Best beginner lenses for canon

The First Canon Lenses You Should Buy

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Photo: Erin Lodi

UpdatedJun 2022

Updates

We’ve added recommendations for Canon’s mirrorless cameras and updated our picks to replace previous picks that are no longer available.

Whether you’ve recently started shooting with a Canon DSLR camera or switched over to Canon’s full-frame mirrorless (EOS R) line, one of the greatest advantages of your new interchangeable-lens camera comes in exploring how different lenses can shape your photography. We’ve been recommending Canon lenses since 2012, and after more than 80 hours of research and testing, we’ve picked out some of the best lenses for a new photographer.

Acquiring lenses is the natural next step toward harnessing the power of your Canon. Your camera body likely came with a kit lens, probably the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM if you have an APS-C–format body, or the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM if you went with a full-frame mirrorless; either one is a sufficient everyday zoom lens for learning the ins and outs of your camera, but you’ll quickly outgrow it. If you want to shoot in lower light, with a wider viewpoint, or closer, you’ll need to invest in new lenses. This guide will point you in the right direction for filling your camera bag with excellent glass.

Our pick

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

A great everyday lens for all sorts of situations, this “thrifty fifty” is amazing in low light and can create lovely blurred backgrounds.

Our pick

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

This lightweight lens is the ideal focal length for everyday shooting and will create sharper images with better background blur than your kit lens can produce.

To take your photography to the next level, begin building your arsenal of lenses. A lightweight, compact “nifty fifty,” namely either the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM for Canon DSLR cameras or the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM for Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless cameras, is the best starting point for most people. Wide-aperture prime lenses offer a great way to achieve photos with a sharp subject and a blurred background, and they get great shots indoors or outdoors, day or night.

If you are shooting with a Canon DSLR, the next lens we recommend is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM as your telephoto and, if you have an APS-C body, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM for a wide-angle option. If macro is your thing, start with the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art. Or for a kit-lens upgrade for APS-C bodies, go with the Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC.

If you are using a Canon full-frame mirrorless camera, we recommend the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM as a great telephoto to start with. The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is a versatile portrait lens that also works as a macro.

If you don’t shoot with a Canon camera but still want to invest in some great starter lenses, take a look at our lens guides for Nikon and Sony E-Mount bodies.

Everything we recommend

Our pick

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

A great everyday lens for all sorts of situations, this “thrifty fifty” is amazing in low light and can create lovely blurred backgrounds.

Our pick

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

This lightweight lens is the ideal focal length for everyday shooting and will create sharper images with better background blur than your kit lens can produce.

The research

Why you should trust me
Who this is for
How we picked
How we tested
The best first lens for Canon DSLRs: The fast prime
The best first lens for Canon full-frame mirrorless: The fast prime
The best zoom lens for Canon DSLRs
The best zoom lens for Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras
The best wide-angle lens for Canon APS-C DSLRs
The best macro lens for Canon DSLRs
The best macro lens for Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras
The best kit-lens upgrade for Canon DSLRs
Sources

Why you should trust me

I am a photojournalist, a writer, and a professional photographer with a wide range of experience in researching, testing, and writing about photography trends, techniques, and tools—including as a mobile-imaging editor at DPReview. I also use both the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III in my lifestyle-photography work.

When updating this guide, I considered more than 30 lenses from several manufacturers and read lens reviews by the dozen before finally putting 12 lenses to the test in various real-world shooting scenarios.

Who this is for

If you have a DSLR like the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 we used for this review, it likely came bundled with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM kit lens. If you’re shooting with a full-frame mirrorless model like the Canon EOS RP we used in our mirrorless testing, it probably came with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM. Although these kit lenses may suffice for everyday shooting in optimal lighting conditions, expanding your arsenal of optics will allow you to shoot sharper in lower light, to zoom in to distant subjects, and to play around with cool effects like bokeh—in effect, improving your photography.

For the purpose of this review, we did not consider Canon’s APS-C line of mirrorless cameras, labeled EOS M, and we won’t recommend any EF-M lenses. Canon is clearly concentrating on expanding and improving its full-frame mirrorless line, the EOS R system of cameras and lenses, which we believe is a better investment at this point.

If you already have some EF and EF-S Canon lenses, a Canon EF-EOS R Mount Adapter is an affordable way to pair them with your new EOS R camera, although it does add a bit more weight and length. The Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R costs more but also lets you tap into the same control-ring capabilities that new RF lenses offer. These capabilities include selecting the aperture, shutter speed, and sensor sensitivity (aka ISO) via the lens itself. While mount adapters can make sense, an RF telephoto lens like our top pick might especially be worth the investment because lenses like the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM offer optical stabilization, which reduces camera shake, and they’ll work even better if paired with a newer Canon R camera that offers in-body stabilization.

Many of our recommendations are designed specifically for crop-sensor cameras and shouldn't be used on a full-frame model; although they are lighter and less expensive than their full-frame counterparts, they are often not as good optically. In some cases, such as with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, the lenses we recommend are suited to both crop-sensor and full-frame cameras. Although it’s certainly a plus if a lens can fit both sensor sizes, we urge beginners not to get sucked into the full-frame upgrade myth and to instead outfit yourself with gear that’s appropriate for your current needs. One important note for anyone with a full-frame camera: Never mount an EF-S lens on a full-frame Canon camera body. These lenses extend farther into the camera body than the EF lenses designed for your camera. If you try to use an EF-S lens on a full-frame body, you may damage your camera.

How we picked

Four lenses for a starting Canon photographer.

Photo: Erin Lodi

We researched more than 30 lenses for the latest version of this review, and we relied on past interviews and reviews from other industry experts to create a short list of lenses to test. We considered factors like build quality and performance, as well as price, in order to determine our recommendations of the best lenses for beginners. The lenses we looked at don’t cost thousands each, so you can buy a few to experiment with different types of photography. We’re recommending the best gear at the best price—but if you want to invest more in higher-end lenses, we also have some options that offer a bit better quality than you can get from our primary pick.

You’ll find any lens’s focal length expressed as a distance in millimeters. That measurement gives you an idea of the lens’s field of view and thus the magnification of the scene. Higher numbers give you a narrower field of view and more magnification; for example, a 400mm lens is a telephoto, while a 20mm lens gives you a wide-angle view. (You’ll see the measurement on the side of the lens barrel or the front of the lens around the glass.)

Due to the difference in sensor size, when you’re using a camera with a sensor that’s smaller than what you’d find on a full-frame camera, a given lens’s field of view is narrower, referred to as the “crop factor.” In camera reviews and manuals, you’ll often see the crop factor given as a multiplier based on the industry standard of a 35mm, full-frame sensor. The crop factor for Canon APS-C sensors is 1.6—that is, a 50mm lens on a crop-sensor camera gives you the same field of view as an 80mm lens does on a full-frame sensor. Other sensor formats have different crop factors; Micro Four Thirds, for example, is 2x. For easy reference, manufacturers give their crop and full-frame lens lines different names: For instance, Canon’s crop-sensor-specific lenses are in the EF-S series, while EF lenses are compatible with all Canon cameras. For Sigma, the respective designations are DC and DG, and for Tamron the labels are Di II and Di.

