Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
What Buyers Say
Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount
The Sony/Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 FE lens is praised for its exceptional optical quality, delivering tack-sharp images with smooth bokeh and minimal chromatic aberration. Users love it for wedding and portrait photography, but note it is very large and heavy for a mirrorless lens, making it less ideal for casual walk-around use. The build quality is rock-solid, and the aperture ring with de-click option is a nice bonus, though the price is high and the lens is specialized.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness wide open
- Smooth and pleasing bokeh
- Minimal chromatic aberration and distortion
- Rock-solid build quality
- Aperture ring with de-click option
Cons
- Very large and heavy for mirrorless
- Expensive price point
- Not ideal for casual walk-around use
- Focus-by-wire system
- Heavy for long carry
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)
Scores
Specifications
| Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount | Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 35 mm | 55 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 250 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 15 |
| Groups | 10 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2★ | 0 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating | Super Spectra coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | 4-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF-S |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.52 kg | 0.38 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | SSM | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 35 mm★ | 850 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.23x | 0.29x★ |
Pros & Cons
Sony FE Distagon T-Star 35mm f/1.4 ZA Full-Frame E-Mount
- Strong bokeh (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong macro (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
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 (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average macro (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 2.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.
