We take a look back at a short review of the Canon 55-250mm lens, which can now be considered “old tech,” having been launched in 2007 or 2008.
And a disclaimer: this article first appeared in my old photography blog.
A versatile lens
So far, the Canon 55-250mm lens which I have paired with my Canon 1300D body remains very useful and versatile.
Here is our short review of some of the more notable features of this versatile lens.
Telephoto and macro lens in one
Aside from its telephoto capabilities, Canon 55-250mm also has a macro feature that allows me to get closer to a subject for a modest macro photo.
How close? I can get as close as 2 feet 8 inches to my subject which can result in fairly “large” subjects filling up the frame of my camera.
While the magnification is not comparable to “true” macro lenses and even lenses paired with macro extension tubes, I find this a fascinating and convenient feature. The reason is that I can take modest macro photos and also use the zoom feature to take photos of subjects that are a bit far.
Thus, I no longer need to change lenses whenever I want to take a photo of a small insect, after taking a photo of a bird in flight, for instance.
Quiet focusing with STM
It was also a welcome surprise for me to discover that the Canon 55-250mm lens is very quiet, when it comes to focusing.
Usually, a whirring sound is often heard when a lens is in the process of auto focusing. The sound is not particularly noticeable and in my experience, is not that big an issue.
However, the advantages of a silent motor are very noticeable, particularly when you’re taking close-up pictures.
The Canon 55-250mm motor is silent due to the “STM” features of its lens, according to Canon. “STM” stands for “stepping motor” and is a technology that lessens the mechanical noise that a lens creates when it starts to focus.
Built-in stabilizer
The Canon 55-250mm lens also has a built-in stabilizer, which is very handy if you are shooting videos and extending the zoom lens. However, you have to manually turn on the stabilizer feature.
Conclusion
The Canon 55-250mm lens is pretty old, but I still use it today and fortunately, it is still very useful. With its versatility–and very good build quality–I expect that I will hold on it in the next few years or so.
If you are a beginner and you want to explore the uses of a telephoto lens, then the Canon 55-250mm is a highly recommendable option.
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