Canon has been a top camera and lens brand for years, and with the release of their latest camera, we thought it would be helpful to put together a list of the best Canon compatible camera lenses.

We break it down by examining two categories: Canon lens mounts (so you know exactly which lenses go with which camera); and Canon camera lens comparisons so you can determine which is best for you.

There are quite a few Canon professional lenses, so let’s dive in.

BEST CANON CAMERA LENSES

Know the mounts before you buy

Canon lenses that use the EF (Electro-Focus) mount can be used with both Full-Frame and APS-C format DSLR cameras, however…

A Canon lens mount called the EF-S, and it was specifically built for DSLR cameras with a APS-C sensor. Because of this, you cannot use a Canon EF-S lens with a full-frame camera with your DSLRs.

Neither can be used with Canon mirrorless cameras without an adapter.

Best Canon Lenses  •  The Future of Canon Lens Mounts

There is also the EF-M mount, which was specifically built for the early canon mirrorless cameras. All of the EF-M lenses are APS-C format, so keep that in mind as well as you skim through.

There is also the new RF mount, which is full-frame, and deals specifically with the Canon EOS R/RP mirrorless cameras.

Sigma lenses use DC (APS-C) and DG (full-frame).

Tamron lenses use Di-II (APS-C) and Di (full-frame).

At the very bottom of this post, we will go over the best cine lenses that use the Canon EF mount, so if you have a Canon 5D or one of the Canon C-Series cameras to be used for filmmaking, these would be your lenses.

The MSRP on a lot of these lenses may be too steep for your budget. But if you look into renting the kits, there is a chance you could rent the Canon cine lenses for $200 a day, or even for an entire weekend. Also, keep in mind that the MSRP is subject to change. The prices listed were quoted from linked retailers at time of writing.

Now that we know a little more about these mounts, let’s get into some of the best Canon camera lenses.

BEST CANON CAMERA LENSES

Best Canon EF Lenses

Best Canon Camera Lenses - Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens

Price: $1,899.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/4

What is the Best Canon Lens?  •  Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Review by Patrick Berger

This is one of the most versatile EF still photo lenses available, and a must have for professional photographers and DSLR filmmakers. The build quality, focal range, lack of artifacts, and picture quality are stellar.

Best Canon Camera Lenses - Canon EF 35mm f1.4L II USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM

Price: $1,799.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/1.4

Best Canon Lenses  •  Canon EF 35mm Lens Test by Julia Trotti

This is a great prime lens which is nice for both DSLR filmmaking, but also general wide angle photography. This is one of the best Canon camera lenses for portrait photography, but you can use this lens for just about anything.

Best Canon Camera Lenses - Canon EF 50mm f1.8L STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF 50mm f/1.8L STM

Price: $125.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/1.8

Canons Best Lens  •  Canon EF 50mm Review by Rudy Visuals

This Canon classic is a great EF lens for beginner photographers. At 50mm with f/1.8, the lens offers a decent amount of versatility for a good price.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF 85mm f1.8L USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF 85mm f/1.8L USM

Price: $419.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • f/1.8

Best Canon Lenses  •  Canon EF 85mm Review by TbonesTech

We are moving up in focal length, but that means less field of view for your photographs and recordings. Bokeh is great, but if you can't keep things in focus or capture what you need, maybe go with a Canon zoom lens.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 Di Macro 11 VC USD

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD

Price: $649.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/2.8

Canons Best Lens  •  Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Review by Micael Widell

This is one of the first lenses on our list that isn't manufactured by Canon – but that’s not a bad thing, oftentimes, third-party options are just as good as their first-party counterparts, and frequently come at a fraction of the cost.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro

Price: $569.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/2.8

Best Canon Lenses  •  Sigma 105mm Review by Christopher Frost

There’s been some criticism over the autofocus time of this lens when compared to the Canon native lens, but you’ll have to make a decision on whether or not that’s a dealbreaker. If one thing’s for certain, it’s that it’s hard to ignore the Sigma model’s price.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Tamron SP 15-30mm f2.8 Di VC USD G2

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2

Price: $1,299.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/2.8

Canons Best Lens  •  Tamron 15-30mm Review by Dustin Abbott

This nice little lens gets you some serious image quality. It zooms, but stays on the wide side so keep that in mind, because it isn't cheap. 

