Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III vs Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS II

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EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III compared with EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS II

	CanonEF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III	CanonEF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS II
Overview
Released
Released	March 2011	March 2011
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	18–55 mm	18–55 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/3.5–5.6	f/3.5–5.6
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22–38	f/22–36
Optical construction
Optical construction	11 elements in nine groups	11 elements in nine groups; retains the optical design of the original EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS
Special elements
Special elements	High-precision aspherical element	One high-precision aspherical element
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	–	Minimum f/22–36 with third-stop settings in Canon's EOS 1100D manual; the UK specification also lists f/38 at the long end with different aperture increments
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Six blades with a circular aperture	Six blades with a circular aperture according to Canon Camera Museum
Angle of view
Angle of view	–	Horizontal 64°30′–23°20′; vertical 45°30′–15°40′; diagonal 74°20′–27°50′
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	Canon EF-S compatible APS-C cameras
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.25 m	0.25 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.34×	0.34×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Autofocus and manual focus selected with the lens switch according to Focus Review	Micromotor autofocus; no full-time manual override according to The Digital Picture and Focus Review
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Manual focusing uses the ribbed front tube; plastic barrel and mount according to Focus Review	Front element rotates and extends during focusing; select MF before turning the narrow manual focus ring according to The Digital Picture and Ken Rockwell
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	–	Maximum 0.34× at 55 mm; EF12 II gives 0.64–0.23× and EF25 II gives 1.00–0.51× according to Canon UK, with wide-angle incompatibility
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No image stabiliser according to Focus Review's exact-model test	Four-stop launch claim based on a shutter speed of 1/(focal length × 1.6) seconds according to Canon Camera Museum; lens-shift stabilisation
Design
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	58 mm	58 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	68.5 mm	68.5 mm
Length
Length	70 mm	70 mm
Weight
Weight	190 g (better)	200 g
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	68.5 mm maximum diameter × 70 mm length	68.5 mm maximum diameter × 70 mm retracted length
Lens hood
Lens hood	–	EW-60C hood and LP814 case sold separately according to Canon's EOS 1100D manual
Release detail
Release detail	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.	Canon Camera Museum records March 2011 introduction. This is retail-month precision; no separately confirmed UK first-sale day is published in these sources.