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Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 is II Telephoto Zoom Lens

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,450 ratings

$199.00 with 20 percent savings
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Purchase options and add-ons

Brand Canon
Focal Length Description 55-250
Lens Type Telephoto
Compatible Mountings Canon EF-S
Camera Lens Description 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II

About this item

  • Canon EF-S Mount (not compatible with full sensor DSLRs)
  • Super Spectra coatings also help ensure accurate colour balance and sharp, high-contrast results
  • Ideal for emphasising subjects shot against distracting backgrounds

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Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 is II Telephoto Zoom Lens
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 is II Telephoto Zoom Lens
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Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 is II Telephoto Zoom Lens


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What's in the box

  • Lens
  • Product Description

    From the Manufacturer

    Incorporating Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer technology, this Canon 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens captures long distance, low-light shots far better than many comparable lenses, helping you photograph the far-off action of athletes or zoom in for an intimate portrait with a blurred background. The high-zoom-ratio lens is equivalent to a focal length of 88-400mm in the 35mm format (when used on Canon EOS cameras compatible with EF-S lenses). More significantly, the image stabilizer effect creates an equivalent shutter speed of roughly four stops faster than the same size lens without an image stabilizer. In other words, if the slowest shutter speed you can hold a 250mm lens steadily is normally 1/250th of a second, this Canon lens will let you hand-hold shutter speeds as slow as 1/15th of a second. The lens also boasts a UD-glass lens element to correct chromatic aberration to create excellent image quality throughout the zoom range. Delivering an excellent performance at an affordable price for all photographers, the 55-250mm lens carries a one-year warranty.

    Specifications

    • Focal length: 55-250mm
    • Maximum aperture: f/4 to f/5.6
    • Lens construction: 12 elements in 10 groups, including one UD-glass element
    • Diagonal angle of view: 27 degrees (at 50 feet) to 6 degrees (at 15 feet), with APS-C image sensors
    • Focus adjustment: DC motor, gear-driven (front focusing design)
    • Closest focusing distance: 3.6 feet (0.31x maximum close-up magnification)
    • Filter size: 58mm
    • Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter and 4.3 inches long
    • Weight: 13.8 ounces
    • Warranty: 1 year This telephoto zoom lens is designed with Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer technology while retaining compactness and lightness, in response to demands of photographers. This high zoom ratio lens is equivalent to a focal length of 88-400mm in the 35mm format (when used on Canon EOS cameras compatible with EF-S lenses), and the image stabilizer effect equivalent to a shutter speed about 4 stops faster than the same size lens without Image Stabilizer. In other words, if the slowest shutter speed you could formerly hold a 250mm lens steadily was 1/250th of a second, with Canon's 4-stop stabilization correction, you could hand-hold at shutter speeds as slow as 1/15th of a second. It also uses a UD-glass lens element to correct chromatic aberration for excellent image quality throughout the zoom range. This new EF-S telephoto lens with great features delivers excellent performance at an affordable price for all photographers.

    Customer reviews

    4.6 out of 5 stars
    3,450 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers like the picture quality, value for money, and performance of the camera lenses. They mention it's well worth the price, works wonderfully for getting good pictures, and has a fast autofocus. Some also appreciate the zoom capability.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    808 customers mention "Picture quality"775 positive33 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the picture quality of the camera lens. They mention it's easy to bring the depth of field down to a shallow depth. Customers also appreciate the crisp indoor shots and nice bokeh. They say the photos almost look fake because of the detail. The 55-250 is great for capturing faces up close and amazing close-ups of plants.

    "...In summary, this is an excellent second lens to complement a short zoom or awalk-around lens. Very versatile and a lot of bang for the buck...." Read more

    "...In day time settings, I have consistently gotten clear, sharp shots but have not yet tried shooting kiteboarders, something I enjoy doing...." Read more

    "...In summary: if you want a lens that takes sharp pictures with a nice telephoto range of focal lengths and some great IS, then this is the lens for..." Read more

    "...Bokeh is a pretty nice. Can use as a macro-like lens for photographing flowers and insects...." Read more

    527 customers mention "Value for money"508 positive19 negative

    Customers appreciate the value of the camera lenses. They mention they're well worth the price, solid lenses for the price, and boast great performance for the reasonable price. Some also say it's a decent pick if you can't or don't want to spend much.

