7 Best Canon Super Zoom Lenses in 2024

By Tati Taylor 24 days ago, Cameras & Lenses

Recommended Сanon super zoom lenses from professional photographers.

best canon super zoom lenses

These are Сanon super zoom lenses, which are suitable for both DSLR and mirrorless cameras. The key feature of such single lenses is that they are capable of replacing two and three pieces of optics at once.

We've selected the best super zoom lens models and their specs to help you choose a decent product. These lenses are claimed to start at the focal length of 400mm (or equivalent if you are using framing sensor camera systems) and reach 800mm.

Top 7 Canon Super Zoom Lenses

  1. Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L - Our Choice
  2. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L - High zoom
  3. Canon 55-250mm F4-5.6 - For Canon SLRs
  4. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L - Long zoom lens
  5. Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 - Wide-angle lens
  6. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 - 70-300mm high zoom lens
  7. Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L - The biggest zoom

The Canon long zoom lens is not only rather convenient due to its compactness but it also saves your time during the shooting. This lens combines the focal length of a conventional zoom lens and a telephoto lens. Once we were lucky to test a Canon 1200mm f/5.6 EF lens.

1. Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L

Our Choice
canon lens for digital slr cameras

Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 8, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 1.2 m | Max magnification: 0.21 x | Filter thread: 77 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 88.8 x 199 mm | Weight: 1480 g

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⊕ Comes with rotating tripod
⊕ High-end focus
⊕ Air Sphere Coating
⊖ Heavyweight and big
⊖ Expensive

This long range zoom lens for Canon has been produced with Air Sphere Coating (ASC), which eliminates ghosting and flare. Thanks to one fluorite element and five UD-elements, the lens significantly reduces distortion and chromatic aberration, creating an accurate, high contrast shot, regardless of shooting conditions.

2. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L

Canon EF USM zoom lens
canon 70-200 mm usm lenses

Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 8, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 1.2 m | Max magnification: 0.21 x | Filter thread: 67 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 76 x 172 mm | Weight: 705 g

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⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Portable
⊕ High picture quality
⊕ Accurate colors
⊖ Without image stabilization

Canon super zoom lens 70-200mm f/4L suits those, who are fond of dynamic photography genres such as sports shooting. You can also take high-quality portraits using the model. With this telephoto lens by Canon, which goes with an L-series variable focal length, you get an f/4 maximum aperture, a ring-type ultrasonic monitor (USM), and an internal focusing system.

The optical characteristics of the lens are not inferior in terms of quality. Due to one fluorite component and two ultra-low dispersion components, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L lessens chromatic aberration and color fringing for crisp, and clear images.

3. Canon 55-250mm F4-5.6

Lens for Canon SLR cameras
canon 55-250 mm for slr cameras

Mount: Canon EF-S | Diaphragm blades: 7, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.85 m | Max magnification: 0.29 x | Filter thread: 58 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 70 x 111.2 mm | Weight: 375 g

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⊕ Well-stabilized images
⊕ Portable
⊕ Lightweight design
⊕ Reasonably priced
⊖ Basic lens precision

The 55-250mm F4-5.6 is a Canon high zoom lens that has many attractive features like quick and smooth performance, well-stabilized picture, and portability. This model is great for long-distance handheld shooting with 3.5* equivalent stops of shake correction that extend the camera reach and deliver accurate shots.

Canon 55-250mm F4-5.6 is the 88-400mm equivalent zoom for Canon APS-C DSLRs. Due to the insertion of the ultra-low dispersion element (prevents color fringing and chromatic aberration), the lens can capture sharp images taken at a distance.

4. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L

Canon EF IS II USM lens
canon ef 100-400 mm lenses

Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.98 m | Max magnification: 0.31 x | Filter thread: 77 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 94 x 193 mm | Weight: 1640 g

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⊕ Small-sized
⊕ Works great for sports shooting
⊕ Air Sphere Coating
⊕ Dust and water-resistance
⊖ High price
⊖ Heavyweight

The EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L is one of Canon super zoom lenses that works great for wildlife or sports photography where quick response is essential. The lens takes up little space in your bag.

When shooting handheld, you can still get sharp images. The lens is fitted with one fluorite element and one Super UD element that reduce chromatic aberration and distortion across the frame, delivering crisp images and accurate colors.

5. Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Canon image stabilization lens
canon 18-35 mm lenses

Mount: Canon EF-S | Diaphragm blades: 7, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.39 m | Max magnification: 0.28 x | Filter thread: 67 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 77.4 x 96 mm | Weight: 515 g

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⊕ Wide-angle lens
⊕ Broad compatibility
⊕ Offers fast and precise focusing
⊕ Perfect image stabilization
⊖ Lacks sharpness

The Canon super zoom lens 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is a multifaceted model that is often used in creative photography. Besides the adjustable zoom range, you get access to the variety of innovative technologies. Canon's NANO USM technology, for example, provides photographers with excellent camera performance on day-to-day basis.

