This is a low-cost lens and the image and build quality reflect this. The lens body is of plastic construction, including the lens mount. Unlike many Canon lenses, the EF-S 18-55mm I/II USM and the 18-55mm I/II are manufactured in Taiwan rather than Japan. The optical quality of the lens is variable, depending on the quality of an individual lens. Generally, however, this version of the lens is soft to very soft and must be stopped down to gain acceptable sharpness. Barrel distortion becomes quite noticeable at the wide-angle setting and chromatic aberration (purple fringing) is common. [2]
Canon released a new version of the non-stabilized EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 III lens in line with the new stabilized EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS II, the non-stabilized with likely to come on future lower-end Rebel models and higher-end Rebel models. The new version of the non-stabilized lens is much sharper than the older version, very similar to the new IS II version, only not having Image Stabilization. [3]
Extending the telephoto range, the Canon EF-S 55-250mm lens is a telephoto zoom that picks up at 55mm (88mm equivalent), and together these cover the 18–250mm range (28.8–400mm equivalent). The newer Canon EF-S 18-200mm lens is a superzoom that covers much of this range (28.8–320mm equivalent).
The EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 is an unusual Canon EOS lens. It was designed only to be mountable on the Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) body since it has a reduced image circle (enough for the Digital Rebel sensor, but not enough for full frame 35mm) and it sticks further into the camera body than a normal EF series lens. [Editor's Note: A variant of this lens is also part of the Canon Rebel XT when sold as a kit with a lens. That lens is called the Canon EF-S 18-55m f/3.5-5.6 II. It has been reported that the newer model has the same optics as the old model and the only differences are cosmetic.]
