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Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras




  • 004 4  This is the first lens that I've purchased and kept outside my kit lens ( 18 - 55 ) . I mentioned kept because believe it or not , I bought the 70 - 200 F4L non-IS . I won't be giving any technical review about this lens as that is pretty much covered by the other reviewers here . I'll just share my story to help out other beginners who are having a hard time as well contemplating on what lens to get to complement their kit lens . At first , I definitely wanted to buy a telephoto lens so I can shoot objects from a distance and I really like to try the lens out in a zoo . I then narrowed my choices between EF 70 - 300 IS USM and 70 - 200 F4L non-IS ( didn't want 55 - 250 then because I didn't like the plastic mount ) . Since the latter would end up costing almost the same or even less ( comes with hood and pouch plus the free filter amazon offers ) , I went for it without even thinking . Before the package arrived , I already had second thoughts and tried to cancel the item . Since I tried out the amazon prime 2 day shipping , the package came really fast so I wasn't able to cancel but returned it as soon as I got it . So why did I return the 70 - 200 F4L and settled for an EF-S 55 - 250 ? - I don't get paid taking pictures , it's just a hobby . - No one will really sit down and scrutinize the pictures I take . All Canon lenses take great shots compared to other brands . It's not like I'm posting the pictures I take in the net for public view . - The beige color of the L lens is somewhat too loud for me . I don't want people to think I have that much cash or evern comment that I only have an XS body . - No IS , I realized that I really need IS because I don't have any plans of getting a tripod soon and my hands are really shaky . - Cost ! - Weight . - Performance of 55 - 250 that I was able to research over the net . Of course it's nothing comapred to the L lens , no doubt about that . But if the pictures are viewed alone , without comparing to L lens , they are great . - Max range is only at 200 , I get an extra 50mm with 55 - 250 . - Missing the 56 - 69 mm . Ok , the last 2 are just for my piece of mind because I opted with 55 - 250 but they don't really matter if you have the L lens . If you do become a pro in the future , you'd definitely get something better than the 70 - 200 F4L . Bottom line , this lens is no where in the league of L lenses . As one of the reviewers mentioned , it does the job . For value of money , I really love this lens . About the plastic mount , I realized that I wouldn't be using my camera that hard anyway . Plus , it'll be lighter . I'm going to steal one of the reviews I read , it basically says that if you like the performance of your kit lens ( 18 - 55 ) , you'll defintely like this as well . I totally agree , fast AF , sharp pictures , longer range version of 18 - 55 . Note that this is NOT a comparison between L lens and 55 - 250 , or even 70 - 300 . Just a decision experience that I wanted to share with a number of beginners out there .
    • 003 4  Since I mostly use wide-angle lenses , I was not willing to blow a ton on expensive / heavy telephoto lenses for occasional shots . Prior to owning this lens , I had a Sigma 70 - 300 APO zoom telephoto that produced good colors , but was essentially useless due to frequent camera shake . I sold the lens and got this Canon zoom . a ) Surprisingly , it CAN produce pretty sharp pictures if the subjects don't move fast . The sharpness is very comparable with two other lenses I own , the famed and breathtakingly sharp Tamron 17 - 50mm f / 2.8 and Sigma 30mm f / 1.4 . While the Tamron and Sigma get sharp shots without too much work , this Canon needs a bit of careful handling to get equally sharp shots even at the wide end . I use the word can , because to achieve it you would either need a tripod or high ISO ( my rebel XT's 1600 is pretty much what I use all the time with this lens ) . b ) The colors in bright light are almost always faded ( sharp , but faded ) . It can be patially corrected in Lightroom , but a bit unfortunate since this lens really needs the bright light for a good shutter speed . Indoors , it produces good color balance / saturation , but struggles to have a decent shutter speed . Kind of catch - 22 situation . c ) The construction is pretty cheap , but generally nothing to worry about if handled gently . However , the filter threads are thin plastic and I almost damaged the threads when putting on filters for the first time . I got a dedicated Sigma DG 58mm UV filter permanently affixed on it so that any other filters / screw hood will only go on the metal thread of the UV filter and not the lens thread directly . A metal UV filter is a must if you don't want to permanently damage the lens filter threads . d ) The opteration of the IS is quiet unless you are particularly listening to it . My Tamron's AF makes more noise . e ) After playing with this lens for sometime , I have come to the conclusion that IS is an absolute must on a zoom telephoto when hand held . Being the cheapest IS telephoto on the market today , there is really no equivalent for this in this price range . f ) IS has been of no use in freezing subject motion . While this is to be expected , it highlights how slow a lens this really is . g ) No hood comes with the lens , but I got a third party 77mm screw telephoto metal hood and step up adapter rings . h ) 1 year canon warranty sucks big time compared to the 6 - year Tamron and 4 - year Sigma ( for DG lens ) . i ) this is a very light lens , much lighter than my sigma or tamron . Very easily carried around ( hood might add a bit more bulk , but not too much ) . In short , this lens performs great with regards to sharpness and IS . It leaves a lot to be desired in color saturation and flare control , almost always requiring some kind of post processing to achieve desired result . Update 10 / 22 / 08 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I bought a 58mm Canon 250D close up filter for this lens and now I have a fantastic macro lens , that is capable of doing 1 : 1 macro with a working distance of 25cm ( ~ 10 ) ! The 250D is roughly 1 / 7 th the price of the closest 1 : 1 macro lens with the same working distance - the tamron 180mm 1 : 1 macro if you were planning on getting a seperate macro lens . The 250D is optically optimized for lens up to 135mm focal length , but the results are fantastic handheld up to 200mm on this lens . Using 250mm ( when you get a bit higher than 1 : 1 ) is a little bit of work , but gets decent results ( with mirror lockup + tripod + f / 25 ) . No horrible color fringing that happens with cheap closeup filters on the market ( like the Opteka + 1 , + 2 , + 4 , and + 10 close up filters ) . I haven't used a true 1 : 1 macro lens , which I suspect will definitely be better quality-wise , but the combination of a canon 55 - 250mm IS + canon 250d for a telephoto + 1 : 1 macro + IS under 400 $ is a true bargain along the lines of the 50mm f / 1.8 .
    • 005 4  I have had this lens for a couple months on my XTI . I purchased it from Canada and it has North American warranty ( both Canada and the U.S . ) so I'm safely assuming it will be the same lens released here in May . After hundreds of shots so far here are my thoughts : The bad : - On my copy the color is off . Skin colors have a slight gray hue and colors are not very saturated . In order to get vibrant hues post-processing is necessary . - Front element rotates and extends while zooming - It is an EF-S lens . Are you planning on upgrading to full frame soon ? I am not so this is not necessarily bad but can be to those who are uninformed about the compatibility issues with this lens . - People often complain about the quality of the plastic build . I am okay with it since this lens is a place holder until I have the money for an L class lens . I would rather have this lens now so I can capture the photos in this range than wait 6 months to a year until I can drop a couple grand on the lens I really want . - Although it overlaps some with my Tamron 28 - 75 ( which I absolutely adore ) I like having the versatility to get a bit wider with this lens . It keeps me from carrying an extra lens when I know I will be shooting at the longer end but I still have the freedom to zoom out a bit to get more landscape if the moment strikes me . The good : - Sharp photos - Decent bokeh - IS is amazing on this lens . Shot a performance on a dimly lit stage at the long end of the zoom ( 5.6 ) without the flash and 85% of my images came out sharp . However , please realize IS controls the PHOTOGRAPHER'S shake / movement NOT NOT NOT the movement of the subject . So with the 15% of the images that weren't sharp ( or flat out blurry ) the subject moved at a decent rate . If you want to stop movement in less than bright environments a faster lens ( 2.8 , 1.8 , or 1.2 ) is necessary . Also , on my copy the IS is dead silent and I do not have the noise problem the other reviewer was describing . - For the PRICE you will not find another lens in the 50 - 250 - ish range with this level of performance , IS , and image quality . OF COURSE the 70 - 200 ' s are better . . several hundred to thousands of dollars better . Cannot compare with Canon's L class lenses although people will ( and have ) . . . Lost one star because of the less than vibrant colors and other reasons noted above . . . I almost want to give this lens 3.5 stars because I am not enamored with as many of the photos I have gotten out of this lens as I thought I would . I had the Sigma 70 - 300 APO ( before they made the DG version ) prior to this lens and I loved the color rendition . However , the lens lacked IS which cut out its ability to capture numerous shots . The Sigma is now broken and sitting on a shelf in case anyone was wondering why it was replaced .
    • 006 4  This lens can be summed up by the simple statement of Good , but not great . It gets the job done without really excelling at it , and it is definitely not without its issues . That being said , you can't beat the price - depending on what you're looking for . The price doesn't lie , and though the lens takes good pictures and offers a decent feature-set ( IS under $300 ) , it's not a top performer . Bokeh is a bit harsh , AF is somewhat slow and low-light is pretty much out . If you want to make a hobby out of shooting long focal lengths , do yourself a favor and give this a pass . However , if you're more of a landscape photographer ( like me ) looking for nothing more than an adequate long-tele lens while you're spending your money on the awesome 10 - 22mm or a good 17 - 50mm f / 2.8 , this lens fits a VERY needed place in your bag . . A 70 - 200L f / 4 , it ain't - but it's also not $1,000 . All in all , you get what you pay for and it's good ( bordering on sufficient ) without being great at anything . It's a terrific buy for someone like me who looks at the tele - end of focal lengths as that occasional odd shot I don't want to miss . It'd be bloody horrible if I actually used it as a regular lens - but then , I didn't pay the same amount for it that I have for my wider lenses .
    • 007 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I have a 18mm - 55mm lens , and was in search for a telephoto , I read so many reviews that were so complex I didn't know what I was reading . I bought the 55mm - 250mm lens and now understand some of the reviews . To break it down in simply terms : 55mm ( the lowest setting on the 55mm - 250mm ) you can not stand right on top of a subject , the lens makes you too close everything won't fit in the frame . That is Not what the lens is for & might be were some of the bad reviews come from . ( Buy the 18 - 55mm for those close up shots ) It takes time for the auto focus , it still Fast but not as fast as my 18mm - 55mm . Still your not going to miss taking a picture of a bird sitting in a tree far away . But at baseball game of a kid catching a 50mph ball I missed some shots ( why I gave 4 stars ) . Not the lens fault more mine I should have used manual focus ! ! On auto focus , after all it has a LOT of setting to go through 55 to 250mm settings . No duh the 18 - 55mm auto focus faster . Think of it as a deck of cards , you ( and auto focus ) can flip through 18 - 55 cards faster then a deck of 55 - 250 cards . Some of the reviews complain about the auto focus , it does work of course just not as fast as smaller lens . No matter what if you are in the back row and your son on the stage at a school play , your picture will be Prefect and it will look like you were in the front row . That is what this lens is for , where you can take time to set it up , adjust and take time to snap a picture . At a baseball game you need to use Manual focus , ( you can turn the ring faster then auto ) and you can get great pics , auto might let you down during fast action but not with still pictures ! ! I suggest getting 18mm - 55mm for everyday use , for those great up close , fast action , birthday shots ; I Love that lens . Then get the 55mm - 250mm for those far away school plays , scenery vacation , and birds sitting in a far away tree the lens is prefect for those kinds of pictures .
    • 008 4  I have a 18mm - 55mm lens , and was in search for a telephoto , I read so many reviews that were so complex I didn't know what I was reading . I bought the 55mm - 250mm lens and now understand some of the reviews . To break it down in simply terms : 55mm ( the lowest setting on the 55mm - 250mm ) you can not stand right on top of a subject , the lens makes you too close everything won't fit in the frame . That is Not what the lens is for & might be were some of the bad reviews come from . ( Buy the 18 - 55mm for those close up shots ) It takes time for the auto focus , it still Fast but not as fast as my 18mm - 55mm . Still your not going to miss taking a picture of a bird sitting in a tree far away . But at baseball game of a kid catching a 50mph ball I missed some shots ( why I gave 4 stars ) . Not the lens fault more mine I should have used manual focus ! ! On auto focus , after all it has a LOT of setting to go through 55 to 250mm settings . No duh the 18 - 55mm auto focus faster . Think of it as a deck of cards , you ( and auto focus ) can flip through 18 - 55 cards faster then a deck of 55 - 250 cards . Some of the reviews complain about the auto focus , it does work of course just not as fast as smaller lens . No matter what if you are in the back row and your son on the stage at a school play , your picture will be Prefect and it will look like you were in the front row . That is what this lens is for , where you can take time to set it up , adjust and take time to snap a picture . At a baseball game you need to use Manual focus , ( you can turn the ring faster then auto ) and you can get great pics , auto might let you down during fast action but not with still pictures ! ! I suggest getting 18mm - 55mm for everyday use , for those great up close , fast action , birthday shots ; I Love that lens . Then get the 55mm - 250mm for those far away school plays , scenery vacation , and birds sitting in a far away tree the lens is prefect for those kinds of pictures .
    • 009 4  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 .
    • 010 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I mainly use prime lenses but my longest lens maxes out at 85mm . So when I saw this lens 250mm ( similar to 400mm on full-frame ) with a reasonable price , I grabbed it . The colors are rendered well , the IS works like a charm . Note - this is an EF-S lens so you won't be able to use it on a full-sensor camera body later - only on the cropped-sensor cameras like the Rebel XTi . My reason for not giving it 5 stars is that it occasionally gets confused while focusing . ( I use spot-focus mostly - perhaps that has something to do with it . ) If it happens , I zoom back to 55mm , focus , and then re-zoom , focus and it's all set . While I haven't had it for long yet , I was able to get some very nice photos with this lens - one close-up shot all the way down a church aisle of someone performing at the other end in front of the church at night , close-up shots of bees in flight , dragonflies , etc . The front element rotates but I would never think of using a polarizer on a zoom lens like this since you've already lost a lot of light . Am I happy I bought it ? Absolutely .
    • 011 4  I mainly use prime lenses but my longest lens maxes out at 85mm . So when I saw this lens 250mm ( similar to 400mm on full-frame ) with a reasonable price , I grabbed it . The colors are rendered well , the IS works like a charm . Note - this is an EF-S lens so you won't be able to use it on a full-sensor camera body later - only on the cropped-sensor cameras like the Rebel XTi . My reason for not giving it 5 stars is that it occasionally gets confused while focusing . ( I use spot-focus mostly - perhaps that has something to do with it . ) If it happens , I zoom back to 55mm , focus , and then re-zoom , focus and it's all set . While I haven't had it for long yet , I was able to get some very nice photos with this lens - one close-up shot all the way down a church aisle of someone performing at the other end in front of the church at night , close-up shots of bees in flight , dragonflies , etc . The front element rotates but I would never think of using a polarizer on a zoom lens like this since you've already lost a lot of light . Am I happy I bought it ? Absolutely .
    • 014 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I didn't expect it to be a bad lens , but given the price I certainly didn't expect the quality that I found with this lens . I have shot extensively with the $1800 70 - 200MM f / 2.8 IS and I have to say this lens comes much closer than I thought to its performance . You will be hard pressed to find any difference in sharpness , and I believe the IS on this lens even works better since it is a newer generation of the technology . This lens does have barrel distortion where the 70 - 200mm has none . It also can't hold a candle to it in terms of low-light performance . The thing is , though , the distortion was correctable easily in PS and as far as the low-light performance goes I wouldn't bring this to shoot a wedding anyway . I bought it for a specific purpose - - I needed a lens quick and I needed a small / light one for shooting only in the the daytime on a long vacation - - and it did everything I needed and more . I have already sold a few photos that were taken with this lens ! The 400mm reach ( this is a 400mm lens on all supported bodies which are 1.6x crop factored ) is amazing and I found no loss in sharpness at any focal length . I have been similarly pleasantly surprised in the past by low-cost Canon zoom lenses so maybe I should have seen this coming , but I would recommend this lens to anyone other than someone doing a low-light / professional gig . Given the performance for the cost this lens should be more than suitable for amateurs and semi-pros alike . Pros : Sharpness , IS technology , cost / value , size / weight Cons : Mild ( but correctable ) distortion , zero low-light capability except at unusably high-ISOs Just get yourself a Rebel , a wide-angle or wide-angle zoom lens , this lens , a big memory card - - and you're done . Worry about the rest later .
    • 015 4  I didn't expect it to be a bad lens , but given the price I certainly didn't expect the quality that I found with this lens . I have shot extensively with the $1800 70 - 200MM f / 2.8 IS and I have to say this lens comes much closer than I thought to its performance . You will be hard pressed to find any difference in sharpness , and I believe the IS on this lens even works better since it is a newer generation of the technology . This lens does have barrel distortion where the 70 - 200mm has none . It also can't hold a candle to it in terms of low-light performance . The thing is , though , the distortion was correctable easily in PS and as far as the low-light performance goes I wouldn't bring this to shoot a wedding anyway . I bought it for a specific purpose - - I needed a lens quick and I needed a small / light one for shooting only in the the daytime on a long vacation - - and it did everything I needed and more . I have already sold a few photos that were taken with this lens ! The 400mm reach ( this is a 400mm lens on all supported bodies which are 1.6x crop factored ) is amazing and I found no loss in sharpness at any focal length . I have been similarly pleasantly surprised in the past by low-cost Canon zoom lenses so maybe I should have seen this coming , but I would recommend this lens to anyone other than someone doing a low-light / professional gig . Given the performance for the cost this lens should be more than suitable for amateurs and semi-pros alike . Pros : Sharpness , IS technology , cost / value , size / weight Cons : Mild ( but correctable ) distortion , zero low-light capability except at unusably high-ISOs Just get yourself a Rebel , a wide-angle or wide-angle zoom lens , this lens , a big memory card - - and you're done . Worry about the rest later .
    • 016 4  This is an excellent lens for under $500 . It is designed to be a good all purpose tele zoom lens for non-pros . I think it fits the bill nicely . The lens is very sharp at all focal lengths and really doesn't have any bad spots like most cheap lenses . Aperture is a bit on the slow side , but normal for a lens in its class . The Image Stabilization really works well . You won't want a telephoto lens without it once you've had it . Build quality is about normal for the price . It is mostly plastic , but that keeps down on the weight . Macro performance is pretty good , too . It is a 1 / 3 magnification , which is a bit better than average without being an advertised macro lens . You can certainly fill the frame with a flower bud or a leaf , if that is what you are after . I give it 5 stars , not because it is the best lens in the world , but because it is the best lens for the price and the intended photographers . It pairs perfectly with the 18 - 55 IS and then you get a seamless range of 18 - 250 ( 28 - 400 equiv ) , all Image stabilized . The next step up is at least twice the money . Nothing else in the price range can compare with the features , sharpness and focal range in my opinion .
    • 017 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) 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 .
    • 018 4  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 .
    • 021 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I got this lens along with my XSI while Canon had a $ [ . . . ] instant rebate , so this lens really only cost me a little over a hundred bucks . It is definitely worth the $ [ . . . ] that Amazon normally charges for it . If you are a casual photographer like me and can not shell out thousands of dollars on lenses , this is a must have . It may not be the most well built lens in the canon line , but it feels much more solid than the kit lens . I had the chance to check out the 70 - 300 IS USM in Circuit City not too long ago and I felt like the manual focus was a little sloppy and the body itself felt a little light for the size . The image quality might be a shade better and the USM might be faster , but after holding the lens , I was glad I didn't shell out the extra $ [ . . . ] . I have been able to take some wonderfully crisp indoor shots with this lens using my tripod and shutter release . The weather has been a little chilly and I have not felt like doing much outdoor shooting , so I can not speak to the effectiveness of IS for hand held shots . If you are a novice and looking for a good starter zoom lens , this is it . I love this lens and am completely satisfied for now . When I decide that I can justify spending a thousand dollars on the 300 F4L , I may stop loving this lens , but for now this lens has been great .
    • 022 4  I got this lens along with my XSI while Canon had a $ [ . . . ] instant rebate , so this lens really only cost me a little over a hundred bucks . It is definitely worth the $ [ . . . ] that Amazon normally charges for it . If you are a casual photographer like me and can not shell out thousands of dollars on lenses , this is a must have . It may not be the most well built lens in the canon line , but it feels much more solid than the kit lens . I had the chance to check out the 70 - 300 IS USM in Circuit City not too long ago and I felt like the manual focus was a little sloppy and the body itself felt a little light for the size . The image quality might be a shade better and the USM might be faster , but after holding the lens , I was glad I didn't shell out the extra $ [ . . . ] . I have been able to take some wonderfully crisp indoor shots with this lens using my tripod and shutter release . The weather has been a little chilly and I have not felt like doing much outdoor shooting , so I can not speak to the effectiveness of IS for hand held shots . If you are a novice and looking for a good starter zoom lens , this is it . I love this lens and am completely satisfied for now . When I decide that I can justify spending a thousand dollars on the 300 F4L , I may stop loving this lens , but for now this lens has been great .
    • 023 4  Just received my Canon 55 - 250mm lens a couple days ago . Did my first experimental shoot with it yesterday . I am not at all disappointed . I do not see how anyone can go wrong purchasing this lens . Don't let the rather low price ( especially for an IS lens ) fool you . I have never owned an L lens - so I can't compare - - and I have no doubt that it really can't compare . But hey , , if I could afford to by L lenses , , I most likely would not be using an XTi . Don't misunderstand what I am saying . The XTi is great , , as is the 55 - 250 IS lens . My main focus is nature / macro . For that I use a Sigma 50mm macro and Sigma ring flash . But too many times when I was out on one of my macro shoots I ran across something that required me to reach out . This lens will do just that , , and do it very well . Additionally , I shoot and digitally process somewhat in the abstract mode . Truly , , you can not go wrong with this lens . Most of my photography is nature , , and I do not use a tripod . The IS really , really works . I was blown away . Conclusion : After all my rambling , if you are looking for a lens in this range ( mm wise ) and don't have tons of disposable cash to throw around , DO NOT HESITATE . Buy it . .
    • 025 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I mounted the 55 - 250mm ES Canon lens on my rebel XSI and put it to its first challenge . Basketball tournament in a poorly lit gym . The stabilized lens gave me another f-stop and I was able to achieve good exposure at 160 / sec . pushing the camera asa to 1600 . Even my short 18 - 55 kit lens required more light under the same conditions . This lens has nice reach and can get you in on all the sports action from the side line . I love this lens for the money and it came right away hassle free from Amazon.com . I recommend this lens for a nice addition to your camera bag , well worth the money . It feels a little cheap but it is light weight .
    • 027 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I am new to DSLR photography having just moved from Canon point-and-shoot in September 2009 . I purchased the Canon XSI with kit lens EFS 18 - 55mm and in the same order I bought the EFS 55 - 250mm . For the first couple months I used the full auto function and was disappointed in the results because they were not any better than the Canon PowerShot - - not bad but I expected more . Then I bought a DVD beginner course in DSLR photography for the XSI and started using the ' creative modes ' and my pictures improved a great deal . I bought two more lenses the Canon EF mm50 1.4 and for some reason the competing EF mm50 1.8 . So for the last few months I have been taking many pictures with all four lenses in series starting with wide aperture and incrementally closing , which of course changes shutter speed and depth of field . Then I would use the shutter priority setting and play around with the white balance and the ISO setting . Then I carefully studied the pictures on my wide screen computer monitor and increased magnification to look more closely at the edges and color . I would try to determine for each lens the affect of aperture , shutter , ISO , white balance on the quality of the pictures . I have found that I can get good and bad pictures from any of the lenses . However , the EFS 55 - 250 is probably the most consistent in terms of decent quality - - a little better than the kit lens . And of course it is a telephoto lens . The mm50 1.8 takes very sharp pictures but the mm50 1.4 can really take some beautiful color and the bokeh is wonderful . I like them all ! I guess that as I get more experience I could change my mind and of course there is still the wonderful world of the ' L ' lenses .
    • 028 4  I am new to DSLR photography having just moved from Canon point-and-shoot in September 2009 . I purchased the Canon XSI with kit lens EFS 18 - 55mm and in the same order I bought the EFS 55 - 250mm . For the first couple months I used the full auto function and was disappointed in the results because they were not any better than the Canon PowerShot - - not bad but I expected more . Then I bought a DVD beginner course in DSLR photography for the XSI and started using the ' creative modes ' and my pictures improved a great deal . I bought two more lenses the Canon EF mm50 1.4 and for some reason the competing EF mm50 1.8 . So for the last few months I have been taking many pictures with all four lenses in series starting with wide aperture and incrementally closing , which of course changes shutter speed and depth of field . Then I would use the shutter priority setting and play around with the white balance and the ISO setting . Then I carefully studied the pictures on my wide screen computer monitor and increased magnification to look more closely at the edges and color . I would try to determine for each lens the affect of aperture , shutter , ISO , white balance on the quality of the pictures . I have found that I can get good and bad pictures from any of the lenses . However , the EFS 55 - 250 is probably the most consistent in terms of decent quality - - a little better than the kit lens . And of course it is a telephoto lens . The mm50 1.8 takes very sharp pictures but the mm50 1.4 can really take some beautiful color and the bokeh is wonderful . I like them all ! I guess that as I get more experience I could change my mind and of course there is still the wonderful world of the ' L ' lenses .
    • 029 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I'm still learning what this lens likes and doesn't like . For example , it does vignette sometimes but I can see that ahead of time and I just back off full telephoto a bit . If you're a novice , don't forget to turn off the IS when using a tripod . And just because there is IS , it doesn't mean there won't be hand shake problems at less than 1 / 250th speed . Set camera to center focus so that you get what you want in focus . I use Auto focus 98% of the time . The lens is very responsive and you have to be careful to focus on what you really want . Got some nice sharp photos of small , fast birds in flight and some dogs on a dead run . Color quality seems good for the most part . Occasionally I get something with a bluish tinge but I think that's the camera rather than the tele since other pics of the same area at the same time were fine . As one reviewer said somewhere , get to know what the lens will and won't do . I'm really pleased with the price and the results . I don't want to spend $1000 on a lens since this is a hobby not a profession .
    • 030 4  I'm still learning what this lens likes and doesn't like . For example , it does vignette sometimes but I can see that ahead of time and I just back off full telephoto a bit . If you're a novice , don't forget to turn off the IS when using a tripod . And just because there is IS , it doesn't mean there won't be hand shake problems at less than 1 / 250th speed . Set camera to center focus so that you get what you want in focus . I use Auto focus 98% of the time . The lens is very responsive and you have to be careful to focus on what you really want . Got some nice sharp photos of small , fast birds in flight and some dogs on a dead run . Color quality seems good for the most part . Occasionally I get something with a bluish tinge but I think that's the camera rather than the tele since other pics of the same area at the same time were fine . As one reviewer said somewhere , get to know what the lens will and won't do . I'm really pleased with the price and the results . I don't want to spend $1000 on a lens since this is a hobby not a profession .
    • 031 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Finaly decided to take the DSLR plunge after shooting SLRs for more than 25 years . My first SLR was a Canon AE - 1 which was a fine camera for its time . I bought this lens along with the XSi kit and with the rebate the lens cost only 69 bones . It's an outstanding lens for that kind of money . The lens is mostly plastic but that's not necessarily bad . In many applications plastic is superior to metal . Good quality plastic ( yes there are different grades ) is lighter , cheaper and as stable and strong as metal . I've lugged heavy metal cameras and lenses up and down mountains and through jungles and its not a lot of fun as I get older . Most people simply do not need a lens that can be run over by a truck or thrown off of a cliff . Plastic is just fine . This is a great carry around lens . The speed is about average for a consumer grade lens ( f / 4.0 - 5.6 ) . Its very sharp throughout the zoom range . The IS is surprisingly good even though it makes a faint clicking sound which can be annoying . Its not an L lens but is an L lens really worh it for the hobbyist / serious amateur at 10 times the price ? An amateur is better off working on his or her technique rather than spending top dollar on equipment . Whether its golf , skiing or photography , expensive equipment alone does not make you good at what you're doing . I've seen outstanding photographs taken with pocket cameras and bad ones taken with top notch gear . Like most things , photography comes down to the skill of the person .
    • 032 4  Finaly decided to take the DSLR plunge after shooting SLRs for more than 25 years . My first SLR was a Canon AE - 1 which was a fine camera for its time . I bought this lens along with the XSi kit and with the rebate the lens cost only 69 bones . It's an outstanding lens for that kind of money . The lens is mostly plastic but that's not necessarily bad . In many applications plastic is superior to metal . Good quality plastic ( yes there are different grades ) is lighter , cheaper and as stable and strong as metal . I've lugged heavy metal cameras and lenses up and down mountains and through jungles and its not a lot of fun as I get older . Most people simply do not need a lens that can be run over by a truck or thrown off of a cliff . Plastic is just fine . This is a great carry around lens . The speed is about average for a consumer grade lens ( f / 4.0 - 5.6 ) . Its very sharp throughout the zoom range . The IS is surprisingly good even though it makes a faint clicking sound which can be annoying . Its not an L lens but is an L lens really worh it for the hobbyist / serious amateur at 10 times the price ? An amateur is better off working on his or her technique rather than spending top dollar on equipment . Whether its golf , skiing or photography , expensive equipment alone does not make you good at what you're doing . I've seen outstanding photographs taken with pocket cameras and bad ones taken with top notch gear . Like most things , photography comes down to the skill of the person .
    • 033 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I'm not a photographer or an expert with lenses , but this lens has a huge zoom , much more so than the lens that comes with the canon T1i which I'm using this with . It also produces very well focused pictures . I used the lens that came with the camera the first few days but was much happier with the zoom range on this lens . It is a bit difficult though to take a picture when the subject is close , you'll definitely want to switch for those . If you can get this lens with the camera ( it was 200 off when i got it ) , making it nearly free . If you are going to get a high end camera like the T1i , you definitely need a good zoom lens for it . Definitely would recommend this to a friend .
