Pentax HD Pentax-D FA Macro 20320 100mm
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
What Buyers Say
Pentax HD Pentax-D FA Macro 20320 100mm
This Pentax D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 lens receives outstanding reviews for its sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and compact weather-resistant build. Users appreciate the improved autofocus with focus limiting on newer camera bodies, as well as its versatility for macro, portrait, and copy work. A few mention the autofocus is somewhat noisy, but overall it is considered an excellent upgrade over older macro lenses.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Compact and lightweight
- Weather-resistant build
- Improved autofocus with focus limiting
Cons
- Autofocus can be noisy
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
| Pentax HD Pentax-D FA Macro 20320 100mm | Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | macro | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 100 mm | 55 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 100 mm | 250 mm |
| Elements | 10 | 15 |
| Groups | 8 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 0 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | HD coating, Pentax SP (Super Protect) coating | Super Spectra coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/32 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 4-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Canon EF-S |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.35 kg★ | 0.38 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 130 mm★ | 850 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:1★ | 0.29x |
Pros & Cons
Pentax HD Pentax-D FA Macro 20320 100mm
- Strong user sentiment (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong macro (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong build (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
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)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 3.7x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.
