If you’re in the market for Canon EF lenses that are suitable for all-around use, there are plenty of options to choose from. To help you narrow down your choices and make an informed decision, we’ve put together a list of the 10 best Canon EF lenses for all-around use. But before we get to that, let’s discuss some tips for Canon L lenses.
Canon L lenses are some of the best lenses available in the market. They offer exceptional optical quality, advanced features, and rugged durability. They are designed for professionals who demand the best performance and image quality from their lenses. However, they come with a premium price tag, so it’s essential to consider your needs and budget before investing in one.
Crafting a post on the best Canon lenses for most photographers is no easy feat. This is because Canon has long been a leader in the industry, providing an exceptional range of high-quality lenses that cater to a variety of needs.
Canon’s offerings stand out from the competition due to its exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, resulting in lenses that are cut above the rest. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a hobbyist, Canon has something to offer that will meet your needs.
With so many options to choose from, it can be challenging to determine which lenses are the best fit for your photography style. However, with a little research, you can identify the Canon lenses that are most suitable for your particular needs.
From wide-angle lenses to telephoto zooms, Canon offers a range of lenses that are ideal for different types of photography. Whether you’re looking to capture landscapes, portraits, or action shots, there is a Canon lens that will help you achieve your desired results.
So if you’re a photographer looking to take your craft to the next level, Canon’s selection of lenses is an excellent place to start. With their unparalleled quality and versatility, you can be sure that you’ll be able to capture stunning images with ease.
What Are The Best Canon Lenses in 2023?
If you’re a Canon camera owner looking to add a new lens to your kit, the Canon Lens Comparison Chart is an excellent resource to help you find the perfect fit. This chart provides a quick overview of the top-rated Canon lenses, highlighting their best features and strengths.
Choosing the right lens is crucial for expressing your creative vision, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional. With Canon’s wide range of lenses, it can be challenging to determine which one is right for your needs. However, this guide includes both beginner-friendly and professional-grade options to suit a variety of skill levels and photography styles.
One crucial factor to consider when selecting a lens is whether it’s an EF-S or EF lens. EF lenses can be used on both EF and EF-S camera bodies, but EF-S lenses are only compatible with EF-S camera bodies.
No matter which lens you choose, Canon lenses offer exceptional optical quality, advanced features, and rugged durability. They are designed to meet the demands of professionals who demand the best performance and image quality from their gear.
So if you’re looking to take your photography to the next level, be sure to check out the Canon Lens Comparison Chart and select a lens that suits your needs and budget. With the right lens, you can capture stunning images and express your creative vision with ease.
Top 10 Canon Lenses in 2023
1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Here are the technical specifications for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens:
- Compatible Format: EF, EF-S
- Diaphragm Blades: 7
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.15 ft. (35 cm)
- Filter Size: 49mm
- Dimensions (Diameter x Length): 2.7 in. (69mm) x 1.5 in. (39mm)
- Weight: 0.35 lbs. (158 g)
With a lightweight design and compact size, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is a versatile option for photographers looking to capture stunning images. Its wide aperture of f/1.8 makes it ideal for low-light situations and allows for beautiful bokeh and shallow depth-of-field effects. With compatibility for both EF and EF-S camera bodies, it’s a great choice for photographers looking to upgrade their lens collection. The lens features 7 diaphragm blades, a minimum focus distance of 1.15 ft. (35 cm), and a filter size of 49mm. At just 0.35 lbs. (158 g), it’s lightweight and easy to carry, making it a popular choice among photographers on the go.
The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a professional-grade zoom lens that’s widely regarded as one of the best zoom lenses for Canon cameras. It’s a versatile lens that’s suitable for a variety of photography genres, including portraits, landscapes, events, and weddings.
One of the key strengths of this lens is its wide aperture of f/2.8, which allows for great low-light performance and shallow depth of field. The lens has a nine-blade diaphragm that produces beautiful bokeh, making it a great choice for portrait photography.
The lens is built like a tank, with weather sealing and sturdy metal construction. It’s also relatively heavy, weighing in at just over 2 pounds. This may be a downside for some photographers who prefer more lightweight gear, but it’s a tradeoff for the lens’s durability and quality build.
The lens features a ring-type ultrasonic autofocus motor that’s fast, accurate, and virtually silent. It also has a full-time manual focus override, which allows for quick adjustments on the fly. The lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.25 feet, which is decent for a zoom lens of this type.