    • 035 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I bought this lens last year and used it for a while . The pictures I got were pretty decent , and the Image Stabilization works well , but after a few months I found I was favoring other lenses . This one is currently resting in a lens bag in a drawer and isn't likely to come out anytime soon . The reasons for this are basically as follows : 1 . Not fast enough ( f / 4 ) . Granted , we all probably take many pictures at f / 4 to f / 8 or more , but you can't really do decent indoor photography without a flash or studio lighting at f / 4 , and the inability to create very shallow depth of field at the shorter focal lengths is a problem . When possible , I try to buy lenses that can do f / 2.8 or better , especially at focal lengths of 100mm or less ( f / 5.6 at 250mm is tolerable , but f / 4 at 55mm , no ) . 2 . Not sharp enough . Sharpness isn't bad on this lens , but it's not great either . 3 . If a lens can do 250mm , I keep finding I want a bit more than that . But once I bought another lens that could go farther , I found I didn't need this one anymore because that lens covers most of this one's range and is a lot sharper . ( It's also more than double the price , though . ) So , overall , this is a pretty decent but not spectacular image-stabilized telephoto zoom lens for Canon APS-C cameras . If it's all you can afford , then you may find it satisfactory , and it's a nice companion to the EF-S 18 - 55mm IS lens that comes in the Rebel kits these days . But if your budget will allow you to get a better lens ( or two better lenses for wider coverage ) , I think you'll probably be happier in the long run if you do that .
    • 036 4  I bought this lens last year and used it for a while . The pictures I got were pretty decent , and the Image Stabilization works well , but after a few months I found I was favoring other lenses . This one is currently resting in a lens bag in a drawer and isn't likely to come out anytime soon . The reasons for this are basically as follows : 1 . Not fast enough ( f / 4 ) . Granted , we all probably take many pictures at f / 4 to f / 8 or more , but you can't really do decent indoor photography without a flash or studio lighting at f / 4 , and the inability to create very shallow depth of field at the shorter focal lengths is a problem . When possible , I try to buy lenses that can do f / 2.8 or better , especially at focal lengths of 100mm or less ( f / 5.6 at 250mm is tolerable , but f / 4 at 55mm , no ) . 2 . Not sharp enough . Sharpness isn't bad on this lens , but it's not great either . 3 . If a lens can do 250mm , I keep finding I want a bit more than that . But once I bought another lens that could go farther , I found I didn't need this one anymore because that lens covers most of this one's range and is a lot sharper . ( It's also more than double the price , though . ) So , overall , this is a pretty decent but not spectacular image-stabilized telephoto zoom lens for Canon APS-C cameras . If it's all you can afford , then you may find it satisfactory , and it's a nice companion to the EF-S 18 - 55mm IS lens that comes in the Rebel kits these days . But if your budget will allow you to get a better lens ( or two better lenses for wider coverage ) , I think you'll probably be happier in the long run if you do that .
    • 037 4  The Canon Digital Rebel Canon EOS Silver Digital Rebel XTi 10.1 MP SLR Digital Camera with Canon 18 - 55mm EF-S Lens + 1GB Pro Accessory Kit I bought a couple of years ago came with a basic 18 - 55 mm lens that works OK but doesn't begin to do justice to the capabilities of this great camera . So if you get the camera , don't walk , run to your computer and order the EFS 55 - 250 mm lens . The lens has come down in price a lot since I bought the camera . The image stabilization technology is phenomenal . I've taken some spectacular twilight and indoor shots with the camera in no-flash mode without a tripod . The lens adds a lot of weight to the camera - - about 7 oz . as compared to the standard lens ( with telephoto camera weighs 2 lbs . 3 oz . ) but it's well worth it . Highly recommended .
    • 038 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Great lens . Nice , small , light , and very sharp . With IS and fantastic ISO 800 / 1600 performance from Canon dSLR cameras , I personally see no need to spend $1000 on a f2.8 lens . If I were a pro selling images or routinely making huge enlargements , sure . But for the price , the lens is excellent . Many will complain that the lens housing is plastic . Get over it . Plastic is a fine material ; - )
    • 039 4  Great lens . Nice , small , light , and very sharp . With IS and fantastic ISO 800 / 1600 performance from Canon dSLR cameras , I personally see no need to spend $1000 on a f2.8 lens . If I were a pro selling images or routinely making huge enlargements , sure . But for the price , the lens is excellent . Many will complain that the lens housing is plastic . Get over it . Plastic is a fine material ; - )
    • 040 4  I'll keep it simple . If you shoot weddings or events , buy this lens . I've made shots with this lens that I was taught were impossible without a tripod . 400mm ( equiv ) at 1 / 25th of a second ? Sure , why not ! If you can afford a 70 - 300 IS or a 70 - 200 IS , great . But I'd recommend you try this lens first . Most folks will find they won't need one of those more expensive lenses . Updated 10 / 3 The lens is still exceeding my expectations for a lens at this price . I will admit that it's not razor sharp , but my clients have raved about the photos it can take in low light and at long range .
    • 041 4  I'm still a novice photographer . So , I bought this low-end lens with IS to get my feet wet in photography . IS does wonder to taking shots . I'm travelling Europe right now and having tripod is not an option . So free-hand shooting is all I have . And with IS , it forgives my occasional shakes , ok constant shakes , lol . And I do still get some blurred shots but that's because of lighting and exposure . I'm still learning to pay attention to it . But overall , the qualities of shots are amazing . Once I get into serious photography , I will look into other lens . But right now , with this and 17 - 55mm IS , I can capture most of what I need .
    • 042 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This is a decent lens for the money . Not nearly as fast or as smooth as the IS USM lenses , but it is significantly less expensive while producing nice , sharp images with adequate image stabilization under many different conditions . I'm using it on the 40D .
    • 044 4  I was originally debating between the 18 - 135mm and this lens . I chose this one because of the extra focal length , weight and price . I have the lens kit that comes with the XTI ( 18 - 55mm ) and a 50mm lens and find that I use this lens most often , especially outdoors . The IS is definetly helpful in the 200 - 250 range , but I dont always notice a difference in the lower ranges . The price is great for someone like myself just starting out .
    • 045 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I did a lot of research prior to buying this lens . I have a Canon Rebel XSI , and the combination of this camera and the 55mm to 250 mm telephoto lens is excellent . The image quality is very , very good . I purchased it from Quality Photo through Amazon.com and I couldn't be happier with the experience . Great price , fast delivery . E.F . Stone Fitchburg , Ma .
    • 046 4  I did a lot of research prior to buying this lens . I have a Canon Rebel XSI , and the combination of this camera and the 55mm to 250 mm telephoto lens is excellent . The image quality is very , very good . I purchased it from Quality Photo through Amazon.com and I couldn't be happier with the experience . Great price , fast delivery . E.F . Stone Fitchburg , Ma .
    • 047 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This lens really takes wonderful photos for such a great price . I've taken the lens with me everywhere and get excellent shots in every lighting environment and at any time of the day . I have the Canon Digital Rebel XTi and the lens and camera make a wonderful team for this entry level photographer !
    • 049 4  I bought the 55 - 250 consumer IS lens to go with my new Rebel XSi which comes with the 18 - 55 consumer IS lens . I have now used the larger lens in daylight , twilight and night - - all handheld . It is as good as the reviews said it would be . It is sharp , quick to focus and the IS is fabulous . ( I have not yet done an IS / non-IS comparison yet but I know from handholding my F4 L 200mm zoom how much the IS compensates at the slow shutter speeds . ) While I'll continue to use the L zoom sometimes ( primarily when I'm not traveling and there is plenty of light ) , the 55 - 250 IS will be my primary zoom . This is my 2nd Rebel - - I've been shooting digital for 7 + years and shooting off and on for over 50 years . Wonderful camera , wonderful set of lenses .
    • 050 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This is a lens designed by Canon out of necessity to fill a void in the moderately priced image stabilized zoom lens market . Covering the 55 - 250 mm range takes it to ~ 400 mm , about as long a lens as one can use effectively hand-held . Nikon covers a similar range but at materially greater pricing . The image quality is excellent . The lens is NOT bulky / heavy and travels easily .
    • 054 4  A clear case of getting what you pay for . If you want a professional quality lens , Canon make them : go ahead and spend $2000 . This lens costs a lot less and some compromises have to be made . It gets very long at 250mm and it feels a bit flimsy . There's nothing wrong with the images though . They are sharp and contrasty and the IS works pretty well .
    • 055 4  I just got this lens a little over a month ago and have been steadily using it since . Compared to other lenses I've bought , it's a good deal for the price . On the downside , if you're used to a lens that can go to 300mm this may not be the lens for you . I have to say sometimes I miss the extra 50mm . On the upside , the image stabilization works great and you get some really clear action shots that other lenses would blur . One annoying thing is the autofocus - in lower light , it takes a while to focus and often changes the zoom and loses your original shot . Gets kind of irritating , but that's what I get for using autofocus like a chump . : - )
    • 056 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I've had this lens for about 8 months and I am very very pleased with it . Despite the fact that it lacks USM , it focuses fairly quick and produces excellent sharp photos on my 40D . it is also very light and compact , and thus , can be taken to many stadiums and places where others ' professional-looking ' white lenses won't be let in . And the price is right ! ! ! !
    • 058 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I had owned Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) for about a year when I decided that the standard lens that it came with was rather limited in terms of what sorts of shots I was able to take , especially when it came to taking pictures of distant object . I was not willing to spend too much money on any of the higher end professional or prosumer cameras . I needed something that would take decent photographs under the normal shooting condition , something comparable to the performance of the standard lens . I also wanted image stabilization , as I had come to appreciate how important it was for making low-blur shots . This Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS telephoto zoom lens fit that description perfectly , and over the last year and a half it has met or exceeded all of my expectations . The lens , as can be expected , shoots good high-zoom pictures , especially in broad daylight . The image stabilization greatly helps in lower light condition as it eliminates a lot of the blur . However , I have not had much success with using this lens at night , even with really long exposure while using a tripod and a remote control . In my experience I got the best result when using this lens for shooting ( relatively ) nearby objects at high zoom . This would give me a really large contrast and the pictures that I got that way are among some of the best I ever shot . This is also a fairly heavy lens , especially if you are not used to interchangeable lenses , so you need to plan in advance if you are going to use at a particular shooting situation or not . I discovered that it just fits perfectly in my regular sized DSL camera bag . Also , if you are using more than one lens at the shooting session be very careful when exchanging the lenses . I recommend always trying to find a flat surface on which you can lay down any one lens at a time . Whether you are interested in taking close-ups of distant objects or creating some interesting artistic effects , this is a perfect lens to invest into after you've gotten used to taking pictures with SLR cameras .
    • 059 4  I had owned Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) for about a year when I decided that the standard lens that it came with was rather limited in terms of what sorts of shots I was able to take , especially when it came to taking pictures of distant object . I was not willing to spend too much money on any of the higher end professional or prosumer cameras . I needed something that would take decent photographs under the normal shooting condition , something comparable to the performance of the standard lens . I also wanted image stabilization , as I had come to appreciate how important it was for making low-blur shots . This Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS telephoto zoom lens fit that description perfectly , and over the last year and a half it has met or exceeded all of my expectations . The lens , as can be expected , shoots good high-zoom pictures , especially in broad daylight . The image stabilization greatly helps in lower light condition as it eliminates a lot of the blur . However , I have not had much success with using this lens at night , even with really long exposure while using a tripod and a remote control . In my experience I got the best result when using this lens for shooting ( relatively ) nearby objects at high zoom . This would give me a really large contrast and the pictures that I got that way are among some of the best I ever shot . This is also a fairly heavy lens , especially if you are not used to interchangeable lenses , so you need to plan in advance if you are going to use at a particular shooting situation or not . I discovered that it just fits perfectly in my regular sized DSL camera bag . Also , if you are using more than one lens at the shooting session be very careful when exchanging the lenses . I recommend always trying to find a flat surface on which you can lay down any one lens at a time . Whether you are interested in taking close-ups of distant objects or creating some interesting artistic effects , this is a perfect lens to invest into after you've gotten used to taking pictures with SLR cameras .
    • 061 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I use this lens to shoot practically everything with my Canon 7D , especially sports . It keeps up with the action and the auto-focus and image stabilization are outstanding . The zoom is perfect for baseball , fastpitch softball and soccer . Given the features , quality performance and image quality for under $250 , you will not be disappointed . An exceptional value .
    • 064 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I purchased a canon xsi with the kit lens in December of 2008 and quickly started outgrowing the kit lens . Most of my picture taking is outdoors so a long range zoom was something I was really in the market for . In july of 09 I took the plunge and got the 55 - 250 and now it spends more time on my camera body than anything else . It is lacking in a few areas . My copy of this lens tends to be just a little soft . Not enough to be an issue for small prints or the web , but I'm not a pro photographer by any means . The auto-focus can be a little slow ( though generally faster than the kit lens ) and I've had it hunt around on me a few times ( that's a few times out of nearly 8,000 photographs however , so its a rare occurrence ) . Also the slow aperture makes it almost impossible to use in dimmer conditions . With all that said though the image stabilization on this lens totally makes up for almost all of its flaws . Canon rates it a 4 f-stops and I have to agree . While it wont make the lens perform any better in dim conditions on a overcast to sunny day you can walk around and snap shots like nothing else I've seen . While my friend with a much better lens would have to stop and steady himself I could raise the camera ( even zoomed all the way in to 250mm ) and grab a clear shot almost as fast as I had the subject in frame . I can't recommend this lens highly enough to anyone looking for a cheap long range zoom . As long as can put up with a little softness and plan to use this mostly during the day you can't go wrong with the Canon 55 - 250mm .
    • 065 4  I purchased a canon xsi with the kit lens in December of 2008 and quickly started outgrowing the kit lens . Most of my picture taking is outdoors so a long range zoom was something I was really in the market for . In july of 09 I took the plunge and got the 55 - 250 and now it spends more time on my camera body than anything else . It is lacking in a few areas . My copy of this lens tends to be just a little soft . Not enough to be an issue for small prints or the web , but I'm not a pro photographer by any means . The auto-focus can be a little slow ( though generally faster than the kit lens ) and I've had it hunt around on me a few times ( that's a few times out of nearly 8,000 photographs however , so its a rare occurrence ) . Also the slow aperture makes it almost impossible to use in dimmer conditions . With all that said though the image stabilization on this lens totally makes up for almost all of its flaws . Canon rates it a 4 f-stops and I have to agree . While it wont make the lens perform any better in dim conditions on a overcast to sunny day you can walk around and snap shots like nothing else I've seen . While my friend with a much better lens would have to stop and steady himself I could raise the camera ( even zoomed all the way in to 250mm ) and grab a clear shot almost as fast as I had the subject in frame . I can't recommend this lens highly enough to anyone looking for a cheap long range zoom . As long as can put up with a little softness and plan to use this mostly during the day you can't go wrong with the Canon 55 - 250mm .
    • 068 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Outstanding Lens . This is my third lens for my Canon Digital Rebel XTi . Would highly recommend over the 70 - 300 non image stabilized canon lens . The Image stabilizer makes all the difference in photo quality when zoomed in on far away objects . I cannot say enough about this lens . I used it at the zoo , and never switched it out with any other lens . You can use it for pretty close up , but also very far away objects . Never felt like I couldn't get close enough to the what I was taking a picture of . Very reliable and fast focusing as well . Great at sporting events .
    • 070 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Bought this for my Canon T1i . Being an old nikon slr user with some great lenses , I wanted to use a reflex nikkor 500mm manual focus lens with the Canon digital using the mount conversion and manual focus . Well , it was almost impossible to obtain sharp focus and pictures were disappointing . Saw this Canon AF and IS lens on Amazon and decided to give it a try . From day one , I was getting great sharp photos again , even at max zoom of 250mm and handheld . We have some Sandhill Cranes wintering over here and this Canon autofocus IS lens did not disappoint . Was able to get some shots that looked like a National Geographic photographer had taken them . If your hands are not as steady as they used to be , and your eyes are getting weaker , this lens is your great equalizer .
    • 072 4  The 55 - 250 provides a very decent photo across its zoom range . IS works great . Probabaly the biggest drawback is the fact the lens turns when focusing making it a bit more complicated to use a polarizer .
    • 073 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I can place myself between an Amateur and a Semi-professional photographer . After a lot of Internet research and personal experience with this lens , I have bought it from Amazon.com . Its a wonderful Lens . I don't think that there is close competition to this particular model in this zoom and Price range . AutoFocus : Although not as quick as a USM , if you get used to it , you can shoot birds on flight real fast . Glass : At around $229 , you cannot expect this glass to deliver the quality of a professional L Series Lens , But you can still get stunning images which surprised many . ImageStabilizaiton : Again its one of the best in Class . Over All : 5 stars out of 5 from my side and I highly recommend this lens as an upgrade from the standard Kit lens ( 18 - 55mm ) .
    • 075 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) So , this is my only telephoto lens , so I can't really compare to others . I do own 2 different types of lenses , & I find myself going right back to this one . I think for the price , quality , & features it has won't disappoint you . I have some great shots with this lens & I'm always so happy using it . I'm an amateur photographer on a budget & this lens is perfect for me right now . If I could've afforded the extra 50mm for a longer range , I would've , but I'm still in love with what I have .
    • 077 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This telephoto lens by Canon is really nice . Let me say first , I am not a professional photogragher , so I do not need the performance that one may require . However , for the price , I get wonderful high quality photos with this lens . If you take your picture quality seriously , this lens will get the job done . I recently migrated from my old Canon A1 SLR camera to my current DSLR . The lens I have with my A1 , which by the way still look and operate like new , are all high quality 1.2 , 1.4 on my wide angle and my 50mm and 2.8 on my telephoto . My new DSLR lens are no where near the quality , nor do they haave anywhere near the speed of my old lenses . And what I paid years back is far less than these lower quality lenses sell for . That said , I am totally satisfied with the ease of function , quality and performance of my new Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm lens . I rate this lens 5 - Stars .
    • 078 4  This telephoto lens by Canon is really nice . Let me say first , I am not a professional photogragher , so I do not need the performance that one may require . However , for the price , I get wonderful high quality photos with this lens . If you take your picture quality seriously , this lens will get the job done . I recently migrated from my old Canon A1 SLR camera to my current DSLR . The lens I have with my A1 , which by the way still look and operate like new , are all high quality 1.2 , 1.4 on my wide angle and my 50mm and 2.8 on my telephoto . My new DSLR lens are no where near the quality , nor do they haave anywhere near the speed of my old lenses . And what I paid years back is far less than these lower quality lenses sell for . That said , I am totally satisfied with the ease of function , quality and performance of my new Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm lens . I rate this lens 5 - Stars .
    • 079 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I purchased this lens with the Canon T1i . Amazon had an instant $200 reabate on the lens if purchased with the camera . This was a great deal and I use this lens more than the 18 55mm kit lens which is also a good lens . I would purchase this lens even at full price . The photos I've taken with it are very sharp and the focus is very fast in day light and good indoors . If you can't afford the EF zoom lenses this is a great alternative . The image stablization works well and allows for sharp pictures in low light at shutter speeds as slow as 1 / 30 second .
    • 080 4  I purchased this lens with the Canon T1i . Amazon had an instant $200 reabate on the lens if purchased with the camera . This was a great deal and I use this lens more than the 18 55mm kit lens which is also a good lens . I would purchase this lens even at full price . The photos I've taken with it are very sharp and the focus is very fast in day light and good indoors . If you can't afford the EF zoom lenses this is a great alternative . The image stablization works well and allows for sharp pictures in low light at shutter speeds as slow as 1 / 30 second .
    • 082 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) The Image Stabilization feature in this lens is most useful when you are trying to capture shots without using a tripod . At zoom lengths of 250mm ( 35mm equivalent 400mm ) the IS feature allows you to take shots that would be too shaky without a tripod . You gain 2 or 3 f-stops with IS . In bright light the quality of the images taken is very , very good , even at the max end of the lens . With a little post-processing the images can be made even sharper . At the price , this is excellent value for money , and provides a handy companion to your regular lens . However . . . - The lens is not as sharp as you would like . Sort of expected in a lens that is not the Canon ' L ' series , unlike , say , the Canon EF 70 - 200mm f / 4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras , Canon EF 70 - 200mm f / 2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras , or the Canon EF 100 - 400mm f4.5 - 5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras . - The build quality does not inspire a huge amount of confidence . If you take good care of the lens , and keep it in a bag when not in use , and do not go about knocking it against hard objects or dropping it , the build quality should not be a problem . - This is an EF-S lens , so if at some point in the future Canon switches to full-frame sensors and the dSLR bodies stop accepting EF-S lenses , this lens could well become obsolete . As of now it does not look like the EF lenses are going away , so this is not as big a concern , for several years hopefully . - No USM ( Ultrasonic motor ) , so the time to focus can be slow , especially if the lens has to hunt .
    • 083 4  The Image Stabilization feature in this lens is most useful when you are trying to capture shots without using a tripod . At zoom lengths of 250mm ( 35mm equivalent 400mm ) the IS feature allows you to take shots that would be too shaky without a tripod . You gain 2 or 3 f-stops with IS . In bright light the quality of the images taken is very , very good , even at the max end of the lens . With a little post-processing the images can be made even sharper . At the price , this is excellent value for money , and provides a handy companion to your regular lens . However . . . - The lens is not as sharp as you would like . Sort of expected in a lens that is not the Canon ' L ' series , unlike , say , the Canon EF 70 - 200mm f / 4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras , Canon EF 70 - 200mm f / 2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras , or the Canon EF 100 - 400mm f4.5 - 5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras . - The build quality does not inspire a huge amount of confidence . If you take good care of the lens , and keep it in a bag when not in use , and do not go about knocking it against hard objects or dropping it , the build quality should not be a problem . - This is an EF-S lens , so if at some point in the future Canon switches to full-frame sensors and the dSLR bodies stop accepting EF-S lenses , this lens could well become obsolete . As of now it does not look like the EF lenses are going away , so this is not as big a concern , for several years hopefully . - No USM ( Ultrasonic motor ) , so the time to focus can be slow , especially if the lens has to hunt .
    • 084 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I bought this lens for its sharpness and zoom length as well as its image stabilization . I had originally purchased this Sigma 55 - 200mm f / 4 - 5.6 DC Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras to be on a budget but quickly realized that it wasn't good enough . This lens is super sharp in every test I did both zoomed and up close . The lens has a fast AF and the Image stabilization really makes a difference ! Pros : Super sharp photos Fast AF Price not bad Cons : I couldn't think of any
    • 085 4  I bought this lens for its sharpness and zoom length as well as its image stabilization . I had originally purchased this Sigma 55 - 200mm f / 4 - 5.6 DC Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras to be on a budget but quickly realized that it wasn't good enough . This lens is super sharp in every test I did both zoomed and up close . The lens has a fast AF and the Image stabilization really makes a difference ! Pros : Super sharp photos Fast AF Price not bad Cons : I couldn't think of any
    • 086 4  Initially , I wondered why IS costs much . Looking at the built quality ( Plastic ) , it does not look as ~ $300 lens . But after I tried with other telezoom lens , I figured IS is a must . I have Sigma 30mm f1.4 and Canon 85mm f1.8 . The picture of this lens cannot be compared with those prime lenses , of course . But I got this lens for telezoom and it seems it gives reasonable quality for that purpose : under day light . One minor thing is that it can't catch my son running fast with 250mm zoom ( f5.6 ) , but it is expected with this slow lens . Under shade , the shutter speed gets extremely slower than under the sun , but this lens can mange the focus with IS even with 1 / 30s . I think I am done with search for a telezoom lens for the time being , until I really want to get canon 70 - 200mm f2.8 .
    • 088 4  Photography is basically a hobby for me . I shoot a lot of outdoor sports photos for an online publication . This lens is serving me well so far . If you like the Canon 18 - 55 IS lens , then you will like this as well . The lenses complement each other nicely . For the price , you can't beat this lens . If you are an amateur photographer on a budget , this is perfect for you . Professionals will find little flaws and nit-pick , but an amateur won't even notice those things .
    • 089 4  I recently purchased this lens for the ability to capture some specific longer shots of my son graduating college . This lens was excellent for my uses . I was able to get the handshake picture from 40 yards away . It was a great day and I was made happier I captured the moments with this lens . I was also happy at the quick turnaround in getting the lens . I was not sure I was going to have the camera for graduation - then once I got it - I needed to capture longer distant pictures to make the camera effective for indoors and a ceremony . Other shots taken - Speaker pictures , presentation pictures , - even took a few shots of the campus . . . . . I could explain more technically the ability for the lens to work , but there are many other reviewers that would do a much better job on that .
    • 091 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) My wife wanted a telephoto lens for her Cannon Rebel . We are casual photographers and really don't know that much about it . After reading a lot of reviews , I decided to buy this lens for an upcoming dance performance by my daughter . I was not disappointed ! I was up in the control booth - the farthest point away from the stage and was able to take some really , really good up-close shots of the dancers . The light was very low , so many didn't turn out , because of the slow shutter speed and the action of the dancers , but lots and lots of them turned out really , really well ! ! My wife approved of the lens and the photos - and she complains about everything ! I would recommend this if you are looking for a simple telephoto lens .
    • 093 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This lens is great for long distance daytime shooting . Works well in moderately low light at the shorter focal lengths . Definately recommend this lens for the price . Thanks Amazon.com .
    • 095 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I recently purchased a Canon EOS Rebel 10.1mp . I tried to use the lens that came with the camera at a Show Choir Event and it didn't get me close enough . With this Zoom , it's more than adequate . I could zoom right in on faces or zoom out and get the whole choir . It was well workth the money I spent !
    • 097 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Used this as my primary lens on last vacation and it worked great . I doubt you could find a better tele for the price . IS is also very good . The lens is a bit slow but for under $300 , I can live with it .
    • 098 4  Used this as my primary lens on last vacation and it worked great . I doubt you could find a better tele for the price . IS is also very good . The lens is a bit slow but for under $300 , I can live with it .
    • 099 4  Background : I'm an amateur photographer ( hobbyist , really ) , and most of my experience before the past year has been with film . My digital SLR is a Canon 20D . I love this lens ! I bought it after reading a lot of reviews , and figured it would suit my needs for the short term . To be honest , I doubt I'll sell it even if I come up with the money to buy L quality lenses ; it's got a reasonably quick focus , a great range , and the IS works well . My copy , at least , has been reliably sharp , with no real noticeable aberrations anywhere in its range . Is it an L quality lens ? No . Is it a great lens at a very low price ? Oh yeah . Give it a try . . . you won't be disappointed .
    • 101 4  I am a real SLR novice . I used my Rebel XSI to capture the airplane taking off and entering the clouds from my driveway . I couldn't believe the detail and resolution with the fact that I was hand holding the camera . The IS feature is incredible . I downloaded it so you can see it . Anyone who says the Canon EF-S - 55 - 250mm lens is not a great lens , especially for the money must be pretty picky .
    • 104 4  As an amateur photographer with nothing more than the Rebel XT 18 - 55mm kit & the 50mm f / 1.8 , this zoom lens is a fantastic addition to my growing arsenal . This being my first IS lens , I coudln't be more happier . Please note that I have never had my hands on an L-series lens and will not be reviewing this item as if I had . . . plus it wouldn't be fair anyway . From what I have noticed thus far , the color saturation is quite good in comparison to my other lenses . Bokeh is adequate and shows great depth of field when proper settings are applied . Although many have complained about the build quality of this lens , I cannot . Yes , it is plastic . . . but higher quality plastic in comparison to what I have . I now feel more complete as I have drastically improved my range with this one purchase . The only drawback to this lens is the elongating & rotation when focusing on the subject . Yes , this can be solved with the purchase of a USM lens , but the value of this lens is far too great . But to counter that , the motor is actually much quieter than my other 2 lenses . Magazines have raved about it . Users have expressed overall satisfaction . I am here to tell readers that this product is the best value from Canon in the market . Amateur photographers need not worry !
    • 106 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Remembering that it is an EF-S rather than an EF lens , it is a good intermediate lens for beginners . I got this one for my son-in-law for when I give him my 20D at Christmas . [ 5D MK II on order for me ] The IS is a nice touch . Of course it is not an L lens but you don't pay those prices either . Recommended .
    • 107 4  Remembering that it is an EF-S rather than an EF lens , it is a good intermediate lens for beginners . I got this one for my son-in-law for when I give him my 20D at Christmas . [ 5D MK II on order for me ] The IS is a nice touch . Of course it is not an L lens but you don't pay those prices either . Recommended .
    • 111 4  I was very happy with the Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS . I have the Canon 75 - 300mm that came with the kit . But my pictures weren't crystal clear . I wanted an affordable lens that wasn't going to break the bank . This is definitely the lens for you if you are looking for a reasonable price IS lens . I will definitely recommend this to others .
