Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Panasonic LUMIX G Vario H-FS35100K 100mm
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 G Vario H-FS35100K 100mm
This Panasonic 35-100mm f/4-5.6 lens is widely praised for its incredibly compact size and light weight, making it an ideal travel companion for Micro Four Thirds cameras like the GM5 and GX85. Users consistently report excellent sharpness and image quality for its price point, though many note the slow f/4-5.6 aperture limits low-light performance. The lens pairs perfectly with the 12-32mm kit lens for a versatile, pocketable setup, but some users mention a stiff zoom ring and compatibility quirks with non-Lumix bodies.
Pros
- Extremely compact and lightweight
- Excellent sharpness and image quality
- Great value for the price
- Perfect travel companion
- Pairs well with 12-32mm kit lens
Cons
- Slow aperture limits low-light performance
- Stiff zoom ring
- No optical stabilization on some bodies
- AF can be slow and struggles close-up
- MF ring disabled in AF mode
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Panasonic LUMIX G Vario H-FS35100K 100mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 100 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 12 |
| Groups | 12 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 1★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | MEGA O.I.S. |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.38 kg | 0.14 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 46 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Stepping AF motor |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm★ | 900 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:9★ |
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 G Vario H-FS35100K 100mm
- Strong build (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 1.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
