Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM review

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM represents a marked improvement over its predecessor

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
(Image: © Canon)

Digital Camera World Verdict

With a new and improved optical design and a faster, near-silent autofocus system, the ‘IS STM’ edition of this lens is much improved compared with the original version. Designed for Canon’s APS-C format DSLRs, it’s quite compact and lightweight, yet offers a useful ‘effective’ zoom range of 88-400mm in full-frame terms. All in all, it’s a good telephoto zoom if you like to travel light.

Pros

  • +

    Compact and lightweight

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    Good ‘effective’ telephoto reach

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    3.5-stop image stabilizer

Cons

  • -

    Plastic mounting plate

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    No weather-seals

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    Hood sold separately

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Designed for APS-C format DSLRs, the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM can also be used on both APS-C format and full-frame mirrorless EOS M and EOS R system bodies, via their respective EOS mount adapters. Larger and heavier than the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM, this one has more traditional DSLR-type styling, with physical switches for AF/M focusing modes and stabilization on/off, as well as chunkier rubberized grips for the zoom and focus rings.

Specifications

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.