hj Loc: Florida

I have the EF-S 18-55mm lens and am wondering if it is worthwhile to upgrade to the STM version. I know it's quieter for video which I don't do.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

It won't take better photos unless you do. Basic is basic so use what you have.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I wouldn't.
(I'd maybe get an additional lens to add to the arsenal. (Depends on how large your arsenal is.)

hj Loc: Florida

Thanks for taking the time to respond, but don't understand your comment. If it isn't better then why would Canon upgrade it to STM from non-STM?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You probably should spend some time at The Digital Picture. You'll get better information.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-f-4-5.6-IS-STM-Lens.aspx

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens has a stepping motor to drive it's auto focus... It was announced Feb. 2017
Assuming they rolled this out to compete with Nikon's AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens which was announced a year earlier...
Nikon calls this an AF-P for Pulse Stepping Motor... I have one and it is amazingly fast to acquire and lock focus... I assume Canon's offering does likewise... It's also nearly silent meaning that Nikon is likely trying to catch up with Canon's dominance in the video realm...

Appears that stepping motor AF drive is where the technology is headed...
btw, both these "Kit" lens offer a 4-stop-rated IS (VR) system. Which should be a real crowd pleaser for hobbyist...

My question to you hj is what genre(s) are you focused on?
This is a huge variable in the optic selection equation...

Personally I would keep the existing lens and instead consider a prime in the 105mm to 135mm range for portraiture...
But then again I shoot beauty genre and fashion... Your needs may be totally different...
Every shooter brings their own unique set of prerogatives to the dance...
And that's the beauty of DSLR's since they allow interchangeable optics...

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
I wish you well hj

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The only thing you are changing is the focus motor. I'd get maybe a 50/1.4 or something.

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

For me, I found that the STM lenses produced a better quality image than the non-STM lenses did.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

The answer is because they want to sell you more stuff that you don't need. And that's a fact, not an "alternate fact." >Alan

vininnj2u Loc: Whiting, New Jersey, USA

I have an 18-135mm STM lens from Canon. I absolutely love it for the fact of the very fast focus and quietness it offers. I can't compare the quality of the picture against the standard lens because I never owned one. When I can I will opt for STM feature on any of my future lenses.

hj Loc: Florida

Thank you to everyone for your responses. Accordingly, I'll just stay satisfied with my non-STM 18-55mm lens. I did just sell my Canon non-STM 50mm f1.8 and replaced it with the 50mm STM simply because it added the STM and it added a metal mount instead of plastic. I accomplished the swap for only a $30 difference.

Shoeless_Photographer Loc: Lexington

I don't see a major difference in the image quality between the II and STM versions. STM would definitely be faster (and possibly more accurate) for focusing. You might go ahead and get this refurbished version here and see how you like it. It is through Amazon, so you'd have 30 days to play with it and still send it back.

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-8114B002-18-55mm-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00L9IRHU8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1489574895&sr=8-3&keywords=canon+18-55mm+lens

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yea, I'd also rather have the metal mount if possible. Good investment of $30.