The BEST Canon EOS Lenses
"Best" is a subjective term and selecting the "best" lens is often a matter of compromise between cost, size, weight, how often the lens will be used, how convenient the lens is to use and, of course, the optical quality of the lens. On this page I have several sets of "best" lenses.
- Best lenses listed by user ratings, with no regard for price
- Best lenses listed by user ratings, priced under $700
- Best lenses listed by user ratings priced under $400
- My personal pick of the best lenses for EOS cameras based on my own experience and testing
Best Canon EOS lenses regardless of price
Here is a list of the best lenses from Canon, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina as determined by user opinions from my "Lensplay" website and some of the links may take you there. Of course there are many criteria for what's the best lens but here there are three sets of "best lens" data sorted by both price and overall rating. Just because a lens doesn't appear on the "best lens" list doesn't mean it's not a good lens. For example less popular and recently released lenses may not appear because they have not received enough ratings to qualify (at least 10 are needed before a lens will be rated as a "best lens").
UPDATE: new entry - [Review]
| 1 - Canon EF 100mm f2.8L IS Macro USM | 9.7 |
| 2 - Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM | 9.6 |
| 3 - Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM | 9.6 |
| 4 - Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM | 9.6 |
| 5 - Canon EF 85mm f1.2L USM Mark II | 9.6 |
| 6 - Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM | 9.5 |
| 7 - Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM | 9.5 |
| 8 - Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0L IS USM | 9.5 |
| 9 - Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM | 9.5 |
| 10 - Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM | 9.4 |
| 11 - Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM | 9.4 |
| 12 - | 9.4 |
| 13 - Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM | 9.4 |
| 14 - Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x | 9.4 |
| 15 - Canon EF 200/1.8L USM | 9.4 |
| 16 - Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM | 9.4 |
| 17 - Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 | 9.4 |
| 18 - Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | 9.4 |
| 19 - Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro | 9.4 |
| 20 - Canon EF 600mm f/4.0L IS USM | 9.4 |
It's worth noting that all but one of these lenses are Canon lenses and of those 15 are primes. The lone non-Canon lens is the Sigma 300-800/5.6 APO zoom. So if you were randomly picking lenses, your best bet would be expensive Canon primes! If any of the long telephoto Canon "L" primes are missing from this list it's either because they haven't yet collected enough user reviews or I've somehow forgotten to add them to the list!
Of course most of these lenses out of of the reach of many amateurs, though the EF 200/2.8L II USM makes it onto the list and it currently retails for around $769 (see ), so you don't have to spend a fortune to get one of these lenses. In fact #3 on the list is the EF 135/2L USM and currently you can get one for around $989 (see
Best Canon EOS lenses under ~$750
Here's a list of the best lenses under about $750. Some may be a few dollars more because prices change faster than I can keep track of them! Some of these lenses are no longer in production, and for those lenses I'm assuming a used price under ~$750
| 1 - | 9.4 |
| 2 - | 9.4 |
| 3 - | 9.3 |
| 4 - | 9.3 |
| 5 - | 9.3 |
| 6 - Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX APO Macro EX DG HSM | 9.3 |
| 7 - | 9.2 |
| 8 - | 9.2 |
| 9 - | 9.2 |
| 10 - Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 EX DC HSM | 9.2 |
| 11 - Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM | 9.2 |
| 12 - Canon EF 20-35mm f2.8L * | 9.1 |
| 13 - Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro | 9.1 |
| 14 - Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f2.8 XR Di-II LD Asph. IF | 9.1 |
| 15 - Canon EF 80-200mm f2.8L * | 9.1 |
| 16 - | 9.1 |
| 17 - Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 * | 9 |
| 18 - Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X 124AF Pro DX | 9 |
| 19 - Canon EF 100-300/5.6L * | 9 |
| 20 - | 9 |
Best Canon EOS lenses under ~$400
Dropping the price limit again we come to what some might think of as "budget" lenses, while others might consider them the most expensive lenses they can afford. But don't worry, there are some pretty decent performers in this group.
| 1 - | 9.3 |
| 2 - | 9.2 |
| 3 - | 9.2 |
| 4 - | 9.1 |
| 5 - Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 * | 9 |
| 6 - Canon EF 100-300/5.6L * | 9 |
| 7 - | 9 |
| 8 - Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro * | 8.9 |
| 9 - Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 * | 8.9 |
| 10 - Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 Macro * | 8.9 |
| 11 - Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF | 8.8 |
| 12 - Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro | 8.8 |
| 13 - Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro | 8.8 |
| 14 - Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro | 8.8 |
| 15 - Sigma 24-60mm f/2.8 EX DG | 8.7 |
| 16 - Canon EF 50mm f1.8 * | 8.7 |
| 17 - Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro | 8.6 |
| 18 - | 8.6 |
| 19 - | 8.6 |
| 20 - Canon EF 35-135mm f4-5.6 USM * | 8.5 |
Lenses marked * are no longer in production, though a few, like the Canon EF 35/2 and the Canon EF 28/2.8 can still be found new if you're lucky. The 50/1.8 is no longer in production, but the 50/1.8 II is and the optics are supposed to be the same, despite the fact that the original lens rates as 8.7 and the MkII version as 8.6. These ratings are not precise. If you are looking for a lens no longer in production you can check out used gear on Ebay
Outstanding picks (without breaking the bank):
It pretty much goes without saying that all of the Canon "L" series telephoto primes are excellent lenses and any version of any of them will not disappoint. However with prices ranging from around $1000 to over $12,000 they are not affordable by many photographers. Below are some really good lenses that sell for more moderate prices (from just over $100 to around $1150). While some are not exactly cheap, they are within the "acceptable" price range of a lot more photographers!
