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About this item High magnification, compact and lightweight EF-S telephoto zoom lens with Image Stabilization for up to 3.5 equivalent stops of shake correction. Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) standards. Testing performed using EOS 7D at focal length of 250 millimeter (400 millimeter in 35 millimeter equivalence). One UD lens element reduces chromatic aberration throughout the zoom range, for excellent image quality with high resolution and contrast. New six-group zoom system provides a compact design while achieving a maximum magnification of 0.29x at the telephoto end. Minimum focusing distance: 2.79 feet; 0.85 meter (full zoom range). Kit Inlcudes lens, lens cap E-58II, lens dust cap E, instruction book, warranty card
Product Dimensions 4.37 x 2.76 x 2.76 inches Item Weight 13.2 ounces ASIN B00EFILVQU Item model number EF-S55-250ISSTM Batteries 1 A batteries required. Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars Best Sellers Rank #11 in
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer No Date First Available August 19, 2013 Manufacturer Canon Cameras US Country of Origin China
For warranty information about this product, please [PDF ]
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Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 is STM
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Product Dimensions 4.37 x 2.76 x 2.76 inches
Item Weight 13.2 ounces
ASIN B00EFILVQU
Item model number EF-S55-250ISSTM
Batteries 1 A batteries required.
Customer Reviews /* * Fix for UDP-1061. Average customer reviews has a small extra line on hover * https://omni-grok.amazon.com/xref/src/appgroup/websiteTemplates/retail/SoftlinesDetailPageAssets/udp-intl-lock/src/legacy.css?indexName=WebsiteTemplates#40 */ .noUnderline a:hover { text-decoration: none; } .cm-cr-review-stars-spacing-big { margin-top: 1px; } 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,629 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); }); 4.8 out of 5 stars
Best Sellers Rank #11 in SLR Camera Lenses
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer No
Date First Available August 19, 2013
Manufacturer Canon Cameras US
Country of Origin China
About this item High magnification, compact and lightweight EF-S telephoto zoom lens with Image Stabilization for up to 3.5 equivalent stops of shake correction. Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) standards. Testing performed using EOS 7D at focal length of 250 millimeter (400 millimeter in 35 millimeter equivalence). One UD lens element reduces chromatic aberration throughout the zoom range, for excellent image quality with high resolution and contrast. New six-group zoom system provides a compact design while achieving a maximum magnification of 0.29x at the telephoto end. Minimum focusing distance: 2.79 feet; 0.85 meter (full zoom range). Kit Inlcudes lens, lens cap E-58II, lens dust cap E, instruction book, warranty card
Fast and silent lens functions. Improved image stabilization. 55-250Mm focal length. Aperture: 1: 4-5.6. Warranty: one year. 6.7 in. L x 4.6 in. W x 4.3 in. H (1.2 lbs.).
Untitled Document
For photographers and videographers looking to add versatility and range to their lens collection, the new EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS STM telephoto zoom lens is a dream come true. Compact and lightweight with Optical Image Stabilizer for up to 3.5* equivalent stops of shake correction, it extends the camera’s reach significantly, capturing sharp images of far away objects, even when handheld. It features Canon’s amazing STM stepping motor and a newly designed high-speed CPU, rear focus mechanism and improved AF algorithm for high-speed performance, supporting Canon’s Movie Servo AF for smooth, quiet and continuous focus adjustments. The EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS STM lens features one UD lens element that reduces chromatic aberration, helping to achieve excellent image quality with high resolution and contrast. The front element does not rotate, ensuring easy compatibility with accessories like polarizing filters, and full-time manual focus is available even while in AF mode. Enhanced coatings on the lens elements deliver excellent color balance and minimize ghosting and flare, and a 7-blade circular aperture delivers beautiful, soft backgrounds. The EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS STM lens has a compact design thanks to a new six-group zoom system that provides a maximum magnification of 0.29x at the telephoto end and a minimum focusing distance of 2.79 ft./0.85m throughout the zoom range.
* Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) standards. Testing performed using the EOS 7D digital SLR camera at a focal length of 250mm (400mm in 35mm equivalence).
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| Product Dimensions | 4.37 x 2.76 x 2.76 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 13.2 ounces |
| ASIN | B00EFILVQU |
| Item model number | EF-S55-250ISSTM |
| Batteries | 1 A batteries required. |
| Customer Reviews | /* .cm-cr-review-stars-spacing-big { 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,629 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when('A', 'cf').execute(function(A) { 4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #11 in SLR Camera Lenses |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | August 19, 2013 |
| Manufacturer | Canon Cameras US |
| Country of Origin | China |
P.K. FraryP.K. Frary –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sharp and lightweight!
The EF-S 55-250 4-5.6 IS STM is a petite and ultra lightweight 4.5x telezoom aimed at hobbyists and light packers. It’s an EF-S lens and thus compatible only with APS-C (1.6x crop) DSLRs such as Rebels, 70D, 80D, etc.BUILD is light duty and, at a slender 2.8” x 4.4,” similar in size to a typical Micro Four Thirds telezoom. Fit and finish are very good with quality plastics, sturdy switches, smooth turning rings and a wobble-free nested barrel. The weak point is probably the plastic mount.OPTICAL QUALITY: This lens is sharp across the frame and compares well to my EF 70-200 4L IS USM, a four times more expensive lens! Yes, it exhibits slightly more light falloff and flares more easily than the L zoom, but is impressive nonetheless.FOCUS: A rear element focusing group is driven by a stepping motor (STM) and is peppy, accurate and sure-footed on my 70D and 80D. However, it’s less sure-footed on my SL1 in low light due to the lessor AF system of the Rebel (only one cross point). The front element doesn’t rotate or extend during focusing, allowing easy use of polarizing filters.This zoom was designed with video in mind and the STM drive is silky smooth, just the right focus speed and perfect for pulls and movie servo. Focus is silent to camera mics as is the image stabilization (IS). The focus-by-wire manual focus (MF) works without switching out of AF mode: grip and turn the ring with the shutter button half depressed.ZOOM: The zoom ring is large, covered with ribbed rubber, well damped and doesn’t creep. It’s also very smooth when rotated. A nested barrel extends considerably—adding about 2 inches in length–when racked out to 250 mm.IMAGE STABILIZATION: Because this lens is so light, it’s tricky to hold steady compared to my EF 70-200 4L IS USM. Nevertheless, the IS feature insures I almost always get a sharp picture, even three stops below my normal hand held shutter speed at 55mm, e.g., 1/15 sec. At 250mm I can only squeeze out two extra stops, e.g., 1/60 sec. I do a stop or two better with my heavier EF 70-200 4L IS USM due to less bobbing around!LENS HOOD: Use a hood to protect this lens from stray light, doggie noses and raindrops. A hood is not included but the optional Canon
ET-63 Lens Hood
is pricey at 25 shekels.FINAL BLURB: This an ideal telezoom for travel and weekend sports shooters. Considering the cost and performance ratio, this is a truly excellent telezoom. I love the petite size, zoom range, AF speed/smoothness and sharpness of this lens. Coupled with my 80D, it makes a wonderfully versatile, nimble and lightweight travel combo. I feel confident to shoot in most situations and bring back sharp images and videos.
