Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
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)
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
The Pentax DA 16-85mm lens is widely praised for its sharpness, weather sealing, and versatile zoom range, making it a favorite walk-around lens for outdoor and travel photography. Users appreciate the solid build and consistent image quality, though some note slower autofocus in low light and a variable aperture as minor drawbacks. A few isolated reports of inconsistent quality exist, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Weather sealing
- Versatile zoom range (16-85mm)
- Solid build quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Variable aperture (f/3.5-5.6)
- Slow autofocus in low light
- No distance scale on focus ring
- Relatively expensive
- Inconsistent quality control in some units
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 16 |
| Groups | 12 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | HD Coating, SP (Super Protect) Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | 22-38★ |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.49 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | DC |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 350 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.26x |
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)
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong optical (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong build (71st percentile)
- Strong social proof (68th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 3.7x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