    • 113 4  I've had this lens for more than a year . With it's price , I didn't expect much from it . Decent lens , light , well enough build . It doesn't produce the sharpest images . But I got a lot of good pictures from it . One thing that bother me the most is the color is off even on a nice sunny day . Overall , it's a good lens to start . But I'm ready to get a better one .
    • 116 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Nice lens , can't beat the price from Amazon . I would recomend this lens to anyone with a Cannon SLR . A +
    • 118 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I do not have experience with the faster ( and more expensive ) top-grade lenses , but this one does the job just right . For the price , this lens is great . I shoot mainly outdoors for photos I want to display on my walls or for family , so this lens is just right for my photography needs .
    • 120 4  Image Stabilizer costs more but it's really worth it . Bottom line you need Stabilizer to take ANY PHOTOS at NIGHT . They won't come out without a Image Stabilizer in use but with this lens YOU CAN take photos at night . Also don't think you can hold a camera still when the exposure time is 1 / 8th of a second without a stabilizer . Your photo will not come out good . I use this lens at sports events and compared to my 70 - 300mm lens without stabilizer it makes a huge difference . Even with the exposure time of 1 / 30th of a second the images that came out blurry on the 70 - 300mm come out great on the 55 - 250mm lens . Bottom Line - If you have the money don't buy this Canon 75 - 300mm lens without Image Stabilizer . Canon EF 75 - 300mm f / 4 - 5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Save your money and get this 55 - 250mm lens with Image Stabilizer . Even though the zoom is better on the 75 - 300 the photos in Low Light Situations ( even thought they aren't perfect ) come out better on the 55 - 250mm lens .
    • 121 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I love this lens because : - - > It's affordable . - - > It takes great , sharp pictures throughout all apertures , throughout all focal lengths . I find myself using this lens a lot at 55mm , and 250mm , with no worries . - - > Quick focusing compared to the cheaper Tamron / Sigma lenses I've demo'd - - > Superb optical image stabilization , especially at 250mm - - > Solid feel ( for being light ) . - - > Precise , and responds accurately to input I considered the Tamron 18 - 270 ( and other 18 - 200 ' s / 250 ' s ) , but after reading a lot of reviews and speaking with experts , quickly realized that there are no ' miracle ' all-in-one lenses , and changing lenses in the field is a necessary evil . I'm glad I didn't sacrifice image quality for laziness . I highly recommend this lens to beginners , but only being an f / 4 , I sometimes find it a bit ' slow ' .
    • 122 4  I love this lens because : - - > It's affordable . - - > It takes great , sharp pictures throughout all apertures , throughout all focal lengths . I find myself using this lens a lot at 55mm , and 250mm , with no worries . - - > Quick focusing compared to the cheaper Tamron / Sigma lenses I've demo'd - - > Superb optical image stabilization , especially at 250mm - - > Solid feel ( for being light ) . - - > Precise , and responds accurately to input I considered the Tamron 18 - 270 ( and other 18 - 200 ' s / 250 ' s ) , but after reading a lot of reviews and speaking with experts , quickly realized that there are no ' miracle ' all-in-one lenses , and changing lenses in the field is a necessary evil . I'm glad I didn't sacrifice image quality for laziness . I highly recommend this lens to beginners , but only being an f / 4 , I sometimes find it a bit ' slow ' .
    • 123 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) The image captured is pretty sharp . I don't have a L lens so I can't compare to 70 - 200 , however , I don't use this long range very often , and 55 - 250 is good enough for me .
    • 125 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I was looking for a perfect zoom lens for my Canon Rebel T1i ( 500d ) that would not break the bank . After readings tons of reviews and comparing / contrasting lenses , I finally decided to get this one ! When I tried it out the first time , I was pleased - more pleased than I expected . Even on a cloudy day , the quality was still there ! These are a few positives and negatives about this lens : Positives : * Good quality , especially on a sunny day ! * Great zoom ! * Quick to put on camera body and start taking photos * Easy to zoom ( almost too easy ! ) * Has manual / auto focus * Not too big or too small * Has image stabilization Negatives : * some grain during cloudy days when you have to bump up the ISO * Some vignetting on full zoom * not a fast lens ( which means that the F-Stop number is not low enough , which does not allow lots of light in ) * NOT useful ( quality-wise ) indoors or night time photos * Sometimes I have to switch between my kit lens and this lens because it starts at 50mm ( and I need a wider lens ) * use of plastic to make this lens It many seem like there are more negatives , but those are just the broad positives . For the money , this lens is perfect . I am very satisfied with it , and glad I bought this one . Like many people , I need a zoom lens to get the job done , not to be PERFECT in every way . What lens is ? If you need a zoom lens , buy this one !
    • 126 4  I was looking for a perfect zoom lens for my Canon Rebel T1i ( 500d ) that would not break the bank . After readings tons of reviews and comparing / contrasting lenses , I finally decided to get this one ! When I tried it out the first time , I was pleased - more pleased than I expected . Even on a cloudy day , the quality was still there ! These are a few positives and negatives about this lens : Positives : * Good quality , especially on a sunny day ! * Great zoom ! * Quick to put on camera body and start taking photos * Easy to zoom ( almost too easy ! ) * Has manual / auto focus * Not too big or too small * Has image stabilization Negatives : * some grain during cloudy days when you have to bump up the ISO * Some vignetting on full zoom * not a fast lens ( which means that the F-Stop number is not low enough , which does not allow lots of light in ) * NOT useful ( quality-wise ) indoors or night time photos * Sometimes I have to switch between my kit lens and this lens because it starts at 50mm ( and I need a wider lens ) * use of plastic to make this lens It many seem like there are more negatives , but those are just the broad positives . For the money , this lens is perfect . I am very satisfied with it , and glad I bought this one . Like many people , I need a zoom lens to get the job done , not to be PERFECT in every way . What lens is ? If you need a zoom lens , buy this one !
    • 127 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I have a couple of Cameras now capable of superzoom functioning . A panasonic fz18 , an Olympus e - 510 with 70 - 300mm lens , and a Canon T1i with this 55 - 250mm lens . This lens is very good DSLR zoom lens when the price is also considered , with it just above 200 bucks now . It doesn't have the heft of the Oly 70 - 300mm and the build quality feels a tad bit less , but the images it produces are as good when combined with the T1i as I can get with my Olympus set-up . I didn't notice it being noisy and felt the IS system really did a good job at 250mm . As I do most of my shooting handheld I strongly recommend anything with an IS system either in the body or lens over lens without , especially when zooming . I won't have even considered the Canon 70 - 300mm entry level lens that lacks this . Build seems a bit better then then shorter kit lens that comes with the Rebels , and between the two I far prefer this one . I think for most Rebel users this would be the logical second lens to move to after the kit one and for the price is worth it . ( for bang for your buck it is very hard to beat the panasonic fz series of superzooms but that is for another review )
    • 128 4  I have a couple of Cameras now capable of superzoom functioning . A panasonic fz18 , an Olympus e - 510 with 70 - 300mm lens , and a Canon T1i with this 55 - 250mm lens . This lens is very good DSLR zoom lens when the price is also considered , with it just above 200 bucks now . It doesn't have the heft of the Oly 70 - 300mm and the build quality feels a tad bit less , but the images it produces are as good when combined with the T1i as I can get with my Olympus set-up . I didn't notice it being noisy and felt the IS system really did a good job at 250mm . As I do most of my shooting handheld I strongly recommend anything with an IS system either in the body or lens over lens without , especially when zooming . I won't have even considered the Canon 70 - 300mm entry level lens that lacks this . Build seems a bit better then then shorter kit lens that comes with the Rebels , and between the two I far prefer this one . I think for most Rebel users this would be the logical second lens to move to after the kit one and for the price is worth it . ( for bang for your buck it is very hard to beat the panasonic fz series of superzooms but that is for another review )
    • 129 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive telephoto lens that gets the job done well then the Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Lens is what you're looking for . Easy to use , light enough that you won't mind carrying it around in your camera bag this lens works well for those times when you want / need a telephoto lens . My only complaint , and this is towards Canon themselves and not the lens , is that Canon doesn't provide a hood with the lens ; Canon must realy think highly of their hoods as they are ridiculously expensive as an accessory . I bought a nice Hoya hood for this lens at about 25% the cost of the Canon hood .
    • 130 4  If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive telephoto lens that gets the job done well then the Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Lens is what you're looking for . Easy to use , light enough that you won't mind carrying it around in your camera bag this lens works well for those times when you want / need a telephoto lens . My only complaint , and this is towards Canon themselves and not the lens , is that Canon doesn't provide a hood with the lens ; Canon must realy think highly of their hoods as they are ridiculously expensive as an accessory . I bought a nice Hoya hood for this lens at about 25% the cost of the Canon hood .
    • 132 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Maybe I just got lucky , but I LOVE this lens ! Yes , it is plastic ( which can be a good thing , since it's lighter and smaller than comparable zooms ) . And come on , I only paid $250 ! The images from this lens are tack sharp with bokeh that is pleasing to the eye , though not as smooth and buttery as some would like . For me , this is fine , as a bit of post-processing can help if needed . In most lighting ( even in the dark ! ) this lens focuses relatively quickly compared to the Canon 18 - 200mm lens I'm replacing . The only time I found it slow to focus is in very low light , low contrast scenes , with the lens zoomed past 200mm . However , that is an issue with many zoom lenses in this price range ( and higher ) . IS works well and is pretty quiet . Zooming / focusing is smooth with no lens creep whatsoever . Oh , and it doesn't drain my battery too quickly , like some competitors ' zoom lenses . Also , I see NO evidence of fringing in 99% of the high-contrast photos taken with this lens on my 50D . In the small number of pictures that display fringing , it is minimal and of a neutral color , NOT purple . Overall , I'm very impressed with the functionality , ease of use and picture quality for the price paid . This lens is a big winner for me and will find a happy home alongside the Canon 50mm f / 1.4 and Canon 10 - 22mm wide angle . After trying some very positively reviewed lenses from Tamron and Sigma , I've decided no one knows Canon cameras like Canon . I doubt I'll buy another lens from any other company in the future . Go Canon ! ! !
    • 133 4  Maybe I just got lucky , but I LOVE this lens ! Yes , it is plastic ( which can be a good thing , since it's lighter and smaller than comparable zooms ) . And come on , I only paid $250 ! The images from this lens are tack sharp with bokeh that is pleasing to the eye , though not as smooth and buttery as some would like . For me , this is fine , as a bit of post-processing can help if needed . In most lighting ( even in the dark ! ) this lens focuses relatively quickly compared to the Canon 18 - 200mm lens I'm replacing . The only time I found it slow to focus is in very low light , low contrast scenes , with the lens zoomed past 200mm . However , that is an issue with many zoom lenses in this price range ( and higher ) . IS works well and is pretty quiet . Zooming / focusing is smooth with no lens creep whatsoever . Oh , and it doesn't drain my battery too quickly , like some competitors ' zoom lenses . Also , I see NO evidence of fringing in 99% of the high-contrast photos taken with this lens on my 50D . In the small number of pictures that display fringing , it is minimal and of a neutral color , NOT purple . Overall , I'm very impressed with the functionality , ease of use and picture quality for the price paid . This lens is a big winner for me and will find a happy home alongside the Canon 50mm f / 1.4 and Canon 10 - 22mm wide angle . After trying some very positively reviewed lenses from Tamron and Sigma , I've decided no one knows Canon cameras like Canon . I doubt I'll buy another lens from any other company in the future . Go Canon ! ! !
    • 135 4  I purchased this lens , Canon EF-S 55 - 250 f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom lens due to its stabilization . I also have a Canon f / 4.0 70 - 210 Telephoto Zoom lens I have had for 20 years but I have had difficulty at higher zooms in holding it anywhere near steady enough . I have only had the new lens for 2 months and have found it to be excellent at low to mid range shots but a little soft ( as indicated in other reviews ) at high zoom ( 200 - 250 ) . But the stabilization has been great . I am strictly a novice but I consider it to be a reasonable buy , even with the lens I already owned . My older lens is better on a tripod I think because it is f / 4.0 for all ranges . As I am semi-retired I don't have a lot of spare cash but this was still a good deal . If you need a lens for this range and can't afford $600 I would recommend the Canon EF-S 55 - 250 IS wholeheartedly . On a sadder note , I was photographing my brother-in-law sawing wood . I changed lenses and did not put away my 55 - 250 . Naturally it fell off a 4 foot table onto the concrete floor . I had a rubber lens hood on it and it has apparently protected the lens . The hood completely folded even with the lens edge but I can find no scratches ( I did have a protective filter on it ) . Pictures at all ranges appear to be fine . Strong recommendation - - buy a hood ! ! Also I have to remove the wood dust from the lens before I really use it again . Really dumb .
    • 137 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This is a super lens for outdoor sunny days . I just wish it was a little faster but that would cost a lot more .
    • 142 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I needed a lens to use for my children's sporting events . I had purchased a non-IS lens and the results were poor . This lens , however , provides clear and crisp shots for soccer , t-ball and fast moving lacrosse events . I find the focus to be sufficiently quick . Compact size is very nice too . In this price range , I would highly recommend this zoom lens .
    • 143 4  I needed a lens to use for my children's sporting events . I had purchased a non-IS lens and the results were poor . This lens , however , provides clear and crisp shots for soccer , t-ball and fast moving lacrosse events . I find the focus to be sufficiently quick . Compact size is very nice too . In this price range , I would highly recommend this zoom lens .
    • 147 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This lens has not let me down one bit . There are better lenses in terms of zoom obviously , but the fact that it is image stabilized makes it great . I have taken some great pics at sporting events without knowing much more than the basics .
    • 151 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Bought as new from Amazon , but received a defective one . Right after open the box , I found : There are eight dark dust spots sticking to inside glasses of the lens ; There is one scratch on the surface of glass in the rear end of the lens . Immediately returned it . Recently I received a couple of defective or used electronic items from Amazon for new items including the almighty Canon T2i . I am wondering whether it is because of bad warehouse management , logistics or because I selected super saver shipping and got punished ? Updates : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Amazon is in processing to give me a full refund . Amazon customer service remains ranking at the highest level . However , I decided to give marketplace a try . I ordered this lens from Gigabargin at slightly higher price when considering the 3% discount for Amazon item . Got this lens from Gigabargin , it has three dust spots inside the glasses which is better than the one that I bought from Amazon weeks ago . based on my experience , canon 55 - 250 is not well built inside . outside is okay . Took 30 pictures and 10 mins HD 1080p movie at 30p / s with my newly bought canon T2i at my kid's Awards Night , the actual image and video quality is well beyond average . I recommend canon 55 - 250 lens and T2i Body for entry level DSLR fans .
    • 155 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) If you're looking at this lens then you've probably found out you have 3 choices . You could get this one , get the 75 - 300mm with no image stabilization ( IS ) , or the 75 - 300mm USM with IS . For me the 75 - 300mm USM with IS was too expensive . I really wanted the IS but I was worried about only getting 250mm worth of zoom . In my opinion , the IS is better than getting the extra 50mm . A friend of mine had the 75 - 300mm without IS and I couldn't hold it steady at full zoom which resulted in blurry images . The IS in this lens lets you zoom all the way out and still have a fairly slow shutter speed . The focus speed is comparable to the kit lens on the XSI ( 25 - 55mm IS ) , which is fine for me . I haven't had a shot yet where I wished I had the extra zoom . This is not meant for a professional sports photographer , but it's great for a parent like me who wants to get great shots of the kids on the ballfields . I would have given it 5 stars if it was a USM lens . If you have the money , go with the 75 - 300mm USM with IS . If not , get this one .
    • 156 4  If you're looking at this lens then you've probably found out you have 3 choices . You could get this one , get the 75 - 300mm with no image stabilization ( IS ) , or the 75 - 300mm USM with IS . For me the 75 - 300mm USM with IS was too expensive . I really wanted the IS but I was worried about only getting 250mm worth of zoom . In my opinion , the IS is better than getting the extra 50mm . A friend of mine had the 75 - 300mm without IS and I couldn't hold it steady at full zoom which resulted in blurry images . The IS in this lens lets you zoom all the way out and still have a fairly slow shutter speed . The focus speed is comparable to the kit lens on the XSI ( 25 - 55mm IS ) , which is fine for me . I haven't had a shot yet where I wished I had the extra zoom . This is not meant for a professional sports photographer , but it's great for a parent like me who wants to get great shots of the kids on the ballfields . I would have given it 5 stars if it was a USM lens . If you have the money , go with the 75 - 300mm USM with IS . If not , get this one .
    • 157 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This is the first lens I used other than the lens that came with my EOS Rebel XS kit and I love it . I bought it for my family trip to Walt Disney World and it performed better than I expected . The auto focus can be a little slow but not that bad to deal with . Picture quality is really good . Over all I am happy with the purchase .
    • 159 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I am an amateur photographer with a Canon Rebel XS camera . Prior to receiving this lens I was using the kit lens 18 - 55mm . This lens offers great zoom range with the added bonus of image stabilization , while not perfect it produces sharp clean images even at the telephoto end of the zoom . So for the amount you pay , this lens offers great images . As I have said before I am not a professional photographer , I dabble in digital photography . This lens suits my needs perfectly . If you are a professional or aspiring photographer , this lens might not suit your needs as well .
    • 162 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) What with the price of all the IS Canon lenses that I have studied I had made up my mind that I would just have to do without , however this EF-S 55 - 250 sure changed that in a hurry . I received this lens within a few days and immediately put it to use photographing the wild birds at my feeders in my back yard . To say that I am satisfied is an understatement . I was blown away with my photos and while I am certain that there are other better IS lens out there on the market this one , taken into account the reasonable price can't be beat . I believe that Canon has done the users of their cameras a great service and I thank them for it . Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
    • 163 4  What with the price of all the IS Canon lenses that I have studied I had made up my mind that I would just have to do without , however this EF-S 55 - 250 sure changed that in a hurry . I received this lens within a few days and immediately put it to use photographing the wild birds at my feeders in my back yard . To say that I am satisfied is an understatement . I was blown away with my photos and while I am certain that there are other better IS lens out there on the market this one , taken into account the reasonable price can't be beat . I believe that Canon has done the users of their cameras a great service and I thank them for it . Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
    • 164 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I love thie lens . It's light weight , easy to use , nicely constructed . It's not professional quality , but for the price , it's perfect .
    • 166 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Bought this lens to take pictures of my son competing in Triathlons . Much easier to get a good shot of him now . The image stabilizer is great ! ! ! !
    • 168 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) For beginners such as I , this lens is very good when consider its price . I have taken some pictures with this lens and I like the lens . If canon provide a lens hood with this lens , that will be very good . Unfortunately you have to buy one . I found it will take a little long time to focus .
    • 170 4  I bought this lens when I ordered my Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0 - Inch LCD and EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens and it has been worth every penny . I opted for this one over the cheaper 70mm to 300mm zoom because this has Image Stabilization ( which comes in handy when you are zoomed in all the way ) . The auto focus works great ( another advantage over the 70 - 300 , according to other reviews I've read ) , and I've snapped a bunch of great close up animal shots . Of my two lenses ( my other is the kit lens 18mm - 55mm ) , I use this one the most . If you want a great starter zoom lens , this one is worth trying . Just make sure to turn off the IS when you're not using it ( if the camera is on a tripod , etc ) , as it can drain battery life .
    • 171 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I am very happy with this lense . I love to take pictures on nature in my backyard and this lense helps me to do that .
    • 174 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This lens produces very nice images . It works suprisingly well for the price . It is not extremely fast , but the wide ISO range of the T1i helps that out . I am satisfied with the value for my money .
    • 175 4  This lens produces very nice images . It works suprisingly well for the price . It is not extremely fast , but the wide ISO range of the T1i helps that out . I am satisfied with the value for my money .
    • 176 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I have been using this zoom lens for over 8 months now and I am extremely pleased with it . The IS makes all the difference . The maroon and gold elementary school football pictures and the power boat pictures posted in the picture folder for this product are some of the photos that I have cropped and loaded on the Amazon site . I am using this lens with a Rebel XT ( 350D ) with a Class 4 compact flash card and have been extremely pleased with the resulting outdoor photos . I have not bothered to use it indoors yet because I only have the built-in flash and I know that's not enough . In fact I am so pleased with this lens that I have put the replacement kit lens ( Canon EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS SLR Lens ) on my wishlist to replace my kit lens .
    • 177 4  I have been using this zoom lens for over 8 months now and I am extremely pleased with it . The IS makes all the difference . The maroon and gold elementary school football pictures and the power boat pictures posted in the picture folder for this product are some of the photos that I have cropped and loaded on the Amazon site . I am using this lens with a Rebel XT ( 350D ) with a Class 4 compact flash card and have been extremely pleased with the resulting outdoor photos . I have not bothered to use it indoors yet because I only have the built-in flash and I know that's not enough . In fact I am so pleased with this lens that I have put the replacement kit lens ( Canon EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS SLR Lens ) on my wishlist to replace my kit lens .
    • 178 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I took a picture of some airplanes landing and taking off and actually got one with the pilot in full view ! The zoom was great for 55 - 250 . I took all photos by holding the camera in my hand and non of the pics were shaky . This lens has the Image Stablization built in and it is well worth the money .
    • 181 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Very nice addition to the stable of lenses . It really fills the gap between the kit lens and the super telephoto lens . Works well and is nice and light .
    • 183 4  I get excellent pictures and it is easy to use . It would be nice if the F numbers were smaller but I guess it would cost more then . I also have a 75 - 300 IS lens and it is very heavy so this is nice for hiking .
    • 184 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I made my decision based on the reviews of others here . I agree that it is a great lens for the price . If you can afford more , you may want to consider a lens with a greater range so you don't have to switch back and forth . I enjoy seeking the right shots to use it . Don't forget your tripod !
    • 186 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I'm just an average digital camera user and find this lense easy to use and it gives me very good results . On a recent fishing trip I took over 150 photos over a three day period and had no battery problem whatsoever . The quality of the photos is very good . I'm very satisfied with this lense , especially its modest price .
    • 188 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) This Lens is a Great Buy ! ! ! @ loved the deal . . . The IS is great feature . . . Prefer takin potraits more though . . . But not bad at all ! ! !
    • 190 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Canon has a cheaper 55 - 200mm lense , but it does not have image stabilization and is much slower than this one . I shoot action shots at full zoom with great results . My Son has the cheaper one , and is disappointed .
    • 193 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I bought this lens for the image stabilization , replacing a 70 - 300 without IS . It does help and the lens works good for this price point . I still see alot of softness at the maximum reach of the lens , but that is to be expected for this price .
    • 194 4  I bought this lens for the image stabilization , replacing a 70 - 300 without IS . It does help and the lens works good for this price point . I still see alot of softness at the maximum reach of the lens , but that is to be expected for this price .
    • 195 4  As a recreational photographer . Mostly youth sports . This lens gave me everything I needed . I can shoot a soccer game from just about anywhere on the sidelines . And the shots that don't quite fill the frame , I crop and everything looks good on the computer screen and after printing . Only complaint ( or better yet , aggrevation ) is the zoom mechanics as far as motion goes . You really need to twist it . This isn't as smooth as the kit lens . It reacts like it needs some lubrication so the zoom extends more easily . Not a big deal , but that's the only thing I noticed as far as the lens goes . For the money and the zoom range you can't do any better .
    • 196 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) The Canon lenses are great quality . I purchased this as a refurbished item through Amazon and have not been disappointed . Highly recommend - b
    • 198 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I purchased my first Canon digital camera and was surprised to learn how easy it was to use the camera.Then someone mention a telephoto lens for some closer and better shots and I purchased a Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm and they where right.I am happy about my purchase and more than pleased with my purchased .
    • 200 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) For the price you pay for this lens , it is well worth it . It takes great pictures , and the construction is good . The image stabilizer , is a wonderful feature and works very well . This is not a lens for the professional photographer . It is built for amateurs like myself . Photography is a hobby for me . I don't do it for my job . I have nicer lenses . But for the money , this is a great deal .
    • 202 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Some reviews seem to knock this lens because it's not heavy duty and pro level . I used it to photograph wildlife in National Parks and found it worked quite well . When you are packing it for miles into the back country you appreciate the light weight .
    • 204 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I am very pleased with the new Canon EF-S 250 Telephoto Zoom lens for my Digital SLR . It adjusts itself , attaches easily , and provides a wide range of options . This is the first time I have used a telephoto lens . It presents as easy to use and works with the camera's settings nicely . Now I am looking forward to a New England trip to catch the leaves changing . You would need to have a slightly bigger camera bag as the standard case only carries the lens that came with the camera . Amazon has some nice options for Canon cases that work with this lens and the standard lens .
    • 205 4  I am very pleased with the new Canon EF-S 250 Telephoto Zoom lens for my Digital SLR . It adjusts itself , attaches easily , and provides a wide range of options . This is the first time I have used a telephoto lens . It presents as easy to use and works with the camera's settings nicely . Now I am looking forward to a New England trip to catch the leaves changing . You would need to have a slightly bigger camera bag as the standard case only carries the lens that came with the camera . Amazon has some nice options for Canon cases that work with this lens and the standard lens .
    • 208 4  First this is a cheap kit lens , but you get value as far as price performance goes . It is the natural choice to complement the kit 18 / 55mm IS . The professional evaluations that I've read ( and I read alot of them ) give it high marks for a tele zoom between f8 to f22 . The reviewers do get anal9 read critical ) in their comments relative to lower f stops and at the extreme ranges of the zoom . I do not baby my gear and just got back from 14 days in utah hiking and this lens held up fine while strapped into my back pack . The images were certainly acceptable to my eyes.I am sure if I had the $1000 lens I would think differently . Yes there are better lens both in built quality and optically at bocoo bucks . This lens complements the kit 18 / 55mm . My image stabilizer broke in the 18 / 55mm IS lens . I speculate it will also break relatively soon in this lens but for now it works and works well . Nothing beats it optically in a zoom in this price range . In conclusion : marginal built quality , good optical results at a bargin price relatively speaking ( hey I'm scotish and $250 is still a lot of money lads and lassies ) .
    • 210 4  For the price , this lens is actually good ! I've read the reviews on this lens on the internet . They've been fairly good . So I thought I'd buy it and give it a chance . It takes good pictures . It is light . It is inexpensive . The IS actually works ! Now , mind you , it is not as good as an L lens . But , for the budget minded person like I am , it is nice .
    • 213 4  I bought this lens to bring to the Zoo , parks , etc with my kids to get close ups of animals and such . So far so good . The image stabilizer is a must ! However , if I had the extra cash , I'd go for the 18 - 250 with the stabilizer instead . Good lens for the price .
    • 214 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) If I had never gotten my 50mm 1.8 prime lens I'd probably be over the moon with this zoom lens . However I have gotten spoiled to it and this lens doesn't quite match up to the picture quality in low light . I find it does hunt even in late afternoon sunlight with shade . It is slow to focus in some situations , mainly movement of a small child . It takes a bit of playing with to get the right settings so you have good color . Otherwise your shots can be too washed out . I think it will be great for what I intend on using it . To sit on the other side of the yard and take pics of my son playing . I still haven't gotten to use it in bright light yet so I'll have to see what it does then , ( I have had it just two days . ) : ) For good low light shots I'll be sticking with my 50mm .
    • 215 4  If I had never gotten my 50mm 1.8 prime lens I'd probably be over the moon with this zoom lens . However I have gotten spoiled to it and this lens doesn't quite match up to the picture quality in low light . I find it does hunt even in late afternoon sunlight with shade . It is slow to focus in some situations , mainly movement of a small child . It takes a bit of playing with to get the right settings so you have good color . Otherwise your shots can be too washed out . I think it will be great for what I intend on using it . To sit on the other side of the yard and take pics of my son playing . I still haven't gotten to use it in bright light yet so I'll have to see what it does then , ( I have had it just two days . ) : ) For good low light shots I'll be sticking with my 50mm .
    • 218 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I am very much satisfied with this , using it with a canon 40D . I planned to get this lens since this was the telephoto lens in this price . Although I got it for $250 and now it has gone to $214 , I wonder why : rolleyes : The lens does give nice results .
    • 220 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) Haven't owned an SLR in 30 years , this lens was the compliment to my Rebel XSi that I needed to get back into a fine hobby . My knowledge is not the only thing slowing my re-entry , my wallet is and this was a great buy . Ordered it with 2 day shipping is it came just on time and I got to use it at the Beach . I'm having fun with Digital SLR and this transaction did nothing but facilitate my fun .

