Seeking to improve your Canon digicam? Altering the lens may give it a brand new lease of life, however with so many lenses on provide, the place do you begin? With assist from our skilled reviewers, now we have rounded up one of the best Canon lenses. You will need to be aware that Ef lenses are for Canon’s DSLR vary and RF lenses are to be used with Canon’s EOS R vary of mirrorless cameras. Our information to the best Canon cameras may give you a extra detailed take a look at the vary of Canon cameras which are accessible.
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You do not have to have a Canon digicam both, you should purchase lens adapters that can allow you to use Canon’s lenses on the best cameras. In case you are after a non-Canon lens, now we have a information to the best lenses for photo and video. Our information to the best cameras for astrophotography is one of the best place to look in case you are out there for a brand new physique.
There’s a enormous vary of Canon lenses to select from which are appropriate for all types of pictures, together with astro. We’ve chosen lenses that go well with a spread of functions and pockets, from wide-angle lenses to ultra-powerful telephoto lenses. So, whether or not you’re a professional or an enthusiastic beginner, you can find the fitting Canon lens to your Canon digicam.
The fast listing
Under you will discover out our picks of one of the best Canon lenses for astrophotography, with rationalization of what or who they’re finest suited to. Click on ‘Learn extra under’ for extra in-depth specs and opinions for every lens.
Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM
Greatest extremely wide-angle lens
Seeking to seize swathes of panorama or night time sky? You will not be upset with this, Canon’s widest-angle lens.
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM
Greatest aperture lens
With an enormous aperture, this lens excels in low mild situations, although it is not as wide-angle as some.
Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM
Greatest telephoto lens
It is probably not low-cost however this telephoto lens presents gorgeous outcomes, as for those who’ve walked proper as much as your topic.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
Greatest EF wide-angle lens
Wish to shoot wide-field images of the night time sky? This excellent lens presents high quality, wide-field pictures in low-light situations.
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM
Greatest EF lens for astrophotography
Take advantage of the night time sky with this lens’s giant light-drinking aperture, and it is weather-sealed so you’ll be able to seize the cosmos in all situations.
Greatest Canon lenses we advocate in 2025
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Greatest extremely wide-angle lens
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Purchase it if:
✅ You need wonderful ultra-wide photographs: That is Canon’s finest wide-angle lens, nice particularly for landscapes.
✅ You need nice picture stabilization: This digicam’s IS means much less judder if you’re utilizing it handheld.
Do not buy it if:
❌ You need it for astrophotography solely: This digicam’s f/4 aperture lets much less mild in than some.
❌ You are on a price range: Its ultra-wide angle efficiency comes with a price ticket.
The underside line
🔎 As Canon’s widest-angle lens, the Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM excels at capturing extra of the world. ★★★★
The Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM is Canon’s widest sngle lense and, with as much as an astonishing 130˚ discipline of view, it completely reveals.
It is weather-sealed, as with the remainder of Canon’s L vary, and is ideally suited to capturing landscapes, structure, the night time sky and extra. That stated, whereas it’s going to seize a large swathe of the cosmos, its f/4 aperture is not as light-gathering as a number of the different fashions on our listing.
Regardless of this, it is surprisingly light-weight, mild sufficient to be held in your hand, making its 5 stops of stabilization an actual boon.
Person opinions:
Customers are severely impressed with this lens, particularly its use for panorama pictures. They examine it to a fisheye, although with much less distortion.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
Design |
Sturdy construct, water-sealed |
|
Efficiency |
Superb wide-angle pictures |
|
Performance |
In-built picture stabilization |
Greatest RF wide-angle lens
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Purchase it if:
✅ You are need a superb wide-angle lens: This lens presents wonderful high quality and picture stabilisation.
✅ You desire a light-weight lens: At underneath 500g, it will not add a lot bulk to your equipment.
Do not buy it if:
❌ You may be utilizing it in damp situations: This lens just isn’t weather-sealed.
❌ You desire a excessive zoom: At 16-28mm, this lens’s zoom is barely underwhelming.
The underside line
🔎 In case you’re not determined for a excessive zoom, the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is a wonderful wide-angle RF lens, appropriate for astrophotography, nature-watching and a spread of different functions. ★★★★
This Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM lens is pleasingly light-weight, coming in at underneath 500g. It is mud and moisture resistant, although not particularly climate sealed. It would not include a lens hood, seemingly a cost-cutting measure, however you should purchase one individually.
