Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

I have this doubt since I bought my "cheap" Canon T6w.
The kit lens (title) focusing ring rotates the filter(s) too.
I use old filters like Cokin's (square) half-half, multiple
images and gradient, CPL too, and it is annoying.

Question: are there other 18-55 mm (EF, STM) that does
not rotate the filter while focusing ? Thanks.

A.B.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

How did you happen to get such an old version of this lens with the relatively new t6? I assume you have the Efs I8-55mm II. The newer versions, the STM and USM do not rotate.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

That is the same question I have been trying to respond to myself.
That lens came as a kit with the body. And, yes you are correct.
It is an EF-S 18-55 mm II, indeed. I simply forgot to add the whole
description (my bad).
I think I am in a dead-end here, right ? I bought the kit on an authorized
store (physical, not online) and I think Canon will not replace that lens
for a newer model. Anyway... I will try to contact Canon's buyers support.
Thanks a lot for your reply.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I'm surprised that an authorized dealer bundled that older version of the lens with your camera but I guess anything's possible and it probably allowed then to sell you the kit at a lower price. It was a decent enough kit lens in it's day, but unfortunately not nearly as good as the STM and current USM versions.

The lens you have has a noisy and relatively slow micromotor autofocus motor. It rotates the front element during focusing as you've discovered, and doesn't allow you to manually rotate the focus ring while the lens is set to autofocus. The next version was the STM or stepping motor version. It has a better build quality, quiet autofocus, no rotation of the front element during focusing, full time manual focusing, and better optics than the version you have. It was also designed to provide superior video with the newer Canon cameras. The most recent version of this lens has an electronic fly by wire USM or ultrasonic focusing motor. Its mostly similar to the STM version but focuses faster.

Both the STM and USM version are better optically than your lens but that doesn't mean you won't be able to capture very nice images with it.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

I'm a Canon user. I like being able to focus manually full-time (even with lens set on AF). I wasn't aware that STM lenses allow this...thought it was only USMs that do, and not even all USMs.

Is this true?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

The STM lenses have what's known as fly by wire manual focusing. It is electronic. Turning the focus ring will not do anything unless the lens is powered first by a back button or a half price of the shutter. I frankly do not find fly-by-wire manual focusing very convenient, but it can be done with the lens still in the auto focus mode. The same is true for some of the newer EF-s budget USM lenses. So while both the STM and USM versions of the 18-55mn lens for all intents and purposes have full time manual focus, it is not as practical as the full-time manual focus on other higher-end Canon USM lenses.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

Once again, you are correct. I forgot to mention that. I almost always use manual focusing and I only became aware of that "minor" flaw when I started to think about using my father's old filters and
adapters. My 50 mm is STM and does fine (AF or MF) in manual (M).
My problem is that I am using more my Nikon AF mount Vivitar lenses with an adapter than
Canon's proprietary ones...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

The STM front does not rotate. You have the old arc drive motor that rotates the front. Canon still makes a couple of lenses with this system. It works with all Canon cameras just fine but it's slower and noisier. Not sure why they keep them except for cost savings.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

**I would check ebay. Also with a trade in where you bought it, the newer model cost may not be too bad. >Alan

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yes, the slightly more expensive EF-S 18-55mm IS "STM" does not rotate the filter ring. Only Canon's cheapest entry level EF-S 18-55mm IS "II" and the 1st version of it do (both non-STM.... slower micro-motor focus drive).

The STM lens is also quieter and faster focusing. But it's general build quality is still "kit" entry level.

There are actually two versions of EF-S 18-55mm IS STM.... the earlier one has an f/3.5-5.6 aperture, while the later one has an f/4-5.6 range and is a little bit closer focusing (0.36X magnification) and a half inch shorter. Both the STM versions use a 7-blade aperture, versus the 6-blade in the non-STM lenses. The odd number of blades makes for more complex "sun stars".

None of the 18-55s are very conducive to manual focusing. The STM ("stepper motor") versions can be manually overridden without damage. The non-STM versions cannot. They MUST be turned off at the switch before manually focusing, or the AF mechanism will be damaged.

The best Canon lens around this range is the EF-S 17-55mm IS USM.... much faster focusing ("ultrasonic motor"), f/2.8 non-variable aperture, top image quality, and better built. But of course it's a lot more expensive. USM lenses also can be manually overridden without concern. And this lens actually has a nice comfortable manual focus ring, too!

The EF-S 15-85mm IS USM is also excellent and would be a significant upgrade with a wider ranger of focal lengths, though to keep it reasonably sized, it's an f/3.5-5.6 lens. It's also fairly pricey, though.

There's lots more info about all these lenses at The-Digital-Picture.com. Bryan Carnathan tests all of Canon lenses (and some others) and posts the results there for you to see. The Image Quality, Specification and some of the other pages allow you to compare two lenses side by side. https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Zoom-Lens-Reviews.aspx

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

Yes. Probably because it is expected to be sold for the "general" public, and for those who
have a background in photography. Knowing lenses since I was a 10 yo, I could never imagine
that something like that could happen.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

It will not be possible, as they do not sell accessories. I still thinking about calling our local
user support and see if I could arrange some deal. OTOH, ebay buys are sometimes taxed
at 100 % the price of the item, here in Brazil. But thank you for the input.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

Thanks. As a matter of fact, yesterday I checked the printed specs on my lens and it is
an EF-S 18-55 mm III ! I do not care for IS, but the rotating filters is what bothers me.
Most of the times the sun shines really hard here, making the check on the back panel
a difficult task for me. So, I take photos as if I was using my film cameras.

Anyway... I will try something directly with Canon, although I am sure it will be a no-no.

Just one more question: will the USM lenses fit my EOS T6 ?

Thanks for the link (will access it as soon I finish UHH) and the valuable information.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Any Canon EF or EF-s lens will work on your camera regardless of the type of focus motor its has. Additionally, any third party lenses that have a Canon EF mount will also work on your camera.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

Great tip. Thanks a lot.