In terms of optical performance, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a top-performing lens. It’s sharp across the entire zoom range, with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. The lens is also resistant to flare and ghosting, thanks to Canon’s proprietary lens coatings.
Overall, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a must-have lens for professional photographers who need a high-quality, versatile zoom lens. It’s not cheap, but the lens’s quality and performance make it worth the investment.
2. Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM
This is a description of a camera lens with the following specifications:
- Compatible Format: EF, EF-S
- Diaphragm Blades: 7
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.9 ft. (30 cm)
- Filter Size: 52 mm
- Dimensions (Diameter x Length): 2.7 in. (68 mm) x 0.9 in. (23 mm)
- Weight: 0.29 lbs. (132 g)
The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens is a versatile and compact prime lens that offers excellent image quality, fast and accurate autofocus, and a lightweight design that makes it ideal for everyday use.
One of the key advantages of the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens is its size. With a diameter of just 68mm and a length of 23mm, it is one of the smallest and lightest lenses in Canon’s lineup. This makes it easy to carry around and use for extended periods of time, making it well-suited for street photography, travel photography, and other situations where a large and heavy lens might be cumbersome.
Despite its compact size, the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens is capable of producing sharp and detailed images with excellent contrast and color. It has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which allows for shallow depth-of-field effects and makes it well-suited for low-light photography. The lens also features a 7-blade diaphragm that creates a circular aperture, resulting in attractive bokeh and smooth out-of-focus areas.
The EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens uses a stepping motor (STM) to drive its autofocus system. This makes it fast, accurate, and virtually silent, making it well-suited for shooting video. The autofocus is also smooth and responsive, making it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects or for tracking moving objects across the frame.
The lens is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C format Canon EOS DSLR cameras and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.3m. This allows for close-up shots of subjects such as flowers, insects, or small objects. The lens also features a 52mm filter thread, which is a common size for many lenses and allows for the use of a variety of filters.
Overall, the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens is a versatile and affordable prime lens that offers excellent image quality, fast and accurate autofocus, and a compact and lightweight design that makes it ideal for everyday use. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or street scenes, this lens is a great option that won’t disappoint.
3. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
This is information about a camera lens with the following specifications:
- Compatible Format: EF, EF-S
- Diaphragm Blades: 8
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.5 ft. (45 cm)
- Filter Size: 77mm
- Dimensions (Diameter x Length): 4.2 in. (106mm) x 3.3 in. (83mm)
- Weight: 1.5 lbs. (680 g)
The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM is a professional-grade zoom lens that is well-suited for a wide range of photographic and video graphic applications. With its wide zoom range, advanced optical design, and rugged construction, it is a popular choice among professionals and serious enthusiasts.
One of the key features of the EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM is its compatibility with both full-frame and APS-C format Canon EOS DSLR cameras, thanks to its EF and EF-S mount. This makes it a versatile lens that can be used in a variety of shooting scenarios, from wide-angle landscapes to portraits to telephoto shots of distant subjects.
The lens features a high-quality optical design that includes 18 elements in 13 groups, with one Super UD (ultra-low dispersion) element and three aspherical elements. This design helps to reduce chromatic aberration and distortion while providing sharp and detailed images with excellent contrast and color.
The lens also features Canon’s Image Stabilization (IS) technology, which helps to reduce camera shake and enables photographers to shoot at slower shutter speeds without introducing blur. This is especially useful in low-light situations or when shooting handheld video.
The EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens also has a fast and accurate autofocus system, thanks to its ultrasonic motor (USM). The USM enables quick and silent autofocusing, making it well-suited for both photography and videography.
Additionally, the lens features a rugged construction that is designed to withstand the demands of professional use. It has a weather-sealed design that protects against dust and moisture, making it ideal for outdoor shooting in challenging conditions.
Overall, the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM is a versatile and high-quality zoom lens that is well-suited for a wide range of photographic and video graphic applications. Whether you’re shooting landscapes, portraits, or videos, this lens is a great choice for capturing sharp and detailed images with excellent color and contrast.
4. Canon 35mm f/1.4 L
The lens you are describing is a Canon EF/EF-S mount lens with 8 diaphragm blades, a minimum focus distance of 1 foot (30 cm), and a filter size of 72mm. Its dimensions are 3.1 inches (78.7mm) in diameter and 3.4 inches (86.3mm) in length, with a weight of 20.5 ounces (581g).