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Art

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art

Price: $1,099.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/2.8

Best Canon Lenses  •  Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Review by Justin Romeyn

This Sigma zoom lens is a popular option for Canon camera users. It’s a little expensive though – so consider waiting for a sale.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF 24-70mm f4L IS USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM

Price: Available via resale

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/4

What is the Best Canon Lens?  •  Canon 24-70mm f/4L Review by Christopher Frost

This is a nice lens, but the maximum aperture is pretty low, which means you'll have a harder time in low light. Keep that in mind before purchasing.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS II USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM

Price: $549.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/4

Best Camera Lenses for Canon  •  Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Review by Dustin Abbott

This is a consumer quality lens that can zoom as high as 300mm, which is impressive. You cannot add extenders though, as the lens construction will not allow it due to a glass element near the bayonet mount.

BEST CANON DSLR LENSES

Best Canon EF-S Lenses

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens
Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-S 24mm f2.8 STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM

Price: $149.99

  • EF-S Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/2.8

What is the Best Canon Lens?  •  Canon EF-S 24mm Review by Should I Get Reviews

This is a solid, compact lens that pairs nicely with the price tag. If you’re looking for a good wide-angle lens for portrait photography, then the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 is a great option.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-S 35mm f2.8 Macro IS STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM

Price: $349.00

  • EF-S Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/2.8

Best Camera Lenses for Canon  •  Canon EF-S 35mm Review by Christopher Frost

This is an inexpensive macro rated lens. It has light-weight versatility and a nifty ring light around the perimeter. 

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 Macro USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Price: Available via resale

  • EF-S Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/2.8

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Review by TbonesTech

This macro lens boasts a 60mm focal length which is great for shallow depth of field in portraits and macro photos.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-S 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 IS STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

Price: $299.00

  • EF-S Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/4.5

Best Camera Lenses for Canon  •  Canon EF-S 10-18mm Review by Rudy Visuals

This is an inexpensive wide angle Canon zoom lens; when zoomed at 10mm it’s officially in fish-eye territory.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

Price: $879.00

  • EF-S Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/2.8

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-S 17-55mm Review by Ryan Michaels

This lens is super versatile because of the large variable focal length and the f/2.8 max rating. It also has a pretty impressive autofocus system.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-S 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Price: $799.00

  • EF-S Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/3.5

Best Canon Lenses on the Market  •  Canon EF-S 15-85mm Review by Christopher Frost

This is a really nice Canon camera lens, but it has a very low maximum aperture. The large variable focal length is nice; good for a travel photography lens.

BEST CANON MIRRORLESS LENSES

Best Canon EF-M Lenses

Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS Lens for Canon EF-M Mount
Best Canon Camera Lenses • Rokinon 12mm f2.0 NCS CS

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS

Price: $329.00

  • EF-M Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/2

Canon Camera Lenses  •  Rokinon EF-M 12mm Review by Think Media

Super fun lens. Not a huge price tag; 12mm focal length for that nice wide angle; and it has a decent max aperture for the price.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-M 22mm f2 STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM

Price: $249.00

  • EF-M Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/2

Best Canon Lenses on the Market  •  Canon EF-M 22mm Review by Joris Hermans

One of the best sized Canon lenses on the market. The Canon EF-M 22mm is made for a small camera body – so together you have an inexpensive, compact pair.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-M 32mm f1.4 STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM

Price: $479.00

  • EF-M Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/1.4

Canon EF-M 32mm Review by Christopher Frost

If you own a Canon mirrorless camera, you should probably have this lens. For the price, max aperture, and picture quality, this might be the best all around Canon lens.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 35mm f0.95 Mark II

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 35mm f/0.95 Mark II

Price: $599.00

  • EF-M Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/0.95

Best Canon Lenses on the Market  •  MZ Speedmaster EF-M 35mm Review by Matt Day

The ability to achieve a shallow depth of field is this lens’s best quality – and that's because it has such a high (or fast) max aperture.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-M 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

Price: $499.00

  • EF-M Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/3.5

Canon Lenses Guide  •  Canon EF-M 18-150mm Review by Paul Lebbon

This lens has a very large range of zoom, from 18mm (not as wide on APS-C) to a relatively long 150mm. Because of this extra range, the quality and aperture rating are somewhat sacrificed, but it’s still a good lens.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon EF-M 15-45mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

Price: $299.00

  • EF-M Mount
  • APS-C
  • Max: f/3.5

Best Canon Lenses on the Market  •  Canon EF-M 15-45mm Review by Bill and Eric Photography

This is a very light, very small Canon zoom lens with a nice 15mm wide angle available. The aperture rating isn’t great, especially for video makers – but this lens is good for the price.

