Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
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)
Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, fast f/1.4 aperture, and beautiful bokeh, making it a favorite for low-light and portrait photography on APS-C cameras. Users consistently highlight its solid build quality and excellent value for money. However, some reviewers report inconsistent autofocus, particularly at longer distances, and occasional chromatic aberration or vignetting wide open. A few copies have exhibited noisy or unreliable AF motors, especially in video mode.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Beautiful bokeh
- Solid build quality
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Inconsistent autofocus at distance
- Chromatic aberration wide open
- Vignetting wide open
- Noisy AF motor in some copies
- Soft corners at f/1.4
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 30 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 30 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 9 |
| Groups | 12 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 5★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg | 0.27 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | HSM |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:7.14★ |
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 (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average macro (32nd percentile)
Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN 30mm
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong build (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 2.7x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 84 overall, wins 4 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.