  • 013 4  The Canon Xsi package we bought came with an 18 - 55 fairly fast lens . I wanted a telephoto lens that went to 300 or more for mostly outdoor and sports shots , but the economy tanked . . . I couldnt bring myself to spend $ $ $ for my hobby . I started looking at Tamron and Vivitar as a solution , and while I own both for my old analog slr . I wanted to take full advantage of the Image Stabilazation and AutoFocus features on the Xsi . I have mixed and matched camera , flash , and lens brands in the past and knew there might be some issues . I have used this lens a number of times in High school basketball games . I am very pleased with it . You can buy faster lenses , but for the money . . . this little lightweight lense is great ! I get a few blurred shots when setting courtside at girls games . A few more blurred shots in boys games . But all in all . . . not many . And usually the blur is the ball or the feet or hands , which add an element of motion to the shot . This has been a great lens for the action shots I want to take , it is great for the outdoor shots I take while motorcycle touring , is great for low light with a tripod . Shooting in RAW lets me clean up about any mistakes I make with software . ( Except for blurred or out of focus shots ) , no software can fix those . The price was right . I read some reviewers talking about how light weight and cheezy it felt . Hey , I like the lightness of it . I have this sucker strapped to my neck and light is good . I got a lot of lens for my dollar , coupled with a very capable camera , it is a good combination for recreational photography . I ordered through Amazon , It was at my door in SC OKlahoma within 3 days . thanks ,
    • 024 4  I recently had our twin daughter's Pre-K graduation and dance recital before going on vacation for a week . I flip-flopped on whether I should purchase the 55 - 250 or go with the Canon 75 - 300 USM . After testing out both lenses at the J & R , I went with the 55 - 250 . Overall , I'm extremely satisfied . I can take photos of images I've missed in the past . Images are sharp . Colors pop . The auto-focus and image stabilization work well . Using the EOS software included with the Canon xSi , I can fine-tine the photos to my liking . I've read comments that that build is plastic and flimsy . I have not found this to be the case . It's just as sturdy as the 18 - 55 kit lens included with the Xsi . Could you get slightly sharper images from the 75 - 300 . You may be able to , but is it worth double the price and extra weight . If you are simply looking to get great photos of family members , special events , vacations with image stabilization and auto-focus , the Canon 55 - 250 lens cannot be beat for the price .
    • 026 4  I mounted the 55 - 250mm ES Canon lens on my rebel XSI and put it to its first challenge . Basketball tournament in a poorly lit gym . The stabilized lens gave me another f-stop and I was able to achieve good exposure at 160 / sec . pushing the camera asa to 1600 . Even my short 18 - 55 kit lens required more light under the same conditions . This lens has nice reach and can get you in on all the sports action from the side line . I love this lens for the money and it came right away hassle free from Amazon.com . I recommend this lens for a nice addition to your camera bag , well worth the money . It feels a little cheap but it is light weight .
    • 034 4  I'm not a photographer or an expert with lenses , but this lens has a huge zoom , much more so than the lens that comes with the canon T1i which I'm using this with . It also produces very well focused pictures . I used the lens that came with the camera the first few days but was much happier with the zoom range on this lens . It is a bit difficult though to take a picture when the subject is close , you'll definitely want to switch for those . If you can get this lens with the camera ( it was 200 off when i got it ) , making it nearly free . If you are going to get a high end camera like the T1i , you definitely need a good zoom lens for it . Definitely would recommend this to a friend .
    • 052 4  For the price paid , I can't imagine you would find much better . Yes , it is plastic and yes it doesn't have the quality of an L Series lens , but considering the price , I think you get a lot more than what you pay for . The image stabilization is really pretty good on this . I was surprised to shoot slow shutter speeds with the zoom out and be able to maintain decent images still . I would definitely recommend this lens .
    • 063 4  Pros - Smooth feel over the entire zoom range - Relatively inexpensive . Mine was part of a T1I kit from Costco - Autofocus works well and is quiet - Image stabilization works well with , allowing me to take sharp photos with much lower light than I'm used to Cons - Can't see any for the price . Admittedly it's not quite up to the standards of similar zoom $1200 lens but I'm very happy with what I got .
    • 074 4  I can place myself between an Amateur and a Semi-professional photographer . After a lot of Internet research and personal experience with this lens , I have bought it from Amazon.com . Its a wonderful Lens . I don't think that there is close competition to this particular model in this zoom and Price range . AutoFocus : Although not as quick as a USM , if you get used to it , you can shoot birds on flight real fast . Glass : At around $229 , you cannot expect this glass to deliver the quality of a professional L Series Lens , But you can still get stunning images which surprised many . ImageStabilizaiton : Again its one of the best in Class . Over All : 5 stars out of 5 from my side and I highly recommend this lens as an upgrade from the standard Kit lens ( 18 - 55mm ) .
    • 090 4  I bought this lens to go with the 18 - 55 kit lens on my 40D and I have used it for sports and some portraits and I must say I'm impressed , my daughters play outdoor field hockey so having the range from 55mm to 250mm is great , the pictures are very sharp and I can't complain about the saturation or contrast , when used for portraits the bokeh is very nice , all this from a $255.00 lens ? Like I said . . . . No Regrets ! P.S . You will need to buy the Precision Design ET - 60 lens hood for $12.95
    • 109 4  I bought this with a new XSi camera and it is a real asset to have the added capabilities of this lens and the one that came with the camera . The image stabilization is amazing .
    • 114 4  I got this lens a week ago and love it . Yes Amazon is saying that you are saving a 100 dollars when buying from them but that is not true . Any way this is a great lens , I like that there is no mm gap between the 18 - 55mm lens and this lens . Also this lens includes a new feature , that is image stabilizer ( can be turned on or off ) . This feature is good for telephoto lens because when taking a picture from far away any little movement of the camera causes the picture to be blurry , the stabilizer gets rid of that . A + + + in my book !
    • 124 4  The image captured is pretty sharp . I don't have a L lens so I can't compare to 70 - 200 , however , I don't use this long range very often , and 55 - 250 is good enough for me .
    • 167 4  Bought this lens to take pictures of my son competing in Triathlons . Much easier to get a good shot of him now . The image stabilizer is great ! ! ! !
    • 169 4  For beginners such as I , this lens is very good when consider its price . I have taken some pictures with this lens and I like the lens . If canon provide a lens hood with this lens , that will be very good . Unfortunately you have to buy one . I found it will take a little long time to focus .
    • 173 4  Did you ever want to shoot someone or some animal ? You can shoot people and animals near and far , with them standing alone or in crowds ( candid ) , sunny or cloudy , day or night , with this one lens . This slightly soft lens actually improves the appearance of people . And the Image Stabilizer lets me get great pictures even at 250mm with a shutter speed of 60 . I have an excellent shot of my dog outside at night , 250mm , shutter speed set at 30 . ( Okay , so I was leaning against a wall the night I shot Sadie ) By the way , I purchased the lens used , in like new condition , from a seller on Amazon . Saved more than 50 bucks .
    • 197 4  The Canon lenses are great quality . I purchased this as a refurbished item through Amazon and have not been disappointed . Highly recommend - b
    • 216 4  For amateur photographers , this lens is an excellent compliment to the kit lens to extend the zoom range . With its price , it has its drawbacks : slow ( 4.0 - 5.6 ) , auto focus some times indecisive at low light , build quality not top of the notch . But it only costs you a little more than [ . . . ] bucks . With this price , it is a good buy for its image quality and zoom range . So if you don't do a lot of indoor photographing and are not so picky about the overall build quality ( actually it is not too bad to me ) , then this is a great one to have .
    • 219 4  I am very much satisfied with this , using it with a canon 40D . I planned to get this lens since this was the telephoto lens in this price . Although I got it for $250 and now it has gone to $214 , I wonder why : rolleyes : The lens does give nice results .

