Tamron 70-300 VC vs Canon 55-250 SMT

I am looking for a lens with a zoom. I was leaning towards a 55-250 SMT, but someone approached me saying they have a 70-300 VC. If you had to get a lens would it be one of these and if so what one?

what body do you have? if you have one that takes advantage of the STM, and plan on doing a bit of video, i'd sway that direction...they're both solid lenses though, can't go wrong with either

DreDaze wrote in post #17242184
what body do you have? if you have one that takes advantage of the STM, and plan on doing a bit of video, i'd sway that direction...they're both solid lenses though, can't go wrong with either

T4i

How on earth is the 55-250 not winning this? at least at the time of my post. The first 55-250 was as sharp at 250mm cropped out to 300mm equivalent as the Tamron at 300mm - at least using the 18mp sensor bodies. I have seen this tested. The new STM version is even sharper. So you are gaining the important wide end and actually gaining resolution on the long end with the 55-250 STM. The STM focusing is faster than the Tammy too. The only reason to get the Tammy here is if you have or are getting a FF camera in the very near future.

FEChariot wrote in post #17242528
How on earth is the 55-250 not winning this? at least at the time of my post. The first 55-250 was as sharp at 250mm cropped out to 300mm equivalent as the Tamron at 300mm - at least using the 18mp sensor bodies. I have seen this tested. The new STM version is even sharper. So you are gaining the important wide end and actually gaining resolution on the long end with the 55-250 STM. The STM focusing is faster than the Tammy too. The only reason to get the Tammy here is if you have or are getting a FF camera in the very near future.

Have you ever shot with a Tamron 70-300mm VC. I have shot with it and 2 55-250's and the Tammi wins. Slso the build is much better. I have not shot with the STM though.

GregoryF wrote in post #17243089
Have you ever shot with a Tamron 70-300mm VC. I have shot with it and 2 55-250's and the Tammi wins. Slso the build is much better. I have not shot with the STM though.

Wins what? I had both at the same time, & the 55-250 tracked moving subjects much better. The Tamron focused perfectly, but could not match the performance of the humble 55-250 as soon as you went into servo AF. Also, you literally had to pixel peep at 100% to see any difference in image quality. The Tamron had better IS, & can be used on full frame cameras. In my opinion, & experiences, there is no clear "winner"
Anyway, I've ordered the new 55-250 STM. That says something I believe.

GregoryF wrote in post #17243089
Have you ever shot with a Tamron 70-300mm VC. I have shot with it and 2 55-250's and the Tammi wins. Slso the build is much better. I have not shot with the STM though.

The STM has better optics, and since the original 55-250 was already almost as good as the tamron on the long end...

mamaof2 wrote in post #17242023
I am looking for a lens with a zoom. I was leaning towards a 55-250 SMT, but someone approached me saying they have a 70-300 VC. If you had to get a lens would it be one of these and if so what one?

From having used a Tamron 70-300 vibration control unit to acquire images of moving subjects such as these, the Tamron unit has been proven as a solid choice.

mamaof2 wrote in post #17242023
I am looking for a lens with a zoom. I was leaning towards a 55-250 SMT, but someone approached me saying they have a 70-300 VC. If you had to get a lens would it be one of these and if so what one?

From having used a Tamron 70-300 vibration control unit to acquire images of moving subjects such as these, the Tamron unit has been proven as a solid choice.

Tight race between these two lenses! Does anyone have pics of from the 55-250 stm?

mamaof2 wrote in post #17245594
Tight race between these two lenses! Does anyone have pics of from the 55-250 stm?

This thread was just posted. Have you taken a look at it?

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1404945

https://photography-on-the.net …353439&highligh​t=55-250mm

Thanks of linking me! both are great posts and helps my decision a lot!

I have the 55-250 STM, and have had the Tamron 70-300 on a Nikon D7000. I like the STM better. Focus is faster and IQ is equal if not better. For video there's no comparison. The STM is worlds better. If weight is a concern, the STM is much lighter and way more compact. Two of these were taken with a 55-250 STM and two with a 70-200 2.8 IS II.
https://www.flickr.com …64922947@N08/14​662222658/
https://www.flickr.com …64922947@N08/14​662223818/
https://www.flickr.com …64922947@N08/14​662317717/
https://www.flickr.com …64922947@N08/14​720380650/

I had both the Tamron 70-300 VC and the 55-250 STM at the same time on my 70D

The Tamron is a good lens and good price, nice weight and balance, good build. For me I could not get past the opposite turn on the zoom ring though (at least my muscle memory was annoyed by it).

In the end the two lenses are very similar in AF Speed and IQ. Personally I ended up going with the 55-250 STM as the pictures just looked a TINGE sharper in most situations and it was easily a more portable lens. And the wide end (again for me anyways) made it slightly more useable for the occasional close range shot vs the 70 on the Tammy. As for the long end, cropping the added 50mm on the long end isn't a big deal as that is where my Tammy tended to get a little soft when wide open (in comparison to the rest of it's range). The STM doesn't seem to get as soft at the long end and actually seems to be sharp throughout the range - but it does vignette visibly the further down the long end you get.