Canon is one of the famous companies known for making great cameras and lenses. The company makes lenses for their Canon DSLR, mirrorless cameras used for portraits, close-ups, sports, and many other cameras. The camera lens is an essential part of the entire setup because the light will pass through, and you will get a bright and crisp picture. Moreover, lenses with various vital features are present in high-end cameras to make the image clearer.
Are you a Canon camera owner and planning to buy the best canon lenses? Before you do that, have a look at the following buying guide to picking the right type for your use:
What Are Popular Types of Canon Lenses?
For your information, lenses come in different types which have other purposes. To guide you in the best way, here are the top five which will help you to start your work:
Ultra-wide Zoom
In some cases, you will need to squeeze the sweeping vistas inside the image frame, small interior spaces, and narrow streets.
Telephoto Zoom
You will need this kind of lens to do wildlife and sports photography. This lens works best when you want to capture a thing from a distance.
Macro
This lens will enable you to get right close to any tiny objects and capture them with sharp details. Note that these lenses are favorite for the photographer who wants to see the beauty of nature.
Portrait
Do you want to get the best result at a working distance for flattering features and blur backgrounds? This lens is a must you will need.
Standard
The kit lenses you will get with a Canon camera are correct, which will let you kick-start photography. Moreover, some lenses will offer you a wide maximum aperture, excellent image quality, and a long zoom range.
Why Is Camera Compatibility With Lens Important?
Always ensure the compatibility of your lens with your camera. The fitting should be proper so that you can get better results. Currently, Canon is making four different types of lenses, and we are going to talk about each below:
EF-S
This will fit with your Canon’s APS-C DLSRs. These lenses are very much popular among beginners and enthusiasts. They are designed specifically for small sensor areas. Remember that you are not able to use them on full-frame Canon DSLRs.
EF-M
This type is compatible with Canon’s APS-C format EOS M cameras. Note that this lens is of different types which mount to Canon’s DSLRs. While you can use DSLR lenses on EOS M cameras using an adaptor, you will not be able to use EOS M on a Canon DSLR.
EF
This type is for full-frame Canon DSLRs, but you can use it on smaller format APS-C models. The only essential thing you need to look at is the 1.6x crop factor of the small sensor. The element means that the full-frame standard and wide-angle lenses have long focal lengths and are not very useful.
RF
This lens will only fit Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras similar to the EOS R, EOS R5, EOS RP, and EOS R6. Remember that you can’t use it on an EOS M camera because the mount is different. Moreover, you are not able to use them on Canon DSLRs as well.
It is a general rule that you should always buy Canon lenses when you buy a Canon camera. In most cases, independent lens makers like Tamron, Tikona, Sigma, and many more make lenses fit with Canon. They aim to provide good quality and better performance while they are less expensive.
What Makes Canon Lenses Different?
According to Canon’s optical engineers, the most vital features and principles behind the quality lens designs are as follows:
- Light will enter the lens from a single subject point that will ultimately cover at a single point after it passes via a lens.
- Flat surfaces present perpendicular to the optical axis regenerates similarly flat in the final picture.
- Flat objects perpendicular to the optical axis will regenerate similarly without any distortion.
- There should be a great generation of color values.
The main goal here is to design lenses capable of capturing pictures that display edge-to-edge sharpness with accurate rendering colors and contrast for less distortion. Canon mixes micro-electronic, precision manufacturing, and advanced optical technologies to achieve the goals of an industry standard for a better image, manufacturing, and lens design.
What Are Canon L Lenses?
These are top-of-the-line lenses which are called L series lenses. These lenses are very easy to recognize due to the bold line around the lens’s front barrel. This series provides excellent construction detail and image quality. The word L is for Luxury, and they are one of the best choices for professionals. These lenses are made with state-of-the-art ultra-low dispersion and Fluorite glass technologies. Furthermore, they also have super spectra multi-coating, aspherical lens surface, and has an alloy construction. When using these lenses, you are going to get better protection against dust and moisture.
The Canon’s L series lenses, which are telephoto zoom and prime telephotos, are distinctive due to their white barrels. It is present in putty or light grey; the light-color enamel is not preferable for cosmetic reasons. But note that when you apply the light-color enamel on the external surface, the lens barrel will reduce the heat build and the possibility of sharpness level compromise due to the glass expansion.
Best Canon Lenses FAQs
Q: What does the red ring on Canon lenses mean?
A: The premium quality lenses from Canon come with a red ring near the barrel of the lens. It is present in the famous L series as a branding. They are best known for professional use and provide extreme sharpness with incredible durability in mind.
Q: Which lens do professional photographers use?
A: For the severe portrait photographer, the greatest will be an 85mm f/1.4 lens. The long focal length and the wide focused aperture combine to create a portrait nothing like anyone else.
Q: EF or EFS lens - which one should you choose?
A: Canon EF lenses will work with full-frame and APS-S DSLR from Canon. Note that the EF-S lens has a smaller image circle which is big enough for covering the small sensor found on Canon APS-C cameras.