Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Sony FE SEL2870 28-70mm
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)
Sony FE SEL2870 28-70mm
The Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS kit lens is widely praised as an excellent value for money, offering surprisingly sharp images, silent autofocus, and a compact, lightweight build. Many users find it more than adequate for everyday photography, especially when stopped down, though it struggles in low light and exhibits softness at the wide end. A recurring complaint is significant flare and washed-out colors in bright conditions, and some feel it doesn't fully exploit the camera's sensor. Overall, it's seen as a great starter or travel lens, but not a replacement for higher-end optics.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Surprisingly sharp image quality
- Compact and lightweight design
- Silent and fast autofocus
- Dust and moisture resistant
Cons
- Soft corners at 28mm wide end
- Significant flare in bright light
- Washed-out colors in sunlight
- Slow aperture limits low-light use
- Not sharp enough for high-res sensors
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Sony FE SEL2870 28-70mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 70 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 9 |
| Groups | 12 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Multi-Layered Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | 22-36★ |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg | 0.29 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Linear Autofocus Motor |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.19x |
Pros & Cons
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong versatility (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average macro (32nd percentile)
Sony FE SEL2870 28-70mm
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong stabilization (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong versatility (77th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 84 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.