How we tested

We tested a total of 12 lenses for this review, observing their performance in everyday shooting scenarios, as well as during specific assessments to determine their capabilities in focusing, sharpness, shake reduction, and depth of field. We conducted all DSLR lens testing with the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 and all mirrorless lens testing with the Canon EOS RP. We noted the physical experience of using each lens and evaluated the final results by examining our images. After several weeks of testing, we narrowed down the field to the nine lenses we are recommending in this review.

The best first lens for Canon DSLRs: The fast prime

Photo: Erin Lodi

Our pick

Canon EF 50mm f/1.

8 STM

A great everyday lens for all sorts of situations, this “thrifty fifty” is amazing in low light and can create lovely blurred backgrounds.

Your first new lens should be affordable, small, and capable of taking outstanding images in low light. You can’t go wrong with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM (80mm equivalent focal length on your APS-C sensor). It’s the most economical tool we can recommend for dramatically improving your low-light photography and producing images sharper than your kit lens can capture. At 5.6 ounces, or a little lighter than a hockey puck, this lens is so easy to bring with you that we’re willing to bet it will become your go-to lens for everyday shooting.

Have you ever seen a picture where the background is out of focus, making the subject pop? Photographers attain that shallow depth of field (only a thin slice of what you’re looking at is in focus, so everything else is blurred) by using a large aperture. A wide-aperture prime lens or “fixed” lens (meaning it doesn’t zoom) like the Canon f/1. 8 offers just about the cheapest way to achieve that effect. That wide aperture means that such lenses also do an impressive job of taking photos in low light, and they’re great for shooting indoors or in other challenging lighting situations like concert photography.

On a full-frame DSLR camera, the “nifty fifty” mimics the same natural angle of view as the human eye, making it an ideal focal length for everyday shooting, landscapes, and wider environmental portraits. On a crop-sensor camera, the same lens equates to an even more flattering 80mm focal length, so you’ll capture your subjects without the sort of barrel distortion that wide-angle lenses may cause or the flattening effect of a long focal length.

The newest version of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 offers a metal mount rather than its predecessor’s plastic one, additional diaphragm blades for smoother out-of-focus areas, and a new STM focusing motor, which makes for faster, quieter autofocus (something that can be especially useful when you’re recording video).

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lets you shoot in low light and is an affordable portrait lens. Photo: Erin Lodi

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is of higher quality—and capable of gathering even more light—but costs three times as much as our top pick. Of the company's two 50mm offerings, the f/1.4 version is a better lens, but if you're just starting out and you aren't sure what you want out of a lens, the f/1.8 version is supremely affordable and worth getting as you feel your way around.

The best first lens for Canon full-frame mirrorless: The fast prime

Photo: Canon

Our pick

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

This lightweight lens is the ideal focal length for everyday shooting and will create sharper images with better background blur than your kit lens can produce.

Affordable and effective, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the best choice as you begin building your Canon RF lens library. Weighing about as much as a hockey puck, this prime lens is lightweight and compact, so it’s easy to tote everywhere. With a focal distance that mimics the human eye’s field of view, it’s a versatile lens for shooting portraits, landscapes, and everyday snapshots.

A 50mm, or “nifty fifty,” is also a great learning tool for beginners because it forces shooters to “zoom with your feet” and move in closer to your subjects. As on other R lenses, a control ring allows you to make aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and other adjustments via a turn of the lens dial.

Though Canon’s line of RF lenses for its full-frame mirrorless cameras is ever expanding, at this point the only other option for this focal length is the RF 50mm f/1.2L USM, which costs more than 12 times as much as our pick.

Photo: Erin Lodi

Like other Canon lenses in the non-professional category, this lens doesn’t include a hood. If you find that you’re frequently encountering lens flare or shooting in dusty conditions, or if you anticipate needing a bit of added protection from, say, a busy toddler’s curious hands or the jostle of travel, the additional expense of a lens hood is worth it to protect your lens purchase.

The best zoom lens for Canon DSLRs

Photo: Erin Lodi

Our pick

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

This luxury-class lens lets you zoom in close to the action when you’re traveling or shooting sports.

The next piece you’re likely to add to your camera bag is a zoom lens. Although this lens is on the spendy side, we are recommending our past upgrade pick, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM (about 110mm to 320mm equivalent focal length for crop-sensor cameras). Whether you’re grabbing an image of your kid playing soccer or getting a great shot of the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry, sometimes you need just a bit more zoom.

The lens offers built-in optical image stabilization, which helps keep images sharp, especially at the longer end of the zoom. Our previous zoom pick doesn’t include this feature, which can lead to blurry images if you don’t have an especially steady hand. But if you’re shooting on a budget, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L remains a solid choice for beginners, and you might be able to pick a used one up for less than half the cost of our top choice. The maximum aperture of these lenses stays at f/4 across the entire zoom range, so you get more light in when fully zoomed, which means faster exposures. Both have Canon’s L designation, which denotes superior image quality and sharpness—and typically also equates to a high resale value.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM offers a steady zoom, especially at longer focal lengths. Photo: Erin Lodi

If you only occasionally need the longer focal length of a zoom lens and use a crop-sensor camera, you might consider our kit-lens upgrade pick, the Tamron 18-200mm F/3. 5-6.3 Di II VC. This lens can get you close to the action at the occasional sporting event for a fraction of the cost.

The best zoom lens for Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras

Photo: Canon

Our pick

As you expand your collection of lenses for your full-frame mirrorless Canon camera, we think the versatile focal range, portability, and affordable price of the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM make it the ideal telephoto lens to start with.

A zoom range of 100 to 400 millimeters is ideal for capturing athletes in the field or birds in the trees, and this lens’s fast-focusing capabilities can help you keep up with both. The control ring can further assist you in finding a setting that’s helpful for whatever subject you want to focus on with a simple twist of the lens.

Photo: Erin Lodi

It comes with in-lens optical image stabilization, which helps to correct camera shake, and it improves even further if the R-series camera you’re using also offers in-body image stabilization, as the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 do.

With a maximum variable aperture of f/5.6 at the short end (when you’re shooting at a focal length of 100mm) and f/8 at the long end (when you’re shooting at a focal length of 400mm), this lens can’t be called “fast glass,” a term reserved for lenses with a wide aperture capable of letting in more light. In bright outdoor shooting conditions, that shouldn’t be a problem, but this might not be the best lens to take to a dim concert venue or a cathedral.

The RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is about 6.5 by 3.2 inches (when not zoomed out) and 1.4 pounds, similar to a Starbucks venti drink, so it’s easy enough to lug around for a full day of vacation shooting or a nature hike. Primarily plastic construction keeps this lens lightweight but at the cost of weather sealing, which might be a consideration if you’re mostly shooting soggy soccer games or desert birds in dusty conditions. It also lacks a lens hood, but we definitely recommend using one, either a Canon hood or a third-party model. Canon’s closest comparable lens, the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, could be worth a look as your photography progresses, but it rings up at more than four times the cost of our pick.

The best wide-angle lens for Canon APS-C DSLRs

Photo: Erin Lodi

Our pick

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

This affordable wide-angle lens is ideal for everyday shooting in tight quarters, from snapshots of a toddler in the living room to updated photos for an Airbnb listing.

