The Canon EF-S 18–135mm lens is a standard to short telephoto telezoom for Canon digital single-lens reflex cameras with an EF-S lens mount. Its zoom range places it into the superzoom category, although its range is not as broad as several other lenses, such as Canon's own EF-S 18–200mm lens.
The original version of the lens, the f/3.5–5.6 IS, was introduced in 2009 with a suggested retail price of US$499.99. The field of view has a 35 mm equivalent focal length of 29–216mm. It is the standard kit lens for the Canon EOS 60D and EOS 7D, and is an alternative kit lens in some markets for the EOS 600D/Rebel T3i.
A new version of the lens, the f/3.5–5.6 IS STM, was announced on 8 June 2012, alongside the EOS 650D/Rebel T4i/Kiss X6i. The "STM" stands for "Stepping Motor", a new autofocus technology claimed by Canon "to smoothly and silently focus" and "achieve continuous AF while recording video" when used with the 650D (and presumably future Canon bodies). Its suggested retail price was US$549.99 at introduction. It was an alternative kit lens for the 650D, and is now an alternative kit lens for the 650D's successor, the EOS 700D/Rebel T5i.
This STM version, in some markets, is available as a kit lens for the Canon EOS 70D, as is also the Canon EF-S 18–55mm lens in its STM version.
The latest addition of the 18-135 series is the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, announced on 17 February 2016. New features are the new Nano USM and the possibility to connect the Power Zoom Adapter PZ-E1, which allows a soft zoom for video. The lens is also available as bundle with the Canon EOS 80D, which was announced same date.