Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
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)
Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
The Nikon AF-P 18-55mm lens receives mixed feedback. Many users praise its sharpness, silent autofocus in video mode, and lightweight design, but compatibility issues with older Nikon cameras like the D5000 and D3300 (without firmware update) are a recurring complaint. Some users report defective units where autofocus fails entirely, while others find it a significant upgrade over older AF-S lenses for video work.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Silent autofocus in video mode
- Lightweight and compact design
- Fast autofocus speed
- Good value for money
Cons
- Compatibility issues with older cameras
- Autofocus failure on some units
- Zoom noise picked up by internal mic
- No VR or manual focus button on lens
- Requires firmware update for some cameras
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 55 mm |
| Elements | 15 | — |
| Groups | 12 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Super Integrated Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.74 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | pulse stepping motor |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 4 stops |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 83 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | — |
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 (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average macro (33rd percentile)
Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
- Strong macro (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
Verdict
Scores 84 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.