63 people found this helpful
Ruined –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best telephoto zoom under a grand for APS-C Cameras (Canon Rebel, 60/70D, 7D, etc)
Canon has a truly immense selection of telephoto lenses.Under $1000, you have your pick of a number of variants and if you have an APS-C camera (Rebel, 60/70D, 7D, etc)this new EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 STM will give you the best combination of focal range and image quality. It is stunningly sharp throughout the range, incredibly quiet, quick focusing, and the front element is stationary during focusWhat other options do you have that are IMO not as desirable?70-200mm f/4L – Good optics, but lacks Image Stabilization which is key for long telephotos. Focal range starts off a bit too long for APS-C.70-300mm F/4-5.6 IS USM – Good from 70-200, but is soft from 200-300mm and the front lens moves during focus. Also noisy as it MicroUSM. Focal range starts off a bit too long for APS-C.75-300mm f/4-5.6 III – Overall a pretty terrible lens compared to any of the above, stay away from this one55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS – Relatively sharp, though not nearly as good as the new 55-250, has front focusing, and is much slower/noisier in focusing.So overall under $1000 this lens is your best bet. The only disadvantage I can think of is that the mount is plastic instead of metal, though given the light weight of the lens I don’t think that will be too much of an issue over time. Another negative is that the hood (ET-63) is sold separately for $25 and it is all plastic, does not even have felt lining like the inside of most Canon hoods. Overall though, this lens is your best bet under $1k if your camera is APS-C/EF-S mount.
336 people found this helpful
PhotocatPhotocat –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
This lens is much better than the older Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II lens especially on the newer bodies such as the 70D and the 700D. Please be sure to compare the lens you receive with the pictures of the new STM and the old lens so you do not get duped into buying the old lens for the price of the new lens. For example, if you look at the STM version of this lens and look at the first “used” listing by Players Electronics for $265, you can see that the photo they have attached shows the old not the new STM lens. Someone is going to receive the old lens thinking they have received the new lens unless they check carefully. Buyer beware!5-14-14 UpdateI have used this lens for two weeks and am very impressed with the performance. I have even used it for indoor basketball and have gotten clear and focused shots at 250mm. Also some great bird shots. It is sharper than my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens which is better in lower light situations. I highly recommend the Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM lens for beginners or advanced shooters who want to travel light.12-30-15 UpdateThis lens is crazy sharp and the best value of any of the Canon lenses I have and I have mostly L lenses.One of the attached photos was taken with a Canon EF 200mm f/2.8LII Lens and the other with a Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM Lens. Can you tell which one was taken with which lens?The photo on the right was taken with a Canon EF 200mm f/2.8LII Lens and the left photo was taken with a Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM Lens. Both were shot at f.5.6 at 280mm (including 1.4 extnder) and 250mm, respectively and both were taken with a Canon 70D. I love both lenses and as you can see, they perform somewhat similarly at the same aperture.
23 people found this helpful
DanielSnakeDanielSnake –
4.0 out of 5 stars
it was in a very good shape, but it annoy me that the seller …
First let’s review the seller: the product arrived quickly and and well packaged, it was in a very good shape, but it annoy me that the seller said the product was, and I quote: “in mint condition”, but that was ot true, it was in “near mint” condition, so, because that, shame on you seller.Now, lets review that lens itself: the lens was bougth to be used in a canon 40D, the quick answer is, and exellent choice if you want a tele zoom lens for a very veeery cheap priceall the test were done in a canon 40DAutofocus: despite the canon 40D does not have dual pixel auto focus system, the lens is quicker than the USM micro-motor (non USM ring type) lenses like the EF-S 18-55 f3.5 / 5.6 USM (micromotor) IS kit lens (non stm version), the auto focus most of the time (like 90% or more) was accurate, for the price is a very reliable focus system.Zoom: the zoom is very well done, no zoom creep at all, the inner barrel is firmly attached to the outer barrel, is not flimsy like other lenses. for some user the zoom ring may be a little stiff, but i think is ok just as it is, the front element does not rotate when focusing or zooming which is a very good thing, something I really HATE of this lenses is that, does not have internal zooming like the 70-200, i guess i’m asking too much for the priceMount ring: plastic, it does not bother me, but for some people may be an issueConstruction: considering is a VERY cheap lens, I think is well done, it feels solid, plastic solid… nothing near to the 70-200s.. but again, its a very cheap lens, better made than the 18-55 with USM micromotorSharpness: this lens is very sharp, to be a non L lens, it has a great quality-price relationship, totally recomended!, i’m very VERY happy with the quality this lens delivers, is indeed very sharp, I tell you guys, I work in daylight events with this lens!, and no problems at all, but at night… is another story… you will need that extra couple stops of light during night events.Picture quality: very good, no complaints at all.Final thougts: if you are expecting a 70-200 performance…. if you want the absolute best, save some more money and go for an L lens, this lens is great because it is so cheap, and the quality so good for that price, non of my clients have ever said anything negative of the images taken with this piece of equipment, they all are very happy with the results, so am I.
4 people found this helpful
RyanRyan –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great value, good quality
For the price, owners of APS-C sensor Canon cameras really can’t beat this lens. As most reviews mention, you’ll need good light to shoot anything that’s moving – anything below f/8, you won’t get sharp action, and really f/10 is the sweet spot. But as an entry level telephoto, it produces excellent (even outstanding) results. As a bit of a side bonus, it does pretty decent macros all the way out at 250mm.I’ve been using mine for almost a year now. It’s incredibly versatile with it being an 88-400mm equivalent on crop sensors (which is the only place this works – won’t match up with a full frame). I use it for long-throw landscapes, wildlife, macros, you name it. Auto focus is fast and nearly silent, as with all the new STM lenses.Cons: Sharp action shots are off the table in anything less than full light. With experience, you can compensate a bit, but it’s a tough proposition. Also, barrel creep may be a problem over time. After 10 months, mine will slowly extend out on its own when I walk around with it for a while. That’s about the worst thing I can say about this lens.Pros: Excellent sharpness in good light. Fast and easy to use, smooth action. IS will help those with less steady hands. Price is fantastic for what you get. Light. Travels well. Extremely versatile with a lot of reach.
18 people found this helpful
Eva –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent priduct
Product works well
Wigged Out Fat GuyWigged Out Fat Guy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Budget Telephoto!
