choiahn

Please advice which one is better for landscape and family photo for Canon 80D body?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

They will both give you the same coverage, of course. Never have used either one but from what I have read the STM version is considered somewhat superior to the slightly older USM version.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

There are three versions of the EF-S 18 - 135 MM. The oldest is a micro motor based lens, next comes the STM which has smooth, virtually silent focusing and is very good for video. The USM is the newest with the new nano USM focus system which also quiet but focuses faster than the STM. For still photography the USM would likely be the best choice.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

The STM surely would give you better service shooting video!

mikedidi46 Loc: WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA

I have the older USM body of this lens, and it is excellent, but the STM version is better and quieter for shooting video's, get the STM

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I had the STM on a 70D. Very good all around lens and what was on the camera most of the time. I would guess that the USM is better yet and not too much more money.

Bill

choiahn

Thanks for the sharing..

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

You're right! Checking back I see that the info I had was in regards to the older micro-motor lens and the STM, but not the USM. Looking at them now I would think that the USM would be the preferred lens.

Happy Holidays!

machia Loc: NJ

You'll get great range with this lens , 28.8-216mm and the STM is silent for videos . Not sure how quiet the new USM is . I shot a hockey game with it . Images were sharp and it focused fast and accurately . I highly recommend the STM version .

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

They will be about equal for those purposes.

The USM is a new lens (2016) and usually is what's bundled in kit with the 80D, was introduced this year alongside that camera.

The USM and STM (2012) versions appear to be the same optically and in most specifications: same number of elements and groups, block diagrams appear identical, aperture blade count, close focusing distance and max magnification are all identical. The primary difference is the speed of the autofocus drive. The USM lens is 2X to 4X faster, according to Canon themselves, so would be a better choice for sports or other action photography and for shooting moving subjects.

The USM on that lens is a new type that Canon calls "Nano USM". In the past, USM lenses weren't ideal for videography. STM lenses were recommended instead (quieter and smoother), while older USM lenses were preferred for their speedier performance, but were too noisy and not smooth enough for videos. However, the 18-135mm USM's focus drive is optimized in both respects. Since the there are new EF 24-105L and EF 70-300mm lenses also using "Nano USM". Presumably those are also both good for both fast action stills and videography, same as the 18-135mm USM.

Also, Canon introduced a power zoom module especially for the new 18-135mm. This is another thing that videographers might like. But it's only usable on this one lens, as of now. It won't fit and work on any other Canon lens or even the earlier, non-USM versions of the 18-135mm.

So, if you need the speed of USM, the new lens would be a better choice. But if STM is adequately fast (it's faster than micro motor), that lens is slightly less expensive. There's only about $50 or $100 difference between the MSRP, but the STM lens has been available for a while and it's street price has settled a bit, making for a bigger difference in the price. Plus the STM can be widely found used or refurbished, for additional savings. The USM lens is simply so new that it's still bringing full MSRP and can't be found used or refurbished.

Note: There also is an earlier (2009) "micro motor" version of the 18-135mm, usually selling for about $50 less than the STM version. The easiest way to distinguish it from the others... it simply isn't marked either STM or USM. The micro motor is the slowest, noisiest and least smooth of the focus drives.

Personally, for landscape photography I'd often want a wider lens. Among ultrawides, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM is one heck of a bargain at under $300. Most lenses of this type cost at least $200 more. It's also the most compact lens in the category and the only one with image stabilization. It uses 67mm filters, where most ultrawides use 77mm and a few 82mm. The 10-18mm is a bit plasticky, but for such a bargain price I suppose that's to be expected. Various reviewers have raved about it's image quality, some say it's as good or better than the older Canon EF-S 10-22mm, which costs more than twice as much and has long been considered one of the best ultrawides from anyone. The difference between STM and USM wouldn't bevery noticeable on an ultrawide... the focus drive only needs to move the AF group a smidgen to focus such a wide lens. STM vs USM is a bigger concern with telephotos, macro, etc.

And for portraiture, especially indoors by available light, I'd be inclined to use a faster prime lens such as a 50mm. The bargain lens in this category is the Canon EF 50/1.8 STM, almost 1/3 the price of the more upgrade EF 50/1.4 USM (which is what I use), both of which are far less expensive than the premium EF 50/1.2L. There is a now-discontinued micro motor version of the EF 50/1.8, too... but I'd highly recommend either the STM version or the 50/1.4 USM over the micro motor. The micro motor lens' autofocus is noisy, slow, and sometimes even a bit erratic. The STM version is the same price, too.

For wider group shots indoors by available light, on an APS-C camera such as 80D, I'd use my Canon EF 28/1.8 USM. It's a nice "standard" lens on crop sensor cameras... compact, fast focusing, mid-grade build, and with a nice, big aperture if needed. The only thing is that a wider lens such as this tends to exaggerate perspective, so has to be used carefully for any sort of portraiture.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Except that there's no such thing.

1st version (2009).... EF-S 18-135mm IS with micro motor focus drive.

2nd version (2012).... EF-S 18-135mm IS STM with "stepper motor" focus drive (faster, quieter, smoother). Also, optical formula revised and slightly closer focusing.

3rd version (2016).... EF-S 18-135mm IS USM, first lens to use newly developed "Nano USM ultrasonic" focus drive (even faster, but also quiet and smooth for video). No change from optical formula of the 2nd version.




Except that in this case this is incorrect!

In this case the USM is the newly developed "Nano" type, first used on this lens this year and now also found on two others: EF 24-105L IS USM "II" and EF 70-300mm IS USM "II".

In the past, that was true... STM was better for video, if wanting to be able to autofocus. USM was faster an preferable if making still photos of action and sports. But now the "Nano USM" is best of both worlds... both faster for sports/action and quiet, smooth for video work.

choiahn

Thanks for your detail explanation.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Actually, 18mm is still 18mm, 135mm is still 135mm and same with all the focal lengths in between.

If you happen to also use a full frame DSLR now or have used 35mm film cameras in the past and are accustomed to lenses on those, then you will find that the 18-135mm on an 80D "acts like" a 29-216mm would on the full frame models.

But if you have never used so-called "full frame" of any type, then it really doesn't matter. All you really need to know is that the 18-135mm on your 80D will be a versatile, modestly wide to standard to moderately telephoto, general purpose "walk-around" zoom.

EF-S lenses such as this are designed specifically for use on APS-C crop sensor cameras such as the 80D, 7DII, Rebel series. Without modification EF-S lenses cannot even be attached to Canon's larger sensor cameras (such as 6D, 5D-series, 1D-series). But even if modified to fit onto those cameras, there would be problem with image vignetting. The EF-S lenses are designed to produce an image circle that matches the 15x22.5mm sensors. This allows EF-S lenses to be smaller, lighter, less expensive.

In contrast, EF lenses can be fully used on all Canon EOS cameras, regardless of sensor format (the new M-series "mirrorless" require an adapter). Those lenses are designed to produce an image circle large enough to match the 24x36mm sensor, but are just as usable on smaller sensors. However, when using an APS-C camera, if there's an EF-S lens alternative it will typically be smaller, lighter and less expensive.