Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Canon
86 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 28mm

Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 28mm

Nikon
66 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 28-75mm f/2.8 28mm

78 out of 100 high confidence 54 reviews

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent value, sharpness, and fast f/2.8 aperture, making it a popular choice for portraits, events, and general photography. Many users find it a great budget alternative to the more expensive 24-70mm f/2.8 S, noting only minor differences in image quality. However, some reviewers report issues with autofocus reliability, softness at wide apertures, and noticeable vignetting, which can be a concern for professional work. Overall, it is seen as a solid, affordable lens for enthusiasts and those new to the Z system.

Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fast f/2.8 aperture
  • Lightweight and balanced
  • Great for portraits and events
Cons
  • Autofocus reliability issues
  • Softness at wide apertures
  • Noticeable vignetting
  • Not as sharp as S-line lenses
  • Build quality feels cheaper
👍 Value for money 12
🤔 Image sharpness 10
🤔 Autofocus performance 8
🤔 Build quality 7
👎 Vignetting 5
👍 Bokeh 4

Scores

Budget
Canon
90
Nikon
68
Travel
Canon
85
Nikon
66
Street
Canon
81
Nikon
57
Portrait
Canon
80
Nikon
49
Wildlife Sports
Canon
78
Nikon
61
Video Cinema
Canon
77
Nikon
59
Macro
Canon
62
Nikon
74
Landscape
Canon
74
Nikon
72
Professional
Canon
68
Nikon
68

Specifications

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STMNikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 28mm
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min55 mm28 mm
Focal Length Max250 mm75 mm
Elements1515
Groups1212
Aspherical Elements03★
ED Elements12★
CoatingSuper Spectra coatingantifouling coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/4f/22
Min Aperture4-5.6f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountCanon EF-SNikon Z
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✗✓★
Weight0.38 kg★0.56 kg
Filter Thread58 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTM★Stepping Motor
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance850 mm190 mm★
Max Magnification0.29x1:2.94★

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)

Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 28mm

  • Strong optical (89th percentile)89th %ile
  • Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Strong macro (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Pricing

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 28mm

No current pricing available

Verdict

★ Winner: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

Scores 86 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Better at:

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 28mm Better at:

Macro

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