Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Panasonic LUMIX S S-R70300 70-300mm
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)
Panasonic LUMIX S S-R70300 70-300mm
This Panasonic 70-300mm lens receives mostly positive feedback for its sharpness, build quality, and value for money, especially for sports and wildlife photography. However, several users note that 300mm may be insufficient for distant wildlife, autofocus can struggle in low light, and the lens is heavy and unbalanced on a tripod without a collar. Overall, it's seen as a great starter telephoto zoom for non-professionals.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Good build quality and weather sealing
- Great value for money
- Versatile for sports and wildlife
- Snappy autofocus in good light
Cons
- 300mm insufficient for distant wildlife
- Autofocus struggles in low light
- Heavy and unbalanced on tripod without collar
- No tripod collar included
- Macro performance only okay
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R70300 70-300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 70 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 17 |
| Groups | 12 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 4.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | L-Mount |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.45 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Linear AF Motor |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 5.5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 540 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 0.5x★ |
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)
Panasonic LUMIX S S-R70300 70-300mm
- Strong stabilization (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong optical (74th percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd 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 7 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.
