The EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens from Canon is a compact, lightweight and very versatile zoom lens that is specifically designed for the range of APS-C format EOS DSLR cameras with the EF-S lens mount. Combining powerful performance with high image quality, this lens offers the equivalent focal length range of 29-320mm in 35mm format. It is ideal as a general-purpose zoom lens, providing coverage from a wide angle to a telephoto perspective.

The EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens incorporates Canon's 4-stop compensation Image Stabilizer technology. This allows the use of shutter speeds up to 4 times slower with no perceptible increase in image blur. Aspherical and UD lens elements minimize aberrations and contribute to overall image quality and fine delineation. A zoom lock lever holds the zoom in place at its widest point so that it does not extend while not in use. A wide rubberized zoom ring provides smooth and comfortable control over focal length adjustment.

4 stop Image Stabilizer (IS) extends low light options to previously unavailable levels. Photographers normally shooting handheld at 1/250 sec can switch on IS to obtain a similarly steady and blur-free result with a shutter speed of just 1/15 second. Image blur in low light and at long telephoto lengths is significantly reduced.

Two UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) elements and several aspherical elements are used to suppress the effects of secondary chromatic aberrations, to obtain crisp, sharp, high-contrast images without fringing throughout the zoom range.

Optimized Super Spectra lens coatings and lens element shaping, suppress flare and ghosting. Coatings also help achieve true color balance and increase contrast for vivid hi-fidelity images.

The zoom ring can be locked in place at its widest focal length in order to prevent the lens from physically extending while not in use.