11 Best Canon Lenses in 2024

Top 11 Best Canon Lenses in 2024

Most photographers need EF-S and EF models that are compatible with SLR cameras that have an APS-C sensor type. That includes the budget-friendly Rebel models and midrange units such as EOS-90D.

1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

FixThePhoto editors’ choice

Focal Length: 50mm | Lens Type: prime | Common Subjects: portraits, action | Minimum focus distance: 1.15 ft | Magnification: 0.21x

Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM offers terrific optical performance and is very easy to use. It’s supplied with top-notch optics that are identical to the ones found in EF 50 mm f/1.9 II, which in turn was similar to the original EF 50 mm f/1.8 but was protected with multi-coating. The lens’ AF system is fast and produces minimum noise.

Lenses of this type offer the best performance when used on full-frame, which is how I tested it. Feel free to make inferences for models packed with smaller sensors.

One more thing I’d like to note is the inability to trigger manual override regardless of which camera or lens you’re using if you’re in SERVO AF mode. It will continue to switch to AF automatically. Pick MF on your lens or “Single-shot” on the camera to enable manual focusing. If you are interested in buying a good lens for the Canon Rebel T6i, there is a similar model called the Canon 50mm f/1.8, which is considered one of the best lenses for the Canon Rebel T6i because of its terrific optical performance and ease of use.

2. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Good for portraits

Focal Length: 85mm | Lens Type: telephoto | Common Subjects: portraits | Minimum focus distance: 2.8 ft | Magnification: 0.27x

The combination of a small telephoto focal length and a big max aperture with quick AF makes this model one of the best camera lenses for portrait photographers.

85 mm is a terrific focal length for portraiture and if your main passion is taking photos of people, then this Canon EF lens definitely deserves your attention. Moreover, it’s also a great choice for photographers, who need a compact lens for traveling or are on a tight budget.

The min and max lengths of the lens remain unchanged, and when taking full-body photos of an adult on a crop sensor, it’s quite easy to find a point when everything is in focus (right after the 15 feet mark), meaning there’s no upside to having a larger aperture that can create a pleasant blurry background.

• Check out the best lenses for portraits.

3. Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM

Full-time manual focus

Focal Length: 24mm | Lens Type: wide-angle | Common Subjects: landscape | Minimum focus distance: 0.5 ft | Magnification: 0.13x

This pancake model is probably the best Canon lens if you’re looking for something small and lightweight as it only weighs 125grams. The barrel is made of durable plastic and finished with a silver ring on the end of the lens.

Autofocus offers solid performance and accuracy and doesn’t make any noticeable noise. In contrast to most USM lenses, this model doesn’t have full-fledged manual focusing override as manual focusing is done by a dedicated motor.

You can perform manual focus adjustments by setting the camera to “Single Focus” after the lens has selected the subject.

4. Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 II USM

Top wide-angle lens

Focal Length: 35mm | Lens Type: wide-angle | Common Subjects: wedding, streetscape | Minimum focus distance: 0.92 ft | Magnification: 0.21x

EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM is one of the best Canon lenses for photography as it represents an updated version of a prime model that won over the hearts of thousands of photographers with its broad field of view, which is equally useful for taking photos at a wedding reception, outdoors, or in a warzone.

It’s offered at a premium price and justifies it by providing unparalleled performance even when shooting at f/1.4 and being paired with EOS 5DS R, which has the largest resolution of all Canon cameras.

• Discover the best Canon wide angle lenses.

5. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM

High-quality Canon lens

Focal Length: 70mm - 300mm | Lens Type: telephoto zoom | Common Subjects: wildlife, sport | Minimum focus distance: 3.9 ft | Magnification: 0.25x

Telephoto zoom lenses like this one are usually bought for covering larger focal lengths than a typical zoom model and EF 70-300m isn’t an exception. Most generic zoom lenses have a maximum focal length of 55mm, but for an average photographer, the difference between that value and 70mm offered by this lens is inconsequential.

• Discover the best lens for Canon 80D.

6. Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM

Super compact Canon lens

Focal Length: 32mm | Lens Type: prime | Common Subjects: portrait | Minimum focus distance: 0.7 ft | Magnification: 0.25x

While it’s still a mystery what role EOS-M series will occupy next to the latest R line, people using it demanded native Canon lenses with larger apertures, so it was nice to see that such a model has been released.

This Canon prime lens was designed for the EF-M mount and its 3 mm focal length is similar to 51mm of a full-frame sensor EOS-M camera, while its aperture can be compared to an f/2.2 on full-frame.

• Learn more about the best lenses for landscape photography.

7. Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM

For amazing macro photos

Focal Length: 35mm | Lens Type: macro | Common Subjects: close-up photography | Minimum focus distance: 0.4 ft | Magnification: 1.0x

Since this is a macro lens, it has 1x magnification and a close focus range of a mere 13cm. It also has optical image stabilization combined with a hybrid IS and a 7-blade aperture. Additionally, the special coating on this item allowed the manufacturer to decrease ghosting and flare.

Given that EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro is an STM model, it comes with a stepper motor that ensures the AF system works quickly, silently, and smoothly, which is great news for videographers.

8. Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM

Ultra-wide aperture

Focal Length: 85mm | Lens Type: standard | Common Subjects: portrait, fashion | Minimum focus distance: 2.7 ft | Magnification: 0.12x

The offered focal length of 85 mm is perfect for achieving a great portrait perspective, capturing the model’s face without distorting it.

