EF 70-200mm f/4L vs EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6

Discussion in 'Canon Lens Discussion' started by aBull_8, Aug 29, 2021.

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EF 70-200mm f/4L or EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6

  1. EF 70-200mm f/4L

    2 vote(s)
    66.7%
  2. EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6

    1 vote(s)
    33.3%
  1. aBull_8

    aBull_8 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2020
    Messages:
    6
    Equipment:
    Canon Rebel T6
    Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6
    Canon EF 50mm F/1.8
    Hi there! I’m looking to add a new lens to my camera bag. I’m really looking for something that will allow me to shoot outdoor sporting events, but ideally the lens will be versatile enough to use for portrait photography as well.

    I’ve narrowed it down to two lenses:

    Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
    or
    Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM

    Obviously 55-250mm is more cost effective, but will the auto focus speed keep up with fast paced sports? The 70-200mm is definitely a nice lens, but does it make sense for a hobby photographer using a crop sensor body?

    I’d love to hear your thoughts!

    - Alex
     

  2. Craig Sherriff

    Craig Sherriff Well-Known Member Site Supporter

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    Apr 25, 2017
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    Location:
    Tasmania, Australia
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    60D, 10D, 50D 1dmark3, T70, AV1, lenses ranging from 28mm to 600 mm, canonet Junior, Canonet QL 25, Mamiya C3 and 3 lens sets,Mamiya 645 pro TL and 3 lenses. Pentax MG and various lenses, Toyoview 4 * 5 inch large format camera,Calimat C1 8*10 inch ultra large format camera.
    May I suggest that you take your camera along to your local camera store and ask to try the two lenses on your camera to get a feel for them (any good camera store, that wants your business will do this) this will let you know if they suit your needs and if you are happy with their weight and the way they work with your camera.
     
    Jimboleo likes this.
  3. GDN

    GDN Well-Known Member

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    South Island, NZ
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    A little Canon stuff
    I only own and used the 70-200 f4 L IS. It is pretty well my go to lens. It's small. sharp, lightweight, and fast to focus. The only downside is that it is only a f4 lens, and not a f2.8. But then size and cost comes into this.

    One of the things that is worth taking into consideration is that one is an apc-s lens, and the other is a full frame lens. If sometimes in the future you upgrade to a full frame body, your 70-200 will be the better choice.

    Very much so. I use it on a 7D, and I have no issues with it at all.

    Let us know what you decide on.

    Gary
     
  4. rayallen

    rayallen Well-Known Member Site Supporter

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    I know that there is a noticeable difference in price between the L-series 70-200 and the consumer level 55-200.
    And that is because there is a noticeable difference in performance and quality. You can't lose by buying the better lens. And, as Gary points out, it also works on full frame in case you upgrade later.
     
  5. Jimboleo

    Jimboleo New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2021
    Messages:
    3
    Equipment:
    Canon EOS Rebels T5 & SL3, Pentax Spotomatic
    Canon EF-s 18-55 IS II & 55-250 IS STM; EF 35-80 III & 75-300 III; Super Takumar 50/1.4 & 135/3.5; Tamron 18-400 Di II VLC HD; Tamron Adaptall2: SP 500mm Reflex & SP 60-300mm ; Hanimex HMC 90-210.
    I'll speak up for the advantages of the 55-250 IS STM! I'm sure everything said about the 70-200 is true, but I have no hands on experience with it. I do have the 55-250 and can tell you that it's a bargain for the great image quality it will produce. Autofocus is as fast as my SL3 will continuously click them. In practice, the options you choose in the camera menu may have more influence over the final sharpness and the autofocus speed. Although they are both listed at f4, actual low light and hand held performance will favor the 70-200 because of the differences in IS, however there are a few advantages, other than price, that makes the 55-250 a good choice: size, weight, and angles of view.
    The 55-250 will be 2.5 inches less lens that you will be having to contend with when walking around or getting in and out of seats, and carrying around. If you have the camera on a strap around your neck, the 55-250 adds 13.2 ounces to the weight of the camera, the 70-200 adds one pound, 11.2 ounces - a significant difference after wearing around your neck or on your shoulder for a few hours.
    The last items I will mention are the relative optical sizes - 55mm vs 70mm at the low end gives the 55-250 an extra 6 degrees wider field view - at sports event distances, that's a lot of territory on the other side of the field. The extra 50mm at the telephoto end will give you almost 6 degrees of extra zoom in capability over the 70-200.
    For the camera you have, the 55-250 IS STM is well matched, reasonably priced, and I think you will find that it will work well for you.
    There is no bad choice here, so good luck, and post us a couple sports photos when you try it out.
     
  6. Jimboleo

    Jimboleo New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2021
    Messages:
    3
    Equipment:
    Canon EOS Rebels T5 & SL3, Pentax Spotomatic
    Canon EF-s 18-55 IS II & 55-250 IS STM; EF 35-80 III & 75-300 III; Super Takumar 50/1.4 & 135/3.5; Tamron 18-400 Di II VLC HD; Tamron Adaptall2: SP 500mm Reflex & SP 60-300mm ; Hanimex HMC 90-210.
    This isn't a sports photo, but an example of 55-250 image quality, this is an enlargement from a photo taken with a Rebel T5 in Raw format, the original was of the entire bird standing on a rail on my dock, preening in the morning sun after a stormy night..
    FuzzBeak.jpg
     
  7. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

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    Fargo, ND
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    5dMk4, 5dsR, 5dMk2, 20D, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100mm 2.8 Macro USM, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 17-40mm 4.0L, TS-E 24mm 3.5L II, Rokinon 14mm 2.8; Pixma Pro-100
    Taking the question at face value regarding what would be best for sporting events? I would suggest the fixed f4 lens (70-200), in fact ideally having a 2.8 lens is a great idea for such a situations, every additional stop pf light helps, as sporting events can be a fight with lighting and you wont be able to use flash shooting a hockey or football game. Also being able to shoot wide open with a nice bokeh and isolate the subject. The crop body really is not much of a factor here as both lenses work great with it, in fact many sports photographers shot 7d series crop bodies because of the crop factor.
     

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