The telephoto is one of the most important lenses for people that are new to photography. They add long range to your shooting, and are critical for certain types of photos. It can be daunting to choose one though, since there are a lot of them, and they are most certainly not created equally. A beginner might not know enough about lens specs to know why one would be better than another, or why one cost 300 USD and another 1800 USD. This review will cover all the usual subjects (pros/cons, advice, comparison/suggestions), but also include some info to help people better understand telephoto lenses.As always I have a lot to say, so let’s get to it!Pros (so many!)1. Sharp – Possibly the most important quality of a lens is its image quality. The clarity in this lens is easily comparable to lenses that are twice its price or higher, at least in the center of the lens. This is largely in part thanks to the single UD element included in the lens (same found in L class lenses). It’s hard to believe that this is a budget lens, since it punches well above its class. There are drawbacks though, which I will cover in the review. As far as IQ though, I will let the images do the rest of the talking there.2. Price – I want to get some info out there; you should probably not pay full retail for this lens. New it list for 300 USD. Even at that price it is still cheaper than just about any comparable lens in this class for its quality of output. However, it’s just too easy to find it for less than that. Here are some of the different ways you can save money on this lens. If you are getting a new camera you can bundle it for an additional 200 USD. If you are ok with second hand, it can often be found used for 100-150 USD, maybe less. There are “white box” and “grey market” versions, usually around 150 USD. “White box” lenses are bundled with new cameras but sometimes are made available separately by sellers, while “grey market” lenses are from sellers outside your specific region; both are typically new-in-box and unused. Refurbs sell for 150 or less (sometimes called renewed on Amazon). Note – How you buy it affects the warranty. Bought new or bundled with a new camera from an authorized dealer is the only way to guarantee the warranty. If that matters to you then that is how you do it. Refurbs usually have at least some warranty (from Canon it’s 1 year, from others maybe only 30 days, maybe more). “White box” or “grey market” versions may or may not be covered (Canon’s discretion, use google for more info). A used lens has no warranty unless offered by the seller (not common). Because of the price being so low I wouldn’t sweat the warranty too much. I personally got mine refurbed from Canon for 130 USD. That is a great deal, and it came with full warranty (but that is a rare price). If you must have a warranty, 300 USD is still a fair price, and is still a bargain compared to pricier models. You might even find it a little less than 300 new, just be sure it is from an authorized dealer and is the retail version if this is the route you want to go.3. Great range of focal lengths – After crop factor this lens becomes 88-400mm effective focal length. (It’s a bit more complicated than that, but I want to keep it simple). This makes it good for some wildlife and nature shooting. Probably doesn’t have the range for what most would consider “birding”, and lenses that do are much more expensive. Birds in the garden though, it should be good. I’ve seen people use it for airshows as well, and I have even used it for outdoor sports as well as a zoo lens (needs good light to work well). I know there are longer reach lenses out there, but not at this price and quality. For fast moving subjects, see the cons section for some advice on how to use the lens best. Note – even though this is a crop only lens, the crop factor of 1.6x still applies to it. That is how I got the 88-400mm effective focal length. I know it can be confusing, as it sounds contrary to how it should be, and I have met more than a few that claim the contrary. In spite of what you may have read/heard, it is true. This is because the way focal length is measured is an industry standard and the size of the sensor is not part of the measurement. Just know that any lens on a crop camera will need crop factor applied to know its 35mm “full frame” equivalent. From there you might have a better idea for how you can use a given lens. It is generally considered a benefit for telephoto lenses, and a hindrance for wide angle lenses.4. Close min focus – 2.79 feet, or .85m for those on metric. This is much better than most lenses in this class, which often have min focus distances closer to 4 feet. This turns the lens into a pseudo macro lens when using it from the closest focus and at full zoom. From the end of the lens you can get to within 2 feet of your subject and still focus normally. This is great for insect photos as well as flowers, or really anything small. Add an extension tube and now it’s even closer with even more magnification! (I recommend Kenko for tubes). The close focus also makes this lens useful for portraits, as you can get close to your subject and zoom in to create some nice compression, though with some focus breathing (it’s not my go to for this, but it can work is the point).5. IS – 3.5 stops of image stabilization is great. For those not in the know, IS is used to counter the effects of hand shake when using a shutter speed that is too slow for the focal length of the lens. The longer the reach, the more pronounced the effect is (look into the reciprocal rule for more info). FYI, crop factor applies here. So when using this at its full reach, you need to use a shutter speed of at least 1/400 sec to avoid shake. If shooting action this isn’t much of an issue, since you will be using fast shutters anyway (probably at least 1/500 sec). Where this helps is for nature shooting. When you get into the shade and are trying to get a butterfly sitting on a leaf you might need to shoot at a much slower speed, which you can now do thanks to IS (potentially 1/30 sec at 250mm). Each full stop doubles the amount of light; 3.5 stops is potentially 12 times more light. This is a HUGE advantage, provided your subject is not moving quickly. IS is also great for video, as it stabilizes your footage, but I am not sure how many would be looking at this lens for video. Just mentioning it for your info.6. Other stuff – Lightweight, much more so than other telephotos (It’s not much bigger than the 18-55mm). STM focus is silent for video, but not all cameras support silent focus. Base models like the T6 or T7 do not, nor do any cameras older than the T4i, but AF works normally otherwise. Rear focusing, so the front element doesn’t rotate during focus, good for polarizing and grad ND filter use (it does rotate slightly while zooming). 7 blade aperture makes 14 point starburst (sweat). 58mm filter thread is common, so filters are fairly well priced and can be shared with other lenses like the 18-55mm, if you are into filters.Cons. Most this is just here for your information. If I remove a star I will explain why, but otherwise things that are part of the listed specs are not worth a star off. It is up to the user to know what they are getting and how to use it.1. Limited variable aperture – The bane of all zoom lenses in the budget class (and even some in the non-budget class), this lens has a variable aperture. What this means is that as you zoom in you lose light through the lens. At 55mm it’s F4, at 100mm F5, and from 155mm and up it is F5.6. So you lose a whole stop of light zooming from the widest angle to the most zoomed angle (a full stop is either double or half as much light). Really only an issue if you are trying to shoot at max aperture and are zooming in and out a lot. If shooting at F5.6 or narrower, it doesn’t change. This is common to lenses like this, so it’s not worth a star off. Telephoto zooms that have a constant aperture (stays the same as you zoom) can cost anywhere from 1000 to 2000 USD or more depending on the lens. So for what this lens cost I think it’s a fair compromise. Also make note that F4-5.6 is not a bright max aperture, so you will want to be in good light while using this lens when shooting moving subjects, as described in the IS section. Again, it’s a compromise that comes with this class of lens.2. STM is a little slow for action – If you want to shoot sports, this lens is not the most ideal, but it’s not useless either. However, you will need to have good light (indoor sports are pretty much a no go), and good technique. What I would do is set the camera to servo focus and high speed continuous shooting. From there, set the AF system to a single point (or a 9pt grid if your camera supports that). Then put the point on your subject and keep the focus engaged until you have a good shot. Using this technique with an SL2 at a youth soccer game I had no trouble getting good keepers. Unfortunately I can’t post those photos; Amazon has oddly strict policies in regards to photos that have children in them. If they ever change that I will get them on here.3. Focus by wire – This only effects manual focusing. It means there is no mechanical connection to the focusing gears from the focus ring. Not a big deal on this lens since I would think most will use it exclusively in AF mode. I only mention it because I don’t know even one tog that prefers focus by wire over mechanical. It’s just not as precise, but it is serviceable. It’s one of the trade-offs of STM focus. Also, as a result, there is no focus window. Not a big deal on this. It does have full time manual, which means you can be in auto and still use the manual focus ring. Just “wake” the camera by activating the focus, and