Canon has an excellent range of available lenses. It includes a host of high-quality ultra wide-angle lenses for both full-frame and APS-C sensor cameras. In this guide, we look specifically at Canon ultra wide-angle lenses under $1000.
When choosing a Canon ultra wide-angle lens, always check the features. Common Canon features include IS, USM, and STM. IS is canon’s image stabilization and helps when using the lens and camera handheld.
USM and STM are two types of autofocusing motors. Both of these provide great autofocusing capabilities, but generally, the USM motor is seen as the better option. Canon has standard lenses and L-series lenses. L-series lenses offer the best possible quality and usually have additional design features and a more durable build.
1. Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM (Overall Winner)
The Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM is our top choice for Canon ultra wide-angle lenses under $1000. It offers superior image quality, portability, and features. This prime lens is not an L-series model, but it is affordable and gives consistent photo quality.
This lens benefits from a rear USM autofocusing system for quick and accurate focusing. It has built-in image stabilization that corrects for up to four stops of camera shake and improves the usability and ease of use handheld.
The aperture construction uses rounded blades which enables the creation of smooth circular bokeh effects, and the outer lens has a protective coating that improves image quality while protecting from dirt and smudges. At just 280g, this lens is incredibly portable and convenient to use.
2. Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
This multi-zoom ultra wide-angle lens is a steal for just under $1000 and offers the superior quality expected from L-series lenses. The Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is a great dedicated wide-angle lens.
The lens elements and glass have numerous features including a dust and water-resistant coating, enabling it to be comfortably used in unfavorable weather conditions. It also features three aspheric lens elements and two UD elements which all but eliminate distortions like ghosting and chromatic aberration.
This budget lens has image stabilization correcting up to four stops of camera shake. You can also benefit from the Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) autofocusing system for smooth and silent focusing. This is a great ultra wide-angle multi-zoom lens under $1000.
3. Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is a great choice for APS-C sensor cameras. While it could be used as a standard kit lens, it also excels at ultra wide-angle photography. This is a lightweight lens that benefits from a small construction and compact design, making it highly portable and easy to carry.
The lens construction is made from 17 elements in 12 groups and features superior optical performance coatings to reduce lens flare, ghosting, and other distortions. It also features one UD glass element which further improves contrast and color quality.
The closest focusing distance is 1.15ft, and it accepts 72mm filters. The maximum aperture range of f/3.5-5.6 makes the lens suitable for low-light situations. Also, it has both image stabilization and a USM autofocusing motor.
If you want a versatile lens with ultra wide-angle capabilities for your Canon cropped-sensor camera, this is a top choice.
4. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Similar to the lens above, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is a well-built lens with good design features for ultra wide-angle photography. It has Canon’s Ultra Sonic Motor for autofocusing, so you can quickly focus on stationary or moving objects.
This budget lens is easy to use handheld due to the excellent aperture range and built-in image stabilization. The improved maximum aperture range of f/2.8 means this lens is even better in low-light situations.
It has a closest focusing distance of 1.15ft which means you can still get relatively close to your subjects, and it weighs just 644g, so it can comfortably be used handheld. For Canon APS-C sensor cameras this is definitely one of the best Canon ultra wide-angle lenses under $1000.
5. Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM (Budget Winner)
Although this lens doesn’t offer the same quality as the respective L-series model, it is still a top budget option for ultra wide-angle photography. The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is a versatile lens and has some great features to provide consistent image quality and usability.
Firstly, it has a stepping motor that provides a fantastic and quiet autofocus, as well as built-in image stabilization that corrects for up to four stops of camera shake.
The image quality is enhanced via a series of special lens elements. For example, it has two aspheric elements and a UD element to eliminate distortions and maintain contrast and color consistency. Images remain sharp at any focal distance and you can notice minimal softening at the extreme edges of photos.
It weighs a lightweight 525g and has a maximum length of 4.1 inches. This makes it a relatively small and compact ultra wide-angle lens.
Improve Your Kit with Canon Ultra Wide-Angle Lenses Under $1000
Remember to check the lens mount and compatibility with your camera before making a purchase. Canon EF lenses are for standard full-frame Canon cameras, whereas the EF-S lenses are designed specifically for APS-C sensor cameras like the Canon 7D.
We hope you have benefited from this guide on Canon ultra wide-angle lenses under $1000 as there is a good selection of affordable lenses available. The Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM is our top choice due to its excellent quality and features, however, all the other lenses make viable options too.