  • 020 4  I bought this lens mainly because of price . It was the longest lens with AF and IS I could get without busting my budget as I bought the Rebel XSI at the same time . I took it to a stock car race and brought back some GREAT pictures . I still wish I had a little more lens but I was delighted with how well the lens zoomed in and focused . Our seats were near the top of the stands and the lens made it possible to read the patches on the driver's uniforms on pit road . I also took some city shots and the lens performed well . I took great steady shots without the need of a tripod . If you need a good versitile lens that doesn't break the bank , I recommend this one without reservation .
    • 185 4  I made my decision based on the reviews of others here . I agree that it is a great lens for the price . If you can afford more , you may want to consider a lens with a greater range so you don't have to switch back and forth . I enjoy seeking the right shots to use it . Don't forget your tripod !

  • 053 4  All I can say is wow . This lens just came in today so lots left to discover but wow . I have had my xt for three years now and had given up hope of taking the pics I really wanted . I took this lens outside and got some flower pictures , then went inside and took some more pics . I have the kit lens 18 - 55mm and also the 75 - 300usm , and the 50mm lens thats so popular , I have never been able to get pics like the ones I snapped today ! This lens puts off a new camera body for a long while , in short it is nothing less than great . This is what I bought the Rebel XT to do . The color , contrast , clarity is suddenly all there . I bet alot of you bought a dslr to take great pics , or much better than a point and shoot , well this lens puts you there . I notice that the newer consumer dslr bodies come with an IS lens and this is no coinsidence as its the lens that is making your pictures so much better . I highly recommend it as it is the best purchase I've made in a long time even in auto mode !
    • 043 4  This is a decent lens for the money . Not nearly as fast or as smooth as the IS USM lenses , but it is significantly less expensive while producing nice , sharp images with adequate image stabilization under many different conditions . I'm using it on the 40D .
    • 102 4  This is great to buy with the kit lens because it is a reasonably priced IS telephoto lens . So far I have taken great photos of the moon with this camera . Even when I cropped the image a lot the images still looked great . This is the perfect lens for anyone who wants a really good telephoto lens at a reasonable price .
    • 110 4  I love this lens , it has added some much needed flexibility to my 18 - 55mm kit lens that came with my camera . I IS on this camera is great I'm not use to hearing it work when I push the button , but it does work . For the price I paid the lens construction is very good , the lens is pretty heavy . Pictures are sharp and for the most part color accurate .
    • 115 4  this lens is a great deal ! i'm an amateur photographer , so on a budget . this has the range i need , has IS so I don't have to lug around a tripod to use . it's light weight and produces great , sharp photos . i noticed the dc motor is a bit loud , but it's substantially less expensive than the usm model . i already know this will be one of my favorite lenses .
    • 146 4  I have the rebel xti and currently have the 18 - 55mm that came with it , and the 50mm f1.8 , but I needed a little more focal range . I opted for the 55 - 250mm with IS not only for the increased focal range but also for the amazing price . Although it is plastic , the lens has a good , sturdy feel . The image stabilization is spectacular and has made photo opportunities that were previously impossible for me a breeze . If you are debating between this and the 70 - 300 with IS , though I have not used it , I would recommend this . For only 50mm more focal range and the price increase I couldn't see how the 70 - 300 could be worth it . I am considering eventually getting a 1.4x teleconverter that will bump this lens up to a max 350mm for only around $130 , however it will need to be used mainly for outside photography due to its decrease in aperture . Well done , Canon .
    • 161 4  This lens is very sharp and good quality for its price . It is a nice addition to the 18 - 55mm kit lens . The biggest down side to it is the AF and IS is really noisy and if your in quiet situations it is quit noticeable and annoying .
    • 189 4  This Lens is a Great Buy ! ! ! @ loved the deal . . . The IS is great feature . . . Prefer takin potraits more though . . . But not bad at all ! ! !
    • 206 4  love the zoom and IS on this lens , goes well with the 18 - 55 kit lens that you get
    • 209 4  We purchased this lens to take on our honeymoon to Tanzania . We had a few options but chose this one because it would work best with our Rebel camera . We thought that the 55 - 250 lens was perfect for catching great shots of the wildlife while out on Safari . The IS option was what was great to prevent shaky pictures . We are new to the world of digital SLR cameras but this lens was easy to use , change and learn about . Definitely comes highly recommended by us . We took over 1300 pictures with it in 2 weeks !