    "...walk-around lens. Very versatile and a lot of bang for the buck. In my case,..." Read more

    "...sharp pictures with a nice telephoto range of focal lengths and some great IS, then this is the lens for you." Read more

    "...Pros: Excellent value, especially when purchased on sale or when bundled with a camera body (T3i/600d or T4i/650d)...." Read more

    "5 stars for the image quality considering the price!If you are looking for an inexpensive zoom lens, this is the one for you!..." Read more

    286 customers mention "Works well"264 positive22 negative

    Customers like the performance of the lens. They mention it works well, is reasonably priced, and gives excellent performance for under $300. The results are stunning, clear, and crisp with excellent color. It's small and light, and works wonderfully for getting good pictures.

    "...TheIS on this lens works very well, better compared to my Canon 28-135 IS and even..." Read more

    "...Many required some processing to improve exposure, but the results were very satisfactory because the subjects were sharp...." Read more

    "...Edit: This lens is still performing wonderfully after a year of ownership...." Read more

    "...But the 55-250 gives excellent performance for under $300!..." Read more

    177 customers mention "Autofocus"128 positive49 negative

    Customers like the autofocus of the camera lenses. They mention it's fast, performs well, and has a good focus ring. Some say it can manage the focus with image stabilization even with 1/30s shutter speed. The lens itself usually auto-focuses quietly and well.

    "...The focus is pretty good, but not as fast or sure as USM focus...." Read more

    "...Autofocus is very fast and decisive with this lens.Construction-wise, the lens is still holding up...." Read more

    "...Pros:Weight is decent.Relatively quick to focus.IS works well.Zoom is very smooth and I've not noticed any zoom creep...." Read more

    "...Cons: Auto-focus is not particularly fast, making moving targets (e.g. birds in flight) a challenge...." Read more

    157 customers mention "Zoom capability"130 positive27 negative

    Customers like the zoom capability of the camera lens. They mention it focuses quickly, zooms smoothly, and captures nice, sharp shots. Some say it's a cheap long-range zoom with good quality. The markings are well-marked and the manual focusing is smooth.

    "...The zoom ring feels tight, but not overly so, so there is no zoom creep.- Alternative..." Read more

    "...It has a good zoom range and includes Image Stabilization, but its performance and build quality reflect its price...." Read more

    "...Pros: A very light lens, easy to carry around. The zoom range is pretty nice, and if you have a 18-55 kit lens, it complements pretty well, on a..." Read more

    "...IS works well.Zoom is very smooth and I've not noticed any zoom creep.For a lower-end lens, bokeh is really nice.Cons:..." Read more

    120 customers mention "Image stabilization"114 positive6 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the image stabilization feature of the camera lenses. They mention it protects them from their own shaky hands and works nicely. Some also say the lenses don't wobble or shift at all.

    "...And I really appreciate the image stabilizer. I can't imagine buying a lens without it since 98% of the shooting I do is hand held." Read more

    "...Its light weight and image stabilization (IS) makes hand-held shots easy at long focal length and medium shutter speeds (e.g. 250mm at 1/250)...." Read more

    "...The image stabilization works very well and it doesn't have a noticeable drain on the battery...." Read more

    "...Image Stabilization (IS)The image stabilization is amazing, even at 250mm...." Read more

    106 customers mention "Weight"95 positive11 negative

    Customers like the weight of the camera lens. They mention it's lightweight, built from lightweight plastic, and is a pleasure to carry around. Some say it fits in their pockets and gives awesome images.

    "...However, thetrade-off is that it is also fairly small and light (the small size is also dueto the fact that it is a EF-S lens)...." Read more

    "...Actually I would prefer this construction because it is so much lighter and easier to carry around...." Read more

    "...Its light weight and image stabilization (IS) makes hand-held shots easy at long focal length and medium shutter speeds (e.g. 250mm at 1/250)...." Read more

    "...Nothing fancy with this lens. It is pretty light which is great for travel...." Read more

    78 customers mention "Range"71 positive7 negative

    Customers like the range of the camera lens. They mention it has a wide focal range, good close-up shots, and zoom for distance. Some say it's reasonable fast and can get you in on all the sports action.