The lens also has a red ring on its end (that signifies its high-end L-series origins), meaning you can be sure you’re holding a professional-grade piece of gear in your hands. Supplied with a USM AF, Canon EF 85mm offers quick and precise focusing, which is far superior to its 85mm L-series competitor (EF f/1.2L II), making it the best option for taking photos of dynamic subjects.

• Check out this list of the best Canon cameras.

9. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Best midrange zoom

Focal Length: 24mm - 70mm | Lens Type: zoom | Common Subjects: wedding, sport | Minimum focus distance: 1.25 ft | Magnification: 0.7x

If you’re going to put a single zoom lens in your backpack, go with this one. You’re likely to find such professional camera lenses in the gear set of most wedding, event, documentary, portrait, and street photographers.

The second edition of this popular powerhouse model has the same versatility as its previous iteration while enhancing the sharpness and AF performance. EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM relies on improved optics to decrease chromatic aberrations to provide superior clarity, with extra coatings for flare, ghosting, and spherical aberrations.

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

Ultra wide zoom Canon lens

Focal Length: 10mm - 18mm | Lens Type: zoom | Common Subjects: party, sport | Minimum focus distance: 0.72 ft | Magnification: 0.15x

This small ultra-wide angle model was designed for APS-C DSLRs and comes with an advanced stepping focus motor that delivers smooth and near-silent AF performance, which is particularly great news for videographers.

Given that this model has a very large field of view, it’s impressive that the lens remains surprisingly lightweight, weighing approximately 240 grams. Its barrel is made of sturdy plastic and has a silver ring at the front.

11. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

For close-up photography

Focal Length: 100mm | Lens Type: macro | Common Subjects: close-up photography Minimum focus distance: 8.2 ft | Magnification: 1x

This model has been one of the best lenses for Canon on the market for years now, as it was initially released back in 2009. The lens offers a versatile and convenient focal length while being relatively lightweight. The offered image quality is also highly impressive.

Another great feature that helps this lens stand out from other Canon accessories and makes EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM superior to its predecessor is the hybrid optical image stabilization, which does wonders for improving the quality of your images and videos.

• Check out this list of the best cameras for macro photography.

List of the Best Helmet Cameras

Image	Name	Features
	Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens OUR CHOICE	Budget-friendly Allows creating shallow depth of field effects Pleasant bokeh	Check PRICE →
	Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens FOR PORTRAITS	Lightweight Attractive price Wide aperture	Check PRICE →
	Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens MANUAL FOCUS	Compact and lightweight Terrific sharpness Fast focus	Check PRICE →
	Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 II USM Lens WIDE ANGLE	Top-notch image quality Impressive aperture Ring USM focus type	Check PRICE →
	Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM HIGH QUALITY	Incredible photo quality Nano USM AF system Innovative optical design	Check PRICE →

How to Choose the Best Canon Lens?

Several characteristics set apart the best Canon lenses from other average models.

Aperture and Image Stabilization

The largest possible aperture is always marked on all lenses. It corresponds to the maximum amount of light the lens can pass to the camera’s sensor. A larger amount of light improves the quality of photos taken in darker lighting conditions. This characteristic is reflected by the aperture value (like f/2.8 or 1:2.8). The lower the value, the more light the camera will receive.

While the number of DSLR cameras that come with built-in optical image stabilization is increasing by the year, many manufacturers still rely on the lens to provide the IS. Stabilization is implemented by making some lens parts movable, thus minimizing camera shake. Since brands like Olympus, Pentax, and Sony all include IS in their camera bodies, you don’t need to look for lenses with stabilization for their products.

Focal Length

Focal length. Its value is given in millimeters and it helps determine if the lens is wide-angle or telephoto. Wide-angle lenses are the ones that have a smaller focal length than the length of the camera’s sensor. Usually, the wide-angle value lies right below 35mm.

Telephoto lenses are also better for blurring the background since they have a smaller depth of field than wide-angle models. They produce lower brightness and are susceptible to blur if the camera is unstable. Lastly, telephoto units are typically bigger and heavier compared to wide-angle ones.

• Discover how to select a camera lens.

Fixed or Zoom

For the majority of photographers, a zoom lens is the way to go. You can choose between multiple focal lengths and therefore can save both money and space in your bag on extra lenses.

Zoom models always mention 2 focal lengths in the description (like 18-55mm), which indicate the range of a lens. Speaking in terms of compact camera, you need to divide the larger value by the lower, which would equal 3x for the lens mentioned above. The choice between fixed and zoom lenses depends on your shooting preferences and intended use. If you value image quality, low-light performance, and the creative possibilities of a specific focal length, a prime lens may be the ideal choice.

Conversely, if versatility, convenience, and the ability to quickly adapt to different situations are more important, a zoom lens will better suit your needs.

Full-Frame vs Crop

Canon Cameras come in two main sensor sizes: full-frame and crop sensors. Full-frame sensors offer larger dimensions, resulting in superior image quality, improved low-light performance, and a shallower depth of field. They're favored by professionals for their superior capabilities, especially in challenging lighting conditions. However, full-frame cameras and lenses tend to be pricier and bulkier.

On the other hand, crop sensors are smaller and more affordable, making them suitable for hobbyists and budget-conscious photographers. They offer a "reach" advantage, effectively increasing the focal length of lenses for wildlife and sports photography. Crop sensor cameras are also more compact and lighter, making them great for travel. While they might not match the image quality of full-frame sensors, they provide excellent performance for various photography styles. Choosing between full-frame and crop sensors depends on your budget, preferences, and intended use, with both offering a range of Canon cameras to suit different needs.

Ann Young

Hi there, I'm Ann Young - a professional blogger, read more