  • 060 4  had this lens since christmas for my Rebel Si with the 18 - 55 . This lens is a perfect complement . This is not a professional quality lens , but if you an amateur shooter on a budget , it is fantastic . If you just enjoy shooting and want a decent zoom for closeups , long distance shooting this is it . I also got the 250D closeup filter , and since i've never used a macro before , it is a lot of fun . I now have a great all round DSLR setup for a relatively small amount of money - a huge range of focal lengths for someone who just wants to play around with a camera and take some decent images . I would highly recommend the lens , just don't expect it to be pro quality or durability . Oh and the colours and sharpness won't be pro level but you'll still have fun with it .
    • 140 4  I realize that this is by far not the greatest lens , but for the price it is to me , a newcomer to the Digital SLR world , this lens great , as far as price in concerned . I would rather get real acquainted with my camera a lot more , before I go out and purchase an expensive lens . That way later I would know what I want in a better lens , and I will truly see the difference , between the two . It really compliments the 18 - 55mm kit lens that came with my XSi . I am sure that I would probably need more reach , but that would have to come later .
    • 160 4  I am an amateur photographer with a Canon Rebel XS camera . Prior to receiving this lens I was using the kit lens 18 - 55mm . This lens offers great zoom range with the added bonus of image stabilization , while not perfect it produces sharp clean images even at the telephoto end of the zoom . So for the amount you pay , this lens offers great images . As I have said before I am not a professional photographer , I dabble in digital photography . This lens suits my needs perfectly . If you are a professional or aspiring photographer , this lens might not suit your needs as well .
    • 211 4  I just got this lens last month and have been mostly pleased with the results . It is only my second DSLR lens next to the 18 - 55mm standard lens , but I am pleased with it so far . The only thing I found is some pictures can be a little bit blurry if you zoom in all the way .