    "...: if you want a lens that takes sharp pictures with a nice telephoto range of focal lengths and some great IS, then this is the lens for you." Read more

    "...This lens along with the kit lens will give a very wide focal range without totally destroying your budget for your new-found hobby...." Read more

    "...On the cropped APS-C 70D, the lens provides excellent range for all kinds of photography and the photos I've got have pleasant color and quality." Read more

    "...For daylight, it's hard to beat. Quick to focus and lots of aperture room to play around with your shot...." Read more

    Lens For The Budget Conscious
    4 out of 5 stars
    Lens For The Budget Conscious
    The Canon EF-S 55-250mm is a perfect choice if you shoot mostly wide angle shots and don't want to blow a ton of money on a telephoto zoom lens that you only use occasionally. This lens offers you reasonably sharp photos at a very, very good price. Here's a more indepth evaluation of this lens.- SharpnessThe sharpness is on par with that of the 18-55mm kit lens. In the right conditions, it's almost (but not quite) pro-grade. For a budget lens, it's really about as sharp as they come. I think it's safe to say in terms of sharpness this lens will satisfy all but the most fastidious of prosumers.You best bet for seeing how sharp this lens is is to seek out professional review sites that show you a 100% crop of pictures taken with this lens and then decide for yourself.- Chromatic Aberration (CA)In bright sunlight, where chromatic aberration is most pronounced, the chromatic aberration on this lens is barely noticeable and probably imperceptible to the untrained eye. In more even lighting, this lens shows no signs of CA.- Auto-Focus (AF)The auto-focus is fast enough for still subjects, but for very fast-moving subjects, it's a hit-or-miss. I gave this lens a good workout shooting cheetahs running close to their top speeds at the Animal Ark, Reno, NV (OT: cheetahs can run at speeds of 70 mph or greater). Most of my shots came out blurry (and that's not due to motion blur) because the auto-focus wasn't fast enough.Like the kit lens, the auto-focus has trouble in lowlight conditions. It also has trouble with surfaces that lack texture. The motor whirs back and forth trying to lock on to a focus. It can be a little annoying at times.- Image Stabilization (IS)The image stabilization is amazing, even at 250mm. Interestingly, you can hear a click when the image stabilization mechanism kicks in. For handheld shot, especially at the 250mm end, the IS is immensely helpful for steadying your shots. I'm very impressed. (Bear in mind, too, the rule of thumb: the shutter speed should be at least as fast as the reciprocal of the focal length.)- Internal Focus (IF)The lack of IF would not ordinarily be a problem unless you're using circular polarized filters. The turning of the barrel throws the filter out of adjustment, so you would have to readjust the filter after the subject is brought into focus.- BuildIn terns of build quality, the lens is built a lot like the kit lens. There are complaints that it looks plasticky - maybe so - but it doesn't look cheap to be sure. It's lightweight but it feels well-built and sturdy. The zoom ring feels tight, but not overly so, so there is no zoom creep.- AlternativeJust FYI, the Canon EF 70-300mm is reputed to be sharper than this lens. You might want to give this lens some consideration if the focal range is right and if you can afford to splurge a little.---I suspect the Canon EF-S 55-250mm is the best mid-telephoto zoom lens you can get at this price. For the budget conscious, and for people who need telephoto zoom only once in a while, this lens is a very good choice.
    Thank you for your feedback
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    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2008
    Style: BaseProduct Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
    This is a very good lens given its price. Like with any lens selection there
    are compromises, and a more expensive lens is not necessarily better in all
    respects. These are the main considerations for me:

    * The lens comes with an excellent IS. One could probably save a hundred bucks
    buying a non-IS lens in this focal range which may even be a bit better optically.
    However, long range shots without IS are difficult, especially in low light. The
    IS on this lens works very well, better compared to my Canon 28-135 IS and even
    compared to the 100-400L. The IS really makes a lot of hand held shots possible
    that one could not do with a non-IS lens.