If you often end up shooting indoors in close quarters (such as at parties or in small rooms), a wide-angle lens is the only way to get everything in your shot. And if you’re shooting architectural or landscape photography, a wide-angle lens is an absolute must for capturing a substantial space or scene. (Also, if you’re feeling a little underhanded, you might use a wide-angle lens to make rooms look bigger when you’re listing an apartment on Craigslist or selling your house.) The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM (16mm to 30mm equivalent focal length) is one of the most affordable wide-angle lenses available for crop-sensor Canon DSLR cameras and is renowned for its sharpness and AF performance. And although the library of EOS RF lenses for mirrorless cameras continues to expand, currently you won’t find an affordable equivalent to this lens.

A wide-angle lens can make a room designed for a hobbit seem big enough for a giant. Photo: Erin Lodi

Get more in the frame with the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM. Photo: Erin Lodi

A wide-angle lens can make a room designed for a hobbit seem big enough for a giant. Photo: Erin Lodi

With a shortest focal length of 10mm (the equivalent of 16mm on a 35mm sensor) on this lens, you’ll be able to grab a huge amount of a scene in a single image—but be careful not to get overwhelmed by the distortion.

If you don’t mind spending a bit more, you could consider the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM (16mm to 32mm equivalent focal length). Its fixed maximum aperture is wider than that of our primary Canon pick, and it offers just a bit more zoom range.

For a real bargain pick, or if weight is of utmost concern, you might consider Canon’s EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM “pancake” lens. That’s a 38mm equivalent focal length in a super-thin and lightweight package.

Weighing 4.4 ounces—just a bit more than a standard bar of soap—and measuring less than an inch thick, this lens could be the ultimate lightweight lens for toting around while you’re sightseeing, or even just to make your camera light enough for you to bring it along more frequently for everyday shooting. The lens won’t get in the way, and it won’t thwack into door frames when you’re not paying attention. You could even keep the lens in your pocket to have something extra to shoot with whenever you want.

Full-frame camera owners should look to Tamron’s SP 15-30mm F/2. 8 Di VC USD for a wide-angle zoom. Although this lens is more expensive than a variable-aperture zoom, its f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range makes shooting easier and lets in more light than variable-aperture options do. Considering that wide-angle zooms tend to see use indoors quite a bit, spending a bit more makes sense here. In addition to letting in more light to accommodate faster shutter speeds in low-light situations, the lens has optical image stabilization (Tamron calls it Vibration Compensation, or VC) that in our experience can allow steady-handed photographers to shoot at a shutter speed of 1/4 second at the lens’s widest angle and still get acceptably sharp results with stationary subjects.

The best macro lens for Canon DSLRs

Photo: Sigma

Our pick

Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art

An ideal macro lens for beginners, this lens can take you closer than you’ve ever been—without breaking the bank.

Macro photography is an awful lot of fun: Getting really, really, close to an insect or flower can help you discover a new side to the art of photography. As a bonus, a macro lens can also serve as a portrait lens. Our macro-lens recommendation, the Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art, works with both full-frame and crop-sensor DSLR cameras. It’s super sharp across the frame, and it allows you to shoot as close as 10 inches or so from your subject. Both factors make this an especially useful lens for product or food photography that shows every detail.

A macro lens can give you impressive close-ups. Photo: Erin Lodi

A 70mm focal length is also pleasing for portraiture with a full-frame DSLR, as is the 105mm equivalent on a crop-sensor camera. However, this lens lacks image stabilization, which may be more noticeable when you’re shooting a handheld portrait versus a deliberate macro shot of a still object. In either case, a tripod can help steady your shot. If you’re already obsessed with macro photography, you might consider spending more on the Canon EF 100mm f/2. 8L IS USM (160mm equivalent focal length), which adds image stabilization and a significantly quieter motor and doesn’t extend when focusing.

The best macro lens for Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras

Photo: Canon

Our pick

The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is currently the perfect lightweight prime portrait lens that also performs well as a macro for Canon’s RF mount. With fast focusing capabilities and a wide maximum aperture of f/2, this dual-purpose lens could be especially appealing to wedding photographers.

This lens can let in a lot of light, falling into the “fast glass” category, and is ideal for shooting in low-light settings and creating portraits with a soft, shallow-depth-of-field background. It also offers in-lens optical image stabilization, which gains a further boost if you pair this lens with a mirrorless camera that comes with in-body image stabilization, such as the Canon EOS R5 or the Canon EOS R6.

A plastic build makes for a highly portable lens weighing just over a pound, and at 3.1 by 3.6 inches, it’s small enough to bring with you anywhere. This RF lens also includes a control ring, which lets you select aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, and more via the lens.

Photo: Erin Lodi

Although this lens is not a true 1:1 macro option, it delivers a serviceable 1:2 reproduction rate that absolutely works for shooting details like rings and flowers at a wedding or for food photography. The minimum focus distance of 13.8 inches could make it very useful for product photography, too.

Like other non-L-class Canon lenses, the Canon RF 85mm F/2 Macro IS STM has no lens hood, but you can purchase a Canon lens hood or a third-party one. This lens also doesn’t offer weather sealing, but as it’s best suited for portraits and macro photography, this sort of lens isn’t optimal for harsh shooting conditions anyway.

The best kit-lens upgrade for Canon DSLRs

Photo: Tamron

Our pick

Tamron 18-200mm F/3.

5-6.3 Di II VC

An economical option with a broad focal range, this Tamron lens gets wide enough to capture everyday snapshots around the house as well as fast-moving soccer players on the pitch.

If the lens your camera came with just isn’t cutting it, we recommend upgrading to the very affordable Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC for a lightweight, versatile lens that will work in a slew of shooting scenarios.

Considered a “super zoom,” this Tamron lens is ideal for everyday shooting with enough reach for most wildlife or sporting scenarios. Equivalent focal lengths when it’s paired with your Canon APS-C camera are 28.8mm to 320mm.

Photo: Erin Lodi

It comes with vibration compensation, also known as image stabilization, which kept our shots steadier and sharper when we were shooting handheld. Considering the long zoom range, it’s definitely a good idea to have stabilization in a lens like this.

If you have a bit more in your budget, consider the Sigma 18-300mm F3. 5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary for a flexible super zoom with macro capabilities. It offers a bit more reach than the Tamron with an equivalent focal range of 27mm to 450mm, and it can shoot macro at 1:3, too. Like other lenses in this category, it can’t compete in optical performance with the prime or telephoto lenses we recommend, but if you’re looking for a clever all-in-one lens that beats the kit lens your camera came with, either the Tamron or the Sigma will do the trick.

This article was edited by Phil Ryan and Erica Ogg.

Sources

Richard Butler, Opinion: The myth of the upgrade path, DPReview, January 8, 2015

About your guide

Erin Roberts

Erin Roberts is a freelance writer reporting on cameras and camera accessories at Wirecutter. She started her career as a photojournalist working in newspapers—shooting film—and was the mobile-imaging editor at DPReview. She is also a professional photographer who has made her living photographing everything from rock stars to humpback whales.

The Best Canon Lenses for Beginners in 2022 – Our Top 11 Picks

Canon has some of the best lenses for beginners. Regardless of what DSLR or Mirrorless body you have, you can easily find a great selection of affordable, high-quality lenses.

We understand that picking your first lenses can be daunting though because of the numerous choices. In this article, we’ve hand-picked eleven of the best Canon lenses for beginners so you can find the right lens for your needs.

The Best Canon Lenses for Beginners in 2022: Our Top 11 Picks

1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
3. Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
4. Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM
5. Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM
6. Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM
7. Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM
8. Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
9. Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III
10. Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.2 IS STM
11. Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM

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1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Image from Amazon

Canon EF 50mm f/1. 8 STM

Great for beginner portrait shots

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a highly affordable lens that doesn’t compromise on quality.