This model is compatible with the optional Power Zoom PZ-E1 adapter, which ensures controlled and natural scaling. The Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 provides speedy and precise focusing, as well as amazing distance coverage that varies from wide-angle to telephoto.

6. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Great USM lens
70-300 mm canon usm lenses

Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 1.2 m | Max magnification: 0.25 x | Filter thread: 67 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 80.01 x 145.54 mm | Weight: 710 g

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⊕ NANO USM system
⊕ Sharp shots
⊕ Compact
⊕ Compatible with various devices
⊖ Poor Quality Control

The EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 is the Canon biggest zoom lens, which covers the required telephoto range and is good for multiple types of photography, like portrait photography, wedding, etc.

Thanks to the fast ring-type ultrasonic motor that goes with the built-in NANO USM technology, you get a universal device. Besides, this technology provides quiet and fast focusing, regardless of the shooting style and conditions.

7. Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L

Universal model
canon 28-300 mm usm lens

Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 8, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.7 m | Max magnification: 0.3 x | Filter thread: 77 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 92 x 184 mm | Weight: 1670 g

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⊕ IS
⊕ Amazing optical performance
⊕ Great magnification zoom
⊕ Compatible with different devices
⊖ Heavyweight
⊖ High-priced

One of the greatest manufacturers caters to the need of professional photographers, creating lens models such as the EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L, which have a high zoom and good image stabilization. It is a universal lens with decent optical performance, yet compact and easy-to-use.

Speaking about high magnification, we are not exaggerating, because, at 11x magnification, the lens is capable of capturing the maximum from wide-angle to telephoto.

This model is great for long-distance shooting; you can shoot as far as up to 2.3 feet. Along with decent optical performance, the Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L offers an advanced 3-stage stabilization system that noticeably reduces camera shake.

Image Name Features  
canon 70-200mm f/2.8l
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L
Our Choice
  • Mount: Canon EF
  • Diaphragm blades: 8, Rounded
  • Min focus distance: 1.2 m
  • Max magnification: 0.21 x
CHECK PRICE
canon 70-200 mm usm lens
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L
Universal
  • Mount: Canon EF
  • Diaphragm blades: 8, Rounded
  • Min focus distance: 1.2 m
  • Max magnification: 0.21 x
CHECK PRICE
canon 55-250 mm for slr camera
Canon 55-250mm F4-5.6
Compact
  • Mount: Canon EF-S
  • Diaphragm blades: 7, Rounded
  • Min focus distance: 0.85 m
  • Max magnification: 0.29 x
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the Best Canon Super Zoom Lens?

canon super zoom lenses

Prime or Zoom

When choosing a lens, you should be aware that there are two main types – prime and zoom lenses. Prime lenses come with fixed focal lengths, while zoom lenses offer variable focal lengths.

If prime lenses deliver high sharpness and contrast, zoom lenses offer great versatility. Along with the type, there are three main classes of lenses – wide-angle, standard, and telephoto. Each group can include prime and zoom lenses.

Optical Glass, Fluorite, UD Glass, and Super UD Glass

The main element of a lens is its optical glass. You can find detailed characteristics of glass with the qualifier that shows color accuracy, warping, streaking, bubbles, etc.

The classification standard for optical glass is called the Abbe number, which is determined by the composition of the glass and its specific optical characteristics. One lens can have more than one Abbe classification type. In total, there are more than 250 classes.

Focal Length

canon super zoom lenses

The focal length of the lenses plays an important role. Often photographers are forced to shoot from a long distance because they cannot get closer to an object. As a rule, 300mm lenses, which are suitable for shooting at a distance, are used for sporting events or in the wild nature.

FAQ

  • • What is Canon longest zoom lens?

The EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM is the longest zoom lens by Canon nowadays. Paired with EF 2X III Extender, this model reaches 1600mm focal length.

  • • What are Canon super zoom lenses?

Superzoom lenses have changeable focal length factors. As a rule, their range varies from wide-angle to telephoto.

  • • What is the most accurate Canon lens?

In our opinion, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II is the sharpest lens we’ve tried. With a worthy focal range of 24-70, the lens offers an accurate and clear image even at 38-115mm on a cropped sensor camera. The lens is suitable for a wedding shooting as it can be attached to your camera all day long.

  • • Can I use a 400mm lens for bird shooting?

We recommend using a minimum focal length of 500mm because the size of the picture depends on the square of the focal length. Still, in places where birds are highly tame, like in South Florida, a 400mm lens may be great enough for bird photography.

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