Budget? If its under £200 you can't go wrong with the 55-250
EF means it's a full frame lens, the EFS ones are only for crop sensors.If you have a Canon 5D (Mk1/2/3) or 1D, then you can only use EF lenses, any other Canon DSLR you can use with EF or EFS.
I don't think a semi will give the same results