Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Canon
85 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon
68 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 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
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Budget
Landscape
Travel
Street
Portrait
Wildlife Sports
Video Cinema
Professional
Macro
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 12 |
| Groups | 12 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | fluorine-coated front element |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg | 0.33 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM | STM |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.24x |
Pros & Cons
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong versatility (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average macro (33rd percentile)
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong versatility (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong build (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average aperture (21st percentile)
- Below average bokeh (24th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Winner: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Scores 85 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 1 of 22 specs.
