Basic Canon APS-C kit zoom with no image stabilisation and no STM motor.
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III is the non-stabilised, DC-motor version of Canon's long-running APS-C kit zoom, covering 29-88mm equivalent on crop-sensor bodies. It was bundled with entry-level cameras including the EOS 1100D (Rebel T3) and 1200D from around 2011 through the mid-2010s. The III designation identifies this as the third iteration of the non-IS variant — distinct from the IS II and IS STM versions, both of which include image stabilisation and were sold alongside it. The optical formula uses 11 elements in 9 groups. At approximately 190g with a 58mm filter thread and a plastic mount, it represents the floor of Canon's EF-S standard zoom range. It can be identified on the barrel by the absence of IS or STM designation, which all superior versions carry visibly.
Optical performance is adequate for daylight casual photography but unremarkable. Centre sharpness is usable from f/5.6 at most focal lengths; corners are soft at the extremes of the zoom range and do not fully resolve until f/8-f/11. Barrel distortion is visible at 18mm and pincushion at longer settings, both correctable in software. Chromatic aberration is present in high-contrast transitions and measurable but not extreme. The DC motor autofocus produces an audible clicking sound picked up by on-camera microphones, making it unsuitable for video. Focus hunting in lower-contrast conditions is a practical limitation. Colour rendering and contrast are acceptable in good light, consistent with the kit-class standard of its generation.
EF-S mount only — incompatible with full-frame Canon EF bodies (EOS 5D, 6D, 1D series) without severe vignetting. The 58mm filter thread is shared with the IS II and most other EF-S 18-55mm variants. The barrel extends significantly at 55mm and shows some rotational play on used copies, which is normal for the plastic construction. The plastic lens mount is a durability limitation absent from the IS STM variant's metal mount. No weather sealing is provided. The focus ring is narrow and lightly damped. Check the zoom ring operates smoothly and evenly throughout its travel before purchase.
The EF-S 18-55mm III is the weakest of the 18-55mm variants and prices reflect its position. The IS STM version, which adds image stabilisation, a quieter STM motor, and a metal mount, costs marginally more used and is a substantially better lens in every practical regard. The III is worth buying only when an IS STM cannot be found at a comparable price, or when DC motor noise is not a concern. For video work it is not suitable. Key checks before purchase: AF responds without hesitation, zoom action is smooth and even across the range, and no scratches are visible on the front element.