    * The lens is fairly cheaply built and has a plastic mount. However, the
    trade-off is that it is also fairly small and light (the small size is also due
    to the fact that it is a EF-S lens). My other tele-zoom is a 100-400L lens
    which is built like tank, but it is also huge and weighs 3 pounds. In many cases
    one does not want to carry that much weight around, and that is where this lens
    comes in really handy.

    * Image quality: No, it cannot quite match the 100-400L, but it comes surprisingly
    close. Of course, the 100-400L costs 5 times as much. Lack of good color
    saturation is the most notable deficiency. On the other hand images are very sharp.
    For outdoors one should get a hood, there is quite a bit of glare in shots with
    frontal sunlight.

    * Zoom range: the 55-250mm range makes the lens quite versatile. 250mm is long
    enough for most outdoor sports, many nature shots, people from afar, etc. At the
    other end 55mm is still good for close action, for example at a soccer field.
    That is almost a factor 2 shorter compared to 100-(300/400) lenses.
    It also provides a nice overlap with walk-around lenses, like the Canon 28-135 IS.

    * Aperture: F4-5.6 is nothing to brag about, however, a faster lens would also
    have to be much bigger, heavier, and costlier. And as long as you objects don't
    move too much the IS makes the lens effectively faster. If Canon's 4 stop
    improvement holds it would be equivalent to a non-ISF1-1.4, although F1.4-2 is
    probably more realistic. A F1.4-2 with that focal range would have to be big,
    heavy, and expensive, if it even existed.

    In summary, this is an excellent second lens to complement a short zoom or a
    walk-around lens. Very versatile and a lot of bang for the buck. In my case,
    even though I own a 100-400L I still keep this lens because it is often more
    practical because of the shorter focal length and the smaller size.
    125 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2010
    Style: BaseProduct Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
    I bought this lens at same time as the Canon T2i to pick up where the 18-55 kit lens leaves off, and have taken some very good photos with it.

    However, I learned taking photos at the Patriots vs Rams pre-season game that I will never get "pro" quality photos at night, not even at professional football games where the lighting is very good to ensure tv viewers get good visibility. Even with ISO at 1600 I was able to manage a shutter speed of only 400 at f5.6, not enough to get crisp shots of moving players. Shots taken when there was a slow down or pause in the action were very good, even at the above mentioned settings, but when the players were moving rapidly, the shots were a little soft. Post processing made them very satisfactory for personal enjoyment, but not for more more ambitious use.

    Earlier I might have given the lens a 4, maybe even a 3, because of my game experience, but since the game I have learned a lot about lenses and I now know that the relatively low-light photos I got were the best I could expect from this f4.0-5.6 lens. If I were going to shoot a lot of night sports, I would be saving for a 2.8 zoom lens, but they are very, very expensive for a good one. An f2.8 lens is a much faster lens than a 4-5.6

    In day time settings, I have consistently gotten clear, sharp shots but have not yet tried shooting kiteboarders, something I enjoy doing. However, my expectation is that I will get good shots because I'll be shooting during the day and able to shoot at 800 at a minimum, more likely 1000.

    I have been practicing taking sports photos by photographing the batters in action for several local teams. Two of these games were in the late afternoon and I was shooting at 5 pm or later in October, meaning that light was becoming low. For these shots I put the camera in Tv mode and set the shutter speed at 1000. ISO was on auto and the camera was allowed to select the best ISO up to a maximum of 1600. At this time of day, even in the autumn light, I got very crisp shots. Many required some processing to improve exposure, but the results were very satisfactory because the subjects were sharp. People to whom I have shown the photos said they were "great".

    In summary, for what I do most of the time, this lens is excellent. And I really appreciate the image stabilizer. I can't imagine buying a lens without it since 98% of the shooting I do is hand held.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2008
    Style: BaseProduct Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
    I bought this lens mainly for the focal length and the IS feature. I figured that I would replace the lens within a year, once I had enough money because I was expecting this lens to be a typical mediocre lens. When I took picture of this lens to test it out, I was amazed. This lens is sharp at wide open apertures. I have taken pictures with many lenses (L class included) and this lens is a rarity in that it was sharpest wide open at each focal length.

