Picking the best lenses for your Canon camera is almost as important as, if not more than, picking out the best DSLR in the first place. They are literally an integral part of any DSLR or mirrorless camera and ultimately determine what type of photo you can take.
Not to mention that your lenses will often far out last your camera as image sensors and technology improves. In fact, you can expect that your arsenal of glass will last for decades.
With all of that in mind, it’s only makes it more important to pick out the right lenses for your Canon DSLR. From wide-angles, portrait lenses, to super zoom telephotos, there’s a lot to mine through. But, thanks to us, you won’t have to do too much digging, as we’ve put together a round up of the best Canon lenses you should definitely add to your collection.
Canon 50mm f1.8 STM
The Canon 50mm F1.8 STM is practically the first lens every photographer should pick up – especially for amateurs just starting off. This 50mm prime offers a perfectly normal field of view closely mimicking that of the human eye. Plus, with an extremely wide aperture, users can start playing around with their depth of field without the extra complications that zoom lenses often include. Of course, pro shooters will eventually want to upgrade to higher-end glass, including the Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM and Canon EF 50mm f1.2L USM.
Tamron SP 35mm f1.8 Di VC USD
If you’re looking for something with a slightly wider field-of-view, we highly recommend the Tamron SP 35mm f1.8 Di VC USD. Optical image stabilization comes built into this lens and its incredibly close focusing distance, also allow this Tamron lens to be used like a makeshift macro lens. If you’re not comfortable with going third party, the Canon 35mm f2 IS ISM is just as good while also offering built-in optical image stabilization, but a slightly narrower maximum aperture.
Canon EF 40mm f2.8 STM
The EF 40mm f2.8 STM is the only pancake lens Canon makes and is one of the very few you’ll find on a DSLR. On top of being incredibly compact, this lens offers great image quality and a focal length that sits happily between the to most common primes, as seen above. Whether you want something more portable, lighter or discrete, this lens is the perfect companion for any DSLR.
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM
Moving onto zoom-lenses, the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM is a great upgrade over your standard pack-in kit lens. It offers a slightly wider aperture across the entire focal length and will produce better images overall.
Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM is one of the most flexible and versatile lenses in your arsenal. It covers an expansive range of focal lengths, including wide-angle to a slight telephoto. Wedding photographers also often use this piece of glass as a portrait lens, which is a testament to it sharpness and image quality.
Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS II
The Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS II is a natural pairing for Canon’s most infamous zoom lens. It picks up where the 24-70mm left of for a much farther reaching lens that’s designed for weddings, wildlife photography and sports – generally anywhere you want to be the absent observer rather in the action.
Canon 16-35mm F2.8 L III
Finishing out the trio of essential lenses, we have the Canon 16-35mm F2.8 L III that can cover all your wide-angle shooting needs. Best for architecture and landscapes, this lens is perfect for capturing the scope of larger-than-life scenes and compressing them into gorgeous photos.
Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 DC HSM
While we just included a wide-angle zoom lens, you shouldn’t miss out on this one either. This unique piece of glass offers a larger aperture than Canon equivalent competitors, while rendering a sharper image with less distortion to boot. While this is a crop sensor lens, Sigma has also made a version designed for full frame users in the Sigma 24-35mm f2 DG HSM.
Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art
Any self-respecting photographer artist needs a solid portrait lens, and the Sigma 85mm f1.4 Art is the best one you’re going to find. It renders images with impeccable sharpness, fantastic color and incredible contrast.
Rokinon 135mm f2
Want to get even closer for all those fine details down to the tinniest eyelash?
Well, that’s exactly where the Rokinon 135mm f2 excels. It also renders bokeh beautifully, thanks to it’s nine-bladed aperture. Sure, it doesn’t have autofocus, but, when you’re taking portraits at this range, you should be focusing by eye anyway and Rokinon has integrated a beautifully smooth focusing ring, too.
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