topic Re: EF-s 55-250 is lens in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EF-s 55-250 is lens

dadams96 — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:36:41 GMT

Is the Vivitar hd 2.5x telephoto lens compatible with the canon lens. I can't get focus (af or mf) if the canon lens is zoomed beyond 130mm.

Re: EF-s 55-250 is lens

MikeSowsun — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 23:51:16 GMT

No, it is not compatible.

That Vivitar lens is really designed to be used with shorter lenses to give you a telephoto view. If you add it to a telephoto lens like your 55-250 and then zoom to 250mm, you will poor results, or no results at all.

Re: EF-s 55-250 is lens

dadams96 — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 01:10:35 GMT

that's what I suspected....thanks for the reply

Re: EF-s 55-250 is lens

ebiggs1 — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 14:08:06 GMT

You do realize those are designed for camcorders?

Re: EF-s 55-250 is lens

dadams96 — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 19:17:45 GMT

I purchased a bundle that included the Canon Eos rebel t31, an 18-55mm efs lens, an efs 55-250 zoom and the vivitar hd 2.5x58mm telephoto and the vivitar hd .43x58mm wide angle. The issue is focusing the 55-250 when zoomed out beyond about 130mm. Vivitar has been less than helpful, they want me to return the lens for replacement. However, I am hearing that using a telephoto add-on with a zoom lens that long just does not work. This camera does take video but I do not see how that would make any difference with the zoom lens.

Thanks for the reply.

Re: EF-s 55-250 is lens

TCampbell — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 20:01:28 GMT

Some stores will build "bundles" with non-standard products which are very low cost to them in order to create the perception to the conumser that they are getting more for their money. Unfortunately much of what they throw in are the lowest cost items they can find -- usually "junk" grade -- and these are things you would probably pass over for something better if you were picking them out yourself.

Essentially the thing is like a diopter, but they call it a "lens" -- that way they can tell you that you're getting three "lenses" with the camera.. when really you're getting two lenses and a diopter.

Diopters are fairly specific to focal lengths. Canon, for example, makes "close-up" diopters (these allow for close working distances) called the 250D and 500D -- but they are specific as to the range of focal lengths at which these work. This is because it's not really possible (or practical) to try to make one that universally works with all focal lengths.

Diopters are mostly used for cameras that do not have removeable lenses -- because you're stuck with whatever lens is built-in. With a DSLR, you can swap lenses -- so ideally you'd just get the lens with the appropriate focal length that you need rather than use a diopter -- and the results are much better.

Re: EF-s 55-250 is lens

dadams96 — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 03:57:09 GMT

Thank you all, again for your help.