Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm
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)
AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm
This manual fisheye lens delivers a distinctive circular image with strong distortion that many users love for creative shots like skateboarding videos and travel photos. Build quality is praised as solid for the price, but compatibility issues on Canon mirrorless and full-frame cameras are a notable drawback. Focusing is tricky due to the manual-only design and narrow depth of field at wide apertures. Overall, it's a fun, affordable lens for those who understand its limitations.
Pros
- Solid build quality for the price
- Fun creative fisheye effect
- Compact and portable
- Good value for money
- Sharp image in center
Cons
- Manual focus only, tricky to use
- Compatibility issues with Canon mirrorless
- Small image circle on full-frame cameras
- No autofocus
- Cannot use lens filters
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | fisheye |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 6 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 6 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 6 |
| Groups | 12 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/2 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.38 kg | 0.27 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 200 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | — |
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)
AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm
- Strong bokeh (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong macro (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong build (71st percentile)
- Below average optical (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
AstrHori 6.5mm F2.0 6mm offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 84 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.
