Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Sigma Art 135mm f/1.4 DG Art 135mm
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 135mm f/1.4 DG Art 135mm
Users are overwhelmingly positive about this Sigma 135mm f/1.4 Art lens, praising its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and performance for sports photography. A few note it is slightly heavy and one mentions muted colors and focus hunting in low light, but overall it is considered a top-tier lens.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful creamy bokeh
- Great for sports photography
- Brighter than advertised
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Slightly heavy
- Muted colors in raw files
- Focus hunting in low light
- Less contrasty than competitors
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Sigma Art 135mm f/1.4 DG Art 135mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 135 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 17 |
| Groups | 12 | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Water & Oil-Repellent Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 13★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 1.43 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 105 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | HLA-Driven High-Speed AF Motor |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm★ | 1.10 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:6.9★ |
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)
Sigma Art 135mm f/1.4 DG Art 135mm
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average build (18th percentile)18th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 11.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
