One of the best things about Canon EF-M lenses is that they are relatively cheap. When compared to full-frame EF-S lenses and other models, you can get some amazing quality lenses for next to nothing. In this guide, we look at the best EF-M lenses under $300.
You may not think that $300 can buy you much, but be prepared for a surprise! The EF-M range of lenses, both official Canon and third-party, has some amazing bargains.
Please be aware that some of the lenses we feature in this guide are either renewed or used but we will state clearly when this is the case. In reality, there is no difference in using renewed or used lenses. They still perform exactly the same as a new model that is often hundreds of dollars more expensive!
1. Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM (Overall Winner)
The Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM is our top choice. This is an inexpensive lens that offers top quality and utility. It weighs next to nothing and is classed as a pancake lens. This means it is portable, lightweight, and easy to carry.
Aside from portability, the lens offers solid quality. It has a maximum aperture of f/2 which provides great image control and variance in depth of field. Also, it has the Canon STM motor which helps for silent autofocusing.
This lens does not have image stabilization; however, due to its small size, and wide angle, it is not as important as it would be for zoom lenses. This is our top choice for EF-M lenses under $300 and a must-have for your Canon EOS M camera.
2. Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
The Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM is the standard kit lens for Canon mirrorless cameras. This is a solid kit lens that can be used for various purposes. At 15mm, you can take wide-angle shots, while you can shoot portraits at 45mm.
The lens has built-in image stabilization up to 3.5 stops and also has Canon’s STM silent autofocus motor. It operates well and is lightweight and portable.
The main downside with this lens is the locking button. To use the lens, you must push the locking button to rotate the barrel. This can be a little irritating.
3. Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Sigma has a couple of useful lenses for Canon EOS M cameras, with one of them being the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary. This wide-angle lens is one of the best EF-M lenses under $300.
When used on the APS-C sensor cameras, this lens has an effective focal distance of 42mm. This makes it useful for portrait shots and street photography. This is complemented by the maximum aperture of f/1.4 which allows you to create fantastic bokeh effects and artistic backgrounds.
This lens is a little larger than some of the official EF-M lenses, but it is still compact and easy to carry.
4. Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
Canon EOS M cameras have a limited range of telephoto options, making the best choice the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. The renewed version of this lens is one of the best EF-M lenses under $300.
Using this lens you can create telephoto images for wildlife and sports photography, which is complemented by the built-in image stabilization and an STM motor.
Although it is a telephoto zoom lens, it is still quite compact. In comparison to full-frame EF-S telephoto lenses, it weighs virtually nothing while still producing sharp images with minimal distortion. On APS-C sensor cameras, this lens has an effective focal distance of 77-280mm.
5. Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS CS
Rokinon produces a decent range of wide-angle lenses for Canon EOS M cameras. The Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS CS is a good alternative to the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM, as it also offers a very wide focal distance allowing you to create ultra-wide-angle photos.
As standard, this lens comes with a lens hood which is ideal to protect the relatively wide lens element and reduce external glare. The maximum aperture of f/2 provides great creativity and allows you to control the depth of field.
This lens is a good choice for travel photography and capturing sweeping landscapes in epic detail. As it also has a minimum focusing distance of 0.2m, it could be used for macro photography too.
6. Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM (Budget Winner)
Our budget winner is the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM. You must purchase this lens as a used model, but by doing so you can save money and still benefit from a good quality kit lens.
This was the original kit lens of the EOS M cameras, and it does have some better features than the newer 15-45mm. For example, it has a metal lens mount, and its image stabilization is slightly better at four-stops of camera shake reduction.
As one of the best EF-M lenses under $300, this is a good alternative to the 15-45mm. Just remember that you will lose some of the wide-angle capabilities, but gain a greater zoom.
Upgrade Your Lens Kit With EF-M Lenses Under $300
We hope you have found this guide on the best EF-M lenses for under $300 useful. You can now kit out your Canon EOS M50, or other EOS M cameras with some great quality lenses for a budget of under $300.
We recommend starting with a basic kit lens like the EF-M 15-45mm or EF-M 18-55mm. These are suitable multi-use lenses for general photography.
Once you have one of these, you can look at buying specialist lenses like the ultra-wide-angle Rokinon 12mm lens. Think about what types of photographs you generally take and purchase lenses to suit these purposes.
