Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Pentax DA 21987 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)
Pentax DA 21987 35mm
This Pentax 35mm f/2.4 lens is widely praised for its sharpness, color rendition, and value for money. Users consistently note that it outperforms its price point, with many calling it a bargain and a great walk-around lens. The main criticisms are the plastic build and mount, lack of a lens hood, and limited manual focus control, but these are often seen as acceptable trade-offs for the price. Overall, it's highly recommended for Pentax DSLR users seeking an affordable prime.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Excellent value for money
- Compact and lightweight
- Good color rendition
- Fast autofocus
Cons
- Plastic build and mount
- No lens hood included
- Limited manual focus control
- No aperture ring
- Not weather-sealed
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Pentax DA 21987 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 6 |
| Groups | 12 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 1★ |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | PENTAX Super Protect (SP) coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/2.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | 6 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg | 0.13 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm | 300 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x★ | 0.17x |
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)
Pentax DA 21987 35mm
- Strong build (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 1.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.