$125.00 from Amazon

Pros

Lightweight design

Versatile aperture for low-light shots

Highly affordable

Cons

Doesn’t have any image stabilization

One of the best Canon lenses for beginners has to be the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. This remains one of the top starter lenses thanks to its incredible price, great features, and superior image quality.

For less than $150 you get a brilliant lens with a maximum f/1.8 aperture that can be used for all sorts of shots from portraits to street photos. Thanks to that f/1.8 aperture, you can get superb bokeh effects to really enhance your photos. The lens also has a decent minimum focusing distance of just 1.15 ft/0.35 m allowing you to get relatively close to the subject you’re shooting.

Image from Amazon

This is also one of the smallest and lightest 50mm lenses available, weighing in at 0.35 lb/158 g. This makes it ideal for those who love to travel and take photos on the go.

2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

Image from Amazon

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

Great for low-light portraits

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM excels at low-light portrait photography due to its maximum f/1.4 aperture, and its 50mm focal length.

$399.00 from Amazon

Pros

Excellent lens construction

Lightweight and small body

Great maximum f/1.4 aperture

Cons

Some may not feel the upgrades warrant the price increase

A slightly more expensive alternative to our top pick is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. This is a similar lens but it has two key differences.

For one thing, it has a maximum aperture of f/1.4 which gives this lens the edge for low-light photography and can also create better bokeh effects for subject backgrounds.

It also has a USM autofocus motor instead of an STM motor. This autofocus system is generally considered to be superior to STM technology and makes for fast and accurate focusing.

Aside from this, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM offers similar functionality. It is a great lens for portrait photography and if you can afford a little more, it is worth the extra cost.

Image from Amazon

The lens delivers sharp images consistently and has advanced coatings to reduce distortion in your images.

3. Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Image from Amazon

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Great for portrait photography

This affordable RF lens is one of the best beginner choices for portrait photography due to its 50mm focal length and maximum f/1.8 aperture.

Buy from Amazon

Pros

Has a programmable control ring

High-quality lens construction for consistent sharpness

Fast and accurate STM autofocus

Cons

Not as sharp as L series RF lenses

If you were to buy one starter lens for your Canon EOS R camera, the Canon RF 50mm f/1. 8 STM is a great contender. This lens is insanely affordable but doesn’t compromise on quality. It is a must-have lens for beginners and is a great option for street photography and portraits.

Image from Amazon

For portrait photography, you benefit from the f/1.9 maximum aperture, offering great control and the ability to create amazing bokeh effects. Essentially, you can use this budget lens to take professional-quality portrait shots.

The lens also has a lightweight design and the control ring and gear-type STM autofocus make for a user-friendly operating experience. The control ring allows you to make quick camera setting changes on the fly, while the STM autofocus allows for quick and accurate focusing.

This affordable portrait lens also has various coatings that help reduce ghosting and lens flare, while maintaining image sharpness for superior image quality.

4. Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM

Image from Amazon

Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM

Great for wide-angle shots

The Canon EF 24mm f/2. 8 IS USM is a versatile wide-angle lens that has a durable build quality, fast AF motor, and built-in image stabilization.

Buy from Amazon

Pros

Lightweight design

Metal lens mount

Great lens construction for consistent sharpness

Cons

Not as sharp as L series lenses

Portrait photography is a great place to start for beginners. However, wide-angle photography is also relatively simple. As a result, the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM is a great beginner lens option.

This is an older Canon lens but it still holds up well and provides consistent image quality and functionality. At 24mm, you can take awesome wide-angle shots of landscapes and even dabble in street photography. Because of its smaller size and weight, this 24mm lens is also great for travel photography.

Image from Amazon

In terms of features, it has image stabilization, a USM focusing motor, and a series of special lens elements to boost image quality and reduce distortions. The image stabilization helps with handheld photos, while the USM autofocus motor means you can capture moving objects and focus quickly.

This lens is also highly affordable and is one of the best quality budget wide-angle lenses for Canon EF-mount cameras.

5. Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM

Image from Amazon

Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM

Great for wide-angle photography

The Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM is one of the sharpest beginner lenses for EOS M cameras like the Canon EOS M50 Mark II.

$179.00 from Amazon

Pros

Small pancake design

Closest minimum focusing distance of 5.9 in/0.15 m

Consistently sharp images

Cons

Does not have any image stabilization

If you happen to have a Canon EOS M model, the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM is a great option. This is an lens that performs well in most areas.

Thanks to its 22mm focal length, you can take beautiful landscape photos and with the small minimum focusing distance, you can even try some more intimate, close-up photography.

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In terms of portability, this is also one of the lightest lenses available. It weighs only 0.27 lb and is classed as a pancake lens because of its flat design. You can easily carry this lens in your pocket, rucksack, or handbag.

This is one of the sharpest EF-M lenses on the market, making it a good option for those that only want the best image quality. This is definitely one of the first lenses we recommend buying for your EOS M camera.

6. Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM

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Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM

Great for landscape photography

The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is a lightweight lens perfect for travel photography and capturing sweeping landscapes.

$265.99 from Amazon

Pros

Weighs only 1 lb/453 g

Has a control ring for different camera functions

Circular 7-blade aperture for bokeh effects

Cons

Does not have any image stabilization

To learn to shoot landscapes and other wide-angle photos, a prime wide-angle lens is a great option. One of the best options for beginners is the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. This prime lens has a focal length of 16mm which allows you to capture vast, sweeping landscape scenes.

This lens is also highly portable and compact. It weighs only 1 lb/453 g and could easily be used as a travel lens. With an f/2.8 maximum aperture, you can even use this lens in low light with very little trouble.

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Plus, if you’re looking for a lens for videography, this is a really good option thanks to the focal length and aperture.

7. Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM

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Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM

Great for general photography

This kit lens is a great place to start for beginner EOS R camera owners due to its flexible focal length.

$399.00 from Amazon

Pros

Optical image stabilization up to 5 stops of shake correction

Decent specs for macro photography

Fast and smooth STM autofocus

Cons

Not as sharp as other RF kit lenses

While many of the Canon RF lenses are expensive, there are some brilliant beginner lenses, too, like the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7. 1 IS STM. This is a fantastic kit lens that offers versatility in terms of focal length and consistent image quality.

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This lens is a great starter lens if you have a camera like the Canon EOS R. It is affordable and allows you to learn multiple types of photography without spending a fortune on separate lenses. For example, at 24mm you can take sweeping landscape shots, at 105mm you can dip your toes into telephoto photography.

The build quality is also excellent and the lens looks stylish too. For convenient handheld use, you can benefit from the 5 stops of shake correction via image stabilization. It also has a decent maximum aperture range of f/4-7.1 which will still allow for great background separation.

8. Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

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Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

Great for general photography

This multi-purpose kit lens has a great focal length, is compact, and has some great features for various types of photography.

$299.00 from Amazon

Pros

Has optical image stabilization to improve handheld use

Fast and accurate STM stepping motor

Compact and lightweight design

Cons

Some may find the locking mechanism clunky

Those who have EOS M cameras have an excellent choice of affordable lenses. A great kit lens for general photography from this range is the Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM.

This is the perfect lens for beginners and in many instances, you can buy this as part of a package with a camera. At 15-45mm, you have the perfect lens for general walk-around photography. This could include outdoor landscape shots, street photography, and even some portrait shots.

