Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
The Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM covers one of the most practical focal length ranges in the EF lineup — from a moderate 28mm wide-angle through to a useful 135mm short telephoto — with a built-in Image Stabilizer and ring-type USM autofocus. This used Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is in excellent condition, tested, and ready to ship.
Shipping & Returns
Tracking information provided. Returns accepted if products received damaged or inoperable. No shipping to the USA while tariffs are active. Fast shipping from Vancouver Island, BC. Please review the full Returns Policy before purchasing.
Condition
The glass on this Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is clear, with no marks. The barrel shows no wear, and the filter thread and mount are both in excellent condition. Autofocus and Image Stabilizer have both been confirmed functioning. Front cap, rear cap, and the EW-78BII lens hood are all included.
Overview
Launched in February 1998, the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM was a high-magnification standard zoom with a 4.82x zoom ratio — one of the first consumer-grade EF zooms to combine image stabilization with Canon’s ring-type USM autofocus motor. Canon marketed it as a versatile single-lens solution for travel, events, and general photography.
On a full-frame body, the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM’s 28-135mm range covers a wide variety of shooting situations. On an APS-C body with a 1.6x crop factor, the equivalent focal range becomes approximately 45-216mm, pushing it into portrait and short telephoto territory. The lens measures 78mm in diameter and 97mm in length, and weighs 540g.
Optical Construction
The Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM uses 16 elements arranged in 12 groups. The optical design includes one moulded glass aspherical (GMo) element — the 14th element — which Canon incorporated to maintain sharpness and control aberrations across the zoom range. There are no UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) elements in this design.
Minimum focusing distance is 0.5m, giving a maximum magnification of 0.19x (1:5.3) — adequate for close-up photography of flowers and moderately small objects, but not a true macro specification. Canon Extension Tubes EF 12 II or EF 25 II are compatible and can increase the effective magnification ratio. Full specifications are listed on Canon’s official Camera Museum page.
Image Stabilizer
The Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM uses Canon’s first-generation Image Stabilizer, providing approximately 2 stops of correction. This IS unit was newly developed for this lens at release and designed to be compact enough for a consumer-grade zoom body. Because it’s a first-generation implementation, this IS system must be switched off when the camera is mounted on a tripod — leaving it active in that situation can cause erratic image movement, unlike later Canon IS generations, which auto-detect tripod use. The IS motor produces a click on start-up followed by a low continuous hum during operation.
Autofocus Performance
Autofocus on the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is driven by a ring-type USM (Ultrasonic Motor), providing fast, near-silent AF. Ring USM is Canon’s higher-tier AF motor type, delivering quicker and quieter focus than the micro-motor USM found in lower-cost lenses. Internal focusing means the front element does not rotate during AF — an advantage for circular polarising filters, which need a fixed front element to work correctly.
Full-time manual focus is supported, meaning the focus ring can be adjusted at any time without switching out of AF mode. The manual focus ring is narrow relative to the barrel, and a focus distance window is present. AF speed is reasonably fast for its class.
Build Quality and Handling
The Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM has a plastic barrel, which keeps its weight to 540g. Build quality is in line with Canon’s better consumer zooms of its era — solid for everyday use, without the weather sealing or metal construction of the L-series. Expect minor play in the two-part barrel extension, and zoom and focus rings that are functional but not silky-smooth.
The barrel extends toward 135mm and is most compact at 28mm. There is no zoom lock lever, so zoom creep can occur when carrying the lens pointing downward. The filter thread is 72mm, and the compatible hood is the EW-78BII.
Compatible Camera Bodies
The Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM uses the Canon EF mount and is compatible with all Canon EOS cameras that accept EF-mount lenses, including full-frame and APS-C DSLR bodies across the EOS range, as well as earlier EOS film bodies. For Canon’s EOS R-series mirrorless bodies, it can be used via the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, which preserves autofocus and IS functionality (adapter not included).
Image Quality
Centre sharpness on the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is good wide open throughout the zoom range. Corner performance varies: moderately soft at 28mm wide open, improving through the mid-range before some softness returns at 135mm. Stopping down to f/8 brings a noticeable, though not dramatic, improvement in corner sharpness.
Vignetting is strongest at 28mm wide open, decreasing through the zoom range with a slight uptick again at 135mm; APS-C bodies see significantly less vignetting. Barrel distortion is strong at 28mm, crossing to pincushion distortion around 40mm and becoming relatively strong by 70-135mm. Chromatic aberration is visible in the corners, most notably at 135mm. Flare control ranges from moderate at 28mm to good at 135mm; the included EW-78BII hood helps.
In the Box
This used Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM includes the front cap, rear cap, and EW-78BII lens hood.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 28-135mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/3.5 (28mm) – f/5.6 (135mm) |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22-36 (approx.) |
| Optical Formula | 16 elements in 12 groups |
| Special Elements | 1x moulded glass (GMo) aspherical element |
| Angle of View | 75° – 18° (diagonal) |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.5m (1.6 ft) |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 0.19x (1:5.3) |
| Filter Thread | 72mm |
| IS Compensation | Approx. 2 stops (first-generation; manual tripod switch-off required) |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 |
| Dimensions (Diameter x Length) | 78 x 97mm |
| Weight | 540g |
| Mount | Canon EF (full-frame and APS-C compatible) |
| Year Introduced | February 1998 |
➤ View This Lens in Our Store — Good Used Cameras
Sources
- Canon Camera Museum Official Page: global.canon
- DPReview Product Overview: dpreview.com
- The Digital Picture Full Review: the-digital-picture.com
- Wikipedia (Canon EF 28-135mm lens): wikipedia.org
✅ Fact-checked against Canon Camera Museum, DPReview, The Digital Picture, and Wikipedia. All specifications confirmed accurate.