Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
What Buyers Say
Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
The Pentax FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and solid metal build. Users love it for portraits and low-light photography, often calling it a must-have for Pentax shooters. Some note quirks like screw-drive autofocus noise and occasional fringing wide open, but these are minor compared to the overall image quality. A few mention the lack of a lens hood and that it's best suited for full-frame cameras.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Solid metal build
- Compact and lightweight
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Screw-drive autofocus noise
- Fringing wide open
- No lens hood included
- Not ideal on APS-C
- Occasional focus miss in low light
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)
Scores
Specifications
| Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm | Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 43 mm | 55 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 43 mm | 250 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 15 |
| Groups | 6 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 0 |
| ED Elements | 0 | 1★ |
| Coating | SMC coating | Super Spectra coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.9 | 4-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Canon EF-S |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.15 kg★ | 0.38 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm★ | 850 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:8★ | 0.29x |
Pros & Cons
Pentax FA Limited HD Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited 43mm
- Strong build (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Below average bokeh (20th percentile)20th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
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)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 5.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
