The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS II and the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS II is the longer of the two lenses at 108mm. The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM with a length of 75mm, is 33mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS II also has a larger diameter of 70mm compared to the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM's 69mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM weighs 205g, 47% (185g) lighter than the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS II's weight of 390g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS II and the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM have the same Filter thread size of 58mm.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS II and the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has the same Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF-S lenses are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3.
Focal Range
Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS II has a focal range of 55-250mm and
4.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
88-400mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has a focal range of 18-55mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 28.8-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
