If you want to try your hand at wildlife or sports photography, you need a telephoto lens. The main issue with these lenses is that they are often hugely expensive. To help, we have chosen the best Canon telephoto lenses under $1000 for your benefit.
When choosing a telephoto lens be sure to look at the aperture range as well as extra features like image stabilization and an attachable hood. This can provide protection to the lens element and further reduce glare and lens flare.
In this list of the best Canon telephoto lenses under $1000, we have included official Canon products as well as third-party devices.
1. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM (Overall Winner)
Our top choice for the best Canon telephoto lens under $1000 is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM. This is a high-end lens that you can purchase for a budget price. It is admittedly an older lens, but it is still one of the best value lenses available in this category.
The focal distance of 70-200mm provides variance for your telephoto shots. At 70mm you could even use the lens for portrait shots. This is complemented by a consistent aperture of f/4 which enables you to control the depth of field.
This is an L-series lens which means it has various quality and durability improvements while benefitting from a USM motor which enables virtually silent autofocusing. The only downside for this lens is that it has no image stabilization, therefore a tripod is essential.
2. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
Our second choice is the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM. This quality lens is another relatively old device, but it still holds up well and is a bargain lens under $1000. The focal distance of 70-300mm provides a greater maximum range than the EF 70-200mm.
As with the lens above, the 70-300mm features image stabilization as well as the Canon USM motor with a high-speed autofocus system. This is not an L-series lens, but just a standard Canon EF lens. However, it still has a good build quality and some useful features.
3. Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD
If you want a little more distance, the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD is a good option. With a maximum focal distance of 400mm, you can capture great detail with this telephoto lens. All for under $1000 which is difficult to find.
This is a standard Tamron lens and not part of the Super Performance range; regardless, it still offers consistent quality. It has vibration compensation which is essential at this focal distance, and you can also benefit from the USD motor which offers an accurate autofocusing system.
4. Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary
Similar to the Tamron model, Sigma has a super-telephoto lens too. The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary is one of the best Canon telephoto lenses under $1000 and a good budget option.
This lens is compatible with both full-frame and crop sensor cameras. When using the lens on an APS-C sensor camera, you get an impressive focal distance of 140-560mm.
This lens features a myriad of useful technology like a dust and splash-proof mount. It also has an optical stabilizer that helps to reduce camera shake at those longer focal distances.
5. Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD (Budget Winner)
A lot of good lenses come from Tamron, and one of our favorite telephoto lenses is the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD. It remains a popular choice and offers a mix of affordable pricing combined with good utility.
As part of the Super Performance (SP) range, it has various enhancements that the basic Tamron range doesn’t. For example, it has a superior lens element with a special coating to help reduces lens flare and ghosting.
It has a decent maximum aperture of f/4-5.6 through the different focal distances. Similarly, as one of the best Canon telephoto lenses under $1000, it has vibration compensation which helps to reduce camera shake.
As a mid-range budget telephoto lens, this is a solid choice for Canon DSLRs, and it could make a suitable telephoto lens for mirrorless cameras like the Canon EOS M50 using a lens adapter. This is a great affordable lens and one of the best Canon telephoto lenses under $1000.
Capture Brilliant Detail with Canon Telephoto Lenses Under $1000
A telephoto lens is a great addition to any camera kit. You can use these lenses to capture beautiful detail on a number of subjects. Telephoto lenses are particularly useful for wildlife photography and sports photography.
When using one of the best Canon telephoto lenses under $1,000, we advise using a tripod. These lenses are usually much heavier and harder to handle. Using a tripod provides extra stability and allows you to concentrate on the composition.
We hope this list has been helpful for you, good luck and happy shooting!