- . This lens, along with the set a new price/performance ratio for telephoto zooms. Though not fast (f6.3 at 600mm) both these lenses are sharp. I'd give a slight advantage to the Sigma lens because it can accept Canon TCs and autofocus with them in Live View mode - - [see Review]
- and
, Two very reasonably priced, fast, short telephoto lenses which are ideal for portrait work on other full frame or crop sensor DSLRs. I have the 85/1.8 and I love it. It's a bargain. Buy one before Canon decide to "upgrade" them and double or triple the price.
Canon EF 85mm f1.8 at f1.8. The lens is fast enough to hand hold in low light,
plus it provides excellent subject isolation by throwing the background out of focus - price $449. An excellent buy for under $450. It's sharp, autofocus is fast and accurate and the image stabilization (vibration control) is very effective. I own this lens myself and I only buy lenses that I think are good!
Tamron 70-300/4-5.6 VC USD @ 300mm. The Tamron 70-300/4-5.6 VC USM provides enough reach (especially on crop sensor cameras) for wildlife photography, while the effective image stabilization means you don't need to carry a tripod. - price $760. Best wideangle zoom for crop sensor EOS cameras. I own this lens myself. If you want a wide-angle zoom at a lower price and don't mind a shorter zoom range and 2/3 stop slower speed, there's the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM.
Canon EF-S 10-22 at 10mm. Interior of Ashton Memorial, near Lancaster UK. - price $110. Clearly the best bang for the buck of the whole Canon lineup. I have the MkI version, but if I didn't, I'd buy the one. It makes a very good portrait lens on any crop sensor body, plus it's by far the least expensive fast lens for low light situations.
- price $1150, but often several hundred dollars lower if purchased with an EOS 6D or 6D MKIII as a "kit" lens. This lens doesn't make any of the above lists because it too expensive for the "under $750" list and the competition on the "unlimited price" list is too fierce. It actually get a 9.2 rating which would put it right up there with good lenses like the EF 100/2 USM in terms of user feedback. Worst feature is some vignetting and distortion at 24mm, but they can easily be digitally corrected. I also have this lens and it's the lens I most frequently use on my EOS 6D.
Canon EF 24-105 at 28mm. The 24-105/4L IS USM is a great general purpose travel lens. This shot was taken in the UK at a scarecrow festival around the time of the Royal Wedding in 2011 - , price $989. Not cheap, but a really outstanding lens. In fact it's rated #3 regardless of price!
- . A very good lens indeed for "only" $769. Main reason that it's not more popular is that there are 4 different versions of the 70-200 available and people like zooms! Also, it lacks image stabilization, which could be a drawback if you intend to use it handheld in low light.
- . Highest rated EF-S series lens and one of the highest rated of all zooms. If you need a "normal" zoom for a crop sensor EOS camera, this is the one to get. Great "Walking around" lens for travel photography.
Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS at 55mm. Shot of the Hudson and NYC skyline from Liberty State Park in NJ - , price $630. A highly rated zoom and one of the cheapest "L" series lenses. Note the optics are not the same as the "IS" version and it isn't a stabilized lens.
- price $499. Very highly rated "general purpose" lens for APS-C sensor cameras. Good wide to short telephoto range at a constant f2.8 aperture. Half the price of the Canon equivalent (but no stabilization on this model).
- , A very good telephoto zoom with very effective Image stabilization. The new MkII version has an improved optical design with Nano USM AF implementation and it currently sells for a lower price them the previous version was selling for! The new Mk II is definately a recommenended lens.
Canon EF 70-300IS USM @ 300mm. This was shot handheld from a moving boat, so the image stabilization feature was very useful - , price $499. A well regarded lens at much lower cost than the Canon equivalent.
- Canon EF 28mm f/2.8, price ~$250. Replaced by the new 28/2.8 IS USM at more than double the price. You'll probably have a hard time finding a new one at a reasonable price now.
- Canon EF 35mm f/2.0, price ~$300. Very nice lens but now replaced by the 35/2 IS USM at nearly 3x the price. Hard to find new
Canon EF 50/1.8 @ f1.8. A shot of the Milky Way