BEST CANON MIRRORLESS LENSES

Best Canon RF Lenses

Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens
Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon RF 50mm f1.2L USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Price: $2,299.00

  • RF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/1.2

Canon Lenses Guide  •  Canon RF 50mm Review by The Art of Photography

Welcome to the new world of Canon photography lenses – don’t forget your wallet. Also, you may want to hit the gym because these lenses are large and in charge. Max aperture at 1.2 is very nice for this prime lens.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon RF-50mm f1.8 STM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon RF-50mm f/1.8 STM

Price: $199.99

  • RF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/1.8

Best Canon Pro Lenses  •  Canon EF 50mm Review by Peter McKinnon

This “nifty-fifty” is a good prime lens with an even better price tag. Canon’s newest update makes the 50mm f/1.8 lens better than ever before by moving to the RF format.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon RF 28-70mm f2L USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM

Price: $2,999.00

  • RF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/2

Canon Lenses Guide  •  Canon RF 28-70mm Review by Jared Polin

Very expensive lens, but a high build quality. No image stabilization in the camera or the lens, but it benefits from having a consistent aperture rating when zooming in or out – which is nice for video makers.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon RF 24-105mm f4L IS USM

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Price: $1,099.00

  • RF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: f/4

Best Canon Pro Lenses  •  Canon RF 24-105mm Review by Gear Focus

This lens is nice for those transitioning to the Canon EOS R, both from a price standpoint but also from a technical standpoint. The RF 24-105mm shares the same front filter thread diameter, which means you can apply accessories from your old Canon lenses.

BEST CANON DSLR LENSES

Best Canon EF Cine Lenses

Rokinon 24, 35, 50, 85mm T1.5 Cine DS Lens Bundle for Canon
Best Canon Camera Lenses • Rokinon 24, 35, 50, 85mm T1.5 Cine DS Lens Bundle

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Rokinon 24, 35, 50, 85mm T1.5 Cine DS Lens Bundle

Price: $1,596.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: t/1.5

Rokinon Cine Lens Kit Review by glasspixelstudios

This kit of cine lenses from Rokinon is great for indie filmmakers, because it can be used on any EF mount camera including professional C-Series cine cameras and Canon DSLRs.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 Compact-Servo Cinema Zoom Lens

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 Compact-Servo Cinema Zoom Lens

Price: $4600.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: t/4.4

Best Canon Pro Lenses  •  Canon Cine 18-80mm Review by Chase Bueker

This compact servo lens was built to fit between the more expensive Canon cine lenses and the Canon still lenses. It was built to be used by a single operator, but of course you can use an AC to help you record.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Canon CN-E 50mm T1.3 L F Cine Lens

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Canon CN-E 50mm T1.3 L F Cine Lens

Price: $3,700.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: t/1.3

Canon Mounts and Lenses  •  Canon Cine 50mm Test by ShareGrid

Take a look at the video above and see how different a Canon cine prime looks from a photographic still lens. The picture quality and movement is very smooth (albeit in slow motion); very fast aperture because it’s a prime lens.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Sigma 18-35mm T2 High-Speed Zoom Lens

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Sigma 18-35mm T2 High-Speed Zoom Lens

Price: $3,999.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: t/2

Best Canon Pro Lenses  •  Sigma 18-35mm Review by LensProToGo

The lens test above will show some unfortunate lens breathing, but some nice bokeh and flaring. The t2 rating is pretty nice for this size Canon zoom lens, and it has nice color rendition and overall picture quality.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Tokina Cinema ATX 11-16mm T3.0 MK II Wide-Angle

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Tokina Cinema ATX 11-16mm T3.0 MK II Wide-Angle

Price: Available via Resale

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: t/3

Canon Mounts and Lenses  •  Tokina 11-16mm Review by Camera & Lens Review

Very cinematic picture quality – the wide angle range gives some fun images to work into your videos… but I wish the aperture was faster. But when you do a lens comparison, looking at the Canon native price, this is a really nice cine lens.

Best Canon Camera Lenses • Samyang 14mm T3.1 Cine Lens

Best Canon Camera Lenses  •  Samyang 14mm T3.1 Cine Lens

Price: $449.00

  • EF Mount
  • Full-frame
  • Max: t/3.1

Best Canon Pro Lenses  •  Samyang 14 mm f/2.8 Review by Paul Heimlund

This lens doesn’t have internal stabilization, and there is no autofocus, but there is a large focus throw, smooth focal and aperture ring operation, and it costs 1/10th the price of many of the Canon cine lenses. Not a typo.

UP NEXT

The Best 4K Cameras 

You’ve checked out lenses, now you can turn to camera bodies. We give you a list of The Best 4K Cameras ($12,000 Max Price). The post explains 4K so you understand the concept, and features a great list to help you choose.  

Up Next: Best 4K Video Cameras
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  • Chris Heckmann is a Professor of Media & Communication at Roger Williams University and graduate of UCLA’s Cinema & Media Studies Master of Arts program. When he’s not writing or teaching, he’s probably playing video games (or thinking about the next great Boston sports trade).

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