Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III vs Canon EF-S 18–55mm f/4–5.6 IS STM

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EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III compared with EF-S 18–55mm f/4–5.6 IS STM

	CanonEF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 III	CanonEF-S 18–55mm f/4–5.6 IS STM
Overview
Released
Released	March 2011	April 2017
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/4–5.6
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22–38	f/22–32
Optical construction
Optical construction	11 elements in nine groups	12 elements in ten groups
Special elements
Special elements	High-precision aspherical element	Aspherical lens element
Coatings
Coatings	–	Super Spectra coatings
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Six blades with a circular aperture	Seven blades with a circular aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	–	Horizontal 64°30′–23°20′; vertical 45°30′–15°40′; diagonal 74°20′–27°50′ according to the exact Canon manual
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; 29–88 mm equivalent field of view
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	–	Canon extenders cannot be used
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×	0.25×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Autofocus and manual focus selected with the lens switch according to Focus Review	Lead-screw STM; electronic manual adjustment after One-Shot autofocus while the shutter button remains half pressed, subject to camera settings
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Manual focusing uses the ribbed front tube; plastic barrel and mount according to Focus Review	Manual focusing is unavailable with the camera off or lens asleep; internal focusing with a non-rotating front element according to both reviews
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	–	Maximum 0.25× at 55 mm; EF12 II gives 0.82–0.66× at 18 mm and 0.55–0.23× at 55 mm; EF25 II is incompatible at 18 mm and gives 0.91–0.51× at 55 mm
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No image stabiliser according to Focus Review's exact-model test	Four-stop CIPA claim at 55 mm using an EOS 7D Mark II; automatic panning compensation; Canon recommends switching IS off on a tripod to conserve power
Design
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	58 mm	58 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	68.5 mm	66.5 mm
Length
Length	70 mm	61.8 mm
Weight
Weight	190 g (better)	215 g
Zoom design
Zoom design	–	Barrel extends when zoomed to 55 mm according to The Digital Picture
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	68.5 mm maximum diameter × 70 mm length	66.5 mm maximum diameter × 61.8 mm retracted length; dimensions and 215 g weight are lens only, excluding caps
Lens hood
Lens hood	–	EW-63C sold separately; exact manual and Canon Japan list LP1014 optional case, while the UK overview lists LP1016
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 Japan's exact support specification gives first sale on 7 April 2017; Camera Museum gives April. The day is the Japanese release, not a separately confirmed UK day.