You’ll be able to depend on the Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM to ship wonderful high quality pictures. It boasts 5.5-stops of optical picture stabilisation to eradicate judder, and its f/2.8 fastened aperture is a boon for low-light taking pictures, astrophotography included.
Person opinions:
Customers of this lens report being pleased with its picture high quality, praising its picture stabilization particularly. In addition they point out its whisper quiet autofocus is superb for video and it compares to different cameras at increased price-points.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
Design |
Stable, not climate sealed |
|
Efficiency |
Quick and quiet autofocus |
|
Performance |
Fixed f/2.8 aperture |
Greatest RF lens for astrophotography
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Purchase it if:
✅ You are shopping for for astrophotography: You may get clear, sharp pictures in low-light situations.
✅ You need pro-features: Certainly one of Canon’s hybrid lenses, it options some pro-features like an iris ring.
Do not buy it if:
❌ You are utilizing this with a non-IBIS digicam: This lens depends on the digicam’s personal picture stabilization.
❌ You desire a zoom lens: As a chief lens, it would not have zoom performance.
The underside line
🔎 The Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM’s aperture makes it wonderful for astrophotography and it is impressively versatile all-round. ★★★★
The Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM is a part of Canon’s hybrid vary, designed to supply pro-level options with out a top-tier worth. In addition to its extensive aperture it incorporates a guide iris ring in addition to a management ring, all astrophotography-friendly options. It is equally succesful as nonetheless or video digicam.
It would not have built-in picture stabilization, that means you will must couple it with a digicam which does have IS. Nevertheless, you will get some impressively sharp pictures out of this digicam whether or not you are taking pictures as is or pairing it with the most effective telescopes for astrophotography.
Person opinions:
Customers of the Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM report being impressed by its construct high quality, and by the digicam generally. Nevertheless, some have reported edge distortion when taking pictures to uncooked.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
Design |
Light-weight, hybrid lens |
|
Efficiency |
Glorious picture high quality |
|
Performance |
Guide aperture ring |
Greatest aperture lens
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Purchase it if:
✅ You need to shoot in low mild: This digicam’s enormous aperture drinks in each drop of sunshine.
✅ You desire a pro-level lens: It is not low-cost however this digicam delivers improbable picture high quality.
Do not buy it if:
❌ You desire a light-weight lens: This lens has actual heft and might dwarf a compact DSLR.
The underside line
🔎 The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM’s extensive aperture makes it wonderful for astro work and, lack of a zoom apart, it presents wonderful high quality in different areas. ★★★★
At an enormous f/1.2, this digicam’s huge aperture drinks in mild, making it a superb possibility for close-up astrophotography reminiscent of photographing planets. Nevertheless, it is not a wide-angle lens so it is much less appropriate for capturing the entire cosmos.
Its high quality is great, providing tremendous sharp pictures, with the form of high quality optics you’d anticipate from Canon. Even 5 years after its launch, this stays one among Canon’s most spectacular lenses. Its guide focus ring and digital management ring provide the energy to fine-tune your photographs.
The commerce off, aside from it not being low-cost, is that it is an enormous lens, weight round 3lbs / 1360g. Be ready for this so as to add lots of heft to your digicam, notably for those who’ve bought a appropriate however compact DSLR.
Person opinions:
With its 85mm vary, it is probably not seen as an entire all-rounder, however customers report it providing wonderful high quality for landscapes, portraits and extra. Just a few have acknowledged autofocus makes an audible noise, which could possibly be a problem if recording video.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
Design |
Heavy, weather-sealed |
|
Efficiency |
Glorious picture high quality, excellent for low-light |
|
Performance |
Adjustable management ring, no picture stabilization |
Greatest telephoto lens
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Purchase it if:
✅ You are a pro-photographer: This super-expensive lens presents an incredible zoom vary but it surely’s not low-cost.
✅ You’ve got a sturdy high-quality tripod: At almost 6lbs, you will not be holding this in your arms.
Do not buy it if:
❌ You are on a price range: This lens’s five-figure worth places it out of the vary of amateurs.
