As you are making a purchase decision, we suggest that you take the time to read some EF-S 55-250mm Canon Lens reviews in order to see what other consumers have to say about the product. Here are some user reviews to help you make your shopping decision:

This is an excellent lens for under $500. It is designed to be a good all purpose tele zoom lens for non-pros. I think it fits the bill nicely. The lens is very sharp at all focal lengths and really doesn't have any bad spots like most cheap lenses. Aperture is a bit on the slow side, but normal for a lens in its class. The Image Stabilization really works well. You won't want a telephoto lens without it once you've had it. Build quality is about normal for the price. It is mostly plastic, but that keeps down on the weight. Macro performance is pretty good, too. It is a 1/3 magnification, which is a bit better than average without being an advertised macro lens. You can certainly fill the frame with a flower bud or a leaf, if that is what you are after. I give it 5 stars, not because it is the best lens in the world, but because it is the best lens for the price and the intended photographers. It pairs perfectly with the 18-55 IS and then you get a seamless range of 18-250 (28-400 equiv), all Image stabilized. The next step up is at least twice the money. Nothing else in the price range can compare with the features, sharpness and focal range in my opinion.
-Taylor (EF-S 55-250mm Canon Lens user review from Amazon.com)

I bought this lens mainly because of price. It was the longest lens with AF and IS I could get without busting my budget as I bought the Rebel XSI at the same time. I took it to a stock car race and brought back some GREAT pictures. I still wish I had a little more lens but I was delighted with how well the lens zoomed in and focused. Our seats were near the top of the stands and the lens made it possible to read the patches on the driver's uniforms on pit road. I also took some city shots and the lens performed well. I took great steady shots without the need of a tripod. If you need a good versitile lens that doesn't break the bank, I recommend this one without reservation.
-K. Haynes (EF-S 55-250mm Canon Lens user review from Amazon.com)

Just received my Canon 55-250mm lens a couple days ago. Did my first experimental shoot with it yesterday. I am not at all disappointed. I do not see how anyone can go wrong purchasing this lens. Don't let the rather low price (especially for an IS lens) fool you. I have never owned an L lens - so I can't compare -- and I have no doubt that it really can't compare. But hey,, if I could afford to by L lenses,, I most likely would not be using an XTi. Don't misunderstand what I am saying. The XTi is great,, as is the 55-250 IS lens. My main focus is nature / macro. For that I use a Sigma 50mm macro and Sigma ring flash. But too many times when I was out on one of my macro shoots I ran across something that required me to reach out. This lens will do just that,, and do it very well. Additionally, I shoot and digitally process somewhat in the abstract mode. Truly,, you can not go wrong with this lens. Most of my photography is nature,, and I do not use a tripod. The "IS" really, really works. I was blown away.
Conclusion: After all my rambling, if you are looking for a lens in this range (mm wise) and don't have tons of disposable cash to throw around, DO NOT HESITATE. Buy it..
-J. Zaccone (EF-S 55-250mm Canon Lens user review from Amazon.com)

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This lens really takes wonderful photos for such a great price. I've taken the lens with me everywhere and get excellent shots in every lighting environment and at any time of the day. I have the Canon Digital Rebel XTi and the lens and camera make a wonderful team for this entry level photographer!
-M. Jourdan (EF-S 55-250mm Canon Lens user review from Amazon.com)

I mounted the 55-250mm ES Canon lens on my rebel XSI and put it to its first challenge. Basketball tournament in a poorly lit gym. The stabilized lens gave me another f-stop and I was able to achieve good exposure at 160/sec. pushing the camera asa to 1600. Even my short 18-55 kit lens required more light under the same conditions. This lens has nice reach and can get you in on all the sports action from the side line.

I love this lens for the money and it came right away hassle free from Amazon.com.

I recommend this lens for a nice addition to your camera bag, well worth the money. It feels a little cheap but it is light weight.
-A. McDonald (EF-S 55-250mm Canon Lens user review from Amazon.com)

I didn't expect it to be a bad lens, but given the price I certainly didn't expect the quality that I found with this lens. I have shot extensively with the $1800 70-200MM f/2.8 IS and I have to say this lens comes much closer than I thought to its performance. You will be hard pressed to find any difference in sharpness, and I believe the IS on this lens even works better since it is a newer generation of the technology. This lens does have barrel distortion where the 70-200mm has none. It also can't hold a candle to it in terms of low-light performance. The thing is, though, the distortion was correctable easily in PS and as far as the low-light performance goes I wouldn't bring this to shoot a wedding anyway. I bought it for a specific purpose--I needed a lens quick and I needed a small/light one for shooting only in the the daytime on a long vacation--and it did everything I needed and more. I have already sold a few photos that were taken with this lens! The 400mm reach (this is a 400mm lens on all supported bodies which are 1.6x crop factored) is amazing and I found no loss in sharpness at any focal length. I have been similarly pleasantly surprised in the past by low-cost Canon zoom lenses so maybe I should have seen this coming, but I would recommend this lens to anyone other than someone doing a low-light/professional gig. Given the performance for the cost this lens should be more than suitable for amateurs and semi-pros alike.

Pros: Sharpness, IS technology, cost/value, size/weight
Cons: Mild (but correctable) distortion, zero low-light capability except at unusably high-ISOs

Just get yourself a Rebel, a wide-angle or wide-angle zoom lens, this lens, a big memory card--and you're done. Worry about the rest later.
-K. Stokes (EF-S 55-250mm Canon Lens user review from Amazon.com)

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