cameralLady

Canon’s EOS 80D is available as: (a) body only, (b) EF-S 18-135 IS USM lens as a kit, (c) as a bundle that includes two lenses; EF-S 18-135 IS USM lens , and EF-S 55-250.

Question 1: Is the EF-S 18-135 IS USM lens in the kit the exact same speciations, quality etc as the Canon EFS 18-135 IS USM lens sold separately? (Don’t laugh, some items with the same model number made by the same manufacture have different specifications depending which box store is selling it. This can be verified by looking at the serial number, it might have a letter L, or B in the serial number.)

Question 2: Is it redundant to include a two lens set consisting of an 18-135 and 55-250 lenses in a bundle with the 80D? Is not the 55-135 regions duplication?

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Lady, welcome to the Hog!
1, yes, the EFs 18-135 IS USM lens is tha same lens no matter where you buy it or who sells it. There is ONLY ONE. BUT don't confuse it with the non USM or the STM. NO EFs is an L series lens. L Series are only in the EF mount. The give-away is usually the price!

2, yes, a bit of that is duplication.

For me, the 18-135 is the better and more versatile of the two lenses.
Depending on your style, the 55-250 is way to long as a general walk-around and its WAY to short for birds or general wildlife.
Maybe get the shorter lens and later as you can afford one, assuming you need one, get a better quality longer lens. Just my opinion based on how I shoot!! The 80D is a VERY nice camera. Good luck
SS

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Welcome to the Hog!
I agree with SharpShooter but would like to add that if you can't get the deal with only the 18-135 lens you could always sell the 55-250 and put that money towards a more useful lens.
Can you tell us where this deal is? Is it an authorized dealer? There are some questionable dealers, especially this time of year. Would hate to see you get taken advantage of.

Edit: While a particular model of a lens will be identical, as SS stated, there are often several models of some lenses. A quick check showed 3 different 18-135 lenses and 2 different 55-250 lenses. Some are USM, some are STM. Those designations denote different auto focus systems. Some are also older models. Research on the particular lenses being offered would be wise. Check the buyer reviews on the various sites or ask questions here on the Hog.

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

Welcome. 80D wih 18 - 135 USM is a nice package. 55 - 250 is a decent enough lens, but you will likely want to trade up for another telephoto zoom lens before too long.

No zoom lens is perfect at all focal lengths, so the overlap isn't really the issue. Zooms exist for versatility.

Without going to the expense of L series glass the new EF 70 - 300 could be a better option at the longer end.

If the deal is really good the 55 - 250 STM is an OK lens to start with for more reach than the 18 - 135.

Tech keeps changing. STM lenses are quiet and good for video. USM lenses are also relatively quiet, but focus a bit faster. It depends what matters to you and what subjects you are after.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I would go with the 18-135 bundle and get a high end telephoto when you can swing it, or when you decide whether or not you even need it based on what you shoot. 18-135 is a great range for a crop frame sensor and the one that I kept on my 70D most of the time. I had the STM, and would guess that the USM is even better.

Bill

cameralLady

Thanks Sharp Shooter

cameralLady

The deals are on the official Canon web pages. For the 80D with the 18-135 lens go to:
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras click EOS DIGITAL MODELS then click CAMERA MODEL click 80D

For the camera bundle with the two lens go to
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras then click EOS CAMERA BUNDLES click 80D bundles.

As far as getting the best price;, Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Canon, your local camera store (if there is one in your area) they are all the same down to the penny, look for free shipping. Adorama and B&H offer "free" items such as inexpensive filter, lens cleaning solution. If you buy mail order you may save on sales tax.

cameralLady

Thanks for your technical expertise

jgregg Loc: Michigan

I have the 60D with the EF-S 18-135 IS USM lens. It is a really nice "S" series lens. I would recommend it as it gives you a decent wide angle up to a mild telephoto and save your money for a longer telephoto if you decide you need or want one. Personally I tend to want the capability of the wide angle more than the telephoto.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Personally I'd go for the body only, not wild over the handling of the 18-135, my son has it, and I seldom use my 55-250, of course I have a set of lenses to put on that body already, bob.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

The 18-135 is a fine walk-around lens covering most of what you want to photo. Used one for years. Has served me well. Rarely use wide angle and longer reach telephoto.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Answer 1: The "kit" lenses bundled with the camera are exactly the same as lenses sold separately, in all respects. Canon kit lenses often come in "white box", rather than the usual retail box. But other than that, there's no difference at all. (And retailers sometimes separate the bundles and sell the "white box" lenses separately at a little discount.)