The lens is also one of the smallest EF-M lenses available due to its special retracting locking mechanism. Essentially, when not in use, you can lock the zoom at its lowest point to prevent movement. Some may find this locking mechanism a little clunky, but it certainly helps with storage.

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As an introduction to photography, this is a great option thanks to its versatile nature!

9. Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III

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Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III

Great for telephoto photography

The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III is one of the best budget telephoto lenses and is a perfect choice for beginner wildlife enthusiasts.

$199.00 from Amazon

Pros

Metal lens mount

Lightweight and compact

Fast and accurate micro USM AF motor

Cons

Does not have any image stabilization

Once you have mastered the basics of photography, you may want to delve into some more specialist photography. A telephoto lens like the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III allows you to do this. Using this Canon lens, you have super-telephoto capabilities at 300mm which means you can get great detail from a distance for capturing things like wildlife and sporting events.

The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III is an older lens, but it remains one of the best Canon lenses for beginners due to its affordability and quality. This lens is one of the lighter telephoto lenses available, and it can easily be used for outdoor adventures where you are seeking wildlife shots.

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It has a high-quality micro USM autofocus motor which means you will be able to focus quickly on moving subjects.

It also has a great build quality and a metal lens mount. It should work perfectly with EF-mount cameras, or you could even use it on other Canon models with an adaptor.

10. Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.2 IS STM

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Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

Great for wildlife photography

The Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is a lightweight, compact telephoto lens that introduces EOS M users into the world of long-distance photography.

$355.00 from Amazon

Pros

Has built-in image stabilization for handheld use

Durable exterior quality for outdoor use

Decent maximum apertures of f/4. 5-6.3

Cons

The zoom transition can sometimes be a little stiff

If you have an M series camera, you can also get your hands on a decent telephoto lens. The Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is arguably one of the most affordable telephoto lenses for beginners and has great build and image quality.

Combining this lens with a kit lens like the Canon EF-M 15-45mm would allow you to have a focal length range from 15-200mm. This is perfect for virtually any type of photography. While the 15-45mm can be used for general photography, the 55-200mm allows you to try your hand at telephoto photography including wildlife shots.

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Despite its small size, this lens feels great and offers impressive durability.

It has a high-quality lens construction that will provide consistently sharp images and you should be able to focus quickly on moving objects with the fast and quiet STM autofocus system.

11. Canon RF 35mm f/1.

8 IS Macro STMImage from Amazon

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM

Great for beginner macro photography

The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is one of the most affordable macro lenses for RF-mount cameras.

$499.00 from Amazon

Pros

Programmable control ring

Excellent minimum focusing distance

Built-in IS for wildlife macro

Cons

Some may find the 35mm focal length limiting

Our last pick is an affordable macro lens for Canon RF users. The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is a brilliant starter macro lens that will allow you to take fantastic closeup shots in high detail.

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For macro photography, it has important features including a magnification ratio of 0.5x and a minimum focusing distance of just 0.56 ft/0.17 m. As a result, you can get incredibly close to your subject which makes this lens great for stationary subject macro shots.

The maximum aperture of f/1.8 also means this lens will excel at low-light macro shots. You will be able to get beautiful bokeh effects for subject backgrounds. To help shoot moving objects like insects, this macro lens also has image stabilization which helps correct up to 5 stops of shake.

Which Beginner Canon Lens is Right for You?

As you can see, there is a fantastic range of inexpensive, but high-quality Canon lenses for beginners. Whether you have an EF, RF, or EF-M mount camera, you can find a good selection of lenses to suit. But which ones are suitable for you?

If you want the best Canon lenses for beginners for portraits, you have options like the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, and Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. These are affordable and provide great maximum apertures for professional bokeh.

Alternatively, if you want try landscape and wide-angle photography, lenses like the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM, and Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM will work fantastically.

If you’re looking for something more versatile to shoot a range of subjects the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5. 6 III, Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM, and Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM are all perfect solutions.

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Which Canon lenses to choose for different types of shooting, Top Ranking

I know it may sound overkill, but a lens is a very important part of a great photo. This statement is repeated because too many photographers pay attention to the camera itself and the characteristics of the sensors. Megapixels, burst speeds, dynamic range. All of these aspects are relevant and certainly desirable, but we cannot afford to purchase a poor quality lens.

Canon users particularly enjoy the amazing selection of lenses as the company produces some of the finest lenses in the world. Whether you're looking for Canon's best full-frame or APS-C lenses, you'll have no shortage of choice and good quality.

There are many criteria for choosing the best Canon lenses. Size, weight, features, durability, price. All these aspects play a decisive role in performance.

Best Canon Lens Review

Using a combination of personal experience and professional advice, we've put together a guide to using Canon lenses for beginners and professionals alike. In it, we will tell you why everyone deserves your attention. The purpose of this guide is to help you find the best Canon lenses.

The best zoom lens Canon 70-200mm f / 2.8L IS II USM

Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS USM is one of the best zoom lenses for Canon cameras

There's a reason almost every professional the Canon photographer owns one of these lenses, the 70-200mm f/2.8. This lens is superbly sharp, extremely useful, rock solid and very responsive. This is without a doubt one of Canon's best zoom lenses. The

The

Canon 70-200mm has a very useful focal range and is an asset to just about any type of photographer. Sports, wildlife and event photographers will benefit greatly from this lens, and even landscape and portrait photographers will enjoy it. 9The 0003

70-200mm has many other useful features including weather protection and image stabilization. Image stabilization will reduce camera shake, which is admittedly a problem with telephoto lenses. Weatherproof and reliable quality means this lens will last you a long time. The 70-200 f/2.8 is neither a small lens nor a cheap one.

Best Canon Prime 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens for Beginners and Experienced Photographers alike

50mm is one of my favorite lens types. With a very useful focal length and durable optics, these lenses are among the first lenses most photographers buy. The

50mm f/1.8 STM is an extremely useful lens and the is arguably one of Canon's best outing lenses. Few have ever come close to finding the stellar combination of optics, size and price for this lens.

At 160 grams, this lens can fit in your pocket. Optically, the lens is quite sharp and relatively free from optical defects. After all, the real reason for buying this lens is its low cost. You can get a brand new 50mm f/1.8 lens for less than a set of filters. Why not?

However, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 has its drawbacks: distortion is surprisingly present, autofocus is poor quality, and maximum sharpness is not really achieved until f/4-5.6. All things considered, we believe these are minor complaints.

Best landscape lens: Canon 16-35mm f / 4.0L IS USM

Canon 16-35mm f / 4.0L IS USM lens - for those who need the flexibility to shoot nature

Many photographers - Landscape photographers rely on a good wide-angle zoom lens when they are in nature for a number of reasons. 1.Added focal length flexibility helps adjust to compositions 2.Many photographers may not have access to multiple lenses when on foot or away from their equipment. Having a wide-angle lens is very convenient and much preferable.

One of Canon's finest landscape lenses, the 16-35mm f/4.0L II USM. This is an extremely impressive lens that offers the highest sharpness, durability and performance. Best of all, this lens is not overly large and, by many standards, is actually quite small. The

Canon 16-35mm f/4.0 has a slower aperture, making it less suited to astrophotography and certain indoor shots. There is an f/2.8 version of this lens that people can pick up (IS is not listed on this version), and this faster model would be better suited to such dimming situations.

