Here're a couple of quick'n dirty sample images taken with the EOS 350D and RAW-converted via RSP 2006.
Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples
(=several megabytes) thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth so please take care of the limited resources here.
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
18.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/8.0 @ 1/320s
Size
2311x3471
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
55.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/5.6 @ 1/160s
Size
2311x3471
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
40.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/9.0 @ 1/200s
Size
2311x3471
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
55.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/5.6 @ 1/125s
Size
3471x2311
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
55.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/5.6 @ 1/160s
Size
2311x3471
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
49.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/5.6 @ 1/100s
Size
2311x3471
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
40.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/9.0 @ 1/320s
Size
3471x2311
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
47.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/5.6 @ 1/500s
Size
2311x3471
Verdict
There were a few moments when I considered not to publish the results due to "political correctness"
because to date it was a quite absurd thought that such a cheap, or better "affordable", lens can perform
this good and I'm sure that some will not believe the findings even though they're supported by the
published field images. Anyway, the resolution capabilities of the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is nothing
short of amazing. This is also surprising regarding the rather small changes in the optical design compared
to the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II. Still - the center resolution is excellent throughout the range even at
wide-open aperture. Unlike most dedicated APS-C standard zoom lenses it is capable to keep a very good
level even at the extreme corners of the image field. Its resolution characteristic is similar to
the (much higher priced) EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS at comparable aperture settings, quite a bit better
than the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM IS and naturally vastly improved over its non-IS predecessor! Field
curvature is not an issue. So is it a perfect lens then ? No, naturally not. It has its weaknesses - notably
strong barrel distortions at 18mm and very high vignetting at 18mm @ f/3.5. Chromatic aberrations are well
controlled at the extreme ends of the zoom range but quite pronounced around 28mm. In the field the lens
struggles in contra light situations whereas the bokeh (out-of-focus blur) is pretty good within the limits
of its depth-of-field capabilities. All-in-all the optical aspects are impressive and that's not only
regarding the low price tag. The image stabilizer is quite efficient with a real world "gain" equivalent
to about 3 f-stops. On the mechanical side things aren't so rosy. Canon changed the cosmetics of the lens
and it certainly "looks" better now but the actual implementation has only been marginally improved compared
to the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II. The plastic quality (down to the lens mount) spoils the subjective quality
perception quite a bit. The inner lens tube does still wobble significantly and accurate manual focusing
remains next to impossible. However, the AF speed and accuracy is very decent and that's probably good enough
for most users anyway. The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is certainly a value king, priced
below 200€/US$, which is a good match for the resolution potential of the current generation of Canon's
APS-C DSLRs.
