Canon EF-S 15–85mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM vs Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III

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EF-S 15–85mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM compared with EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III

	CanonEF-S 15–85mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM	CanonEF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III
Overview
Released
Released	October 2009	March 2011
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	15–85 mm	18–55 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/3.5–5.6	f/3.5–5.6
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22–36	f/22–38
Optical construction
Optical construction	17 elements in 12 groups	11 elements in nine groups
Special elements
Special elements	Three aspherical elements and one UD element according to Canon Japan	High-precision aspherical element
Coatings
Coatings	Canon describes optimised coatings and element positioning to reduce ghosting and flare	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Seven blades with a circular aperture	Six blades with a circular aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	Horizontal 74°10′–15°25′, vertical 53°30′–10°25′, diagonal 84°30′–18°25′	–
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon EF-S	Canon EF-S
Image circle
Image circle	APS-C	APS-C
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EF-S compatible APS-C cameras; equivalent angle of view to 24–136 mm on full frame	Canon EF-S compatible APS-C cameras
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.35 m	0.25 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.21×	0.34×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	Yes	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Ring-type USM with full-time manual focus in One-Shot AF according to Photozone and The Digital Picture	Autofocus and manual focus selected with the lens switch according to Focus Review
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Internal focusing and non-rotating front element according to Photozone and The Digital Picture	Manual focusing uses the ribbed front tube; plastic barrel and mount according to Focus Review
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Canon states approximately four shutter-speed stops of optical correction; The Digital Picture's tested example achieved four stops at 85 mm and 4⅓ at 15 mm	No image stabiliser according to Focus Review's exact-model test
Design
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	72 mm	58 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	81.6 mm	68.5 mm
Length
Length	87.5 mm	70 mm
Weight
Weight	575 g	190 g (better)
Controls
Controls	AF/MF and stabiliser switches; rear manual-focus ring and distance window	–
Zoom design
Zoom design	Extends towards the telephoto end using two inner barrel sections according to Photozone	–
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	81.6 mm maximum diameter × 87.5 mm length according to Canon	68.5 mm maximum diameter × 70 mm length
Lens hood
Lens hood	Optional EW-78E hood; LP1116 pouch and E-72U cap listed by Canon Japan	–
Release detail
Release detail	Canon Camera Museum and Canon Japan's exact-model support sheet both record October 2009 release. No separately established UK first-sale day is given by these sources.	Canon Camera Museum records March 2011 marketing and explicitly identifies this model as the successor to the EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 II. No separately verified UK first-sale day is published in these sources.