Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Viltrox 56mm f1.2 Z 56mm
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)
Viltrox 56mm f1.2 Z 56mm
The VILTROX 56mm F1.2 lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its sharpness, fast and quiet autofocus, excellent low-light performance, and great value for money. A few users note a floating element or internal rattling when off, which is explained as normal VCM motor behavior. One verified buyer received a used lens instead of new, and another found it too large for a compact body.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Great low-light performance
- Beautiful bokeh
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Floating element design
- Internal rattling when off
- Received used instead of new
- Too large for compact bodies
- Autofocus hunting in extreme low light
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Viltrox 56mm f1.2 Z 56mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | standard |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 56 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 56 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 13 |
| Groups | 12 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 1★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Nano coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/1.2 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.59 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | VCM |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 500 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.13x |
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 (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average macro (32nd percentile)
Viltrox 56mm f1.2 Z 56mm
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Strong optical (68th percentile)
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 2.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 84 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
