Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
A UD glass element and STM autofocus motor combine with optical image stabilization in a 55-250mm telephoto zoom, delivering sharp results for Canon APS-C DSLRs. Its lightweight, plastic build and EF-S mount make it an affordable, portable telephoto option, though it cannot be used on full-frame bodies. Budget-conscious hobbyists and portrait shooters get solid reach and steady handheld shots, but macro capabilities are notably limited.
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q1 2024100/100
Buyers in Q1 2024 praised the lens as high-quality, perfect for beginners, and reliable, with many noting it exceeded expectations.
- Great quality and performance for the price, often exceeding expectations.
- Ideal for beginner photographers and intermediate users with a Canon Rebel.
- Fast shipping and lens condition like new even when refurbished.
- Reliable performance, loved for livestream and general photography.
- Q4 202392/100
Buyers praised the lens for clear images, zoom quality, and stabilization. A few noted average build and somewhat soft sharpness for the price.
- Sharp images and clear quality even at full zoom.
- Stabilization mode improves clarity and focus.
- Great value for money, highly recommended.
- Lens is not the sharpest and feels plastic-built for the price.
- Q3 2023100/100
Buyers praise the lens's sharpness, easy use, and value. It is highly recommended for beginners and as a replacement.
- Sharp photos, crisp and clear even at distance
- Great value for the price, good budget telephoto
- Quick autofocus, easy to use, suits beginners
- Reliable replacement for a failed original lens
- Q2 202394/100
Buyers in Q2 2023 were extremely positive, praising the lens as great, easy to use, and perfect for everyday photography.
- Lens described as great, easy to use, and a valuable addition.
- Versatile for everyday picture taking with useful telephoto range.
- Auto focus and electronic focusing function work well.
- Easy to attach and focus, making it a frequently used lens.
- Q1 202388/100
Buyers praise the lens for excellent photo quality and reliability, though one notes limited zoom range and high price.
- Great image quality and performance for travel and portraits.
- Zoom range too narrow for some; lens doesn't start wide enough.
- Reliable Canon quality; works well as a gift.
- Price is high; buyers wish it were less expensive.
- Q4 202293/100
Buyers praised this telephoto lens as an excellent value for travel, with sharp images, light weight, and effective autofocus/IS. One mentioned disappointment about no offers.
- Excellent value and bargain for the price
- Great for travel, lightweight and stealthy
- Sharp, clear images with good autofocus and IS
- Disappointed at lack of discounts or offers
- Q3 2022100/100
Buyers praised the lens's zoom quality, versatility, and value, recommending it for action shots and vacations.
- Excellent zoom quality and value for the price.
- Versatile focal range ideal for various shooting needs.
- Great for action and sports photography.
- Durable and reliable for long-term use on vacations.
- Q2 202283/100
Buyers praise the lens for sharp, beautiful photos and great value. One reported a crack during mounting.
- Excellent image quality and sharpness.
- Great value for the price.
- Lens cracked during mounting on camera.
- Lightweight, easy to use, recommend.
- Q4 202197/100
Buyers are highly satisfied, praising the lens for sharpness, zoom range, and image stabilization. It is especially recommended for sports, wildlife, and travel photography.
- Excellent zoom range and image quality for sports and wildlife photography
- Image stabilization is effective, allowing handheld use in various conditions
- Zoom ring stiffness mentioned once, but overall handling praised
- Great value and versatile, often used as a single or secondary lens
- Q3 202190/100
Buyers in Q3 2021 praised this lens for its value, image quality, and beginner-friendly design, with quiet autofocus and sharp results.
- Great value for the money, fair price for performance.
- Sharp and clear images, good for close-ups and telephoto.
- Quiet autofocus, good for video, easy to use.
- Well-balanced on camera, comfortable to handle.
- Q2 202188/100
Buyers in Q2 2021 praised this lens as an affordable, versatile telephoto with good image quality and stabilization, though some noted minor quality concerns like a plastic mount and occasional low-light focus issues.
- Affordable price point with excellent value for money (can't beat the price for what it does)
- Great image quality: sharp, clear, crisp photos, especially for nature and wildlife
- Build quality concerns: plastic mounting ring and gold trim strip peeling off
- Autofocus quirks: STM focusing requires awake camera; some low-light focus issues noted
- Q1 202183/100
Buyers praise this lens as a versatile, budget-friendly telephoto for beginners. It delivers clear wildlife and sports photos, though some note indoor sharpness and software bundle age.
- Versatile lens for wildlife, sports, and family photos; great zoom and image stabilization.
- Excellent budget buy for beginners; good value and compatibility with Canon Rebel T8i.
- Sharpness has a sweet spot; indoor and max range clarity require extra effort.
- Included software bundle is outdated; Canon free software is more useful.
- Q4 202085/100
Buyers praised versatility, sharpness, and value for hobbyist photography. Plastic mount and manual focus were minor criticisms.
- Versatile zoom lens for portraits, wildlife, and product photography.
- Excellent sharpness and clarity, especially for long-distance shots.
- Plastic build and mount feel cheap, but acceptable at this price point.
- Manual focus can be fidgety; zoom noise audible in video recordings.
- Q3 202096/100
Buyers are overwhelmingly satisfied, praising the lens's sharp image quality, value for price, and suitability for beginners and wildlife photography.
- Sharp images and good zoom clarity, even at 250mm range.
- Excellent value for the price; often called a great budget lens.
- Great for wildlife, travel, events, and beginners.
- Smooth STM motor, quick auto-focus, and image stabilization.
- Q2 202087/100
Buyers praise the lens for its quiet operation, light weight, good image quality, and value. Some note limited use due to COVID-19.
