28-105 vs new 55-250

Hi folks,

I have an 28-105mm 3.5 - 4.5 USM lens. I am thinking of replacing this lens with a 55 - 250mm 4-5.6 IS STM. Is it worth the upgrade. 2 Big difference I notice is, one I have is EF EOS. The lens i am considering is EF-S EOS. So cant use it on my film body.

The new lens is one stop slower.

But lens seem to be better in terms of sharpness.

Can anybody who has used both lenses chime in?

Java.

Interesting upgrade as the focal lengths are different.   I could never live with the 55-250mm as my main lens. I would need something wider.

Actually the 55-250 STM is not really that much slower.  The 28-105 doesn't even offer the focal lengths where the 55-250 is limited to 5.6.  It's not any more than a 1/3rd stop slower at any focal length and it's equal most of the time.  Still I would want a 18-55 STM to use with the 55-250.

brian1366 wrote:

Interesting upgrade as the focal lengths are different. I could never live with the 55-250mm as my main lens. I would need something wider.

Yes and no. On a full frame camera, it is true they are different. But I have APS-C camera. so 1.6 multiple. When you convert, 28-105, it becomes 45-168. So, 55-250 is not that far off.

Yes and no. On a full frame camera, it is true they are different. But I have APS-C camera. so 1.6 multiple. When you convert, 28-105, it becomes 45-168. So, 55-250 is not that far off.

Well yes on the 28-105...

but the 55-250 has the same field of view as an effective 88-400.

JavaM wrote:

brian1366 wrote:

Interesting upgrade as the focal lengths are different. I could never live with the 55-250mm as my main lens. I would need something wider.

Yes and no. On a full frame camera, it is true they are different. But I have APS-C camera. so 1.6 multiple. When you convert, 28-105, it becomes 45-168. So, 55-250 is not that far off.

If you want to apply the 1.6 crop factor to the 28-105, you also need to apply it to the 55-250. It does not matter whether or not the lens is EF or EF-S. The focal length is always the true focal length of the actual lens.

With the crop factor, you would be comparing a 45-168 to a 88-400. That is a very big difference in focal lengths!

Thanks for the explanation. I did learn something new today. Guess i need to go hunting for different lens.

Looks like EF-S lenses are better in terms of sharpness.

A Canon EF-S 18-135 STM is a fantastic lens.  So is the 18-55 STM or 55-250 STM.

In addition to the benefits of STM Auto-focus, the STM lenses are sharper and also have non-rotation front elements. I highly recommend them.

I suspected you might be thinking that a EF-S lens already has the crop factor applied to focal length. No worries. That is a common misconception.