Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM

Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM

Canon
79 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III VXD A058 35-150mm

Tamron Di III VXD A058 35-150mm

Tamron
85 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 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

Tamron Di III VXD A058 35-150mm

88 out of 100 high confidence 117 reviews

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 is widely praised as a versatile, all-in-one zoom lens that delivers exceptional sharpness and fast autofocus across its entire range. Many users, including professional event and wedding photographers, have replaced multiple primes or zooms with this single lens, citing its f/2-2.8 aperture and 35-150mm reach as ideal for portraits, sports, and travel. The main drawbacks are its significant weight and size, with some noting it can be tiring for handheld use, and a few isolated complaints about packaging or slow focus for moving subjects. Overall, it is considered a game-changer for those who value convenience and image quality.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness across zoom range
  • Fast and reliable autofocus
  • Versatile 35-150mm focal length
  • Bright f/2-2.8 aperture
  • Excellent build quality
Cons
  • Heavy and bulky
  • No tripod collar included
  • Slow focus for moving subjects
  • Some vignetting at longer focal lengths
  • Packaging issues on delivery
👍 Image quality 35
👍 Autofocus performance 20
👍 Versatility 30
👎 Weight and size 25
👍 Build quality 15
👍 Value for money 10

Scores

Budget
Canon
89
Tamron
88
Portrait
Canon
71
Tamron
88
Macro
Canon
66
Tamron
85
Street
Canon
75
Tamron
72
Landscape
Canon
73
Tamron
75
Video Cinema
Canon
74
Tamron
68
Professional
Canon
65
Tamron
73
Travel
Canon
73
Tamron
65
Wildlife Sports
Canon
69
Tamron
61

Specifications

Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STMTamron Di III VXD A058 35-150mm
Optics
Typetelephotozoom
Focal Length Min55 mm35 mm
Focal Length Max250 mm150 mm
Elements1521
Groups1215
Aspherical Elements03★
ED Elements14★
CoatingSuper Spectra coatingFluorine coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/5.6f/2
Min Aperture4-5.62-2.8
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountCanon EF-SNikon Z
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.38 kg★1.17 kg
Filter Thread58 mm82 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTM★VXD
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance250 mm150 mm★
Max Magnification0.29x1:5.55★

Pros & Cons

Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 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

Tamron Di III VXD A058 35-150mm

  • Strong optical (99th percentile)99th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong aperture (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Below average build (23rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (35th percentile)

Pricing

Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM is ¥167,451 cheaper (3.2x less).

Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM

Tamron Di III VXD A058 35-150mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Tamron Di III VXD A058 35-150mm

Scores 85 overall, wins 4 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM Better at:

StreetTravelVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Tamron Di III VXD A058 35-150mm Better at:

MacroPortraitLandscapeProfessional

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