Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 is STM
Tamron Di III-A B070 17-70mm
What Buyers Say
Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 is STM
This RF 55-210mm lens is highly praised by beginners and hobbyists for its lightweight design and excellent image quality, especially in well-lit outdoor settings. Users love the smooth zoom and background blur that rivals much more expensive lenses. It is considered a great value for portrait and casual photography, though some note it is not perfect in low light.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Excellent image quality in good light
- Smooth zoom operation
- Great background blur for the price
- Perfect for beginners and casual use
Cons
- Not perfect in low light
- Not for fast-paced professional events
Tamron Di III-A B070 17-70mm
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens is widely praised for its sharpness, versatile zoom range, constant aperture, and effective stabilization, making it an excellent all-around lens for APS-C cameras. Users appreciate its solid build quality and value for money, though many note it is noticeably heavier and larger than typical kit lenses, which can feel unbalanced on smaller camera bodies. A few reviewers mention minor issues like chromatic aberration at the longer end and noise from the aperture blades at certain settings, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- sharp image quality across zoom range
- constant f/2.8 aperture
- effective image stabilization
- fast and quiet autofocus
- versatile 17-70mm focal range
Cons
- heavy and large for APS-C body
- chromatic aberration at 50-70mm
- aperture blade noise above f/5.6
- short zoom throw initially stiff
- no aperture ring on Fuji version
Scores
Specifications
| Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 is STM | Tamron Di III-A B070 17-70mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | telephoto | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 17 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 210 mm | 70 mm |
| Elements | 11 | 16 |
| Groups | 8 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | Super Spectra Coating | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/7.1 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 5-7.1 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon RF | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.27 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | RXD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4.5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 730 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.28x | 1:4.8★ |
Pros & Cons
Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 is STM
- Strong stabilization (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong versatility (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Below average macro (34th percentile)
Tamron Di III-A B070 17-70mm
- Strong optical (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong versatility (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
Verdict
Scores 91 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.