Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Tamron Di III VC VXD AF020N700 28-300mm
What Buyers Say
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
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)
Tamron Di III VC VXD AF020N700 28-300mm
The Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD VC lens receives mixed feedback from users. Some praise its versatility, lightweight design, and value for money, especially for travel and casual photography. However, several users report significant issues with autofocus reliability, image sharpness, and lens creep, with some experiencing failures after a short period. The lens seems to work well for some but has notable quality control and compatibility concerns.
Pros
- Versatile zoom range
- Lightweight and portable
- Good value for money
- Vibration compensation
- Suitable for travel and casual use
Cons
- Autofocus reliability issues
- Soft image quality at times
- Lens creep problem
- Noisy autofocus operation
- Poor low-light performance due to high f-stop
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Tamron Di III VC VXD AF020N700 28-300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 19 |
| Groups | 12 | 15 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 3.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | VXD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 490 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:3.5★ |
Pros & Cons
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong versatility (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong social proof (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average macro (33rd percentile)
Tamron Di III VC VXD AF020N700 28-300mm
- Strong optical (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong stabilization (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong aperture (69th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
Verdict
Scores 85 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.