Jon_T
Veteran Member
Just checking the Canon Refurb sites and noticed they currently have Refurb 55-250 IS STM discounted to $129.99. Regular $239.99
Would imagine these will probably go fast.
Would imagine these will probably go fast.
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Canon Refurb 55-250 IS STM $129.99
- Thread starter Jon_T
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Not that fast. I bought one a few weeks ago. Apparently, they had about 500 of them available.
All up, including multi-coated protection filter and hood, I paid less than $180. That lens on a 7D Mark II is as powerful as a 1V HS (film) + 400/2.8 was, in many ways (not DOF, obviously).
It has a lot of vignetting (easy to correct if you need to), but it's an amazingly good lens for the size and price. I plan to primarily use it as a video lens, but I've taken some stills with it too, and it's really quite outstanding for a $500 lens. At $130, it's a steal!
Spotted Cow
Senior Member
I used the version 2 of the lens and currently have the STM version and for me it was night and day better in every way, not close.
Jon_T
Veteran Member
Gave my original 55-250mm IS MK I to a friend when I ordered the STM version hence did not do any side-by-side AF speed comparisons to provide any comments on AF speed with still shots, but on the 70D doing video the continuous AF performance is better and smoother.
The STM version is noticeably sharper at the 200-250mm focal lengths at the edges/corners.
55-250 IS MK I: 250mm @ f/5.6 (The-Digital-Picture.com)
55-250 IS STM 250mm @ f/5.6 (The Digital-Picture.com)
Couple 55-250 IS STM reviews:
The-Digital-Picture.com
Photozone.de
STM AF improvements include internal AF -- the front element and AF ring does not rotate during AF operation, and provides AF manual override like the USM lenses. (i.e., do not need to switch lens the the "MF" for MF)
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Jon_T
Veteran Member
Those with relatively new cameras the in-camera JPEG images should correct for the vignetting.
Or one could shoot RAW and use the free DPP to correct all lens' issues (i.e., vignetting, CA. distortion, etc.)
My 7D II has that, but I shut it off. I'll correct in post, if needed.
I don't use DPP.
Jon_T
Veteran Member
My post was not a direct response to you, but just general comments that could benefit others that may reading.
Hence the "Those with..." and "Or one could...".
tatslau
Forum Enthusiast
I have this lens for a while now. Totally enjoying it. One thing most people probably don't know about it is that it has severe focus breathing when the subject is within 10 feet. In close focusing it acts like a 50-200mm zoom. It is a true 55-250mm when focused to infinity so you can't sue Canon for cheating.
However, on second thought, this focus breathing "bug" is actually a good feature, because it becomes wider when you shoot close subjects, that's when you need it to be wider most the time. How often do you use 55mm to shoot things @ infinity? For me that's next to none.
So it really is a 50-250mm zoom, YAY!
I just wonder why, if it's so darn good, is it so darn cheap???
However, on second thought, this focus breathing "bug" is actually a good feature, because it becomes wider when you shoot close subjects, that's when you need it to be wider most the time. How often do you use 55mm to shoot things @ infinity? For me that's next to none.
So it really is a 50-250mm zoom, YAY!
I just wonder why, if it's so darn good, is it so darn cheap???
Got it in the mail today and had to play with it for a few minutes before heading into work!
BIG difference is noticed immediately in how it focuses, slightly faster, significatnly smoother and you cant feel the thing moving let alone hear it! Manual focus ring is a very nice feature too.
When i would point and shoot from the hip so to speak (without looking through viewfinder or at live view you could feel the focus motor engage and then stop so I could tell that something was in focus... don't think I will be able to do that with this lens (usually resulted in bad shots anyway)
I am eager to test this out more and compare actual image quality and any gains I may get in my real world shots (Sports, portraits of kids, wildlife, nature scenery/general photography in that order of importance and frequency)
BIG difference is noticed immediately in how it focuses, slightly faster, significatnly smoother and you cant feel the thing moving let alone hear it! Manual focus ring is a very nice feature too.
When i would point and shoot from the hip so to speak (without looking through viewfinder or at live view you could feel the focus motor engage and then stop so I could tell that something was in focus... don't think I will be able to do that with this lens (usually resulted in bad shots anyway)
I am eager to test this out more and compare actual image quality and any gains I may get in my real world shots (Sports, portraits of kids, wildlife, nature scenery/general photography in that order of importance and frequency)
cybersimba
Senior Member
tatslau
Forum Enthusiast
cybersimba
Senior Member
Spotted Cow
Senior Member
I got better image quality from the 55-250 STM lens on my crop sensor cameras than the 70-200mm f4L lens. Now the same 70-200mm f4L lens on my 6D is a different story but the 55-250mm STM is nothing to sneeze at. I'm pleasantly surprised and happy with its image quality every time I use it.
cybersimba
Senior Member
Wow, this observation of yours confirms to one of my other observations. I have a very similar case with using 70-300L on 70D. The IQ of 70-300L on 6D is a different class (and have been happy with all the time) than 70-300L on 70D. I have not been happy at all with 70-300L on 70D. But IQ of 55-250 on 70D is much superior and consistent than 70-300L on 70D!! Thanks for sharing your observation!
tatslau
Forum Enthusiast
Well, you shouldn't be "not at all happy with IQ from those". They are very good walk around lenses just a tad below L lens IQ. But for pixel peepers like us, nothing is good enough unless...hee, hee!
tatslau
Forum Enthusiast
Most reviews say the 55-250 STM has the slight edge over the 18-135STM. But they're so close that sample variation may be a factor. Both lenses have different strengths and weaknesses so get both if you can afford it. I just feel the 18-135 is a little too heavy for my arthritic elbow (don't laugh people). I think that my 3 lenses set of 10-18, 40, 55-250, plus a 1.7x screwed on TC covers me head to toe for a while. I'm covering the missing 18-40, 40-50 zoom ranges with my feet. (55-250 acts like 50-200 in close range because of focus breathing).
As for some L lenses not giving optimum IQ from 70D, maybe because you need micro-adjustment for AF, maybe the 70D's due pixel AF takes advantage of STM lenses.
bigdaddave
Senior Member
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