Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS
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)
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS
The Sony 400-800mm lens is praised for its sharpness and fast autofocus, often outperforming the 200-600mm. However, it is heavy, front-heavy, and requires fast shutter speeds and good light due to the F8 aperture. A significant concern is a reported crack in the fluorine coating not covered by warranty, leading to frustration.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Fast autofocus
- Outperforms 200-600mm
- Internal focusing
- Great for wildlife photography
Cons
- Heavy and front-heavy
- F8 aperture limits low-light use
- Requires fast shutter speeds
- Warranty does not cover coating cracks
- Expensive extended warranty needed
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 400 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 800 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 27 |
| Groups | 12 | 19 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 6★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/6.3 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 6.3-8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 2.47 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 105 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm★ | 1.70 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:4.34★ |
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)
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS
- Strong optical (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong stabilization (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong versatility (72nd percentile)
- Below average build (10th percentile)10th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 11.7x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 84 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
