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 STM and the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x 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 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x is the longer of the two lenses at 366mm. The Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM with a length of 111mm, is 255mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x also has a larger diameter of 128mm compared to the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM's 70mm 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 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM weighs 375g, which means it is 3245g (89%) lighter than the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x which has a weight of 3620g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM 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 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x has a focal range of 200-400mm and 2.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 320 - 640mm.
