fanshang Viltrox Lens 56mm F1.7 STM (X-Mount)

fanshang Viltrox Lens 56mm F1.7 STM (X-Mount)

fanshang
46 Overall Score
vs
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

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

Canon
84 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

fanshang Viltrox Lens 56mm F1.7 STM (X-Mount)

78 out of 100 medium confidence 12 reviews

This Viltrox 56mm f/1.7 lens is widely praised for its outstanding sharpness, compact size, and remarkable value for money. Users consistently highlight the excellent optical performance, especially on higher-megapixel sensors, and appreciate its lightweight design for travel and street photography. The main drawbacks are the audible autofocus noise, which can be heard from a few feet away, and autofocus speed that lags behind native Fuji glass. Overall, it's considered a fantastic budget prime that delivers professional-quality images despite a few minor compromises.

Pros
  • outstanding sharpness
  • compact and lightweight design
  • excellent value for money
  • great bokeh quality
  • good for low light
Cons
  • audible autofocus noise
  • autofocus speed lags behind native glass
  • minimum focus distance of 55cm
  • plastic/resin build may feel cheap
  • minimal controls
👍 Sharpness 5
👍 Value for money 6
👍 Size and weight 7
👎 Autofocus noise 2
🤔 Autofocus speed 3
🤔 Build quality 2

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

Scores

Budget
fanshang
46
Canon
89
Travel
fanshang
45
Canon
81
Street
fanshang
64
Canon
80
Portrait
fanshang
51
Canon
80
Wildlife Sports
fanshang
49
Canon
78
Video Cinema
fanshang
49
Canon
77
Landscape
fanshang
40
Canon
70
Professional
fanshang
48
Canon
67
Macro
fanshang
41
Canon
62

Specifications

fanshang Viltrox Lens 56mm F1.7 STM (X-Mount)Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Optics
Typeprimezoom
Focal Length Min56 mm55 mm
Focal Length Max56 mm250 mm
Elements1115
Groups912
Aspherical Elements—0★
ED Elements4★1
Coating—Super Spectra coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/16f/4
Min Aperturef/1.74-5.6
Constant—✗
Diaphragm Blades9★7
Build
MountFujifilm XCanon EF-S
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed—✗
Weight0.17 kg★0.38 kg
Filter Thread52 mm58 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTMSTM
Stabilization✗✓★
Stabilization Stops—4 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance550 mm★850 mm
Max Magnification0.11x0.29x★

Pros & Cons

fanshang Viltrox Lens 56mm F1.7 STM (X-Mount)

  • Strong build (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Below average macro (30th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
  • 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 (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
  • Below average macro (33rd percentile)

Pricing

fanshang Viltrox Lens 56mm F1.7 STM (X-Mount)

No current pricing available

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

Verdict

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

Scores 84 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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