If you're wondering why we didn't offer an f/2.8 version of this lens, it's because we find it hard to justify the extra weight and cost. Nearly twice the price and 200 grams heavier, we just don't think the extra aperture is worth it. IS 4.0 works well enough for us.

Best Lens for Wedding Photography Canon 24-70mm f / 2.8L II USM

Canon 24-70mm f / 2.8L II USM Lens for those who want maximum clarity and versatility

Wedding photographers generally hold very high standards - they end up taking photos that will be viewed for decades. For this reason, they need a lens that provides the absolute highest optical quality, while still being flexible enough to work with spontaneous compositions. The

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is exactly that lens. Its 's unrivaled optics and 's useful focus range make it a powerful tool for virtually any working professional. A very rugged construction means this lens will be protected from accidents, whether it be spilled champagne glasses or unexpected rain.

Wedding photographers are not the only ones who can benefit from this lens - journalists, landscape photographers, urban photographers, portrait photographers, each can take advantage of this versatile Canon lens. It goes without saying that this is also one of Canon's best lenses for video.

Like many of Canon's best lenses, the 24-70mm f/2.8L doesn't come cheap. For wedding photographers, the price can be justified, but for casual photographers, this one can be very high.

Best Lens for Portrait Photography: Canon 85mm f/1.

4L IS USM

Canon 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Lens – for those who want the best bokeh

The 85mm is often considered the ideal focal length for portrait photography — long enough to create great bokeh and object isolation, but short enough to be controlled. Canon has released several 85mm lenses over the years. While some have impressed in the past, no lens is better suited to the title of “best Canon lens for portraits” than the 85mm f1/.4L IS USM lens. 9The 0003

Canon 85mm f/1.4L IS USM is a great lens Image resolution is sharper than ever, bokeh is the variety we all dream of and build quality is superb. Compared to previous models, the autofocus system has been greatly improved and is fast and accurate.

The inclusion of IS is a somewhat surprising but very welcome addition. This means the 85mm f/1.4L lens is capable of capturing handheld portraits in low light. More importantly, IS will help videographers capture smooth, shake-free footage, making this lens one of Canon's best lenses for video.

The Canon 85mm f/1.4L doesn't have too many shortcomings. It's expensive, but for portrait photographers and videographers, it's worth it.

Best Travel Lens Canon 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

Canon 24-105mm f4.0L IS USM - for those who want to shoot everything and don't want to be burdened

Travel and Photographers - amateurs tend to have more difficult choices. Many who travel frequently can't take all their gear with them, and others simply don't want to be bothered by extra lenses at all. So if you could only choose one lens it would be:

Canon 24-105mm F/4.0L. This lens offers a very flexible focal range and doesn't sacrifice much in doing so. This lens was literally built for travel photographers and whether they travel or not, the is one of Canon's best full frame lenses.

At 24-105mm, this lens can capture all sorts of subjects. Landscape photographers will find it wide enough to capture epic vistas, while portrait photographers will appreciate a small telephoto lens. The aperture is fast enough for this lens to fit in most lighting situations, and the built-in IC should be particularly useful in tricky situations.

The optical quality of the 24-105mm f/4.0L, while excellent, is not impressive, and there are some shortcomings worth pointing out. Distortion and coloration are present at some focal lengths, and maximum sharpness is not achieved until higher apertures (f/5.6 - f/11). Given the versatile nature of this lens, these shortcomings are to be expected, although they're not really all that bad when considering alternatives.

Best APS-C Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens is for those who would like a semi-pro lens in a relatively small body.

EF-S users should be relieved to know that there are many great Canon APS-C lenses out there. While there are many notable third-party offerings from Sigma and Tamron, the best Canon EF-S lens is probably the 17-55mm f/2. 8 IS USM. This lens is designed to replace the excellent 24-70mm f/2.8 full-frame format with a crop sensor and, despite its shortcomings, does the job perfectly. 9The 0003

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 performs well, thanks to its excellent autofocus system, image stabilization and high image resolution. The inclusion of IS is much appreciated at this medium zoom as it handles low light situations very well.

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm has some drawbacks. Vignetting and chromatic aberrations are unfortunately present. Some people have also complained that this lens is a bit bulky, but we think that's a moot point when you compare it to a full-frame medium zoom.

How to choose the best Canon lens

There is no doubt that each of these lenses can capture stunning images with the highest image quality. However, which lens is right for you is largely up to you! Let's take a look...

Consider your shooting style

The first question you need to ask yourself before buying a lens is “What kind of pictures do I want to take with ?”. Each lens is more or less better suited to work in a particular photographic situation, and there is a reason why certain lenses are recommended for certain photographers.

For example, landscape photographers usually need a wider lens to capture a larger scene. Portrait photographers need a larger telephoto lens to isolate the subject; astrophotographers need a faster lens for extreme low light scenes. The list of examples could go on, but you get the idea.
Road at Auburn, Dorset, England, UK. Photo by David Naughton
So think about what kind of photos you want to take and then buy the best Canon lens for you. If you don't know what photography is best for you, buy a more versatile Canon lens. Play around with the focal length and decide what you like.

Size / Weight

Lenses can add a lot of weight to your bag. Ask any photographer who wears all their gear: it's hard work. All these lenses, accessories, spare camera bodies, they can be very heavy.

If you want to be able to move efficiently and, for that matter, want to save your back, you must consider the size and weight of your lenses.
Photo by Kat Simard
Most photographers have what they call "trinity set", i.e. their three main lenses. Three lenses are also enough to cover most photographic situations.

If you travel a lot, the weight of your lens is a deciding factor. A camera, lens, tripod, other camping equipment, etc. will all add to your weight.

Maximum lens aperture

Lens aperture is important to consider for several reasons:

Aperture dictates bokeh
Helps in dimly lit situations and

Indicates the quality of the lenses.

If you are at all interested in shooting certain creative compositions or in low light conditions, then you need to get a lens with the right aperture.

Often a lower aperture value (faster lens at f/2.8 or lower) is preferred. Faster lenses generally produce more attractive bokeh and are able to take in more light.

Generally speaking, a lower aperture also indicates a higher quality and sharper lens. While this isn't always the case - most lenses have soft focus at anything below f/2.8 - having a lower aperture is certainly a good thing.

Aperture directly affects the nature and quality of bokeh

Bokeh is perhaps the most desirable photographic effect for portrait and macro photography. A lower aperture means softer backgrounds and more subject isolation, which are two passions for photographers. If you want to improve your portrait, macro, or creative play in general, you need to decrease your aperture.

Large aperture lenses are also better in low light conditions , because they allow more light to reach the sensor. Photographers who shoot primarily at night or indoors often face a lack of natural light. They usually gravitate towards faster lenses to avoid increasing the ISO or slowing down the shutter too much. If you think you'll be doing a lot of night, astro, and event photography, you'll definitely need a faster lens.

Lens types

The zoom lenses are zoom lenses, meaning they can zoom in and out across the entire focal length.

The prime lenses have fixed focal lengths, which means they cannot zoom in or out.

In addition to these inherent qualities, both lens types have their pros and cons.

Zoom lenses are desirable for their focal flexibility, making them one of Canon's best travel lenses. Since you can change the focal length and narrow or widen the composition as needed, they are usually the preferred choice for those who like to shoot at different zoom levels.

