Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
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)
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 manual lens offers exceptional value for astrophotography and portrait work, delivering sharp images and smooth bokeh at a fraction of the cost of autofocus equivalents. Users praise its center sharpness wide open and excellent performance when stopped down to f/2.8, especially for capturing stars. However, the purely manual focus and aperture can be fiddly, and build quality inconsistencies like a missing hood or accidental aperture ring bumps are noted. Overall, it's a highly recommended budget lens for those comfortable with manual operation.
Pros
- Sharp center wide open
- Smooth bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Fiddly manual aperture ring
- Missing lens hood in some packages
- No autofocus
- Front-heavy with adapter on some cameras
- Accidental aperture ring bumps
Scores
Specifications
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM | Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 250 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 9 |
| Groups | 12 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 1★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating | Ultra Multi-Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | 4-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.38 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 850 mm★ | 1.00 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.29x | 1:9★ |
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)
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Strong build (67th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Pricing
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM offers 1.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 86 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
