Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Canon
86 Overall Score
vs
Sony G 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

Sony G 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

Sony
58 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

82 out of 100 high confidence 331 reviews

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)
👍 Image quality 45
👍 Autofocus performance 30
👍 Value for money 35
🤔 Build quality 20
👍 Image stabilization 18
🤔 Sharpness at long end 25

Sony G 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

88 out of 100 high confidence 277 reviews

The Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens is overwhelmingly praised for its sharpness, fast autofocus, and excellent image quality, making it a top choice for wildlife and bird photography. Users highlight the internal zoom design, which keeps the lens sealed and balanced, and note that while it is heavy, it is manageable with a monopod or tripod. A few reviewers mention issues with weight, low-light performance, and occasional quality control problems, but the overall sentiment is highly positive, with many calling it great value for the price.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Internal zoom design
  • Great value for money
  • Excellent for wildlife and birds
Cons
  • Heavy weight
  • Slow aperture for low light
  • Large size
  • Tripod or monopod recommended
  • Occasional quality control issues
👍 Image quality 45
👍 Autofocus performance 30
🤔 Weight and portability 35
👍 Value for money 20
👍 Build quality 25
👎 Low light performance 10

Scores

Budget
Canon
90
Sony
58
Travel
Canon
85
Sony
57
Street
Canon
81
Sony
43
Portrait
Canon
80
Sony
36
Wildlife Sports
Canon
78
Sony
55
Video Cinema
Canon
77
Sony
45
Landscape
Canon
74
Sony
69
Professional
Canon
68
Sony
48
Macro
Canon
62
Sony
50

Specifications

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STMSony G 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min55 mm200 mm
Focal Length Max250 mm600 mm
Elements1524
Groups1217
Aspherical Elements01★
ED Elements15★
CoatingSuper Spectra coatingNano AR Coating and Fluorine Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/4f/36
Min Aperture4-5.65.6-6.3
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades711★
Build
MountCanon EF-SSony E
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.38 kg★2.11 kg
Filter Thread58 mm95 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTM★Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave AF Motor
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance850 mm★2.40 m
Max Magnification0.29x0.66x★

Pros & Cons

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

  • Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong versatility (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Below average macro (31st percentile)

Sony G 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

  • Strong optical (99th percentile)99th %ile
  • Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
  • Strong versatility (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
  • Below average aperture (3rd percentile)3rd %ile
  • Below average bokeh (9th percentile)9th %ile
  • Below average build (11th percentile)11th %ile
  • Below average macro (29th percentile)

Pricing

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Sony G 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

No current pricing available

Verdict

★ Winner: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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