Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Zoom Lens (Bulk Packaging)

So Im not too keen on camera gear seeing as I just started to film my youtube videos with a canon 70d. I bought this lens separate and used for about 73 bucks. Im aware this is a kit lens but am amazed on how clear these lenses really are. My experience so far has been an interesting one to say the least. The design is straight forward, its about the size of a mini soda can and has ridges towards the middle of the body; this is for twisting and using the manual focus. The upper rim of the lens towards the wider opening moves as well and Im not sure why. Theres IS (image stabilization) that probably should be on at all times (its said you dont really need it when on a tripod but I cant see it hurting; professionals my say otherwise). There is another switch thats along side the stabilizer and thats the AF/MF (Auto Foucs / Manual Focus); use this according to what your camera and situation requires. I mostly use the AF because my camera has amazing auto focus. Lastly, you have the markings that display the millimeters to where the lens is set. Twist right to focus in and left to focus out. In essence the lens seems well built. The functionality that really stands out to me is the STM ability. This stands for Stepper Motor which allows your camera to auto focus without any auditory noise while recording video. Its very smooth and becoming a staple on most setups from what I can see. Obviously, you dont need this if youre just shooting stills or landscapes but I say,"why not have it for the heck of it". Keep in mind this is an EF-S lens which means its compatible with full from cameras as well. All in all I found this lens to be a great first buy for a beginner on a budget. The fact that I bought it used also speaks volumes and the reason for my 4 stars. When using the lens, and I dont know if this is indicative of the camera or lens, I receive and error stating the camera or lens are not reading correctly; error 1. Im not sure if its the camera or if its the lens so I give responsibility to both. Great lens. Very affordable, but make sure it works correctly. As of this moment I can still clean both the camera and lens and get them to work together but the question is how long. Time will tell. Hope this helps someone, and if you have any questions dont hesitate to ask. Thank you for your time, Axiom Brevity

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Great Lens! I have done some tests with it and it is sharp and the video isnt grainy. Autofocus during video is just fine! (Update) The pictures are definitely not sharp, good color, and autofocus is is slow because it is not usm. Not as sharp as an L Lens, but it works for now.

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This is one of Canons basic lenses and, as such, meets the high standards of Canon for this level of lens. The one aspect that resulted in less than five stars is that it is a bit slow in its auto-focus feature (despite the production notes advertised with the lens), nothing to detract from its overall quality, but for quick action shots that need rapid focusing capability to "catch" the shot, it tends to take a few milliseconds longer than the higher quality lenses . . . not measured, subjective observation.

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