Zoom lenses allow you to be flexible in your shot. You can zoom in to highlight the subject, or zoom out to capture wide landscapes. Photo by Luca Micheli Unsplash

Zoom lenses have their drawbacks. With the exception of the highest quality lenses such as the 24-70mm f/2. 8, zooms tend to be softer in focus than prime lenses and can be more prone to optical defects such as vignetting. Since they have more glass elements, the lens is usually heavier and more prone to mechanical damage.
Landscape photograph taken with an 85mm zoom lens
Image sharpness

Sharpness is usually the first thing people think of when it comes to lens quality. The sharper the lens, the better it is considered.

While sharpness is certainly an indication of the quality of a lens, don't think it's the end result. There are many good Canon lenses that are sometimes a bit soft and in fact some can be is too sharp .

For example, portrait photographers may shy away from overly sharp lenses such as macros because they can bring out unattractive details in their subjects such as pores and fright.

Lens sharpness is definitely an important factor to consider. Especially if you are considering macro photography. Photo by Aaron Burden

Optical Quality Lens

The lack of optical blemishes such as chroma, distortion and vignetting is something you should look out for. While most of these degradations can be reduced in-camera or corrected in post-processing these days, too much of any of them will surely ruin an image and render it unusable.

Vignetting can be especially distracting if there is too much of it. Chromatic aberrations and distortion are easier to fix in post-processing, and only in extreme cases can they be of concern.

In the end, each lens has its pros and cons (even expensive ones). The key to choosing the best Canon lens comes down to striking the right balance between good and bad.

Lens focus speed

Quick and fast focusing is most useful for active photographers or those who shoot moving subjects; this includes those who film wildlife, sports and performances. In these areas, having good autofocus (and tracking) is essential. Otherwise, you will miss your target 9 times out of 10 and start banging your head against the wall.

Keep in mind, though, that autofocus isn't just a matter of the lens. The camera itself also affects the efficiency of the autofocus system. If you find that your camera just isn't focusing quickly or accurately enough, just remember that it's not always a lens fault.

Image stabilization

Image stabilization (IS) is a technology designed to compensate for camera shake. For example, when you take a picture and your hands are shaking (even a little), blurring of the image may occur at a slower shutter speed. In certain photographic situations where shutter speeds can get extremely slow, IS can be a real boon.

Image stabilization may be unnecessary in less challenging conditions. Landscape photographers obviously benefit the least from IS as their subjects don't move as much. IS is useless when using a tripod anyway and can even degrade image quality when active. Thus, you are advised to turn IS off whenever you use a tripod.

Finally, image stabilization usually increases the price of a lens significantly. So you should think about whether you need IS or not. Use an IS lens if you often shoot in low light or have shaky hands.

Image stabilization (labeled as IS in Canon lenses) helps you avoid camera shake at slow shutter speeds. Really useful in low light conditions. Photo by Hanna Busing

Conclusion

Lenses are specialty tools and photographers can end up having an odd sentimental relationship with them.

If you want to be a photographer, professional or whatever, you should consider buying lenses just like buying a camera. Many will say that they are even more important than the camera itself.

Find out what kind of photographer you are or want to be, then carefully consider which lens you need. Each is better suited to certain shooting styles. Whether you're looking for the best Canon lens for wedding, landscape, travel or portrait photography, just know that each one has something different.

So consider which Canon lens is best for your needs. The fact that you think about it at all means that you begin to care deeply about the art of photography. With the right lens, a good eye, and a nimble pair of hands, you can shoot whatever you want. We wish everyone good luck.

The best Canon lenses for landscape photography
The best Canon lenses for landscape photography - Canon UK
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Nature photographer Valteri Hirvonen talks about his favorite Canon lenses for capturing stunning landscapes.

Nature photographer Valteri Hirvonen uses a range of Canon lenses for landscape photography. This atmospheric image of an orange sky was created during the golden hour of 11 p.m. in Finland. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens at 200mm, 1/2000 sec, f/2.8 and ISO100. © Walteri Hirvonen

Conditions - Nature photographer and Canon Ambassador Valteri Hirvonen regularly shoots in temperatures as low as -35°C near his home in northern Finland. “The camera and lens are my tools, and I require weather protection from them because I'm not going to be careful,” he says. The most exciting moments happen just in bad weather. When there is a blizzard outside, and people are sitting at home, something unimaginable begins to happen in nature. I want my equipment to handle these conditions as well.”

Valteri recently switched from his beloved Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and EF L-series lenses to the Canon EOS R5 with RF L-series lenses, and is now exploring new possibilities for creative landscape photography. “I can shoot handheld with a second shutter speed, and the shots come out clear - it's incredible. I like to work slowly with a tripod, but handheld shooting allows me to be as mobile as possible.”

Despite the unparalleled build quality of both Canon's DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, the move to a mirrorless system comes with a number of other benefits. “RF lenses provide better image quality, focusing closer to the subject, less noticeable focus breathing (ideal for tracking focusing), improved image stabilization, and faster autofocus,” says Mike Burnhill, specialist in professional Canon Europe products.

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Valteri's most used lens for landscape photography is the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM, but each lens in his arsenal offers him freedom of choice, opening up new creative possibilities. In this article, Valteri will talk about his range of lenses, from wide-angle lenses for creating large-scale compositions to telephoto lenses for capturing individual objects at long distances. And Mike, lens expert, explains why these lenses are so good for landscape photography.

The Canon EOS R5's Image Stabilizer works in tandem with the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM's 5-stop Image Stabilizer for up to 8-stop effects, allowing Walteri to capture shaky-free images. “I can work differently without worrying so much about image clarity,” he says. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 24-70mm F2. 8L IS USM lens at 70mm, 1/8000 sec, f/4.5 and ISO100. © Walteri Hirvonen

1. Best all-around landscape lens: Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM is a great all-around lens. With it, the photographer gets a chance to capture the object of interest in any situation. I always take it with me and use it 80% of the time,” says Walteri. “At my favorite focal length of 50mm, I don’t see a difference in image quality compared to my prime lenses—it stays high all the way through the frame—and f/2.8 is fast enough to shoot in most situations. The significant advantage of the RF version is the image stabilizer, which is not available in the counterpart from the EF line, but at the same time the new lens has not become heavier or more bulky.

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

The RF 24-70mm, one of the top three versatile lenses along with the RF15-35mm and RF 70-200mm, features fast aperture, Image Stabilization and a Nano USM motor for silent focus.

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For EF mount photographers, Mike recommends choosing the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens. “This is a great all-around lens with a great reputation and is considered one of the best lenses of any manufacturer. The f/2.8 aperture allows it to be used in low light, as well as to make individual objects stand out from others with differentiated focusing. This is an L-series lens, so you don't have to worry about weather protection. You can be sure that when shooting outdoors in bad weather, it will still deliver the best results.”

“In developing the RF analogue, we wanted to take the EF lens and create an improved version of the RF lens for use in the new decade,” continues Mike. “We had to push the boundaries even further.”

“With a telephoto lens, you have to think more about depth of field,” explains Walteri. - This is the choice of an object in focus, and the choice of aperture value. Such decisions need to be made right at the time of shooting. I usually start shooting with a wide aperture, and then adjust it to suit the situation.” Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens at 124mm, 1/640 sec, f/4.5 and ISO320. © Walteri Hirvonen

2. Best lens for telephoto landscape photography: Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

Telephoto lenses create new possibilities for capturing dramatic landscapes by isolating subjects against a blurred background. Walteri is very easy to work in this style. “When I work at home, I often use a telephoto lens,” he says. “The fact is that sometimes you shoot familiar landscapes, but new, interesting details appear in them.”

