Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Canon
84 Overall Score
vs
Tamron AFA084S700
Tamron
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
Tamron AFA084S700
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Budget
Travel
Street
Portrait
Wildlife Sports
Video Cinema
Landscape
Macro
Professional
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Tamron AFA084S700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 20 mm |
| Elements | 15 | — |
| Groups | 12 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C★ | — |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.57 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | — |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 180 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 (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average macro (32nd percentile)
Tamron AFA084S700
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong macro (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong bokeh (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Below average build (19th percentile)19th %ile
Pricing
Verdict
Winner: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Scores 84 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.
