Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Sony FE SEL35F18F 35mm
What Buyers Say
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)
Sony FE SEL35F18F 35mm
The Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, compact size, and lightweight design, making it an ideal walk-around lens for Sony A7 series cameras. Users consistently highlight its fast and accurate autofocus, natural color rendition, and solid build quality, though some note moderate vignetting and a relatively high price. A few reviewers mention a stiff focus ring or minor build inconsistencies, but overall sentiment is strongly positive, with many calling it a versatile and reliable prime lens.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Compact and lightweight design
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Natural color rendition
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Moderate vignetting
- Relatively high price
- Stiff focus ring on some units
- Build quality inconsistencies on some units
- Long minimum focus distance
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Sony FE SEL35F18F 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 7 |
| Groups | 12 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 1★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | ZEISS T* Anti-Reflective Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg | 0.28 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Linear Autofocus Motor |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 4 stops |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 221 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.24x |
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)
Sony FE SEL35F18F 35mm
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 1.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.