This lens is ideal for a variety of photography applications, including portrait, landscape, and street photography. With its 8 diaphragm blades, the lens produces a pleasing bokeh effect that enhances the depth and dimension of your images. Its minimum focus distance of 1 foot allows you to get up close to your subject for dynamic and detailed shots.
Additionally, the lens is constructed with high-quality materials and advanced optics for excellent image sharpness, contrast, and color accuracy. Its rugged and durable design ensures that it can withstand the rigors of daily use, making it a reliable choice for both amateur and professional photographers alike.
The Canon 35mm f/1.4 L lens is a high-performance wide-angle lens designed for Canon’s EF mount. The lens features a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture, making it ideal for low-light photography and producing shallow depth-of-field effects.
At the heart of the lens is a 14-element optical design that includes two ultra-low dispersion (UD) elements and one aspherical element. These elements work together to minimize chromatic aberration and distortion, producing sharp and clear images with excellent color accuracy. Additionally, the lens is coated with Canon’s Super Spectra Coating to minimize flare and ghosting and provide enhanced contrast and color.
The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 11 inches (28 cm), allowing for close-up shots with a wide field of view. The lens also has a circular 8-blade aperture for smooth and pleasing bokeh in out-of-focus areas of the image.
The build quality of the Canon 35mm f/1.4 L lens is exceptional, with a weather-sealed construction that protects it from dust and moisture. The lens features a large manual focus ring that is smooth and precise, making it easy to make fine adjustments to focus. The lens also features full-time manual focus override, allowing for seamless switching between autofocus and manual focus.
This lens is an excellent choice for a wide range of photography styles, including landscape, street, and documentary photography. Its fast aperture and excellent optical performance make it a popular choice among portrait photographers as well. With its durable construction and versatile performance, the Canon 35mm f/1.4 L lens is a reliable and powerful tool for any photographer’s kit.
5. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
The Canon EF/EF-S mount 50mm f/1.4 lens is a versatile prime lens with a fast maximum aperture of f/1.4. It is a popular choice for portrait, street, and low-light photography, producing sharp images with beautiful bokeh.
Constructed with 8 diaphragm blades and advanced optics, this lens delivers impressive image quality with excellent color accuracy and contrast. It has a minimum focus distance of 2.8 feet (85cm), which allows photographers to capture stunning details with ease. The lens also has a filter size of 58mm, making it a compact and lightweight option for on-the-go shooting.
The lens has a diameter of 2.95 inches (75mm) and a length of 2.83 inches (72mm), with a weight of 0.94 lbs (426g). Its size and weight make it a convenient and easy-to-use lens for photographers of all levels.
The Canon EF/EF-S mount 50mm f/1.4 lens is constructed with high-quality materials and advanced optics for excellent image quality. Its robust build quality and durable construction make it a reliable choice for daily use, while its fast maximum aperture provides flexibility and creativity for any photography style.
In addition to its impressive optical performance, the lens also features a large manual focus ring that is smooth and precise. Its full-time manual focus override allows for easy switching between autofocus and manual focus, giving photographers greater control and flexibility.
Overall, the Canon EF/EF-S mount 50mm f/1.4 lens is a versatile and reliable lens that is perfect for photographers looking to expand their creative possibilities. Its fast maximum aperture, excellent image quality, and durable construction make it a smart and professional choice for any photographer.
6. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
The Canon EF/EF-S mount 85mm f/1.4 lens is a high-quality prime lens designed for portrait, event, and low-light photography. This lens is constructed with advanced optics and high-quality materials that produce stunning images with excellent color accuracy and contrast.
The lens has 9 diaphragm blades that create a beautiful bokeh effect, making it an ideal lens for creating stunning portraits with a shallow depth of field. Its fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 allows photographers to shoot in low light conditions, and it delivers impressive performance with sharp and clear images.
The minimum focus distance of this lens is 1.25 feet (38 cm), making it easy to capture stunning close-up shots with excellent clarity and detail. The lens has a filter size of 82mm, making it easy to attach filters for added creativity and flexibility.
The Canon EF/EF-S mount 85mm f/1.4 lens has a diameter of 3.5 inches (88mm) and a length of 4.4 inches (113mm), with a weight of 1.7 lbs. (805g). Despite its weight, it is easy to handle and use, thanks to its sturdy construction and ergonomic design.