then turn the ring.4. Crop only – This isn’t so much a con as it is just for your information. The most common question I answer is “will this work on my camera”. Here is a list. It works on all Rebel models, all mid-ranges from the 20D to the 90D, and the 7D. It does not work on full frame models (1D, 5D, 6D) so sorry full frame users (for those models look into the EF 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM). For the mirrorless cameras, if you have the adapter that allows the use of EF and EF-S lenses it will work on any mirrorless camera, even the full frame models like the R and RP.5. Other stuff – All plastic design, even the mount. Not a big deal since it’s so light and the mount is made from poly-carbonate (nearly unbreakable). No lens hood is included, and the Canon version is expensive (I suggest Promaster hoods). Barrel extends during zoom, common to this kind of lens. It does rotate slightly during zoom (but not during focus), so don’t set up a polarizer or grad ND until after you set your focal length.ConclusionsWhat a great lens for its price! I’ve heard it referred to as the best telephoto lens for less than 1000 USD and I agree, so long as you are using a crop sensor camera. All the features come together in this perfect storm of price to performance ratio that just can’t be beat in this class, especially if you are considering one of the many options available for 500 USD or less (what I consider budget class). If you are looking to either get your first telephoto lens or upgrade from one that might have come with you camera, then I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest the 55-250mm IS STM for a crop camera, unless you needed something more serious. I did not find any reasons to remove a star from this lens, so 5 stars.Other suggestions/comparisons – as always, I would like to offer some suggestions/comparisons for other lenses you might have seen and/or might be considering. These are all in the under 1000 USD category, which makes them direct competitors to each other. Most are under 500.Vs the EF 75-300mm F4-5.6 USM – This is the most common telephoto lens that gets bundled with new cameras. If you have followed me for long you will know that I do not care for it. The 55-250mm outclasses it in almost all categories except overall reach. The IQ of the 55-250mm is so much better; you can crop in post much more than the 75-300mm is able to do and retain good IQ. As a result, the 50mm advantage really isn’t one. If you have the 75-300mm and are not getting what you need, the 55-250mm STM is just a great investment. It even outperforms the “USM” focus motor the 75-300mm has, since it’s the out of date and cheap version of USM, which is slow and inaccurate. There would be no scenario where I would suggest the 75-300mm. If it’s all you can afford or comes bundled with your camera for almost nothing or free, you can try to make it work. But even the older IS II version of the 55-250mm is a better choice for roughly 100 USD most the time. The 75-300mm in my opinion is the worst lens in the Canon line up, while the 55-250mm IS STM is possibly the best budget class telephoto.Vs the EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS II – Ok, I know this seems like I am talking about the same lens, but I assure you I am not. The IS STM model is the latest version of the 55-250mm, and it has some important upgrades. For one, it has better overall optics and lens coatings, so it has sharper images and better contrast as well as color rendition. It has improved IS, so slower shutter speeds can be used to counteract shake. The older IS II lacks rear focus, so the front element rotates during focus, making filter use more challenging. Focus is even better on the STM model; usually STM is a little slow, but the IS II uses DC micro-motor, which is out of date, slow to focus, less accurate, and overall mediocre. If you don’t have a telephoto lens and are looking for one, then put your money into the IS STM model, especially if you can find one for less than 150 USD. If you need to be really frugal and can find the IS II for 50-100 USD, it’s not so bad for a super budget lens, and would be better than the 75-300mm. For a beginner, it’s a good enough lens to learn with and even get some decent photos, but I would suggest putting that little bit more into the STM model. It’s not much more expensive, but is a better overall lens.Vs the EF 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM – Another great budget class lens, this adds better reach as well as faster focus, with nearly identical IQ (the 55-250mm STM is just a hair sharper). All the same advantages (IS, good IQ, UD element, silent focus), same disadvantage (variable aperture). The 50mm extra reach might not be a big deal unless you do wildlife, in which case it might not be enough depending on what you want to do. The nanoUSM focus has snappy fast speed for action shooting, but is still silent for video. The real drawback here is the price comparison. New, this lens is anywhere from 450-550 USD. That is quite a lot more than the 55-250mm STM, which can be had for hundreds less. I feel like in most cases the 55-250mm is a better value, unless you know you need that additional reach and/or faster focus. I like to call it the best outdoor sports lens for under 1000 USD from Canon, and it can also go on a full frame if that matters to you. For the value, get the 55-250mm. If performance on a budget is more your style, the 70-300mm IS II is a good choice. Note – there is an older version of the 70-300mm, and it’s not really worth the money anymore. It’s about the same price new, and is outclassed by the IS II model in all categories. I wouldn’t even bother with a used one, since it is such an old lens and there is no way of knowing how old any given copy is. The small savings wouldn’t be worth the risk when the IS II model can be had for 450 USD if you wait for a sale price, should that be the lens you want instead of the 55-250mm (which I think is the better value for a crop camera).Vs the EF 70-200mm F4L USM (non-IS model) – Full disclosure; once the 55-250mm IS STM and the 70-300mm IS II proved to be such good performers, I quit suggesting this lens. Not that it is a bad lens, but for 600 USD it cost more than the other two lenses and just doesn’t offer enough at that price anymore. Both the other lenses are cheaper, have IS, longer reach, silent focus, and good IQ. The 70-200mm F4 has great IQ for a lens that was released in the 90’s, has L class build quality, and a constant F4 aperture. Other than that, it really has no practical advantage over the other two lenses. But, for a long time it reigned as the “best bang for the buck” lens, and was many shooters first serious lens. I mention it since I have seen them used for under 300, and I know it works well. For any crop camera, the 55-250mm is still the better option, as it can be had for much less money, produce as good a photo, and has IS.Vs the EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM – the original IS model. Since the release of the mkII version of this lens, the mkI has reduced in price on the used market. Still too expensive new to be a budget lens, but used I’ve started to see them for 600 USD or less. For that price it is a great bargain for a very sharp zoom that has 4 stop IS and a constant aperture. It outclasses the 55-250mm in all categories except overall reach and price. Price is a big factor though; since the F4 IS is 300-450 USD more expensive than the 55-250mm. That could be another lens or maybe two, depending on the lenses. At the same time, it was a 70-200mm that was my first serious lens, and it changed the game for me. Since I am sure this lens will keep coming down in price, I mention it as an option. I would still think it better to get the 55-250mm to learn with, but if you are getting to the point that you are outgrowing budget lenses, a good used copy of the F4 IS would be a good place to move it on up. Warning though, L class lenses are addictive!Keep in mind this is not a review of these other lenses, only a commentary on why I would suggest one over the other. There are many things that can be said about any of them, and not everyone has the same needs or budget. I just want to help people make a good choice for their money.Lastly, if you are a beginner and are not sure of what lenses to select, I am going to put a list here of 4 lenses that I suggest to just about everyone that is getting started learning photography. This is a list for people with a crop sensor camera, as described in the review. Each lens here is highly rated, offers something different to your kit, and is affordable.1. EF 50mm F1.8 STM – After crop this is an 80mm effective lens. Combined with its wide F1.8 aperture it is just about perfect as a portrait lens. Creates the coveted “bokeh” effect, and the low cost vs high performance makes it a lens that just about everyone should have.2. EF-S 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 IS STM – Best wide lens for crop sensor Canon cameras. Widest you can get without spending more than twice the price. Great for landscapes, architecture, real estate, or really anything requiring a wide angle. Fun lens to use.3. EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM – Lens under review. I think I’ve said all I can about why it belongs in your bag!4. EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM – Adds a fast F2.8 aperture in a standard wide lens on a budget. Good general use lens, compact, great for travel, and sharp!That’s all I got! All that is left is to check out the images. Thank you for reading my review. If you found it helpful please remember to hit the helpful button and thanks again!
