Canon 2044B002[AB]

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS is a budget telephoto zoom for Canon APS-C DSLRs that delivers 88-400mm equivalent reach in a lightweight 390g body. It's a great value at around CAD 350 for daylight shooting, with decent stabilization and acceptable sharpness in the mid-range. The slow autofocus and soft 250mm performance hold it back for serious telephoto work.

Sharpness is where this lens gets interesting. Our optical score puts it at the 19th percentile, which sounds rough, and honestly it is at the long end. At 250mm wide open at f/5.6, corners get soft and contrast drops. Stop down to f/8 and things improve noticeably, but you're giving up light you probably didn't have to spare. The single UD-glass element helps with chromatic aberration, but it's not a miracle worker. Center sharpness is fine for the price, especially between 55mm and 135mm.

Autofocus lands at the 54th percentile, which is about average for budget telephotos. The DC motor is audible and the front element rotates during focus, so polarizer users will need to re-adjust after locking focus. The image stabilizer is rated for 4 stops of compensation, but our stabilization score puts it at the 36th percentile. It works, it's just not the kind of IS you'll find in Canon's newer STM or USM lenses. For static subjects at moderate shutter speeds, it's a real help. For panning, the automatic panning detection does its job without much fuss.

Stacked against the Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1, the Canon gives up a lot of range and some modern autofocus performance. The Tamron is a full-frame lens with VXD linear motors, which are dramatically faster and quieter than Canon's DC motor. But the Tamron also costs significantly more and is heavier. If you're on a Canon APS-C body, the 55-250mm makes more sense unless you plan to move to full-frame soon.

The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN is a completely different animal. It's a standard zoom with a fast constant aperture, and it's sharper across the board. But it tops out at 50mm, so it's not a telephoto at all. If you need reach, the Canon wins by default. The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is closer in spirit, offering more range on the wide end and better optical performance, but again it's for Sony E-mount. For Canon EF-S shooters, the 55-250mm is basically the default budget telephoto, and it holds that title for a reason.

At CAD 350, the Canon 55-250mm IS is hard to argue with if you're on a budget and already own a Canon APS-C DSLR. You're getting real telephoto reach, image stabilization, and acceptable image quality for less than the price of most prime lenses. The catch is that this is a lens you'll eventually outgrow. If you shoot a lot of telephoto work, you'll start noticing the softness at 250mm and the sluggish autofocus. But as a first telephoto or a travel companion, it's a solid deal. Alternatives like the Tamron 28-300mm or Sony 18-135mm cost more and don't necessarily beat it where it counts for Canon shooters.

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS is one of those lenses that shows up in a lot of beginner kits and for good reason. It's a compact telephoto zoom built for Canon's APS-C DSLRs, giving you an effective 88-400mm reach in 35mm terms. At around CAD 350 on the used market, it's one of the cheapest ways to get real telephoto range without hauling around a massive lens. The 390g weight means you can toss it in a bag and forget it's there until you need it.

Is the Canon 55-250mm good for wildlife or sports? Sort of. The f/4-5.6 aperture is fine in daylight but gets tight fast when the sun drops. The 4-stop image stabilizer helps a lot for handheld shots at the long end, which is where most budget telephotos fall apart. But the autofocus uses a DC motor with a gear-driven front focusing design, and that's the polite way of saying it's not fast and it's not quiet. If you're shooting birds in flight or kids running around a soccer field, you'll feel the lag.

For portraits, this lens scores a 52.4 out of 100 in our database, which is decent but not stellar. The bokeh sits around the 68th percentile, so backgrounds blur acceptably at 250mm if you have some distance between your subject and whatever's behind them. Just don't expect creamy full-frame magic from an APS-C kit zoom.

Skip this lens if you shoot in low light often, need fast autofocus for action or wildlife, or demand sharp corners at full zoom. The f/4-5.6 aperture and DC motor will hold you back. If you're on a Canon APS-C body and want better optical quality, look at the Canon EF-S 55-250mm STM version, which has a much better autofocus motor and improved optics. Full-frame shooters should look elsewhere entirely, since this lens won't mount on their cameras. And if macro work matters to you, this lens scores a 16 out of 100 in our macro testing, so you'll want a dedicated macro lens instead.

Should you buy the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS? If you have a Canon APS-C DSLR and want a cheap telephoto zoom for daylight shooting, yes. It's light, it's stabilized, and it gets you to 400mm equivalent without breaking the bank. The image quality is good enough for social media, prints up to moderate sizes, and casual wildlife or sports photography in good light.

But if you're serious about telephoto work, this lens will frustrate you. The autofocus is slow, the long end is soft, and the aperture closes down fast. You'll be fighting it in anything but bright conditions. For the price, it's a great starter lens. Just know that it's a stepping stone, not a destination.