Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Sigma Art 270101 70mm
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)
Sigma Art 270101 70mm
The Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Art macro lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, image quality, and value. Users praise its compact, lightweight design and versatility for macro, portrait, and product photography. While autofocus speed is a common criticism, especially at macro distances, most reviewers find it acceptable given the lens's price and optical performance. Some minor issues include focus hunting, lack of image stabilization, and a firmware bug affecting focus retention.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Great value for money
- Compact and lightweight
- Versatile for macro and portraits
- Beautiful bokeh
Cons
- Slow autofocus
- Focus hunting at macro distances
- No image stabilization
- Lens extends when focusing
- Firmware bug with focus retention
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Sigma Art 270101 70mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | macro |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 70 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 70 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 13 |
| Groups | 12 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Super multi-layer lens coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | L-Mount |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.53 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Coreless DC motor |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 258 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:1★ |
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)
Sigma Art 270101 70mm
- Strong bokeh (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong optical (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong af (78th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 2.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
