The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II ($199.99 direct) SEE IT is the standard kit lens that is bundled with APS-C Canon EOS D-SLR cameras. When you buy it along with a camera it only adds about $100 to the price, and at that price it's a bargain. If you're in the position where you have a Canon body without a lens, the 18-55mm is the least expensive option you have if you want a zooming optic. It covers a 29-88mm field of view in terms of traditional 35mm photography.

The lens itself is light, thanks in part to its largely plastic construction. It measures 3.3 by 2.7 inches (HD) and weighs 7.1 ounces. The mount is plastic, which is not as durable as metal mounts found in more expensive lenses, and the zooming action isn't as smooth as that of higher-end optics. The front element rotates as the lens changes focus, which makes it difficult to effectively use a circular polarizing filter to minimize glare, as the effect of that type of filter changes as it rotates.

I used Imatest to check the sharpness and distortion characteristics of the lens when paired with the Canon EOS Rebel T4iSEE IT. The lens exceeds the 1,800 lines per picture height required for a sharp image throughout its zoom range. At 18mm f/3.5 it records 1,818 lines, which increases to 2,128 at f/5.6 and 2,167 at f/8. Zooming in to 34mm gives you 1,891 lines at f/4.5, 2,104 lines at f/5.6, and 2,198 lines at f/8. It's softest at 55mm, where it records 1,762 lines at f/5.6 and 2,005 lines at f/8. Distortion is an issue on the wide end, where the lens exhibits a noticeable 2.8 percent barrel distortion, but it's negligible at 34mm and 55mm.

The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II is one of the better kit lenses available, but it's still a kit lens. It's got a relatively slow aperture that limits its use in dimly lit environments, it doesn't have the best build quality in the world, and distortion is evident at its widest setting. Still, it is reasonably sharp and optically stabilized. If you have a big budget, Canon's top-end APS-C zoom, the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USMSEE IT, is an excellent performer—but it costs five times as much as the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6.

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