A Canon EF Lens will complement your purchase of any Canon DSLR model. There are many different Canon EF lenses to choose from, so choosing the right one can be a little bit tricky. To make it easier for you, we’ve researched the best ones so that you can find the one that meets your needs.
Here are some general tips for picking the right Canon EF mount lens:
- If you are new to the DSLR camera space, you might need a few different EF lens mounts to cover the different types of zoom that you want.
- For the different type of photography that you take, you might need a wide-angle or telephoto lens.
- Some lenses have different aperture sizes, so think about the aperture size that you need.
Here are our best EF lenses for Canon cameras. Scroll down further to read more about each lens:
- Best Overall Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
- Best for Portrait Shots: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
- Best for EOS SLR Cameras: Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
- Best for Landscape Photography: Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM
- Best Budget Canon EF Lens: Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 USM
- Best Third-Party Canon EF Lens: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM
- Best for Professional Use: Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM
- Best Features/Most Versatile: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM
1. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
The new Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens is one of the latest models in Canon’s L-Series EF optics and is the perfect balance between cutting edge modern technology and durability. This lens is versatile and works well in several different settings due to its large aperture throughout the focal length. Made with advanced technology, the lens has one super UD lens element as well as two UD lens elements that work together to reduce chromatic aberrations and color blurring in still images.
There are two different types of aspherical lenses, which combine to minimize spherical aberrations over the whole area of the image and throughout the zoom range as well. The lens coatings are optimized to ensure that the color balance remains exceptional, and ghosting is minimized.
A nine-blade circular diaphragm produces a soft and beautiful bokeh effect. The autofocus system has high-speed CPU and a ring-type USM, which allows fast and silent autofocusing. The lens is constructed to withstand the harsh outdoors and is thus durable even in bad weather. This Canon EF lens mount is our most popular pick.
2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
An excellent lens for shooting in portrait mode, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is unmatched in performance. It features an ultra-large aperture, which produces an outstanding, narrow depth of field as well as a soft buttery bokeh. The lens has coatings that protect it from moisture and dust and is therefore excellent for outdoor use as well.
These coatings also reduce flare and ghosting and keep chromatic aberrations to a minimum as well. However, the Ultra Sonic Motor lens does not zoom. The EF 50mm f/1.2L USM produces high-resolution images with high contrast and excellent color.
3. Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
If you’re looking for a light-weight, low-cost, durable zoom EF mount lens, then Canon’s EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is the lens for you. The lens works well with almost all EOS SLR cameras and is a phenomenal addition to any photographer’s inventory. This ultra-wide-angle zoom lens contains an optical image stabilizer with four stops that produce brilliant images even in low light settings.
There are three aspherical and two UD lens elements in the lens which help to reduce chromatic aberrations. The various lens coatings help to keep ghosting and flaring to a minimum while the nine-blade circular diaphragm produces a gorgeous bokeh effect. Although the lens lacks an autofocus system, manual focus works excellently. The lens is fantastic for outside use as well and is made for use in all kinds of weather conditions.
4. Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM
Canon’s EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens is a great option for photography enthusiasts who prefer landscape photography. The lens has minimal distortion and has a sharpness that will give any contender a run for their money.
The ultra-wide zoom EF mount lens has a remarkable initial focal length of 11mm! The lens uses cutting edge technology when it comes to optical design and has one Super UD element and one UD element. It has an extended range of up to 24mm, which makes it an incredibly useful rectilinear hyper-wide-angle lens.
Lens coatings include a Subwavelength Coating (SWC) as well as an Air Sphere Coating (ASC). This nifty lens features an inner focusing ring, an UltraSonic Motor, high-speed CPU, and a fast and silent, advanced autofocus system. One of the best EF mount lenses for outdoor photography enthusiasts, this lens is dust and moisture-proof as well.
5. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM
If you want to look outside of Canon for a third-party lens, which will work well with Canon’s EF mount cameras, then you should check out lenses by Sigma. The 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens is one of the best and most versatile lenses ever to hit the market. Although the lens was originally designed to be used with full-frame cameras, it can work just as well with cameras featuring APS-C sensors as well.
The lens is wonderfully suited for capturing all the stunning details of the art world. 35mm is the perfect focal length for most photographers. However, Sigma’s latest lens captures scenes in a brilliant new way. An advanced floating internal focusing technology produces sharp and well-focused images of subjects that are at a close shooting range. While the new Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) enables accurate, fast, and quiet autofocusing.
The SLD and FLD glass elements help to minimize axial aberrations as well as chromatic aberrations. The lens’ large aperture (f/1.4) allows it to capture brilliant images even in dim light situations. The lens is compatible with Sigma’s USB dock and its Pro optimization software, which helps to fine-tune and adjust its focusing parameters.
6. Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM
The Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM lens is a wonderful zoom lens for professional use. The lens delivers images of the highest quality and works like a dream. The lens has dual-layer, gapless, diffractive optical elements that provide incredible diffraction efficiency while minimizing flare and the different coatings on it reduce ghosting and fingerprints on the lens while ensuring the perfect balance of color.
This EF mount lens features a round, large-diameter aspherical lens and a UD lens that combine to produce sharp and clear images. The lens performs phenomenally and is filled to the brim with cutting edge, advanced features like no other. Its image stabilization system has three modes and offers four stops, which can prevent operational errors even when the camera is mounted on a monopod or tripod.
Although the Autofocusing system works excellently, there is a full-time manual focus as well as a Power Focus mode for better control over the focus and for smoother transitions while shooting video. The lens contains a nine-blade circular aperture to produce a soft bokeh in pictures.
7. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L is II USM is a versatile high-end lens that is simply brilliant. The lens contains one of the best Optical Image Stabilizations with five stops of compensation! A new IS Mode 3 has also been introduced for tracking fast subjects, and to assist in panning, thus making the lens excellent for use in sports or wildlife photography.
A high-speed, advanced CPU helps the lens perform brilliantly even in low-light conditions and without a tripod as well. The lens contains one Fluorite and two low-dispersion UD elements that produce high-quality, sharp stills with excellent color fidelity and fantastic contrast. Different Coatings and structured lens placement help reduce flare and ghosting, while the nine-blade circular apertures produce excellent background bokeh.
8. Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 USM (Budget Winner)
Canon’s EF 24mm f/2.8 USM lens is one of the best ultra-wide-angle EF mount lenses for amateur photographers, who want all the benefits of a high-end lens, but at a low price tag. The lens features an optical image stabilizer with four stops and a ring-type Ultra Sonic Motor which work together to produce brilliant and sharp images.
An advanced, high-speed CPU and optimized AutoFocusing algorithms provide well-focused images even in less than ideal situations. However, there is also a full-time manual focusing feature which is available even in AutoFocus mode. The lens contains numerous aspherical lens elements that provide excellent quality while the circular seven-blade diaphragm produces beautiful bokeh.
Ghosting and flaring are kept to a minimum with the help of different lens coatings. Overall, the lens produces brilliant stills and videos and works smoothly and silently. Another advantage that the lens has is its small body, which makes it easy to carry and use.
Bottom Line on Canon EF Mount Lenses
Having so many options to choose from while purchasing a new lens for your EF mount Canon camera can make selecting the perfect lens tricky. However, we’ve tried to make a choice easy for you by making a list of only the very best EF mount lenses in the market. Use our easy guide to pick out the best lens for yourself!