619 people found this helpful
Justin –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Would highly recommend
Quality product at a more than fair price, backed with a excellent customer service team. I would highly recommend shopping with these guys if your in the market for good affordable camera gear.
Jeffery A. McCracken –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review
Appears to be well made. Won’t know until my daughter opens it for Christmas.
Amazon CustomerDon –
4.0 out of 5 stars
worth the money
good product for the money
Ant.Kal.Lei.MelAnt.Kal.Lei.Mel –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I have nothing negative to say. (uploaded unedited photos)
Picked up this lens on the cheaper selection (used) to save some bucks.Lens were very clean with dust on the outside which was like whatevers to me.I have zero complaints on the picture quality it produces. I am using it on a canon m50 mkii with a viltrox adapter (non speed booster.)All photos were taken hand held.Photos taken:All flowers but yellow one was taken at approximately minimum range @ max focal lengthI even use it for video sometimes very quiet. i dont haer any clicking and focusing on the videos like my other lenses.
3 people found this helpful
dj –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent entry-level zoom lens
The operative words here are “entry-level.” If you have a Canon DSLR, chances are it came with the 18-55mm “kit lens,” which by itself is a fairly sold kit offering, especially for outdoor photography with ample light. The next logical choice is a telephoto lens to reach out and pull in your subject a bit more. The 55-250mm is a logical choice as it is of the same build quality is the 18-55 kit lens, comes with image stabilization and autofocus, and doesn’t break the bank. Canon also deliberately built this lens to pick up where the 18-55mm kit lens left off, so the two together give the user 18-250mm with no overlap, which is where most photography is done. If you’re an amateur photographer looking to explore longer focal lengths this is a good starter. It seems also a widely sold lens, so there are a lot of white box and refurbished options saturating the market, so buying a cheap, lightly used 55-250 is easy to do.Be careful not to set your expectations too high – in fact, keep them on par with the 18-55 kit lens. This lens has a relatively limited aperture for its focal range, and what that means is that you’ll need ample light for clear shooting, or a stable platform from which to shoot (monopod, tripod, etc.). The IS function helps but can’t do all the work. Indoor usage will probably warrant a flash, and I’ve even had my camera tell me to use a full flash with this lens outdoors on a cloudy day. This is due to its limited aperture, which is fine. The rule of thumb I follow is for telephoto, I do not exceed a f-stop number higher than f/4, and for standard and wider lenses, f/2.8. This lens fits that rule at its widest but as you zoom, it will decrease its aperture and require more light or manual tweaking of shutter/ISO settings.Accessories are relatively cheap too – you owe it to yourself to protect the front with a 58mm filter and/or hood, but be advised that finding the right hood might be difficult because this lens extrudes as you torque it through its zoom range, so finding a hood that will work with that might be tricky.The real benefit of this lens is its value. For what you pay, you get a great entry level plastic telephoto lens on par with kit lenses. This will allow the amateur a way to grow in skill and explore more options. I’ve used this lens for portrait work in the 100mm range and it worked well with an old Canon 300D. I’ve even been lucky using this lens on a tripod pointed at a backyard bird bath during sunrise to capture all sorts of birds with pretty good results as far as beginning photography is concerned. Your money can go a long way with this lens.If you can master this lens with an older camera, it will prepare you for moving into more robust equipment. This lens combined with an older camera will give the amateur a lot to learn without spending a wheelbarrow of cash. Keeping your expectations for this lens realistic will help you learn the basics and provide you with the experience to know whether you’re ready to step up to a lens of better build quality and performance. It’s a great extension to your starter kit and highly recommended for beginners.
25 people found this helpful
Susan –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Performance
Works well. Able to get good ckear shots at a variety of distances. Have a different zoom lens but constantly have to change lenses or back way up for close shot. This lens allows me to switch from cloer to farther much easier. Still need to back up if subject is within about 3 ft.
One person found this helpful
ihsan –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great upgrade from your kit lens!
I’ll start this review by saying that I’m _VERY_ new to digital photography, and picked up a Canon Rebel T3 in a very aggressively-priced box set about a month ago. The kit came with the standard 15-50mm non-IS lens, and that only left me happy for about two weeks.I picked this up from a used seller to save a couple bucks, but at the price point, it’s already pretty unbeatable for features in a low-end lens. While the stock kit lens uses an old (and loud, and slow) gear-driven auto-focus system, this one uses a super-fast, whisper-quiet STM system. Though not as cool as the USM setup on Canon’s higher-end units, this is a clear upgrade from what you got in your camera’s box.The zoom is smooth, and so far the pictures have been pretty terrific. I’ve used it more as a macro lens thus far than as a telephoto, but my images have improved significantly as I’ve been able to achieve a finer focus for day-to-day shooting.One thing I have to mention, and it may just be caused by the old-style body of my T3, but there are some distances where it doesn’t seem to be able to figure out what I want it to autofocus on. Since the distances always seem to be about the same, given a specific zoom ratio, and the lens tries to focus one direction, then the other, finally giving up, I am currently attributing this to the lens. It has not been a big issue thus far, as I just adjust the focal length and it will sync in.The non-IS lens produced constantly shaking video when hand-held, and I can’t wait to see how this stabilized lens will do when I get it out into the real world.If you’re looking for a cheap second lens as a newbie (just like I was), you will be very happy with this one. I can’t give it five stars because of the focusing issue, but given the price of the device I feel very satisfied with the purchase.
4 people found this helpful
J. Head –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Zoom Lens
This lens takes very clear pics. The 55mm to 250mm zoom range is very practical.
James B.James B. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
An outstanding lense at a discount cost!
