Side by side
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM vs Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
73 positive (87%) · 9 mixed (11%) · 2 negative (2%)
Trust + time weighted: +86%
AI summary — not a quote
The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is widely regarded by the Reddit community as a 'hidden gem' and the premier budget telephoto lens for Canon crop-sensor (APS-C) cameras. It is frequently recommended for its surprising sharpness, quiet autofocus, and exceptional value-to-performance ratio, particularly when purchased used.
Pros
- Exceptional value for the price, often cited as the best 'cheap' telephoto option
- Impressive sharpness that users have compared favorably to much more expensive lenses
- Quiet and smooth STM autofocus motor suitable for both stills and video
- Effective image stabilization (IS) that aids in handheld shooting at longer focal lengths
Cons
- Limited to APS-C (crop sensor) cameras; cannot be used on full-frame bodies
- Maximum aperture of f/5.6 at the long end limits performance in low-light conditions
- Some users report the lens can appear 'soft' when paired with very high-resolution sensors like the 33MP R7
- Autofocus speed may be insufficient for high-speed professional sports or very fast-moving subjects
Top excerpts
The 55-250 IS STM is one of those gems...
It's fantastic. One of the best value telephoto lenses for crop DSLRs. I have it on m50II. Produces fantastic images and has great quiet autofocus.
EF-S 55-250mm IS STM is the lens to "butt up" to the 18-55 giving you focal ranges from 18-250mm
55-250 STM is quite a lens for the price and is reasonably balanced on the R100 as well.
The 55-250 IS STM is an excellent for the price you should see a nice improvement in image quality over your 18-200mm at longer focal lengths.
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
45 positive (88%) · 5 mixed (10%) · 1 negative (2%)
Trust + time weighted: +85%
AI summary — not a quote
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is widely regarded as a professional-grade 'gold standard' zoom lens, praised for its exceptional sharpness, robust build quality, and fast autofocus. While it is an older EF-mount lens, it remains a top recommendation for wildlife and bird photography, even when adapted to mirrorless systems. Its primary drawback is its significant weight and 'hefty' profile compared to newer RF alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness and image quality, often compared to prime lens performance
- Professional 'L' series build quality with weather sealing and durability
- Excellent performance when paired with 1.4x teleconverters
- Fast and reliable autofocus that remains competitive on modern mirrorless bodies
Cons
- Heavy and bulky (approx. 1.5kg to 1.7kg), which can be fatiguing for handheld use
- Manual focus ring is prone to accidental bumps due to its placement
- Mechanically linked manual focus ring cannot be disabled via camera settings in AF mode
Top excerpts
Nice! Is that a 100-400 II? Loved that lens.
Works great, performance is excellent, it’s just a hefty package. ... the only negative is the weight. It’s 1550g, 1700 with tripod ring and lens hood, plus RF adapter. RF 100-400 is 665g, and while there’s an IQ difference, I notice that I grab the RF 100-400 way more often, especially to pair with R50, it’s a bit overwhelmed by the chonk of EF 100-400 L ii.
Someone else mentioned EF 100-400 L ii as an option, I’ll just share that I love that lens, it was my first really great long lens, it remains one of the best and sharpest handheld daylight zooms available…
The EF 100-400 L ii was one of the best handheld wildlife lenses in the world when introduced, and remains a contender in that category.
The EF 100-400 II is a much better lens in all aspects than the RF 100-400 IMHO. ... while both lenses are excellent performers in their own right, the EF II has a brighter aperture range (not by very much but every bit counts). The build quality of the EF II is much better but then also weighs a lot more so if weight is a major point for selection then the RF wins hands down here.