The lens also features a large manual focus ring that is smooth and easy to use, providing precise control over focus. Its full-time manual focus override allows for easy switching between autofocus and manual focus, giving photographers greater control and flexibility.
Overall, the Canon EF/EF-S mount 85mm f/1.4 lens is a versatile and reliable lens that delivers excellent image quality and performance. Its advanced optics, fast aperture, and durable construction make it an ideal choice for photographers who value quality and performance in their equipment.
7. Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
The Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM lens is a professional-grade telephoto lens designed for Canon’s full-frame and APS-C format DSLR cameras. It is one of Canon’s most popular prime lenses due to its fast f/2 maximum aperture, excellent image quality, and versatile focal length, making it ideal for a range of photography genres.
The lens has a focal length of 135mm, which makes it perfect for portraits, weddings, and event photography, as well as sports and wildlife photography where a long reach is needed. With a fast maximum aperture of f/2, the lens can capture sharp, detailed images even in low-light conditions, and create a shallow depth-of-field that can isolate the subject and create a beautiful background blur.
The optical design of the lens consists of ten elements in eight groups, including two Ultra-Low Dispersion (UD) elements. These elements help to reduce chromatic aberration, improve contrast, and enhance color accuracy. The lens also features Canon’s Super Spectra coating, which helps to minimize ghosting and flare and provides excellent contrast and color fidelity.
The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 3 feet (0.9 meters), which is close enough for portrait and close-up photography. Additionally, the lens features a fast, accurate USM (Ultrasonic Motor) autofocus system that provides quick and precise focusing. The autofocus is also silent, making it ideal for video shooting.
The lens features a sturdy and durable construction with a metal lens mount, weather sealing, and a robust body that can withstand the rigors of professional use. It has a 72mm filter thread and measures 3.2 inches (82mm) in diameter and 4.4 inches (112mm) in length. The lens weighs 1.7 pounds (771g), making it a manageable weight for long shooting sessions.
Overall, the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM lens is a high-quality and versatile lens that is popular among professional photographers. It is an excellent choice for capturing stunning portraits, weddings, sports, and wildlife photography. Its fast aperture, advanced optics, and durable construction make it a reliable and trustworthy lens for any photographer.
8. Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
The Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens is a wide-angle zoom lens designed for Canon’s full-frame and APS-C format DSLR cameras. It offers a versatile range of focal lengths, making it ideal for landscape, architecture, and interior photography.
The lens has a focal length range of 16-35mm, which provides a wide field of view and is useful for capturing expansive landscapes or large architectural structures. The maximum aperture of f/4 is consistent throughout the zoom range, which provides consistent exposure settings when zooming in or out. While f/4 is not the widest aperture available, the lens does feature image stabilization, which can help compensate for the slower aperture and keep images sharp in low-light situations.
The lens has an advanced optical design consisting of 16 elements in 12 groups, including three aspherical elements and two UD (Ultra-Low Dispersion) elements. These elements work together to minimize distortion, aberrations, and color fringing while maintaining excellent image sharpness and contrast.
One of the key features of this lens is the built-in image stabilization, which is effective up to four stops of shutter speed. This feature is particularly useful in low-light situations when a slower shutter speed may be necessary to achieve proper exposure without sacrificing image sharpness. The IS system also helps to minimize camera shake when shooting handheld.
The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.28m (11 inches) throughout the zoom range, which allows for close-up shots of subjects such as flowers, small objects, and other details. The autofocus system is fast and accurate, thanks to the USM (Ultrasonic Motor) technology that provides quick and precise focusing.
The lens also features a nine-blade circular aperture, which provides a smooth and pleasing bokeh (the quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image). This feature is particularly useful for portraits and other types of photography where a shallow depth of field is desired.
The Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens has a durable and rugged design, with a weather-sealed construction to protect against dust and moisture. The lens mount is made of metal, which adds to the lens’s durability and longevity. The lens also has a 77mm filter thread, which allows for the use of a wide range of filters.
In terms of physical size and weight, the lens measures 82.6mm (3.25 inches) in diameter and 112.8mm (4.44 inches) in length. It weighs 615g (1.36 lbs), which makes it relatively lightweight for a wide-angle zoom lens. The lens also comes with a lens hood that helps to reduce flare and ghosting.
