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

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

Canon
86 Overall Score
vs
Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm

Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm

Sirui
67 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

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

Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm

85 out of 100 high confidence 48 reviews

The Sirui Sniper series lenses are widely praised for their outstanding value for money, delivering solid build quality and impressive image results at a budget-friendly price. Users highlight the fast f/1.2 aperture for excellent low-light performance and beautiful bokeh, as well as reliable autofocus for both photo and video work. However, some reviewers note that sharpness is not optimal wide open and that chromatic aberration can be noticeable. A few users reported autofocus inconsistencies in demanding situations, and one review mentioned a non-functional lens mount. Overall, this lens series is highly recommended for APS-C shooters seeking a cinematic look without the high cost, though minor optical and operational compromises exist.

Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Bright f/1.2 aperture
  • Good build quality
  • Reliable autofocus
  • Beautiful bokeh
Cons
  • Soft wide open at f/1.2
  • Noticeable chromatic aberration
  • Autofocus inconsistencies in demanding situations
  • Heavy weight for some models
  • Non-functional lens mount reported
👍 Value for money 25
👍 Build quality 18
🤔 Autofocus performance 22
🤔 Image sharpness 20
👍 Bokeh 16
👍 Low light performance 15

Scores

Budget
Canon
90
Sirui
61
Travel
Canon
85
Sirui
51
Street
Canon
81
Sirui
61
Portrait
Canon
80
Sirui
58
Wildlife Sports
Canon
78
Sirui
49
Video Cinema
Canon
77
Sirui
65
Landscape
Canon
74
Sirui
51
Professional
Canon
68
Sirui
57
Macro
Canon
62
Sirui
64

Specifications

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STMSirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min55 mm23 mm
Focal Length Max250 mm23 mm
Elements1512
Groups1211
Aspherical Elements0★—
ED Elements1★—
CoatingSuper Spectra coatinghigh refractive elements
Aperture
Max Aperturef/4f/16
Min Aperture4-5.6f/1.2
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades711★
Build
MountCanon EF-SFujifilm X
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weather Sealed✗—
Weight0.38 kg★0.38 kg
Filter Thread58 mm58 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTMSTM
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance850 mm300 mm★
Max Magnification0.29x★—

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)

Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm

  • Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Strong macro (69th percentile)
  • Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Pricing

Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm is MX$2,307 cheaper (1.4x less).

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM0.011score per dollar
vs
Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm0.013score per dollar

Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm offers 1.2x better value for money

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

Sirui Sniper 23mm f/1.2 23mm

Verdict

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

Scores 86 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.

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

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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