Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Canon
84 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF
Nikon
72 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
Nikon NIKKOR 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Budget
Travel
Portrait
Street
Wildlife Sports
Video Cinema
Macro
Landscape
Professional
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Nikon NIKKOR 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 24 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 15 |
| Groups | 12 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Super Integrated Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.55 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Internal focusing AF system |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | — |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 200 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:2★ |
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 (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average macro (33rd percentile)
Nikon NIKKOR 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF
- Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong versatility (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong macro (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
Verdict
Winner: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Scores 84 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.