Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
OM System M.ZUIKO DIGITAL V335930BW000 150-600mm
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)
OM System M.ZUIKO DIGITAL V335930BW000 150-600mm
This super-telephoto zoom lens is praised for its exceptional sharpness and background blur, rivaling even prime lenses like the 300mm f4. Users love it for wildlife photography, noting it delivers impressive bokeh at 600mm and great value for its reach. However, the lens is heavy, bulky, and poorly balanced on modern M4/3 bodies, with an awkward I/S switch that can accidentally turn off. Despite these ergonomic drawbacks, most reviewers consider it a top all-around choice for wildlife, especially at its price point.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Great background blur/bokeh
- Excellent for wildlife
- Good value for reach
- Impressive at 600mm
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Poor balance on M4/3 bodies
- Awkward I/S switch placement
- Too long at short end (300mm equiv)
- Requires high shutter speed
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | OM System M.ZUIKO DIGITAL V335930BW000 150-600mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 150 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 600 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 25 |
| Groups | 12 | 15 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 0 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 6★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/6.3 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 5.0-6.3 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 2.06 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 95 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 7 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 560 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 0.7x★ |
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)
OM System M.ZUIKO DIGITAL V335930BW000 150-600mm
- Strong stabilization (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong optical (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong versatility (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong social proof (68th percentile)
- Below average build (11th percentile)11th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.