    The IS on this lens is unbelievable. I was able to take pictures at such low shutter speeds that I could have never been able to do without IS. The IS makes a little bit of noise (VERY minimal) which makes me happy because it shows you that it is working. I know you may not believe me, but I was able to take a picture at 1/15 at a focal length of 250mm and the image was sharp at 100% ... no blur.

    The focus is pretty good, but not as fast or sure as USM focus. The construction of this lens is not that of an L class, but for the price you paying, that is expected.

    In my opinion, you get a lens to take good pictures and this lens does that, and some. I don't buy lenses for their construction because I am not a photographer that would ever need a metal lens construction. Actually I would prefer this construction because it is so much lighter and easier to carry around. The only legitimate complaint about this lens is the focus, but it is still not an issue at all if you are in a place that is not dark. But then again, why would you be using this lens in the dark with f/4..0-5.6 as its largest aperture.

    In summary: if you want a lens that takes sharp pictures with a nice telephoto range of focal lengths and some great IS, then this is the lens for you.
    31 people found this helpful
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    RG
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente opción a un precio muy bueno
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 26, 2020
    Style: BaseProduct Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
    Llegó más rápido de lo esperado. Muy buena opción para fotografía deportiva. Hasta el momento me ha gustado mucho.
    Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars very good result. amazone selling this product with half of ...
    Reviewed in India on August 22, 2016
    Style: BaseProduct Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
    superb lens . very good result . amazone selling this product with half of the actual market rate. I am happy with this product.
    Carl
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Value
    Reviewed in Canada on February 22, 2013
    Style: BaseProduct Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
    I am not a professional photographer so I took a very pragmatic approach while shopping around and finally buying this lens. The next step-up in quality from this lens will cost three times as much. At my level, I wasn't prepared to spend $500 more for a possible 2% improvement.

    Having said that, this lens is no toy. It is sturdy and seemingly well made. The casement is tight with no flex at all, anywhere. The lens works especially well outside while appreciating a little extra lighting inside. That's not unexpected for lenses with f/4.0-5.6. While I do have photo software, I have not had to lighten my pictures or correct flaws. The lens' manual slide action is smooth and focus has been as fast as I can shoot.

    Outside, I have used a doubler successfully for even more range. It accepts all my filters. It bonds very tightly to my T4i camera body. The lens is light weight, medium duty, easy on the arms and, it looks good. For me this lens is perfect. It will be a long time before my level of skill surpasses the abilities of this relatively inexpensive lens. That's when I can start blaming my hammer.
    Fabio Postiglione
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo Obiettivo
    Reviewed in Italy on May 11, 2014
    Style: BaseProduct Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
    Dopo un anno di test posso dire di aver fatto un ottimo acquisto!
    L'obiettivo è solo per fotocamere che NON sono full-frame e non da un senso di compattezza e solidità a causa del materiale molto plasticoso.
    L'obiettivo è leggero e tutto sommato anche molto compatto vista la sua "notevole" escuriosne (55-250mm). E' stabilizzato e ha un autofocus molto veloce ma quello che più colpisce è il notevole rapporto qualità/prezzo. Non è un obiettivo per professionisti ma consente tutti gli altri di avere un qualcosa con cui lavorare e fare molta pratica. E' sensazionale per il prezzo a cui lo vendono, ha una buonissima nitidezza e qualche volta sfocheggia leggermente ma solo in condizioni di luce scarsa.
    Nella sua fascia di collocazione ha un unico contendente: il tamron 70-300 4-5.6, quest'ultimo però costa di più ed è di poco superiore.
    Non è paragonabile ai 70-200 di casa canon e va visto solo come un back-up di questi ultimi.
    Da usare con paraluce.
    Consigliato a tutti i non professionisti.
    BN
    5.0 out of 5 stars らっきーです
    Reviewed in Japan on February 18, 2016
    Style: BaseProduct Packaging: Standard PackagingVerified Purchase
    コストパフォーマンスが何よりも良かったです。
    俗に言う「沼」にハマり掛けてます。