  • 066 4  I bought my Canon XSi just after the two lens bundle promotion , ( which included this lens ) , ended , leaving me with the option of purchasing either the body only or an 18 - 55 lens combo bundle . I chose the bundle for the wide lens , but I still needed a zoom lens . I decided on this zoom as an initial zoom lens . I figured it would be sufficient for the time being . Expecting typical ho-hum performance common with less expensive glass , I must say this lens pleasantly surprised me . Images are vivid , crisp , and sharp . It has sufficient speed to freeze fast moving action in good light , especially outdoors . Things stay nice and clear even at the far end of the zoom . Image Stabilization works very well and is most appreciated when shooting at full zoom . The lens is very lightweight and easy to carry . Indoor performance is great as well , however the slow lens starts to show its limitations as the light fades . Regardless , the photos are still much better than low-light shots taken with point and shoot cams costing double the price of this lens , or more ; although it's not exactly the faster Canon 70 - 200mm F / 2.8L lens that I eventually plan to purchase either . If you need a decent zoom lens and you're not a professional photographer or advanced amateur , get this and save your money ( unless you have money to burn ) . Trust me , you won't regret it , especially if you can score this lens as part of a bundle .
    • 019 4  I have done a lot of professional work in 35mm over the last 50 years , and have used Canon F1 ' s and FD lenses for the last 25 , usually working with Kodachrome 25 . About six months ago I decided to make the conversion to digital , and bought a 12 megapixel Canon 450D ( Digital Rebel ) . I have read a number of reviews of Canon lenses downplaying the quality of the cheaper lens line . However , this has not been consistent with my experience . I found that the 18 - 55 kit lens produces image quality very competitive with my 24 - 105 f : 4L , for example . I had originally considered the 70 - 200 f : 4L , but that comes with a price tag anywhere from $600 ( for a non image stabilized version ) to $1000 ( for an image stabilized version ) and is about double the weight of the 55 - 250 . The 55 - 250 comes with a plastic mount and the outer ring rotates when focusing , which could present some difficulty when using a polarizer , although I have not found it to be that bad . Certainly the plastic mount would not be as durable as the more rugged mounts on the L series Canon lenses , but I'm not looking for rugged . I wanted a lens that would give me a longer focal length range when I want it , to be used occasionally . In my opinion the 55 - 250 does an excellent job meeting this need . I have found the optics to be quite decent , much better than the reviews I have read would have suggested . At around the $230 I paid for the lens what's not to like ! I could go through four of these for the price of one equivalent image stabilized 70 - 200 f : 4L ! Also , I'm guessing that as long as one takes reasonable care of the lens , durability will not be a problem . For normal amateur use I would give it five stars !
    • 062 4  I use this lens to shoot practically everything with my Canon 7D , especially sports . It keeps up with the action and the auto-focus and image stabilization are outstanding . The zoom is perfect for baseball , fastpitch softball and soccer . Given the features , quality performance and image quality for under $250 , you will not be disappointed . An exceptional value .
    • 081 4  I don't know much about photography . Until a week ago , I've always just used point-and-shoot cameras , and had no idea what I was in for when I got my Canon Rebel T1i . I've found this lens very easy to use for a beginner SLR user , and , to my uneducated eye , the pictures are amazing . It is a great price for one of a newbie's first couple lenses . I am extremely pleased .
    • 092 4  My wife wanted a telephoto lens for her Cannon Rebel . We are casual photographers and really don't know that much about it . After reading a lot of reviews , I decided to buy this lens for an upcoming dance performance by my daughter . I was not disappointed ! I was up in the control booth - the farthest point away from the stage and was able to take some really , really good up-close shots of the dancers . The light was very low , so many didn't turn out , because of the slow shutter speed and the action of the dancers , but lots and lots of them turned out really , really well ! ! My wife approved of the lens and the photos - and she complains about everything ! I would recommend this if you are looking for a simple telephoto lens .
    • 108 4  I got this lens to improve the range of pictures I could take . I only had the lens that came with my Rebel ( 18 - 55 mm ) and I found that I wasn't able to take pictures that I wanted from a distance . This lens allows me to capture those shots . So far , it's been a great extra lens .
    • 117 4  Nice lens , can't beat the price from Amazon . I would recomend this lens to anyone with a Cannon SLR . A +
    • 119 4  I do not have experience with the faster ( and more expensive ) top-grade lenses , but this one does the job just right . For the price , this lens is great . I shoot mainly outdoors for photos I want to display on my walls or for family , so this lens is just right for my photography needs .
    • 131 4  My hubby decided I needed this lens for football . I wasn't sure I would be happy with the speed and clarity for the price . What a pleasant surprise . This lens is giving me some sharp photos and football moves fast . There are times I would love a little more speed , but seriously . . . it would cost a great deal more . This one is great for the Mom who shoots her kids in action . Some might complain about the plastic parts , but I am grateful it is light weight . Bokah is good . Great gift of the serious amateur !
    • 145 4  Can't afford to buy a $600 lense , so we bought this one and I love it . I do a lot of action photos and it has helped tremendously . Lightweight too , so it doesn't weigh the camera down .
    • 150 4  I am very new to DSLR photography and this lens was everything advertised . I based my decision on other user reviews and couldn't be happier . Would definitely recommend this lens to any new user like myself as very versatile .
    • 221 4  Haven't owned an SLR in 30 years , this lens was the compliment to my Rebel XSi that I needed to get back into a fine hobby . My knowledge is not the only thing slowing my re-entry , my wallet is and this was a great buy . Ordered it with 2 day shipping is it came just on time and I got to use it at the Beach . I'm having fun with Digital SLR and this transaction did nothing but facilitate my fun .

  • 076 4  So , this is my only telephoto lens , so I can't really compare to others . I do own 2 different types of lenses , & I find myself going right back to this one . I think for the price , quality , & features it has won't disappoint you . I have some great shots with this lens & I'm always so happy using it . I'm an amateur photographer on a budget & this lens is perfect for me right now . If I could've afforded the extra 50mm for a longer range , I would've , but I'm still in love with what I have .
    • 048 4  This lens really takes wonderful photos for such a great price . I've taken the lens with me everywhere and get excellent shots in every lighting environment and at any time of the day . I have the Canon Digital Rebel XTi and the lens and camera make a wonderful team for this entry level photographer !
    • 057 4  I've had this lens for about 8 months and I am very very pleased with it . Despite the fact that it lacks USM , it focuses fairly quick and produces excellent sharp photos on my 40D . it is also very light and compact , and thus , can be taken to many stadiums and places where others ' professional-looking ' white lenses won't be let in . And the price is right ! ! ! !
    • 103 4  I am a amateur photographer who wanted something that would take good pictures of my daughter and her friends when out and about . I love the quality of the pictures I have taken with this lens . It focuses fast and has taken very good pictures even when the kids where running towards me . I am using this lens with a Canon XTi .
    • 141 4  This is an excellent lens . I used it at my grandson's T-Ball games and I was able to fill the frame for close up shots when he was a bat or in the field . It was also great for vacation photos . I have used both the auto focus and the manual focus . I use the lens on my Canon Rebel XSi which is also an excellent camera . Everyone comments on the sharpness and color clarity of my photos with this combination .