- Quiet and light autofocus, ideal for travel and nature hikes.
- Good image quality for telephoto shots, sports, and distant subjects.
- Excellent value for the price; many recommend it as a second lens.
- A few buyers unable to fully test lens due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- Q1 2020100/100
Buyers praised the lens as a great beginner upgrade from kit lenses, noting its lightweight design and versatile zoom range for landscape photography.
- Excellent for beginners, great upgrade from 18-55mm kit lens.
- Versatile 55-250mm zoom range, ideal for all-purpose and landscape use.
- Lightweight and easy to carry, simple lens switching.
- AF may struggle depending on subject and distance.
- Q4 201995/100
Buyers praise the lens for its value, light weight, image quality, and versatility for travel and wildlife. High satisfaction with cost versus performance.
- Excellent value for money, great IQ, lightweight, and versatile zoom range.
- Ideal for travel and wildlife, capturing sharp handheld shots in low light.
- Compatible with Canon APS-C cameras; easy to attach and use.
- One user expressed hope the lens holds up under rough use; no defects reported.
- Q3 2019100/100
Buyers praised the lens for ease of use, accurate focus, and excellent picture quality. They also highlighted competitive pricing.
- Lens delivers fantastic picture quality and accurate focus.
- Great value, with competitive pricing and bundled deals.
- Easy to use, especially for travel photography.
- Q2 201993/100
Buyers in Q2 2019 praised the lens for its sharpness, responsiveness, and suitability for beginner/intermediate photographers.
- Sharpness and responsiveness highlighted, especially for nature photos.
- Great value for beginner/intermediate level photographers.
- Exceeded expectations compared to previous lens.
- No quality or defect issues reported in these reviews.
- Q1 201996/100
Buyers praised this refurbished Canon 55-250mm lens as looking new, delivering sharp, clear images, and excellent value for wildlife and astrophotography.
- Lens arrives looking brand new despite being refurbished, with superb fit and finish.
- Sharp, clear images with fast autofocus and image stabilization, ideal for wildlife and moon shots.
- Excellent value for money, often described as a great deal or unbeatable price.
- Quick shipping and positive experiences with Canon's refurbished program and warranty.
- Q4 201887/100
Buyers praised the lens for quality, quiet STM autofocus, and light weight. One called it the best refurbished lens bought.
- High satisfaction with picture quality and value for price.
- STM autofocus system is very quiet and internal focusing avoids front element movement.
- Lightweight build, mostly plastic but not cheap, comfortable for extended use.
- Works well with an adapter on Canon M50 camera, versatile with additional mount.
- Q1 2018100/100
Buyers praised this lens as lightweight, sharp, and versatile for landscapes or wildlife, with effective stabilization and silent autofocus.
- Lightweight and portable; users appreciate the non-bulky design.
- Sharp image quality with minimal chromatic aberration.
- Effective image stabilization for handheld shots at slow speeds.
- Manual focus only works when camera is awake; some have grudge.
- Q1 201787/100
Buyers praised sharpness at telephoto end and fast autofocus; one noted softer edges but overall satisfaction.
- Sharp image quality, especially at long end, noticeably improved over older versions.
- Fast and accurate autofocus with silent motor; great for wildlife and video.
- Lightweight design, good build quality for amateur use; excellent value for price.
- One report of softer picture quality at frame edges; user uncertainty if user error.
- Q4 201696/100
Buyers in Q4 2016 praised the lens for sharpness, affordability, image quality, and refurbished condition. Some noted plastic build and slow speed, but overall deemed it a great value.
- Sharp, light, and affordable performance
- Refurbished lenses look and perform like new
- Plastic construction and slow aperture are trade-offs
- Excellent image stabilization and autofocus
- Q2 2016100/100
All reviews are positive. Buyers praise the lens for sharpness, value, and lightweight design, ideal for wildlife and close-ups.
- Sharp image quality, rivaling L lenses at a fraction of the cost.
- Excellent value for money, especially refurbished or as kit.
- Lightweight and compact, great for hiking and travel.
- Good for close-up and wildlife photography without extra gear.
- Q1 201647/100
Buyers report mint condition and fast delivery, but one user experienced persistent blurry photos beyond 120mm zoom, even after replacement and testing.
- Lens produces blurry, low-quality images at focal lengths over 120mm, even after exchange.
- Lens arrives in mint condition and works well for short-range or stationary shots.
- Free shipping delivers faster than expected, within two business days.
- Lens performs acceptably at shorter focal lengths but fails beyond 120mm zoom.
- Q3 201582/100
Buyers praise this lens for wildlife photography, citing sharpness, compact size, and fast autofocus. Minor issues with vignetting and small aperture at long end are noted.
- Excellent sharpness and image quality, especially from 100-250mm.
- Compact and lightweight design ideal for travel and handheld use.
- Fast and accurate STM autofocus suitable for wildlife photography.
- Some vignetting at max f/5.6 on long end, but correctable.
- Q2 201596/100
Buyers praise the lens for clear photos, fast quiet auto focus, image stabilization, and solid build. It's a great value upgrade from older models.
- Photo quality is much clearer than older 75-300mm lens.
- Fast and quiet auto focus, great for video shooting.
- Image stabilization and quick response for distant shots.
- Light, solidly built, easy to use, excellent value for price.
- Q2 2008100/100
Buyers praise the lens as excellent value, highlighting its low price, effective IS, and good image quality for budget-conscious photographers.
- Excellent value for money, great for budget buyers.
- Image stabilization is a must-have and works well.
- Ideal starter telephoto lens, good combo with kit lens.
- Significant savings compared to other retailers.
Based on 318 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