Note: there have actually been three different EF-S 18-135mm lenses. The "USM" lens bundled with 80D is the best of the bunch. There also is an "STM" model, about $50 to $100 cheaper, that uses a slower form or autofocus drive. And, there's a micro motor focus drive version (not labelled "USM" or "STM") that's the slowest and noisiest type of autofocus, that's about $100 to $150 cheaper.

Also note: The above applies to Canon-assembled kits. There are also retailer-assembled kits, some of which are fine from reputable dealers... others not so much. Be careful of retailer-assembled bundles from anyone other than the biggest and most long-established retailers. Often retailer-assembled kits have third party (non-Canon) items... even lenses.

Some folks feel the need to have every focal length covered from near to far and worry unnecessarily about any overlap. In truth, it's not necessary to cover them all.... particularly with telephotos... some gaps between lenses usually aren't a problem. At the same time, in a multi-lens kit some overlap often occurs and that's not really a problem, either. There's an argument to be made that a bit of overlap might mean fewer lens changes.

Personally I use a lot of telephotos and have quite a bit of overlap and even duplication (backups for lenses that I use a lot, such as 300mm & 70-200mm). When I'm "traveling light" I'll often carry just 10-22mm, 28-135mm (an older lens), 300mm f4 lens with a 1.4X teleconverter, and a 60mm macro/portrait lens. Yes, there are gaps. So I "zoom with my feet". Other times I take a completely different kit. I often shoot sporting events with 70-200mm on one camera and 100-400mm or 300mm on another camera. During those shoots, I'll usually keep 24-70mm and 10-22mm handy, too, just in case they are needed.

Answer 2: Yes, there is some overlap of focal lengths between the two lenses in that bundle with the EF-S 18-135mm and EF-S 55-250mm. But the latter offers more telephoto reach from 136mm to 250mm. The EF-S 55-250mm is an STM lens (again.... quiet and smooth operation, but about half as fast as USM). Depending upon what you want to shoot, that might be handy to have. Really, only you can say.

Your alternative is to buy a separate telephoto or different midrange zoom, which is usually going to cost more than buying one in a kit/bundle.

Telezooms Canon currently offers:
- EF-S 55-250mm IS STM
- EF 70-200mm f4L USM, 70-200mm f4L IS USM, 70-200mm f2.8L USM, 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM
- EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM, 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM "Mark II" (new), 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 DO ("diffractive optics", extra compact), 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM (premium build & image quality)
- EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 "Mark III" ([i]Avoid it[i]! Canon's cheapest & prossibly worst lens. 55-250mm is much better), 75-300mm f4-5.6 USM "Mark III" (marginally better)
- EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L "Mark II" IS USM
- EF 200-400mm f4L IS USM with built in 1.4X teleconverter

Midrange or "walk-around" zooms that Canon currently offers:
- EF-S 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM
- EF 16-35mm f4L IS USM, EF 16-35mm f2.8L USM "Mark III" (Mark II still available, too)
- EF 17-40mm f4L USM
- EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM
- EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS, 18-55mm IS STM, 18-55mm IS "Mark II"
- EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM, EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 USM
- EF 24-70mm f4L IS USM, 24-70mm f2.8L "Mark II" USM
- EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM "Mark II" (Mark I still available, too)
- EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM

There are also some "Super zooms" that try to "do it all" with a very wide range of focal lengths in a single lens:
- EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS
- EF 28-300mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM

Prices on these range from around $200 to close to $11,000 (Not including the 75-300 non-USM, which sometimes sells for under $100).

Note: Only Canon "L-series" lenses come with a matched lens hood. For all other lenses the matching hood is sold separately. It's highly recommended to get the hood for both image quality and physical protection of the lens while shooting. Canon OEM lenses can be a little pricey, but there are third party "clones" of most, often selling for 1/2 or 1/3 the price of the OEM hoods.

davyboy Loc: Anoka Mn.

I also love my EF-S 18 -135! nice walk around lens. I get beautiful images with it

hotglassguy Loc: Jeffersonville, IN

Am I missing something? All of the deals I've seen on the Canon 80D have either been the 18-135 lens or a pair of lenses -- 18-55 and 55-250? Have not seen anything combining the 18-135 with the 55-250.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Nicely put.