Side by side
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM vs Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
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 RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
59 positive (76%) · 14 mixed (18%) · 5 negative (6%)
Trust + time weighted: +73%
AI summary — not a quote
The Canon RF-S 18-150mm is widely regarded as the premier 'all-in-one' travel lens for Canon's APS-C mirrorless system. It is frequently recommended as a significant upgrade over the basic 18-45mm kit lens, offering a versatile zoom range, surprising sharpness for its class, and a compact form factor that pairs well with smaller bodies like the R50.
Pros
- Highly versatile 'Jack of all trades' zoom range for travel and general use
- Significantly sharper and more capable than the 18-45mm kit lens
- Extremely lightweight (310g) and compact for the focal range provided
- Good performance for close-up photography
Cons
- Narrow maximum aperture (f/3.5-6.3) limits performance in very dark scenes
- Insufficient focal length and speed for dedicated sports photography
- Limited to APS-C (crop sensor) cameras
Top excerpts
The 18-150 is an RF-S lens which can only be mounted on crop sensor (APS-C) cameras; the 24-105 f/4L is a full-frame lens which can be mounted on any R-series camera.
What is recommend is the 18-150 if you can find a kit with that.
By contrast, 18-150 is surprisingly small, pretty much an ideal lens for travel/general use, and a near perfect match for R50.
Being able to put rf-s 18-150 on it for versatility is great
For me, 18-150 is R50’s natural companion lens. Small, light, sharp and amazingly flexible.