Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM
What Buyers Say
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is widely praised for its ultra-compact size, lightweight design, and excellent value, making it a favorite for street photography and travel. Users note it turns a full-frame camera into a highly portable setup, though the fixed f/4.5 aperture and lack of manual focus ring are limiting for some. Image quality is considered good for the price, but low-light performance and autofocus in dim conditions are common drawbacks. A few users reported a stuck rear lens cap or battery drain on certain Sony models, but overall sentiment is positive for its intended casual use.
Pros
- Ultra-compact and lightweight design
- Excellent value for the price
- Great for street photography and travel
- Sharp image quality for its class
- Built-in lens cover
Cons
- Fixed f/4.5 aperture
- No manual focus ring
- Poor low-light autofocus
- Battery drain on Sony A5100
- Stuck rear lens cap issue
Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 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)
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm | Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 55 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 250 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 15 |
| Groups | 6 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | 0 |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | nano multi-coating | Super Spectra coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/5.6 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 | 4-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | L-Mount | Canon EF-S |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.08 kg★ | 0.38 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VCM | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 420 mm | 250 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.11X | 0.29x★ |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm
- Strong build (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average social proof (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong versatility (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
Pricing
Viltrox Pancake 28mm F4.5 28mm offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 79 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