I am relatively new to the DSLR world, so I can’t say that I have a ton of experiences with a ton of different lenses, but I know what my eyes tell me, and this lense takes some fantastic pictures! I have included a photo that shows 3 pictures of the moon and one of the sun that I took with this lense (the reason I was able to take picture of sun is due to how smokey it was from the late summer fires that usually occur, making it possible to look at sun).Just know that the lense is quite large, especially when fully zoomed… so don’t expect to go sneaking around with this lol. Also due to the extra zoom any movement the camera experiences while taking picture is magnified, therefor I would definitely recommend using it with a tripod as much as you can.
9 people found this helpful
RandyVernRandyVern –
5.0 out of 5 stars
For Lunar Photography
Canon EF-S 55-250mm takes good images of the Moon. Together with Kenko TELEPLUS HD DGX 2x Teleconverter and Canon EOS M50 II mirrorless camera, I got good images of the Moon. The autofocus is excellent, it takes sharp images and also has image stabilization. Cropped images dont lose much detail which is a definite plus. With the Canon M50 camera an EF-M adapter is needed, but worth the extra purchase.
9 people found this helpful
Blade –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Muy buen lente
Lo compre para mí Canon R10 y con el adaptador de lente EF a RF funciona super bien. Muy contento con la compra.
Lindsay Auchey –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth it
I am new to photography and I am building my skills. I found the lense is easy to get use and a great addition. I would recommend it.
vjc –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful pictures
I love this lense. It takes beautiful, clear pictures. The stabilizer works great even with my shakey hands. FYI, I was looking for a good sports lense that did well about 200-350 feet so I could get clear outfield shots with some nice details. I read a lot of articles and reviews from professional photographers before choosing this lense. I am very happy with it.
8 people found this helpful
JohnJohn –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
If you only want one lens, make it this one. I got it yesterday and took it out for a test drive. It was an overcast day which can be a challenge for a long lens like this. Every photo I took, whether far off or the lens minimum distance, came out crisp and beautiful. It has good heft to it, which I would expect from a Canon lens, and doesn’t feel cheap. The stabilization seems to work, although I haven’t played with it enough to know since I’ve never owned a lens with SM. Auto focus is fast as I would expect.
3 people found this helpful
Jeniffer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excelencia
Llego en perfecto estado y esta a muy buen precio
Will RWill R –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressed!
I have a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III that came with a camera. I have been very disappointed in it. Lots of chromatic aberration and lack of stabilization. Research suggested this lens as an affordable replacement. I was skeptical, in part because it’s 50mm short of what I had. But my skepticism was replaced with joy. This lens is sharper at 250mm than the other lens at 300mm, even when cropped super tight like this moon picture attached here. No issues with chromatic aberration either (at least that can’t be fixed in Lightroom.. the other lens still has crappy CA even after applying the fix) Very happy!!!
2 people found this helpful
amy english –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strong middle distance zoom lens
Great lens for the price. This has a nice range but won’t get you anything closeup or extremely far away zoomed in. Easy to use and take strong pictures but not your high end lens.
One person found this helpful
aatir –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super Quite for Video
Arrived in time and well packed. I got it through Amazon deal with SL1 camera. Excellent bundle saving offered by Amazon ( Order quickly with Bundle savings of $150, offer till 01 March 2014 on Amazon). Lens is light weight (377g instead of 391g) with advantage of super quite STM motor which is especially helpful in video making.The auto focus is quitter than previous version and also the front element do not rotate when zooming or focusing (helpful for using polarizing filters). This version also have manual focus override function (no need to change between AF and MF switch to do manual focus). Also close focus distance is decreased to 0.85m from 1.1m.Would highly recommend to buy this version over the previous version (IS II version) because of weight, faster autofocus, quite STM technology, manual override function and sharper images(IMO).Do not loose the opportunity to take advantage from Amazon bundle deal for this excellent lens, just order it and you will not regret IMO. Good value of money.
5 people found this helpful
oss –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great lens, better than canon 75-300mm
This lens has amazing pictures quality. The AF works smoothly and doesn’t make noise. The image stabilization is superb. I would prefer this over the canon 75-300mm. The 50mm difference is not a big deal.
One person found this helpful
LilyLily –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great lens! Quiet and fast AF
It came on time and was packed neatly with bubble wrap. Took some test shots with my pets and it was amazing—autofocus was SO quiet and fast that I initially thought it wasn’t focusing(I got used to the auto focusing sound of my kit lens)This is my first lens besides my 18-55 kit lens so I’m still getting the hang of it. Since it’s a telephoto lens camera shake can be an issue even with IS but when I use shutter speed=1/focal length it’s all good. Attached are pics shot handheld
One person found this helpful
Kaycee KimballKaycee Kimball –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great lens for this beginner!
I’m a very much amateur photographer and am loving this lens. There have been one or two instances where I felt like the auto focus wasn’t quite fast enough but that could be a combination of my lack of experience, my camera and the lens. Overall I love the versatility of this lens and the quality of the images.
One person found this helpful
Mike –
4.0 out of 5 stars
still trying it out looks great
Still trying this out, so far it is better than I expected, Very Happy overall. However, it needed a lens cap.
Dr. Lauran Star –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great gift
For the camera lover – this is a great gift
Yi Rong –
5.0 out of 5 stars
will come back again
Gave it a test yesterday, worth the price and really recommend this store.For camera accessories, you really need to think twice before you decide to buy a all bran-new stuff.Sometimes the second-hand stuff tend to be the suitable ones for you.
Doug Bilderback –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super
My girlfriend and I do photography and when we do weddings, she gets the close up shots and I stand back with this lens and get shots as if I were next to her. Also great lens for candid shots. I also use it for my passion, nature photography. Just a well rounded lens.
3 people found this helpful
AustinAustin –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect
This is a perfect lens for all uses. It rarely comes off my M50 (used with the adapter). It’s got great quality at all focal lengths but using it will the APC crop sensor of the m50 it does force you to back up from whatever your taking a picture of. But it’s perfect for portraits and being able to zoom as far as 250mm is absolutely great and the image quality doesn’t suffer one bit. For the price this lens is a must have and will be my go too for years to come.
3 people found this helpful
Mike B. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great lens for the price
Very quick to focus. Sharp picture and quiet. I think I’m really going to like this lens.
One person found this helpful
KJKJ –
5.0 out of 5 stars
All about the light
Image shot at 1/2000 of a second ISO 320 Taken on Canon M3 with EOS-M to EF-S adaptorResults strongly depend on available light, Cloudy overcast days normally produce unusable images, but in full light this lens can produce very nice images. I am done learning this I don’t even go out for sharp images in dull weather anymore with this lens/camera setup, NEEDS LOADS OF LIGHT then comes the good images.