Overall, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens is an excellent wide-angle zoom lens that is suitable for a wide range of photography genres. It offers a versatile focal length range, advanced optics, image stabilization, and durable construction, making it an ideal choice for photographers who demand high-quality images and reliability from their equipment.
9. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is a wide-angle zoom lens designed for Canon’s APS-C format DSLR cameras. It offers a versatile range of focal lengths, making it ideal for landscape, architectural, and interior photography.
The lens has a focal length range of 10-18mm, which provides a wide field of view and is useful for capturing expansive landscapes or large architectural structures. The maximum aperture of f/4.5-5.6 is not the widest available, but it is consistent throughout the zoom range, which provides consistent exposure settings when zooming in or out.
The lens has an advanced optical design consisting of 14 elements in 11 groups, including one UD (Ultra-Low Dispersion) element and one aspherical element. These elements work together to minimize distortion, aberrations, and color fringing while maintaining excellent image sharpness and contrast.
One of the key features of this lens is the built-in image stabilization, which is effective up to four stops of shutter speed. This feature is particularly useful in low-light situations when a slower shutter speed may be necessary to achieve proper exposure without sacrificing image sharpness. The IS system also helps to minimize camera shake when shooting handheld.
The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.22m (8.6 inches) throughout the zoom range, which allows for close-up shots of subjects such as flowers, small objects, and other details. The autofocus system is fast and accurate, thanks to the STM (Stepping Motor) technology that provides smooth and silent focusing for both photos and videos.
The lens also features a seven-blade circular aperture, which provides a smooth and pleasing bokeh (the quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image). This feature is particularly useful for portraits and other types of photography where a shallow depth of field is desired.
The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens has a compact and lightweight design, making it easy to carry and handle. It measures 74.6mm (2.94 inches) in diameter and 72mm (2.83 inches) in length, and weighs only 240g (8.5 oz). The lens also comes with a lens hood that helps to reduce flare and ghosting.
In terms of compatibility, the lens is designed specifically for Canon’s APS-C format DSLR cameras, which have a smaller image sensor than full-frame cameras. This means that the lens provides a field of view equivalent to a 16-29mm lens on a full-frame camera.
Overall, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens is an excellent wide-angle zoom lens that is suitable for a wide range of photography genres. It offers a versatile focal length range, advanced optics, image stabilization, and compact and lightweight design, making it an ideal choice for photographers who want to explore wide-angle photography without breaking the bank.
10. Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8
The Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 is a compact and lightweight prime lens designed specifically for Canon APS-C format DSLR cameras. With a focal length of 24mm, this lens offers a wide angle of view that is ideal for landscape, architecture, and street photography, as well as for capturing group portraits or indoor scenes.
One of the key features of this lens is its wide maximum aperture of f/2.8, which allows for excellent low light performance and also enables users to create a shallow depth of field for creative bokeh effects. The lens also features a circular aperture with 7 blades, which helps to create smooth and natural-looking bokeh.
The EF-S 24mm f/2.8 lens is built with Canon’s STM (Stepping Motor) technology, which allows for smooth and quiet autofocus performance, making it well-suited for shooting video as well as stills. The STM motor also allows for full-time manual focus override, giving photographers more control over their focus.
With a minimum focusing distance of just 0.16m, this lens is capable of capturing stunning close-up shots with great detail and clarity. The lens also features a Super Spectra coating, which helps to minimize ghosting and flare while enhancing contrast and color accuracy.
At just 0.19 lbs (125g), this lens is incredibly lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around and perfect for travel and street photography. Its compact size also makes it ideal for use with smaller Canon DSLR cameras, such as the EOS Rebel series.
The lens features a durable construction, with a metal mount and a high-quality plastic body that is both lightweight and sturdy. The lens hood, which is included with the lens, helps to protect the front element from scratches and other damage while also reducing flare and improving contrast.
In terms of image quality, the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 is an excellent performer. Images are sharp and detailed, with good contrast and color reproduction. The lens performs well in low light conditions, with minimal distortion and vignetting. The lens also has minimal chromatic aberration, making it well-suited for architectural and landscape photography.
In summary, the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 is an excellent choice for photographers looking for a compact and lightweight wide-angle lens for their Canon APS-C format DSLR camera. Its fast maximum aperture, smooth autofocus performance, and excellent image quality make it a versatile and reliable lens for a range of photography styles and situations.
