In recent years, Canon has pushed the development of its mirrorless range of DSLRs. These mirrorless devices are re-defining photography and the way the manufacturers produce DSLR cameras. Mirrorless devices are often much smaller, easier to handle, and lighter without much sacrifice in quality.
But what about the lenses? The range of lenses for Canon mirrorless cameras is still growing. Although there is not as much choice as the full-frame mounts, there is still a great selection. In this guide we look at six of the best lenses for Canon mirrorless cameras:
1. Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM
The Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM is a multi-purpose lens and great for different situations including street photography, and wide-angle landscape photography.
This is certainly one of the best lenses for Canon mirrorless cameras due to its flexibility and quality. It has an easily connectable metal connection ring in addition to being small and compact. It’s a classic pancake lens.
The maximum aperture of f/2 provides excellent creative options. It can be used for beautiful closeup shots that produce bokeh effects with ease. The 22mm focal length encourages you to move and think more about positioning, as opposed to simply zooming-in on your subject.
2. Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
Sadly, the range of lenses for Canon mirrorless cameras does not yet include many zoom lenses. However, it does have the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. Despite the large zoom range, the lens is relatively small and light. Furthermore, it has the same stylish design as other EF-M lenses and the textured grip around the barrel section of the lens.
The aperture range of f/4.5 – 6.3 isn’t the best compared to some full-frame zoom lenses, but still great for a range of different photography. This lens is suitable for wildlife photography and benefits from image stabilization and a silent motor.
3. Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 Di III VC IS
So far, there is not a huge range of third-party lenses available for the Canon mirrorless range. It seems that manufacturers are hesitant to create lenses for a camera range that has not truly taken off yet.
However, as we see more models released like the EOS M6 Mark II, we can expect to see more lenses like the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 Di III VC IS.
This multi-range zoom lens essentially covers the entire focal range, from wide-angle through to telephoto zoom. It has Tamron’s vibration control technology which makes it easy to use and highly stable. Moreover, the image quality is great at all focal lengths and apertures.
If you prefer to have one multi-purpose lens, as opposed to several separate lenses covering different focal lengths, this is a top choice.
4. Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
The standard kit lens for EOS M cameras is the Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM. This is undoubtedly a brilliant lens and one of the best starter lenses for Canon mirrorless cameras.
The Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM does not have the same build quality as the original lenses, featuring a plastic mount and no metal fixtures. Regardless, it is still a robust device offering a locking clip that allows you to keep the zoom fixed in a set position.
5. Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM
The Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM is a specialized macro lens with a fixed focal length of 28mm.
Its super-macro mode provides a 1.2x magnification allowing you to shoot small objects in high detail. This is helped by the large maximum aperture of f/3.5 which allows for fantastic bokeh effects.
Despite the high-quality lens optics, this lens is extremely lightweight and easy to carry. If you want to get into macro photography, this is a must-have device for your EOS M camera.
6. Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM (Budget Winner)
When the EOS M camera was first introduced, the EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM was the standard kit lens – you could buy this with the original EOS M camera and it remains a popular choice.
You can still purchase this lens on its own and it is great as a standard kit lens that can be used for various functions. At 18mm, you can take some brilliant wide-angle shots. Whilst at 55mm, you can zoom in for portrait shots etc.
The build is superb, and the image stabilization and silent motor functionality make this zoom lens a joy to use. We recommend this as one of the best budget lenses for Canon mirrorless cameras and the top choice for a standard kit lens.
Extend Your Functionality with Lenses for Canon Mirrorless Cameras
This range of lenses is set to grow in due time. Canon has stated that they intend to release more EF-M lenses including a 300mm telephoto zoom lens. This is one thing that Canon mirrorless cameras currently lack – a solid 300mm or greater zoom lens.
When looking at the best lenses for Canon mirrorless cameras, we advise starting with a standard kit lens. The EF-M 18-55mm or EF-M 15-45mm are the best options. After this, you can consider expanding your lens kit with specialist lenses like the fantastic EF-M 22mm.
