Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Tamron Di A037 17-35mm
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)
Tamron Di A037 17-35mm
The Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 lens is praised for its sharpness, good build quality, and excellent value compared to pricier Canon alternatives. Users highlight its lightweight design and suitability for landscape, architectural, and real estate photography. However, some note issues like lack of vibration control, a loose manual focus ring, and occasional camera crashes with certain bodies. Overall, it's a solid budget-friendly ultrawide zoom with minor drawbacks.
Pros
- Sharp corner to corner
- Excellent value for money
- Lightweight and portable
- Good build quality
- Fast and quiet autofocus
Cons
- No vibration control
- Loose manual focus ring
- Occasional camera crashes with some bodies
- Less vibrant color than primes
- Zoom ring can be stiff
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Tamron Di A037 17-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 17 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 15 | — |
| Groups | 12 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 0★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | fluorine compound |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C★ | — |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.46 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | OSD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 280 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | — |
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)
Tamron Di A037 17-35mm
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Strong versatility (74th percentile)
- Strong macro (72nd percentile)
- Strong aperture (71st percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 1.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 22 specs.
