Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Canon
86 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon
68 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
82 out of 100 high confidence 331 reviews
The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens is widely praised for its excellent sharpness, fast and silent autofocus, and lightweight design, making it a fantastic value for amateur photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. Many users highlight the impressive image quality at the long end and the effective image stabilization, though some note softness beyond 200mm and noticeable vignetting at full zoom. A few reviewers experienced quality control issues like blurry images or a non-functional focus ring, but the overwhelming consensus is that this lens delivers outstanding performance for its price point.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness for the price
- Fast and silent STM autofocus
- Lightweight and compact design
- Effective image stabilization
- Great value for money
Cons
- Softness beyond 200mm
- Noticeable vignetting at full zoom
- Plastic build quality
- Electronic manual focus requires camera power
- Slow maximum aperture (f/5.6 at 250mm)
Image quality 45
Autofocus performance 30
Value for money 35
Build quality 20
Image stabilization 18
Sharpness at long end 25
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Budget
Travel
Portrait
Landscape
Street
Wildlife Sports
Video Cinema
Professional
Macro
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 12 |
| Groups | 12 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | fluorine-coated front element |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg | 0.33 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM | STM |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.24x |
Pros & Cons
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
- Strong versatility (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average macro (30th percentile)
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR
- Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong build (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
Verdict
Winner: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Scores 86 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 1 of 22 specs.