p.1 #2 · Canon 55-250mm IS review up on photozone.de
Looks like yet another excellent product in the entry level lens category to go with the 18-55 IS. The MTF's are surprisingly good and so is the lack of CA. It's good to see Canon stepping up in an area that was previously a week point for them (by which I'm referring to the optical quality of their entry level lenses compared to their competitors.)
I wonder if the tested sample was suffering from kind of mechanical issue that was giving the reviewer the focus issues he ran into.
p.1 #4 · Canon 55-250mm IS review up on photozone.de
Jammy Straub wrote:
I wonder if the tested sample was suffering from kind of mechanical issue that was giving the reviewer the focus issues he ran into.
Possible, though it could also be a combination of dreary December weather, a slowish lens aperture, and the older 7-point AF system on the 350D.
p.1 #5 · Canon 55-250mm IS review up on photozone.de
Tom_W wrote:
Possible, though it could also be a combination of dreary December weather, a slowish lens aperture, and the older 7-point AF system on the 350D.
Very true.
I did find it odd how much the review remarked on the slow aperture of the lens yet I don't remember many comments like that for other lenses with the same max aperture. Just a quick observation.
Dec 09, 2007 at 06:26 PM
Chris Hacker Offline • • [X]
p.1 #6 · Canon 55-250mm IS review up on photozone.de
That's a good point about the maximum apertures; I've read most of his reviews for Canon-mount lenses and I can't recall such frequent mention of small apertures either. I think the explanation, though, is again the dreary weather, where you are definitely going to notice slow apertures. I was out with my 70-200 f/4L a couple days ago, in the middle of the day, and it was almost unusable below 1600 iso due to the dreary weather (IS surely would have helped.)
p.1 #8 · Canon 55-250mm IS review up on photozone.de
This is a good review, and I'd think that if I was an entry level shooter, I'd give this a serious look. The price is pretty good, and if you were to buy a XTi with the kit lens, this might make for a good companion.
p.1 #9 · Canon 55-250mm IS review up on photozone.de
Is everyone else reading the same review ?
I take all reviews with a pinch of salt anyway, but any review with results that include MTF charts can at least be considered semi reliable.
Pixel peeping and MTF charts are one thing, actually using the said lens in the field is a totally different ballgame!
To my mind the reviewer didnt particularly like the lens
Reviewer Wrote :
At 55mm it had big troubles to lock on reliably and in the field things weren't all that convincing beyond either. This aspect may be better on the 40D or 400D though.
Well, the lens didn't really convince me in the field. The image stabilizer spoiled the game at times (blurred images that is) despite fairly decent shutter speeds and the focus accuracy didn't impress either. The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS feels a bit more harmonious all-in-all but if you're on a very tight budget the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS may still work out for you.
Is anyone here actually looking to use this lens ? - Or is it just a piece of ammo to be used to repel the Nikon offensive in the war of the kit lens for printed and online reviews ? If you are on a very tight budget, at entry level then fine - but the chances are most brand new shooters wont know how good/bad this lens is unless the salesman tells them :P
In the time it takes to find FM and similar places, and then read reviews, that lens will have probably outlived its usefulness and L lust will have already instilled itself
Yes its better than the old kit lens (though I do await trying the new one in real anticipation) - but I dont think we should be cracking any bottles in celebration just yet - to my mind Nikon still have the lead in the entry level lens stakes.
p.1 #10 · Canon 55-250mm IS review up on photozone.de
I have bought this lens recently, as I am on a very tight budget (new twins in the home and a couple of moves for work). It is pretty good for an entry level and the $280 price tag allows me to have something somewhat decent for zooming. I do enjoy my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 for most things, but this is really not a bad a telezoom lens at all, especially for the price. I have had 5 "L" lenses which I enjoyed and sold for close to what I paid for, as I needed the funds for other things (i.e. cribs, car seats, strollers, etc.). I still feel that my 'cheap' XTi, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8, and Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 is not a bad system to have for my budget quite still prividing pretty decent results.
It is just my humble opinion that there are a few of us who love photography (to do and to enjoy others' works) but need to be cost sensitive. Once the kids are older and i have more in my budget, I will probably move back to a 40D and "L" combo for my hobby.
p.1 #11 · Canon 55-250mm IS review up on photozone.de
I noticed last week that this is the lens they are including in the XTI package at the local Costco. I imagine it won't be long and there will be ample supplies on Ebay etc for those that wish to give one a shot.
