Buy EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II now or wait until September?

[aroo]

I bought my 55-250 for $199 on Amazon with an Xsi and 18-55 several years ago. The round (NOT petal) lens hood fits both lenses and causes a round solid vignette on the wide end of the kit lens. When you focus, the part of the lens that attaches to the hood rotates, so the radially symmetrical shape (pretty much a cone) is the only good one for the hood on these lenses. Most Canon lenses are not that way; even the 18-135 uses a petal hood, just like the 24-70s, etc. because the front doesn't rotate.

[neuroanatomist]

I bought my 55-250 for $199 on Amazon with an Xsi and 18-55 several years ago. The round (NOT petal) lens hood fits both lenses and causes a round solid vignette on the wide end of the kit lens.

A bent paper clip fits into an electrical outlet, too...just because something 'fits' doesn't mean it's the right fit.     The correct hood will not vignette.  The 18-55 takes the EW-60c (the 'W' is for wide angle), the 55-250 takes the ET-60 (the 'T' is for...you guessed it...telephoto). I presume you used the ET-60 on your 18-55, and that's why you got vignetting. The EW-60c fits on the 55-250, also...and would be totally useless in terms of protection from flare.

I do not know who to believe now.

Of course, you should believe the outfit trying to get you to buy their 3rd party hood, because the company that makes the lens clearly doesn't understand how to design a hood to match the lens they designed.

Sounds like you really want a petal hood.  It'll look so much cooler and fancier than the one designed by Canon, making you look like a cooler, fancier photographer.  How you look is more important than the pictures you take, anyway. So please, just get the petal hood. Be sure to do a lot of focusing from close subjects to far ones, while people watch. You will want to call lots of attention to that petal hood as it rotates with the front element. Heck, maybe it won't even vignette when it does that. Also, I really like the convenience of the screw-on one the guy in the first video bought, too. You should get that exact one, because not only will you look like a better photographer, it'll be a lot easier than the pesky, reversible bayonet mount Canon has for that lens. </sarcasm>

Just get the Canon hood or a knockoff that looks like the Canon hood, mmmm'k?

[tntwit]

Just curious, I had the 70-200 F4 non-IS on my future list.  I currently have the 75-300 IS.  I'm using a T3i.  To prevent blur, I understand that I need 1/320 of a second.  That's relatively fast in certain lighting conditions.  Looking back at some of my photos and thinking about it, I'm not sure I want to go without IS.  So I thought it was an interesting comment that this 70-200 F4 non-IS is "better in every way" than the 55-250 IS.  No doubt they're in different leagues, but in certain, maybe many, low light situations, wouldn't the IS out perform?  Yes, the L is a sharper lens, but not if it blurs, right? 

I just bought the 15-85 at the Canon refurb sale, so I'm out of the market for a little while, but I noticed the 70-200 F4 IS was under $900, so that looks more appealing the next time a refurb sale comes around.

Interestingly, I was actually wondering if I might be better off to sell the 75-300 IS for a used 55-250 in the short term, since I've never really liked the lens.  Too soft, slow to focus and hunts frequently for focus.  Probably better to just wait for the better lens, but just curious on opinions on my ramblings.

I'll probably end up with the 85 1.8 first, but the better telephoto is in my future plans. 

[aroo]

just because something 'fits' doesn't mean it's the right fit.

True, ET-60 isn't intended for the 18-55 but in a pinch you can stop some flare and crop rather than see a ton of flare. The vignetting is also kind of a fun look if you're just trying out different things with a camera.

[aroo]

tntwit, the IS on the 55-250 makes it more useable in low light than the 70-200non4. I like the pictures it can get hand held after the sun has set. My copy can do pretty darn low shutter speeds. In good light, it's a tad cloudy with subdued contrast. The L is far better there. Have used both pretty thoroughly.

[rs]

I do not know who to believe now.

I know it's not April fools day, but this has to be a wind up, right?

Presuming for a second that you are being serious, it's your money, so please do buy whatever you like. But if you do end up buying a petal hood for one of those lenses, can you do me a favour? Take a video of the lens + hood mounted on your camera, showing the combo focusing. And then another video taken in your SLR though the lens (at the wide end if the zoom), showing it focusing. Then edit the two scenes together, upload it you youtube, and title it 'Petal hood on rotating front element'.

In my limited searching on YouTube, I was unable to find any videos like that - I was looking for one to help you out - I presume it's because anyone that's been scammed by these eBay retailers by buying one is too embarrassed to admit it. Your video will serve as a good lesson for anyone else as stubborn as you.

