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CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
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Product summary
The good: Lightweight and compact; affordably priced; very usable manual focus capability; optical image stabilization for sharper handheld photos at slow shutter speeds.
The bad: All-plastic construction, which is less durable than metal; sharpness falls off at 250mm where it is likely to see a lot of use.
The bottom line: A lightweight, compact design coupled with its stabilized 400mm-equivalent focal length zoom and affordable price make the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS a versatile lens for entry-level shooters and amateurs on a budget.
Specifications: Weight: 13.8 oz See full specs
Price range: $249.92 - $329.99
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 06/27/2008
- Released on: 08/20/2007
Available for less than $300, the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS is a lightweight, affordable first or second lens to complement your entry-level or midrange digital SLR. With its 400mm-equivalent focal length, you get the reach and angle of view desirable for shooting portraits and sports, or just to bring the scenes in closer, with the image stabilization essential to keep those long telephoto shots from blurring from camera shake.
Design
• Measures 4.3 inches long with a 2.8 inch diameter and accepts 58mm screw-on filters.
• The all-plastic construction of the lens barrel and mount make the lens lightweight (13.8 ounces) for its zoom range, but better-built lenses have a metal lens mount and even a metal lens barrel for durability.
• Variable maximum aperture from f4 to f5.6, and a variable minimum aperture from f22 to f32. At 55mm it's from f4 to f22; at 250mm, from f5.6 to f32.
• Closest focus is 43.2 inches, though that remains constant throughout the zoom range.
Features
• Broad zoom range: 35mm-equivalent of 84mm to 400mm.
• Compatible with all Canon EF-S digital camera bodies, such as the EOS Rebel XSi and the EOS 40D, but won't fit on the EOS 1D or 1Ds series.
• Canon's longest EF-S lens.
• Optical image stabilization for sharper handheld photos at slow shutter speeds, especially in low light. The IS system compensates in real time for shake and vibration with no degradation to the image.
• One IS mode with automatic panning detection; this automatically turns off the IS in either the horizontal or vertical direction when following moving subjects.
• Large, easy-to-read zoom markings at 55mm, 70mm, 100mm, 135mm, 200mm, and 250mm.
• Ships with front and rear lens caps. There's an optional lens hood, the ET-60 ($29.00). We think lens hoods are a sound investment.
• Designed specifically for Canon digital camera bodies, it incorporates one of Canon's UD (ultralow dispersion) lens elements to reduce fringing and improve contrast.
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