Budget Canon EF telephoto zoom from 1998, offering basic reach for beginners on a tight budget.
The Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM was released in 1998 as an inexpensive telephoto option for Canon EOS film and early digital SLR users. It was positioned well below the L-series telephotos as a lightweight consumer lens.
Optical quality is modest — reasonably sharp in the centre but soft at the edges, particularly at 200mm wide open. The USM motor provides quiet autofocus but it is the micro-USM type, not the ring-type found in higher-end lenses. No full-time manual override.
Canon EF mount with a 52mm filter thread. Very compact and light at just 310g. No image stabilisation. Minimum focus distance of 120cm. The Mark II updated coatings slightly over the original version launched in 1995.
Uncommon used and not particularly sought-after. Very cheap when found. Optical quality is well below the EF 70-200mm f/4L or even the EF 70-300mm IS USM. Only worth considering as an absolute budget option.