http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-f-4-5.6-IS-STM-Lens.aspx It seems that Canon is not content anymore with the fact that they provided until now the best kit lenses. The last model will really force you to look for something else.
I remember when they gave lenses like this out: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/149629-USA/Canon_2562A002AA_EF_28_135mm_f_3_5_5_6_IS.html While not the best lens, it was decent.
I cannot comment on this latest kit lens but I would have thought that Canon should consider having a kit lens that would test well and encourage those interested on moving up from point and shoots by providing good or great images. The slow wide aperture end would be forgiven if the images provided were better than acceptable. Obviously Canon would like their lens catalogue to be accessed subsequently by new owners but if the kit lens is going to be a "put off" to possible new buyers, subsequent sales will not be there. I have my doubts that many new to DSLR cameras would go the route of buying a body with a "much better than kit" lens that costs more than the body. I may be totally wrong there! If I were contemplating buying in to a DSLR system for the first time and was not influenced by brand loyalty, being reassured that Canon made a kit lens that was better than the average would be a good thing.
i don't use my kit lens much, but it has come in handy a few times. i tend to zoom a bit, so never used the widest aperture but i still think having a wider aperture is a good thing for when we do need them. there's no advantage to taking away some available light. wouldn't the kit that came with that lens cost more? if so, they aren't really giving them out, just creating a bundle.
This is a sad move, as it replaces a better optical kit. I am pretty sure that Canon have done it's homework, and is not offering a "weaker than others" kit, but it looses the edge. And the praise. It will be enough to have only the "Canon colors" as an attraction factor? I don't think so. Pentax already has good APS-C lenses at almost the same price... and bodies for a life time, with no plastic flange (?). If the Japanese camera brands will continue to rise the prices for inferior equipment (don't tell me you didn't observed this trend), we may go the film route.
I would argue that people who buy "kit lenses" bundles aren't generally professionals/prosumers. They would just get the body and buy a separate lens. So selling cameras with lenses cheaper will get more of the entry level photographers to buy a camera, which makes sense to me.
Generally, in the Canon world, "cheaper" didn't affected the optical quality... it always was over the average. They made compromises regarding materials of a lens but not in the glass quality. They continually improved the kit lens optical value. Lets hope this is a mistake (even if personally I doubt).
I would hope that entry level photographers would research the reviews of the cameras on the market before buying. If this new kit lens is a retrograde step in the market and receives "poor" reviews and is marked down because of it then Canon might be hoping that their competitors are also going to be reducing their kit lenses perceived abilities. I have no idea what percentage of cost a kit lens is of a camera but adding say $5 to $20 dollars to that cost to provide a better kit lens, attracting more buyers who might appreciate getting better images and increasing the likelihood of them buying in to the system rather than being disappointed would be a good thing. Having the reviews suggest that a Canon kit lens is the best on the market would be a good thing. Having the reviews suggest that Canon make the cheapest kit lens on the market might not be. Only my opinion, not necessarily (or even likely) to be valid.
i'm afraid your hope is in vain. i hang out at samy's camera, best buy and so on, and most people just ask the sales person what to buy. without, i might add, any idea what kind of photography the sales person does with what kind of camera. and a couple of my relatives always buy what's on sale. my son's cousin says she considers herself a photo buff. when i asked her very basic questions about her camera, she didn't turn out to know anything about it.
With my 40D I started out with the 17-85, but replaced it after just 1 weekend with the vastly superior 17-55 (which doesn't get close to the absolutely awesome 24-70 F/2.8 II). I never tried the cheaper kit lenses until I got the opportunity to buy a brand new EOS M with 18-55 and 90EX flash for a ridiculous price. THAT 18-55 is good enough for me, believe me. My former girlfriend still uses a 1000D with the "old" 18-55. Good enough for me too, as far as I can see. The PHOTOGRAPHER provides the pie; a fine lens can put a cherry and some cream on top.