Julie ScholzJulie Scholz –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Im actually very impressed
When i got this i was skeptical on the quality and light gathering ability during low light situations, i tried it out at work and found that this lens goes beyond expectations! As one of our planes were coming up to our hangar i snapped a few shots and chose this one to show you… our plane was moving and was also in a much darker location, this lens picked up just enough light and still had the sharp quality i desired! I could even see my coworkers taxiing the plane and I could identify who they were! Worth the money thus far!
2 people found this helpful
JazminJazmin –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Touchy auto focus, but great zoom.
First, I will say I had a little frustration with the auto focus a few times.. I chalked it up to my own error, but after literally 5 times with switching my settings around, I was not so sure it was me. Thankfully, the next times I used it, it wasn’t much of a problem. Just seemed sort of finicky for me a bit but not a huge deal.. slightly annoying, but it’s not constant.Next, I really did enjoy the zoom and clarity on this! The picture I attached was zoomed in for the edit, but check out that freakin moon. I was so impressed! I had no other issues with this lens other than the focus.
9 people found this helpful
Jack –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy refurbished and save, an excellent consumer grade lens.
Buying this lens as a manufacturer refurbished lens I saved over $140.00. Upon its arrival I inspected it very closely for any flaws in or on the lens as well as the complete exterior. I couldn’t find a single scratch, ding, dent. The lens was free from scratches and I found no fungus or moisture in the lens. Additionally there is a 1 yr manufacturer’s warranty on the lens from the date of purchase.This lens is definitely a consumer grade lens its construction is entirely plastic including the mount. It came with both end caps but no hood, luckily happen to have a petal hood which fits. The STM is flawless not a whisper of noise, it focuses quite fast, and actually produced quite sharp photographs as long as you stay away from the long end of the lens where it loses some of its sharpness. I can only say I was impressed with the sharpness from 70 through 200 mm.
7 people found this helpful
Robert B. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great lens!
From advice from online users forums this lens was recommended over other Canon lenses in the same focal length range. I am so happy I took the advice, this is a great lens!!!!! It exceeded my expectations for the price range!
One person found this helpful
Ggamazon123 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!! Best bang for your buck.
I’m a photo enthusiast and this lens fits my needs well. I like a quiet, lightweight, and sharp lens and enjoy doing portraits, events, stills, and wildlife.The first thing you will notice is there is NO sound when focusing. None of the motor sound when you are focusing on your subject. It’s one of those things where you have to try it to believe it. The image quality is also outstanding for this price point. I used it for a portrait shoot, and it delivered exceptional quality! Better than I was expecting and I was thoroughly impressed by the sharpness. This lens is also lightweight so it won’t feel like you are carrying around a brick after doing a photo shoot for 1-2 hours.I would highly encourage those of you who are beginners, photo enthusiasts, or hobbyists, who are looking for a decent lens without breaking your budget, to buy this lens and the nifty 50mm f/1.8. Gives you the best bang for your buck!
18 people found this helpful
DWN –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best EF-S telephoto option
This is probably the best choice for a telephoto lens on an EF-S camera (or EF-M with an adapter). It’s compact, lightweight, cheap, and produces very good image quality…period. You don’t even need to factor in the value proposition. You would have to spend lot more money to get a lens that is even a little better than this one, and once you step up to full-frame lenses you will incur a significant size and weight penalty along with the increased cost. For a hobbyist shooting mostly in daylight, it’s not worth it. A great lens, at a great price.
Tim –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Bang for you Buck
I got this used for around half the price, and aside from a slightly roughed-up lens cap, it was in basically flawless condition. The autofocus was fast and silent, the image was sharp, and the image stabilization helped cancel out my shaky hands. Overall, it’s better than my old 70-200mm lense in every way, excluding build quality and a dedicated macro focus switch. Very happy with this purchase.
2 people found this helpful
Scott –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not the Top of the Canon Line, But Acceptable for the Price
Certainly not the top of the Canon line, but acceptable for the price.My Canon EFS 17-85mm lens, which came with my EOS 40D, weighs 1 lb, 1.9 ounces. The EFS 55-250mm lens weighs 14.4 ounces. Clearly, the EFS 55-250mm has a lot less glass in it.With my camera on a tripod I took a series of identical photographs with each lens without moving the camera. The photos were all shot at 55mm for each lens in the camera’s auto mode. The 55-250mm lens produced photos that were 2.6Mb each while the 17-55mm shots were 2.3Mb each. This would imply that one lens is getting more detail than the other, however, the shutter speed (in auto) was 1/400 second for the 55-250mm lens and 1/250 for the 17-85mm lens. The 55-250mm shot at f 18 while the 17-85mm lens shot at f 14.The detail for each lens’ photo appeared to be identical when inspected with a magnifying glass.So, what do these figures mean? I’ll leave that up to your interpretation.For the price, I am satisfied.
3 people found this helpful
Willi –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Bang for Telephoto Buck
Pros:Great image quality for great priceGreat walk-around lens & zoom rangeLightweightGreat image stabilizationCons:All plastic – don’t drop it or bang itAuto-focus is accurate but not fast.You need to buy a lens hood.If you are on a budget – choose this ‘STM’ lens instead of the 70-300. Never buy the non STM version, and never buy the 75-300 lol.
2 people found this helpful
Virginia WVirginia W –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic lens for a novice wildlife photographer!
I have been getting more familiar with my DSLR (Canon Rebel T7i) since I purchased it a year ago, and I finally decided that I needed a bit more zoom than my kit lens could handle. The difference is night and day! I honestly wish I had purchased this lens sooner and I’m kicking myself for waiting. I’m just a beginner but I absolutely love the shots that I’ve been able to get with this lens! Now I can safely and effectively capture all the amazing wildlife that I find. If you are a new photographer looking for a lens that can get better zoom than your kit lens, this is a great place to start.
8 people found this helpful
G. SidesG. Sides –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A pleasant surprise!
After reading several rave reviews about this lens, I decided to give it a try. After about a 30 year hiatus from photography, I decided to jump back in purchasing this lens and a Canon EOS 80D.I’m fortunate enough to live on the Alabama Gulf Coast, about 20 minutes away from NAS Pensacola, the home of the US Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, Thr Blue Angels.I shot these photos at one of their practice sessions and was very pleasantly surprised with this lens! The sharpness is as good as I’d read in other reviews. I highly recommend this lens!
2 people found this helpful
Stacia –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good lens for the price
Got this lens to extend the range of my SL2 lens collection. It is sharp, focuses quickly and quietly, and goes nicely with the kit lens to offer a 18-250 range.The biggest issue with the lens is that the aperture is pretty slow. 5 or 5.6 at the majority of the focal range means that the lens really doesn’t do any kind of low-light situations well. It is descent for sports, wildlife, and even some portraits. My only other issues with it are that it is pretty cheap build quality with the nutty amount of telescoping, lack of weather sealing, and generally plastic nature of it. But that is to be expected for a lense of this price. The pros of that are that it is very light and small for its range.Overall, good lens, and I would recommend.
2 people found this helpful
Dan The samsung Man –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great lens
Actually this is the second buy on this lens! Let someone borrow it and they were really impressed with the abilities of the lens!
