Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM review

Ideal for EOS M system cameras, the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is remarkably small for a telephoto zoom

Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
(Image: © Canon)

Digital Camera World Verdict

There’s little point investing in one of Canon’s dinky little EOS M system cameras if you need to hang a big hefty lens off the front. Thankfully this one is amazingly compact and lightweight, yet delivers an impressive 88-320mm ‘effective’ zoom range in full-frame terms. It’s simple to use and boasts speedy stepping motor autofocus plus image stabilization, although downsizing comes at the cost of a modest aperture rating and sharpness could be better.

Pros

  • +

    Fast stepping motor autofocus

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    3.5-stop image stabilization

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    Super-lightweight for a tele zoom

Cons

  • -

    No easy-access mode switches

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    Lacks weather-seals

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    Hood sold separately

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Although the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lacks the retractable design of Canon’s EF-M 11-22mm and 15-45mm wide-angle and standard M-mount zooms, this telephoto of the trio is nevertheless amazingly compact and lightweight, at just 61x87mm and 260g. The upshot is that you can fit a slinky EOS M system body and all three zooms into a really small camera bag, head out into the big wide world with a wonderfully lightweight combo, and be prepared for just about any shooting scenario.

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.