  • 087 4  After reading many reviews that nitpicked on image quality and long-term EF-S resell value , I was apprehensive about purchasing this instead of a more expensive lens . I finally relented and got this lens . I'm totally satisfied . Image quality is great , AF is fast , I can't complain . I'm happy to report I don't regret getting this budget zoom at all ! I use it on a Rebel T1i .
    • 067 4  Nice lens . A little slow to focus in AF mode when you run the lens out to the focal length limit . Other than that , the performance is great .

  • 105 4  This is a good entry level telephoto zoom . Works fine for people like me who need telephoto lens only occasionally . Yes , it is all plastic and cheaply built , but that makes it very light weight . The auto focusing is a little bit slow , but this is what you can expect from a lens of this price . However , if you have large budget and will like to use a telephoto more often , go get yourself a better lens .
    • 094 4  This lens is great for long distance daytime shooting . Works well in moderately low light at the shorter focal lengths . Definately recommend this lens for the price . Thanks Amazon.com .
    • 158 4  This is the first lens I used other than the lens that came with my EOS Rebel XS kit and I love it . I bought it for my family trip to Walt Disney World and it performed better than I expected . The auto focus can be a little slow but not that bad to deal with . Picture quality is really good . Over all I am happy with the purchase .
    • 182 4  Very nice addition to the stable of lenses . It really fills the gap between the kit lens and the super telephoto lens . Works well and is nice and light .

  • 134 4  This lens , has for the most part met all my expectations . It's a great medium range zoom lens and is sharp throughout the zoom ranges . I use this lens a lot for sunrise / sunset photos and is extremely fast in low light situations . I also use the lens for nightime astrophotography and find the optics to be clear and sharp for taking images of the moon and constellations . Auto focus is quick and precise and doesn't have to hunt around a lot . I've really not had the oportunity to use the Image Stabilization feature because the lens is always mounted on a tripod . It is a much heavier lens than I am use to and will need to purchase a heavier duty tripod , but that was expected . Overall , I am vey pleased with my purchase .
    • 051 4  This is a lens designed by Canon out of necessity to fill a void in the moderately priced image stabilized zoom lens market . Covering the 55 - 250 mm range takes it to ~ 400 mm , about as long a lens as one can use effectively hand-held . Nikon covers a similar range but at materially greater pricing . The image quality is excellent . The lens is NOT bulky / heavy and travels easily .
    • 069 4  Outstanding Lens . This is my third lens for my Canon Digital Rebel XTi . Would highly recommend over the 70 - 300 non image stabilized canon lens . The Image stabilizer makes all the difference in photo quality when zoomed in on far away objects . I cannot say enough about this lens . I used it at the zoo , and never switched it out with any other lens . You can use it for pretty close up , but also very far away objects . Never felt like I couldn't get close enough to the what I was taking a picture of . Very reliable and fast focusing as well . Great at sporting events .
    • 112 4  For the price , you can't find any other lens to beat it . Image Stabilizer is very helpful as a telephotolens . The image quality ( sharpness , saturation , and contrast ) is just superb . Focal range is very useful for a 1.6x crop body . One more important pro is its size and weight ( only 10.8cm long and 390g ) . The only cons are small aperture and AF speed in low light ( sometimes hunt for a while in low light condition ) . Highly recommanded !
    • 179 4  I took a picture of some airplanes landing and taking off and actually got one with the pilot in full view ! The zoom was great for 55 - 250 . I took all photos by holding the camera in my hand and non of the pics were shaky . This lens has the Image Stablization built in and it is well worth the money .

  • 136 4  This lens is great ! i just love the price . The autofocus it very fast , and quiet . It is constructed very well , sturdy . Highly recomended !

    • 149 4  Really happy with this lens . It is small and light , inexpensive , and has given me some great photos . The image stabilizer has let me get some great shots in relatively low light for the f-stop capabilities of this lens . No complaints whatsoever - for the price and size / weight it cannot be beat !

      • 201 4  For the price you pay for this lens , it is well worth it . It takes great pictures , and the construction is good . The image stabilizer , is a wonderful feature and works very well . This is not a lens for the professional photographer . It is built for amateurs like myself . Photography is a hobby for me . I don't do it for my job . I have nicer lenses . But for the money , this is a great deal .
        • 138 4  This is a super lens for outdoor sunny days . I just wish it was a little faster but that would cost a lot more .
        • 144 4  The lens was exactly what I wanted . It came efficiently and arrived within the specified time . I am completely satisfied with the purchase .
        • 148 4  This lens has not let me down one bit . There are better lenses in terms of zoom obviously , but the fact that it is image stabilized makes it great . I have taken some great pics at sporting events without knowing much more than the basics .
        • 165 4  I love thie lens . It's light weight , easy to use , nicely constructed . It's not professional quality , but for the price , it's perfect .
        • 172 4  I am very happy with this lense . I love to take pictures on nature in my backyard and this lense helps me to do that .
        • 203 4  Some reviews seem to knock this lens because it's not heavy duty and pro level . I used it to photograph wildlife in National Parks and found it worked quite well . When you are packing it for miles into the back country you appreciate the light weight .
        • 212 4  The cost of this lens compared to the next in line makes this lens a great value . To get a slightly better zoom you have to pay almost twice as much . I am very happy with this purchase
        • 217 4  I am a middle-of-the-road photographer ~ not a pro , but not a novice . This is my first non-kit lens & I LOVE it . The number of ' keeper ' photos increased immensely with the addition of this lens . It is well worth the money & deserves the nickname Canon Photography On The Net gave it - nifty two fifty .

      • Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I was determined to love this lens based on the specs and price point alone . Canon really needed to come out with this lens at this price because Nikon offers a very decent Vibration Reduction lens at roughly the same range for the same price , leaving me to make apologies for Canon and their neglect to all my Nikon friends . The IS can be switched off to save battery life but I haven't noticed a difference in battery performance with it . The IS is only activiated when you press the shutter halfway for auto focus . Although it FEELS like there is a small lag for the IS to start , I don't think I've had any photos messed up because of it . You can HEAR the IS . A little bizarre after using point and shoots that have IS that is silent , but it doesn't seem to affect performance Pro : Great price for an image stabilized zoom lens . I paid 299 and am very pleased even though Amazon is selling it for 280 a week later . ALso arrive 2 months sooner than Amazon initially promised . This lens has NEVER been 400 dollars . Its MSRP from Canon prior to release was 299.00 . Shame Amazon ! Pro : Images are very sharp . Pro : Image stabilization does a VERY nice job . Four stops as advertised by Canon ? I'm not so sure . GREATLY enhancing the composition experience at 250mm ? Absolutely . Pro : Much smaller and lighter than the 70 - 300 of any manufacturer and much sharper than my Sigma 70 - 300 . Con : Cheapish feel . But just use it , quit feeling it already . Plastic mount . But if you NEED a metal mount , may I suggest you are being a little rough with your camera . * UPDATE * The plastic flanges on back were able to hold the camera securely to the lens , but NOT hold the rear cap securely to the lens . I've tried many different rear lens caps that fit snugly on other lenses . So I think this is beyond cheap feel and has to be called CHEAP BUILD . Con : This lens is a little ( ok , maybe not so little ) slow to focus in dim light , sometimes it misses altogether when I think other lenses of mine would have had no difficulty . Con : I never gave Inner Focusing much thought on my other lenses until I used this . The front of this lens rotates AND moves in and out a LOT while focusing , so much so that you MAY even want to recompose your shot . The length of this lens changes almost an inch across the focus range . I just checked my Sigma 70 - 300 and found that it does also , but I've never seen it make as much difference in the viewfinder as I have with this Canon . Your perception may vary . This lens and the soon to be arriving 18 - 55 IS as the XSi kit lens will allow me to carry one less lens to achieve an 18 - 250 IS range . For a little more money than the cost of both lenses you can get the Tamrom 18 - 250 but not have Image Stabilization . And now Sigma has an 18 - 200 WITH Optical Stablization for about what these 2 lenses cost retail , but in testing the 2 Canons produced better images . Conclusion : A great EF-S lens for Canon users . ( even if Nikon had to force Canon to make it for us . )
        • 001 4  This review is from : Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras ( Electronics ) I was determined to love this lens based on the specs and price point alone . Canon really needed to come out with this lens at this price because Nikon offers a very decent Vibration Reduction lens at roughly the same range for the same price , leaving me to make apologies for Canon and their neglect to all my Nikon friends . The IS can be switched off to save battery life but I haven't noticed a difference in battery performance with it . The IS is only activiated when you press the shutter halfway for auto focus . Although it FEELS like there is a small lag for the IS to start , I don't think I've had any photos messed up because of it . You can HEAR the IS . A little bizarre after using point and shoots that have IS that is silent , but it doesn't seem to affect performance Pro : Great price for an image stabilized zoom lens . I paid 299 and am very pleased even though Amazon is selling it for 280 a week later . ALso arrive 2 months sooner than Amazon initially promised . This lens has NEVER been 400 dollars . Its MSRP from Canon prior to release was 299.00 . Shame Amazon ! Pro : Images are very sharp . Pro : Image stabilization does a VERY nice job . Four stops as advertised by Canon ? I'm not so sure . GREATLY enhancing the composition experience at 250mm ? Absolutely . Pro : Much smaller and lighter than the 70 - 300 of any manufacturer and much sharper than my Sigma 70 - 300 . Con : Cheapish feel . But just use it , quit feeling it already . Plastic mount . But if you NEED a metal mount , may I suggest you are being a little rough with your camera . * UPDATE * The plastic flanges on back were able to hold the camera securely to the lens , but NOT hold the rear cap securely to the lens . I've tried many different rear lens caps that fit snugly on other lenses . So I think this is beyond cheap feel and has to be called CHEAP BUILD . Con : This lens is a little ( ok , maybe not so little ) slow to focus in dim light , sometimes it misses altogether when I think other lenses of mine would have had no difficulty . Con : I never gave Inner Focusing much thought on my other lenses until I used this . The front of this lens rotates AND moves in and out a LOT while focusing , so much so that you MAY even want to recompose your shot . The length of this lens changes almost an inch across the focus range . I just checked my Sigma 70 - 300 and found that it does also , but I've never seen it make as much difference in the viewfinder as I have with this Canon . Your perception may vary . This lens and the soon to be arriving 18 - 55 IS as the XSi kit lens will allow me to carry one less lens to achieve an 18 - 250 IS range . For a little more money than the cost of both lenses you can get the Tamrom 18 - 250 but not have Image Stabilization . And now Sigma has an 18 - 200 WITH Optical Stablization for about what these 2 lenses cost retail , but in testing the 2 Canons produced better images . Conclusion : A great EF-S lens for Canon users . ( even if Nikon had to force Canon to make it for us . )
        • 002 4  I was determined to love this lens based on the specs and price point alone . Canon really needed to come out with this lens at this price because Nikon offers a very decent Vibration Reduction lens at roughly the same range for the same price , leaving me to make apologies for Canon and their neglect to all my Nikon friends . The IS can be switched off to save battery life but I haven't noticed a difference in battery performance with it . The IS is only activiated when you press the shutter halfway for auto focus . Although it FEELS like there is a small lag for the IS to start , I don't think I've had any photos messed up because of it . You can HEAR the IS . A little bizarre after using point and shoots that have IS that is silent , but it doesn't seem to affect performance Pro : Great price for an image stabilized zoom lens . I paid 299 and am very pleased even though Amazon is selling it for 280 a week later . ALso arrive 2 months sooner than Amazon initially promised . This lens has NEVER been 400 dollars . Its MSRP from Canon prior to release was 299.00 . Shame Amazon ! Pro : Images are very sharp . Pro : Image stabilization does a VERY nice job . Four stops as advertised by Canon ? I'm not so sure . GREATLY enhancing the composition experience at 250mm ? Absolutely . Pro : Much smaller and lighter than the 70 - 300 of any manufacturer and much sharper than my Sigma 70 - 300 . Con : Cheapish feel . But just use it , quit feeling it already . Plastic mount . But if you NEED a metal mount , may I suggest you are being a little rough with your camera . * UPDATE * The plastic flanges on back were able to hold the camera securely to the lens , but NOT hold the rear cap securely to the lens . I've tried many different rear lens caps that fit snugly on other lenses . So I think this is beyond cheap feel and has to be called CHEAP BUILD . Con : This lens is a little ( ok , maybe not so little ) slow to focus in dim light , sometimes it misses altogether when I think other lenses of mine would have had no difficulty . Con : I never gave Inner Focusing much thought on my other lenses until I used this . The front of this lens rotates AND moves in and out a LOT while focusing , so much so that you MAY even want to recompose your shot . The length of this lens changes almost an inch across the focus range . I just checked my Sigma 70 - 300 and found that it does also , but I've never seen it make as much difference in the viewfinder as I have with this Canon . Your perception may vary . This lens and the soon to be arriving 18 - 55 IS as the XSi kit lens will allow me to carry one less lens to achieve an 18 - 250 IS range . For a little more money than the cost of both lenses you can get the Tamrom 18 - 250 but not have Image Stabilization . And now Sigma has an 18 - 200 WITH Optical Stablization for about what these 2 lenses cost retail , but in testing the 2 Canons produced better images . Conclusion : A great EF-S lens for Canon users . ( even if Nikon had to force Canon to make it for us . )
        • 152 4  Bought as new from Amazon , but received a defective one . Right after open the box , I found : There are eight dark dust spots sticking to inside glasses of the lens ; There is one scratch on the surface of glass in the rear end of the lens . Immediately returned it . Recently I received a couple of defective or used electronic items from Amazon for new items including the almighty Canon T2i . I am wondering whether it is because of bad warehouse management , logistics or because I selected super saver shipping and got punished ? Updates : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Amazon is in processing to give me a full refund . Amazon customer service remains ranking at the highest level . However , I decided to give marketplace a try . I ordered this lens from Gigabargin at slightly higher price when considering the 3% discount for Amazon item . Got this lens from Gigabargin , it has three dust spots inside the glasses which is better than the one that I bought from Amazon weeks ago . based on my experience , canon 55 - 250 is not well built inside . outside is okay . Took 30 pictures and 10 mins HD 1080p movie at 30p / s with my newly bought canon T2i at my kid's Awards Night , the actual image and video quality is well beyond average . I recommend canon 55 - 250 lens and T2i Body for entry level DSLR fans .
        • 153 4  Let me start out by saying this is a GREAT lens for a decent value . The IS makes a real difference and outdoors the autofocus is lightening fast as long as there is a fair amount of light . However in lowlight situations ( mainly indoors ) AF barely works and is as slow as molasses in July ! However pictures are great indoors if you can handle the easy-to-use MF . Pro : Awesome sharpness Pro : Good , solid build Pro : IS is very helpful . Pro : In decent light , the AF is very fast . Con : Auto focusing in low light is a NIGHTMARE ! However , pictures turn out very well if you take the time to focus the image yourself . Con : Sometimes Auto focusing in low light can work , but when it does , the front of the lens moves so much you may need to zoom in or out more . In addition I HIGHLY recommend getting a Tiffen 58mm filter in your order . They work as good as Canon products and are much cheaper ! Con : Not so good for Macro photography of close-ups . If you aren't in it to photograph flowers , this is no big deal ! Bottom line : If you are photographing outdoors and need an inexpensive lense that will produce great pics this is for you ! I mainly photograph trains and railroads and through that this lens has proven itself to me !

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