Product Reviews
Great Value for Starter Zoom
- January 14, 2011
- By: Matt
This lens is the sister lens to the 18-55mm IS lens that comes with most of Canon's lower-end dSLRs. Together, they provide an extremely wide zoom range - more than enough for beginning or casual photographers.
So why should you buy this lens? Well, the Image Stabilization is the biggest selling feature, after it's very nice 250mm range. It really does give you a stop or two (sometimes three) extra when you're shooting handheld - which is important at these focal lengths.
The build quality feels a tiny bit better than the kit lens - plastic, but solid. It's not rugged by any stretch, but the attention to detail is great and it doesn't feel cheap or loose.
The aperture range of this lens is to be expected at this cost. At 250mm you're looking at f/5.6, so you won't be shooting much indoors at that length, even with IS on.
That said, with IS you can do a lot with this lens, especially out doors or with flash. It is fairly sharp (seems sharper than the kit lens overall), and the zoom range allows you to frame some interesting shots you just wouldn't get otherwise.
I like this lens better than the 70-300mm, especially for owners of the kit lens. Why? The 55-250mm removes the gap from 55-70mm, and at 55mm, it's almost a great walk-around lens. I often take my camera out with just my 50mm 1.8 attached, so 55mm isn't that far off.
Also, for the price, this lens can't be beat. Unless you'll really miss the extra zoom range, I would buy this over any of the 70-300mm models (IS and especially non-IS).
I purchased this lens for quite cheap when I bought my Canon 60D. It was under $200 as part of a kit, and for me it was a no-brainer. It gives me extra reach when I needed, and those instances are few and far between, so I don't feel that I need to blow a bunch of money a long-range zoom for what I do.
At regular price, it still represents value, though I would suggest this more for people who are buying camera kits - adding it to the kit should knock a bit of cash off. If not, ask nicely. :)
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