[Rienzphotoz]

I am going to get the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II. I am not sure if I should just get it now or wait until September to see if an update comes in the mean time. Any suggestions?

No disrespect, but I always find such a question strange bcoz, if someone can wait for over 6 months to get a lens (especially when the lens is currently available at a really good price), it basically means that they don't really need that lens. But if you really do need the lens, get the one available now and sell it when a new lens is released and is on sale/rebate ... I bet you can still sell your old lens for at least half the price ... think of the other half you are losing as lens rental charges. 

[Rienzphotoz]

A bent paper clip fits into an electrical outlet, too...just because something 'fits' doesn't mean it's the right fit.   

A little vignetting couldn't kill you like a bent paper clip in an electrical outlet could

[SDFilmFan]

I used a 55-250 for a few years, until I stepped up to a 7D and L-lenses.  The 55-250 is the telephoto I recommend to anyone not buying an L.  It is small, light, and really quite sharp.  The IS worked well, and I regularly got sharp handheld 250mm shots down to 1/30 sec (4 stops by my figuring).

I bought the lens as soon as it hit the local stores, and it is still going strong in the hands of the cousin I sold it to, so it is reliable and sturdy.  Actually, I kind of wish I'd kept it, as it is a great lens for traveling.

Oh, the round hood is the right one, and I do recommend getting it.

[NostraHistoria]

The petal hood has come in. There is NO vignette with the 18-55mm.

RIP.

[neuroanatomist]

The petal hood has come in. There is NO vignette with the 18-55mm.

Well, that's good.  The point of a properly-designed petal hood is that the 'petals' can stick out beyond where the baseline of the round hood would be, based on the rectangular shape of the sensor vs. the round shape of the image circle.  Since the petal hood you bought does not vignette as it rotates around, that simply means the 'gaps' are recessed from the baseline where the round hood would extend, rather than the petals extending beyond.  In other words, the hood you bought will most likely offer less protection from flare than the round hood designed by Canon.

But hey, lots of people prefer looks over function, so you're in good company there.   

[NostraHistoria]

The petal hood has come in. There is NO vignette with the 18-55mm.

Well, that's good.  The point of a properly-designed petal hood is that the 'petals' can stick out beyond where the baseline of the round hood would be, based on the rectangular shape of the sensor vs. the round shape of the image circle.  Since the petal hood you bought does not vignette as it rotates around, that simply means the 'gaps' are recessed from the baseline where the round hood would extend, rather than the petals extending beyond.  In other words, the hood you bought will most likely offer less protection from flare than the round hood designed by Canon.

But hey, lots of people prefer looks over function, so you're in good company there.   

We will see about quality. However, I bought it as a recommendation from sites. Plus, it looks cooler.

[bdunbar79]

The petal hood has come in. There is NO vignette with the 18-55mm.

Well, that's good.  The point of a properly-designed petal hood is that the 'petals' can stick out beyond where the baseline of the round hood would be, based on the rectangular shape of the sensor vs. the round shape of the image circle.  Since the petal hood you bought does not vignette as it rotates around, that simply means the 'gaps' are recessed from the baseline where the round hood would extend, rather than the petals extending beyond.  In other words, the hood you bought will most likely offer less protection from flare than the round hood designed by Canon.

But hey, lots of people prefer looks over function, so you're in good company there.   

We will see about quality. However, I bought it as a recommendation from sites. Plus, it looks cooler.

Yet it's the wrong hood.  Oh well.  Have fun.

[mrsfotografie]

The petal hood has come in. There is NO vignette with the 18-55mm.

Well, that's good.  The point of a properly-designed petal hood is that the 'petals' can stick out beyond where the baseline of the round hood would be, based on the rectangular shape of the sensor vs. the round shape of the image circle.  Since the petal hood you bought does not vignette as it rotates around, that simply means the 'gaps' are recessed from the baseline where the round hood would extend, rather than the petals extending beyond.  In other words, the hood you bought will most likely offer less protection from flare than the round hood designed by Canon.

But hey, lots of people prefer looks over function, so you're in good company there.   

We will see about quality. However, I bought it as a recommendation from sites. Plus, it looks cooler.

Yet it's the wrong hood.  Oh well.  Have fun.

+1

Misunderstanding, miscommunication or ignorance? Sometimes too many words are used to discuss a simple thing

[bdunbar79]

Agreed.  Sometimes I wonder why people even post questions on here.  A lot of times they already know the answer and/or only want to hear the answer they want to hear, and if posters post a different answer, they argue and do whatever they want anyways.  Amazing.