could fit is as a light travel lens, but only you can decide if the compromise image quality is acceptable to you.

The 28-135mm f/35-5.6 IS lens is a pretty decent piece of glass. It can do a lot of things quite well but, there is nothing outstanding about this lens. However, it is light weight and combined with a wide angle lens provides a decent focal range.

I found that until I got my 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens, the 28-135mm was the lens I would choose for a lot of walk around stuff; despite the fact that I owned the 24-70L. The 28-135mm was just so relatively small and light weight that I would often grab it in lieu of the 24-70L.

However, since I have owned the 17-55mm, I have not needed a 28-135mm. If I owned a 24-105mm f/4L IS like you do, I doubt if I would keep the 28-135mm either.

The 18-135mm also came with my 7D. I played a fair bit with it. Took some shots of a sign for a local company using the 18-135mm and also the 100-400mm L. Noticed signficant purple fringing with the 18-135 when I pixel peeped, but no purple fringing with the 100-400.

While visiting a store to buy a backpack for the gear was chatting it up with the salesman and drooling over the 24-105mm L. The guy suggested I try it on my camera, even though they didn't sell it in-store (it was the kit lens for the higher-end DSLR they were selling), Took some shots inside the store (bad lighting, lots of glare, lots of colour). Big difference in IQ when I pixel peeped! So I ordered the 24-105mm after finding it on sale through another retailer.

A couple of days ago did some focus testing/comparison with the 18-135 and the 24-105. The detail of the 24-105 is clearly superior. Crisp, sharp compared to the 18-135.

I'm thinking I'll keep the 18-135 as a backup lens, but then my collection is not as extensive as yours. It does a decent job. 18 vs 24, so a bit wider; you have the 18-55 so not as relevant for you. It is lighter. Well-suited to the crop sensor. When I find the 10-22 on sale, maybe will reconsider selling the 18-135.

RPCrowe wrote in post #9539363
The 28-135mm f/35-5.6 IS lens is a pretty decent piece of glass. It can do a lot of things quite well but, there is nothing outstanding about this lens. However, it is light weight and combined with a wide angle lens provides a decent focal range.

I found that until I got my 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens, the 28-135mm was the lens I would choose for a lot of walk around stuff; despite the fact that I owned the 24-70L. The 28-135mm was just so relatively small and light weight that I would often grab it in lieu of the 24-70L.

However, since I have owned the 17-55mm, I have not needed a 28-135mm. If I owned a 24-105mm f/4L IS like you do, I doubt if I would keep the 28-135mm either.

He said EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, not the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. They are different lenses. The new lens (EF-S 18-135IS doesn't have USM, and has build quality similar to the 55-250IS).

I'd find it hard to want to use the 18-135 over the 24-105 you already have. But, it could replace your 18-55 IS.

Given your glass, you have its range covered by better and faster glass. Unless you wanted it as a lens to keep on the XSi for lending to friends or the kids... I'd sell it.

I really don't understand who this lens was designed for... the main bother of it to me is lack of USM of any kind. This is clearly a formulaic addition to the lens line-up designed more around fitting a price-point than a need. It's MSRP is $499, while the 28-135IS USM is $479. So basically Canon is saying... 10mm wider end -or- USM... you can't have both. While the 15-85IS USM is $799. So if they released a 18-135IS USM it would cost what? $699? If it were ring-USM I'd be tempted to try out such a lens as a walkaround for crops.

If it were me, I'd try to trade it up to a 15-85IS USM, even with the necessary cash outlay. Because even tho I love my 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, the 15-85IS USM is a great range for a crop (at a cost of f/2.8 or course). It all comes down to what trade-offs work for you... range vs. focus speed, range vs. speed, range vs. build quality, speed vs. focus speed.

Thanks so much for the helpful insight and suggestions, it does help..

I'm only thinking of keeping this lens as it could be a backup, and light travel lens, and a potential replacement of the 18-55mm IS lens that I have..

But.. I would beleive if I sold the 18-135mm right now, I would fetch much more value than the 18-55mm AND like you guys mentioned.. I do have the 24-105mm, which I simply love and the IQ is really good. I beleive without even breaking the 18-135 out of the box and testing it, the 24-105 would give me better IQ and performance for sure.

Anyone have compare both lense EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, and the the 55-250IS ?

I though of getting this new Kit lense EF-S 18-135mm for travel instead of my kits so that i dont need to change lense a few time..