Compare lenses

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM vs Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM if you want a wider view (from 22mm equivalent). Pick the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM if you want more reach (to 202mm equivalent).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecCanon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USMCanon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
MakerCanonCanon
Focal length15-85mm (zoom)18-135mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent22-128mm on APS-C27-202mm on APS-C
Maximum aperturef/3.5-5.6f/3.5-5.6
Made forAPS-CAPS-C
MountsCanon EFCanon EF
Stabilisedyesyes
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range5.7×7.5×more range
Cameras it fits14 in this guide14 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080022-128mm equiv.EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM: 15-85mm on APS-C, like 22-128mm.
142435508513520040080027-202mm equiv.EF-S 18-135mm
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM: 18-135mm on APS-C, like 27-202mm.

Aperture

f/3.5
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM: f/3.5 wide open.
f/3.5
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM: f/3.5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 at 15mm · 77°EF-S 18-135mm at 18mm · 67°EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 at 85mm · 16°EF-S 18-135mm at 135mm · 10°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

14 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

and 4 more

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

and 4 more

On their own pages