PhotoBug –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Preliminary Impression: Stellar Enthusiast Lens
Am living away from home for a time, and my 60D is not with me. However, I’ve coupled the 55-250 STM with EOS-M, and this lens simply rocks it. Not only are images steady, well saturated and natural in color, but the lens focuses just as quickly as the EOS-M 18-55mm lens. That’s saying a lot. The EOS-M is a camera that struggles when it comes to autofocus speed, and this lens does better than a couple of other Canon EF-S lenses I’ve used on it with an adapter. It’s light-weight, well-built for a lens in this class, and it focuses swiftly and accurately at all focal lengths.It doesn’t require much stopping down for sharper images, either, which is a real boon. Wiith a max aperture range of F4 to 5.6, it is a relatively slow lens. However, I’ve had a couple of fast (and very expensive) lenses that required stopping down to 5.6 or narrower to get a sharp image. So in my estimation, this one’s not really that much slower than the fast competition.A winner. Birds better be on their best behavior, ’cause I’m out there sneaking shots when they aren’t looking.Happy with my EF-S 55-250mm STM lens. I highly recommend it for the beginner and enthusiast photographer.
53 people found this helpful
Amazon CustomerAmazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review
Overall really good quality pictures and very happy with the product.I personally thought the zoom would be better as I am use to my old Canon PowerShot which had extended zoom built into it.However, you can zoom in on the pictures on your computer and crop them and the image quality stays solid.I love how you can autofocus by tapping on the screen.I am still figuring out the different functions as an amateur photographer, but the different features presented (fish eye, black and white as some) are excellent.I would highly recommend buying this product
One person found this helpful
Mosier Bill –
3.0 out of 5 stars
This is an excellent lens but it arrived without a lens cover
Excellent lens for the money, but it arrived without a lens cover which makes me wonder if it is truly new.
Luna’s Hooman –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Remarkably Quiet… Worth every penny and then some.
I recently dropped an old 70-300mm I’d been using for the past 12 years (ancient, off market, no IS, etc) and needed a replacement.After reading a ton of reviews, I had narrowed my search down between this lens and the 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM. Unfortunately, my finances don’t really allow me to drop $1300+ on a lens so I decided to order this one first and give it a try.I’m very impressed! Surprisingly so for the price of this lens. The photos come out crisp and IS is a huge advantage for me, especially since I shoot the majority of my photos hand-held (as well as occasionally from moving vehicles).It’s remarkably quiet. As in… not just whisper quiet, but I haven’t even heard a whisper. The focus AF is smooth.I only have two complaints really.1) I’m experiencing a bit of vignetting. I don’t have any filters or hoods to create this effect, so it’s definitely the lens. It can be a bit distracting in (and detract from the aesthetics of) certain shots.2) The AF searches a bit sometimes before finding its focal point. Since I do a good deal of shooting from a moving vehicle, this can be a bit of an issue.All in all, though, it is an excellent lens. I haven’t had a chance yet to compare it to the 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM, but when or if I do, I’ll be sure to update my review to include my thoughts on the contrast between the two and if I think the jump in price of nearly 1K feels like it’s worth it.
53 people found this helpful
Walter Chubb –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great shipping,great lens.
Very happy with my purchase. Love the lens and great service. Overal a great experience.
One person found this helpful
WheelinBilly –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great 250 zoom with a great price.
This is a excellent lens to add to your camera. I have the Cannon t7i which I purchased with the 18-135 lens. That is also a really great lens. Quality wise the 135 is better. This zoom 55-250 is a great lens also though. To get a 250 zoom made with the quality of 135 you have to step up a few hundred dollars. In fact I have an older 75-300 that I took out my case and don’t even use anymore. Will probably lay in the box with two other older Cannon lenses I no longer use. For the amateur photographer it’s not worth the money. Unless you plan on being a professional photographer and want a lens to zoom out past the 135 that Cannon has buy this one. Even if you are until you actually become a professional buy this one. Even if you become a professional this lens will do what you need until you are making the big money as some professional’s do. I now have a straight wide angle 50, the 18-135, and this 55- 250. With those three I’m set for any pictures I want to get. And then some. I recommend this lens and this seller.
12 people found this helpful
Clarence M Alton II –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clear
Picture is clear and works well. Hope it last too.
Muhammad akbar –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Good lenses and good results
DaraLynnDaraLynn –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Happy Shutterbug!
Great lens! Took it with me on vacation and was not disappointed. We did a CA road trip from Sacramento up to Eureka on the 101 then down to Monterey on PCH 1. I’m not a professional photographer nor do I play one on TV but I got some excellent pictures (for me) using this lens and highly recommend it to anyone looking to up their game with a great mid-range telephoto lens. I’ve added a couple of pics I took that should give some perspective on what you can expect. For the experienced photographers, I’m sure you’ll get way better results than I did, which is great, because you should get better pics than me. I don’t know what I’m doing. Anyway, the first pic is of the iconic bell tower of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and the second is, obviously, Half Dome in Yosemite. The bell tower pic was taken from the middle of the street while I was stopped at a redlight and the Half Dome pic is from across the valley coming into the park at one of the scenic turnouts. Anyone with basic skills can use this lens with confidence and anyone knowledgeable will take some incredible pics with it.
11 people found this helpful
lush –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Versatile, capable zoom lens for a good price.
Love this lens. Just retired and haven’t had a camera since my Pentax K1000 in the 80s. Easing back into hobby photography with a new Canon Rebel T6. This zoom is light and well balanced. Haven’t really taken it out in the wild, but just shooting a little around the house and neighborhood I’m already impressed. The AF is super quiet and generally quick. In really low light it can take a few seconds to focus, but at f/4.5 that’s acceptable. The IS is great and makes it feel more like f/2.5-3. Loving the digital camera world. I expect this lens to give me lots of clear, focused pics when I really get busy with it. As much as I liked my Pentax which had a zoom with similar specs (but much more weight), this baby should take way better pics than the rolls of fuzzy long shots I took with my K1000. The price was right, shipping was fast and it is easy to use. See ya. The sun is out so I think I’ll go down to the river and snap some moving targets.
3 people found this helpful
Luke EvansLuke Evans –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible value
I ordered a pre-owned unit from Amazon for a respectable discount. Before I had this I used only the 18-55 that came with my rebel t8i. While I appreciated the pictures taken with that lens compared to a smart phone camera, this item all at once made me feel justified in getting something beyond a smart phone for photography. I’m no expert, but even at an amateur skill level this lens produces incredible results compared to the dinky sensors on phones. Thoroughly pleased with my purchase. It makes family outings of all sorts more enjoyable and the clarity of far away subjects is so appreciable.
4 people found this helpful
Jen b.Jen b. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great first telephoto zoom lens
Great first telephoto zoom lens. Clear pictures, IS, good enough AF, and farther reach than you would think.
2 people found this helpful