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

This high-performance f/2.8 telephoto zoom is the third in a trio of new RF lenses, with a compact body and exceptional image quality to suit any shooting situation.

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The new RF lens mount creates the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM with a brand new design. “It is 35% shorter than its counterpart and weighs only 1.07 kg. A trio of RF f/2.8 lenses take up less space in a bag than two similar EF lenses,” says Mike. - You get Dual Nano focusing, which is even faster and somewhat compensates for the "breathing" of the focus. Image quality stays the same across the zoom range, you can focus on subjects as close as 0.7m away, and the weather protection stays the same as EF. This 70-200mm model is the ideal prime lens for professional photographers of any genre.”

Mike also recommends the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM for DSLR photographers, which makes for a great mid range telephoto zoom. “Most landscape photographers work with a tripod, but if you need to shoot handheld on location, this lens will allow you to apply stabilization with an effect equivalent to 3.5 shutter speeds, which will ensure that images are sharp,” explains Mike. - As with other L-series lenses, autofocus is controlled by a ring-type ultrasonic motor, which is located on the rim of the lens and provides a very fast focusing speed. You can also manually control the focus - to switch to manual mode, you just need to touch the focus ring. This lens has a fluorite coating that protects it from dirt. When it rains, the drops simply roll off the front element and leave no marks that can be seen in pictures.”

A super telephoto lens such as the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM or its equivalent Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lets you focus on scenery details like this bird on a branch tree. Taken on camera Canon EOS R5 with lens Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM at 500mm, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1 and ISO 5000. © Robert Mark Lehmann

3. Best long lens for landscapes: Canon RF 100 -500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM

“Telephoto lenses are far from the obvious choice for landscape photography,” says Mike, “but they allow you to capture the action in a different way. The Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM lets you capture your subject with a special perspective that you can't get with any other angle of view. The ability to compress perspective when shooting a landscape, such as a range of hills, or to isolate objects on the horizon, allows for variety in panoramic views.”

Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM

L-series build quality and 5-stop Image Stabilization make this lens an exceptional performance lens, while UD lens elements and ASC coating provide unparalleled contrast and clarity for superior image quality.

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“With a telephoto lens, you can find interesting compositions even in unremarkable landscapes,” adds Valteri. — This is a search for new details, experiments with lighting and focus on the right. With a wide angle to achieve this effect is much more difficult. What’s more, with a telephoto lens, you can include wild animals in landscapes.”

Similar to the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM that Mike recommends as an EF super telephoto lens for landscape photography, the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM also has a zoom ring , while offering faster Nano USM focusing and 1 stop more effective stabilization when mounted on a range of cameras including the Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6. “This lens is the same size as the EF 100-400mm but is lighter and offers a wider range of focal lengths,” says Mike. - When shooting with the EOS R5, you can capture crisp handheld images at shutter speeds up to 1/8 sec. at a focal length of 500 mm.

“A lot of people think this is a lens for wildlife and sports photography, but it's also very good for landscape photography,” continues Mike. — To do this, you should look at the landscapes from the other side and be able to distinguish individual details from the situation, for example, lonely trees. A very useful feature is the zoom ring - it allows you to adjust the zoom according to the subject you decide to capture. It also helps to avoid accidentally changing the focal length when you touch the lens.”

The Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM ultra wide-angle lens forced Walteri to step out of his comfort zone and look for new angles he hadn't experimented with before. “I wouldn’t have been able to get that shot with any other lens,” he says. - The viewing angle creates the illusion that this pond is huge, and the person was just a meter away from it. I shot against the setting sun, which created a golden reflection.” Taken on a Canon EOS R5 at 14mm, 1/3200 sec, f/4 and ISO320. © Walteri Hirvonen

4. Best Wide Angle Landscape Lens: Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

Smaller than the competition - Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM - The Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM lens also provides a wider-angle perspective at the cost of one stop. “It can be great to mount a lens like the RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM on a camera because it allows you to work with interesting angles, like looking for water reflections,” says Walteri. “Of course, there are also situations where it is simply necessary, for example when shooting in tight spaces.”

Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

Working in tight spaces? This compact ultra-wide-angle zoom lens is ideal for capturing wide-angle compositions. It's ideal for shooting landscapes and architecture, as well as professional-quality video, thanks to its silent autofocus, too.

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Mike says, “Traditional landscape photography uses a large depth of field, which is achieved by using apertures around f/8 or f/11. Overpaying to get a heavier lens with an extra f / 2.8 aperture is not advisable. The main reason for the success of the Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM is the wide angle of view, as well as the presence of UD and aspherical elements, which are designed to compensate for a number of aberrations inherent in such a compact wide-angle lens.”

For EF mount users looking to add a wide-angle zoom lens to their arsenal, Mike still recommends the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM. “The clarity of the images produced with it is simply incredible, and this is especially noticeable when working with a focal length of 16mm and maximum aperture, and the ability to shoot at 16mm itself allows you to create shots with coverage that you rarely see in other shots. It is an excellent choice for capturing images with a lot of detail, such as cityscapes, and the wide field of view is similar to that of the human eye. ”

The Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro STM is a compact and versatile lens for landscapes, environmental portraits and city shots. “I am not a macro photographer, but this lens makes me think and look for new ideas,” says Walteri. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 at 35mm, 1/80 sec, f/10 and ISO100. © Walteri Hirvonen

spontaneous moments that happen at the most unexpected times,” says Mike. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 at 35mm, 1/400 sec, f/3.5 and ISO200. © Walteri Hirvonen

5. Best short distance landscape lens: Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM

The only prime lens in this selection is the inexpensive, versatile, compact and discreet Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM, which allows Walteri to focus on individual objects in the scene and experiment with new shooting techniques. “Having a fixed focal length makes you look at your surroundings differently,” he says. “For example, it's unusual to work with a wide-angle lens that can focus at such a close distance. I use it to find subtle details in the forest, but it also allows you to shoot wide angle and create shots where you can make out the trees in the background. I'm always looking for details to focus on, and often avoid showing the viewer the whole environment at once."

Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM

Wide-angle, fast f/1.8 prime lens with macro capabilities.

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In addition to having an adjustable control ring for adjusting exposure, the RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM also features a new optical design. “If you take the design of a DSLR, any lens with a focal length of less than 40mm should be retrofocus,” says Mike. - RF lenses have a reverse optical design, and the largest RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM element is located at the back. Along with a larger RF lens mount, this allows light to reach the image sensor without refraction, and improves image quality at the edges of the frame due to less distortion from chromatic aberration and light attenuation. What’s more, the 0.5x magnification makes it possible to photograph objects almost point-blank, which can also be used to capture dew or cobwebs. ”

For landscape photographers looking for an affordable and lightweight EF 35mm prime lens, Mike recommends the Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM, which offers 4-stop image stabilization, fast f/2 for low-light shooting and a minimum focusing distance of 0.24 m for close-up subjects. “The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a great and small lens that offers a compact and lightweight design along with high performance,” says Mike. - This is one of my main lenses; its versatility makes it the perfect travel companion, capturing both cityscapes and nature.”

By Tim Coleman

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