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Comparing EF-S 55-250mm STM vs EF 70-200mm f/4L pictures

Started May 25, 2017 | Discussions
MAC Forum Pro • Posts: 18,502
Wrong answer
  • Gudmundur wrote:

JPG straight from 70D. iso 100. Focus on house in the middle.

Ef-s 55-250 STM 250mm F 5.6

Ef-s 55-250 STM 200mm

Ef-70-200 f/4L

Conclusion: It is better to take picture at 200mm with EF 70-200mm f/4L and crop the picture to look the same as picture taken with EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM at 250mm

Sorry for the last image. Can't remove it.

Wrong answer between 210-250 - shoot raw, look at the digital picture site.

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charlieY Regular Member • Posts: 431
Re: Comparing EF-S 55-250mm STM vs EF 70-200mm f/4L pictures

I sold my 55-250 STM when I bought 70-200 f/4 IS. I bought 55-250 STM again(grey market, new, $110) and took it to the trip to Kauai few weeks ago. I planned to take 6D+24-70 f/2.8 II with 70-200 f/4 IS(with 80D) but ended up taking M5 + 55-250 STM.

Bottom line is "Images from 55-250 STM are good enough for me". I'm not pro photographer. IQ and color from 55-250 STM is more than I expected and I'm fine with it.

70-200 f/4 IS is/should be better than 55-250 STM but I'm happy with 55-250 STM.

So, my 70-200 f/4 IS is on sale now.

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jwilliams Veteran Member • Posts: 6,395
55-250 for crop 70-200 for FF
3

Honestly it is difficult to assess the differences with the picture you posted.

However I own both of these lenses so I'll give my $.02 worth here.

At one point I had a 60D and 70-200/4L IS. I never really liked this combo because I often wanted the short end to be a little wider. When I had the chance to get a refurb 6D from Canon I jumped on it. The 70-200 works very well on this camera and for me gave me a more useful FL range. I sold my 60D and at a later date picked up a SL1. Then I got the 55-250 IS STM. I took some comparison shots on the SL1 with both the 55-250 and 70-200. I didn't do any sort of thorough evaluation, but to me there wasn't a huge difference between these 2 lenses on the SL1.

Where there is a big difference using these 2 lenses on a crop camera is the FL range. The 55-250 starts out at a more useful wide end and goes further into the tele range. This and the lighter weight makes it a great compliment to a crop body. Also the IS is every bit as good and maybe slightly better than the IS on the 70-200.

I also tested the 55-250 against my 300/4 IS. While the 300 was better, the 55-250 was very close and the IS on the 55-250 was greatly superior to the rather ancient IS on the 300.

If I just had a crop body I would just keep the 55-250. While pixel peeping may show some advantages of the 70-200 over the 55-250 in some cases, it isn't enough to warrant giving up the more useful FL range, lighter weight and maybe slightly better IS.

For me if I'm just taking my SL1, I grab the 55-250. If I'm taking my 6D, the 70-200/4L IS accompanies that camera.

Bottom line is the 55-250 is the best tele zoom for a crop body. Unless you need a different FL range or aperture, there really is no sense buying other lenses. The 70-200/4 L IS is a great compliment to a FF camera if the FL range and aperture fit your needs.

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Jonathan

ddixon Regular Member • Posts: 250
Re: 55-250 for crop 70-200 for FF

This almost exactly mirrors my experience - had a 60D and 70-200 f4 L, got an SL1 and 55-250 for travel, got a 6D for non-travel use. I found that the L advantage in IQ was somewhat limited by the crop body. The only time I use the L on my SL1 is if I really need the 1 stop faster aperture more than the extra reach of 250 v. 200. I most recently did this at a niece's college graduation.

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aloli
aloli Regular Member • Posts: 276
Re: Comparing EF-S 55-250mm STM vs EF 70-200mm f/4L pictures

How do you folks find the difference in AF speed? Would the 55-250 focus faster thanks to its STM motor (despite the lack of L designation)? I have a 7D and I'm looking to get a decent telephoto for sports. I'd appreciate the wider F4 aperture at the long end but it's only a one stop advantage (and maybe I should spend more for a 3rd party f2.8).

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ddixon Regular Member • Posts: 250
Re: Comparing EF-S 55-250mm STM vs EF 70-200mm f/4L pictures

I've never really thought about the AF speed, as that's not a big factor for me. I haven't really noticed much difference. My 70-200 f4L was bought in 2010 and it seems about as fast as the 55-250. But, if doing sports, then you may want a faster zoom like the 2.8 to use a higher shutter speed, etc. anyway.

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mordor_74 Contributing Member • Posts: 622
Re: Comparing EF-S 55-250mm STM vs EF 70-200mm f/4L pictures

Speaking about dxomark, dont forget to look at light trasmission:

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/EF70-200mm-f-4L-IS-USM-on-Canon-EOS-7D-Mark-II-versus-Canon-EF-S-55-250mm-F4-56-IS-STM-on-Canon-EOS-7D-Mark-II__255_977_1212_977

55-250 has a very good light trasmission that makes aperture difference a lot less.

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STM Trinity in progress! 18-55+55-255+40 Actually
http://samsungnxtips.blogspot.com

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OP Gudmundur Regular Member • Posts: 124
Re: Comparing EF-S 55-250mm STM vs EF 70-200mm f/4L pictures

aloli wrote:

How do you folks find the difference in AF speed? Would the 55-250 focus faster thanks to its STM motor (despite the lack of L designation)? I have a 7D and I'm looking to get a decent telephoto for sports. I'd appreciate the wider F4 aperture at the long end but it's only a one stop advantage (and maybe I should spend more for a 3rd party f2.8).

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4l Focus faster and more accurate and does not focus hunt as  the ef-s 55-250 STM does sometimes when zoomed in.

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