The best of Canon's EF-S 18-55mm variants with quiet STM motor for video.
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM was introduced in 2013 and quickly became the standard by which budget kit lenses are judged. It replaced the IS II as Canon's primary APS-C bundle lens, adding a stepping motor for near-silent autofocus during video recording, a critical upgrade for the DSLR video era.
Optically it is a genuine step up from its predecessors with improved sharpness across the frame and better controlled distortion. The IS provides around 4 stops of stabilisation. The STM autofocus is smooth, quiet, and well-suited to Canon's Dual Pixel AF in video mode. Build is plastic but feels well-assembled with a metal lens mount.
Canon EF-S mount only, 58mm filter thread. This version sits between the IS II with noisier AF and the later EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM which is newer with a slightly slower aperture but even more compact. It was bundled with the EOS 700D, 750D, and 760D among others.
Widely available used and this is the kit lens to buy if you need an EF-S 18-55mm. The STM motor makes a real difference for video. Check AF operation and IS for grinding which indicates wear. Outstanding value for money.