Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Sigma EX DG 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye 8mm
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 EX DG 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye 8mm
The Sigma 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye lens is well-liked for its sharpness, color rendition, and unique circular fisheye effect. Users appreciate its ability to simplify handheld panoramic photography, though some note chromatic distortion and noise in dark corners. Compatibility with various Nikon bodies is generally good, but autofocus is not supported on entry-level DSLRs.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Unique circular fisheye effect
- Simplifies handheld panoramic photography
- Good color rendition
- Works with FTZ adapter on Z cameras
Cons
- Chromatic distortion (aurora) around image
- Noise in dark corners
- No autofocus on entry-level Nikon DSLRs
- Not a true full-frame lens (EX not FX)
- Requires manual focus on some bodies
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Sigma EX DG 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye 8mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | fisheye |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 8 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 11 |
| Groups | 12 | 6 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/3.5 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | 6 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.40 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Autofocus (with Nikon Cameras That Have an Autofocus Motor) |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 135 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:4.6★ |
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)
Sigma EX DG 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye 8mm
- Strong macro (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong social proof (71st percentile)
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.