❌ You’ve got a financial institution of filters: This lens would not help drop-in filters.
The underside line
🔎 The Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM is the last word pro-level telephoto lens appropriate for astrophotography, long-distance pictures and extra, but it surely comes with a price ticket to match. ★★★★½
At almost six kilos, the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM requires a sturdy tripod, however the outcomes it’s going to ship make it definitely worth the effort. It presents gorgeous picture high quality in any respect zoom ranges; it could have a hefty price ticket however you are getting what you pay for.
This lens’s wonderful low-light efficiency means it is excellent for astrophotography and night-time wildlife shoots. Its guide zoom, focus and management rings give give you worth management over your shoot.
It would not help drop-in filters, solely screw on-filters, which can be a disappointment to some. However for those who’re in search of the last word Canon telephoto lens, that is it.
Person opinions:
Customers of this lens reward it as the most effective telephoto lenses they’ve used. They’re surprised by with its picture high quality, mentioning that there is subsequent to no distortion.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
Design |
Glorious construct high quality, water sealed |
|
Efficiency |
Gorgeous pictures no matter zoom |
|
Performance |
Versatile zoom, picture stabilization |
Greatest EF wide-angle lens
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Purchase it if:
✅ You need wide-angle astrophotography: This lens is great for capturing extensive swathes of the night time sky.
✅ You need high-quality footage: Even in low-light situations, this lens presents excellent picture high quality.
Do not buy it if:
❌ You are on a price range: This lens is {powerful} but it surely’s removed from low-cost.
❌ You need a big most aperture: Whereas it will take good night time sky photographs you will get bigger than f/2.8.
The underside line
🔎 The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM is geared toward extra skilled photographers and, whereas not low-cost, it delivers wonderful wide-field pictures, whether or not that is astronomical or terrestrial. ★★★★★
In our review of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM we stated “It delivers excellent outcomes worthy of its price ticket”, and that also stands. This is not an inexpensive lense, but it surely delivers excellent picture high quality, with quick and correct autofocus.
It has the pliability to seize spectacular wide-field pictures of nearly any topic, low-light shoots included. It lacks picture stabilization, however its colour correction is difficult to beat and we rank it as one of many best cameras for astrophotography. Its excellent construct high quality is the icing on the cake.
Person opinions:
Customers of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM are equally optimistic about this lens, praising not solely its picture high quality and autofocus but in addition its versatility. The one actual complaints relate to its weight.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
Design |
Heavy however wonderful construct high quality. |
|
Efficiency |
Excellent picture high quality. |
|
Performance |
Autofocus is quick and correct, although no picture stabilization. |
Greatest EF lens for astrophotography
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Purchase it if:
✅ You are a eager astrophotographer: This lens is superb for low-light taking pictures.
✅ You desire a waterproof lens: The L collection, this lens included, are water sealed
Do not buy it if:
❌ You are on a price range: This lens is geared toward top-level lovers and professionals, and has a worth to match,
The underside line
🔎 The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM is an outstanding lens for astrophotography and presents professional efficiency in different areas. ★★★★
In case you’re after a lens that excels at astrophotography and has the standard and efficiency for normal use, the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM is for you. Its huge aperture drinks in mild, and its has an impressively extensive discipline of view. It would not have picture stabilization, so you will want a digicam that does have IS. Nevertheless, astrophotographers will seemingly be utilizing a tripod anyway.
Its 24mm focal vary means it is not preferrred for shut up portraits but it surely’s wonderful for photographs the place you need to present a topic in context. And whereas no-one needs to get rained off, the lens is weather-sealed to stop water injury.
Person opinions:
Customers are principally optimistic about this lens, praising its potential to seize gorgeous pictures of the cosmos. Some however not all have talked about vignetting at full aperture, although happening a few stops vastly reduces it.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
Design |
Sturdy design, water-sealed |
|
Efficiency |
Excellent low-light efficiency |
|
Performance |
Guide override by way of focus ring, no picture stabilization |
Greatest Canon lenses: Comparability
|
Product |
Mount kind |
Focal vary |
Aperture vary |
Autofocus |
Thread dimension |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM |
Canon RF |
16-28mm |
f/2.8 fastened |
Sure |
67mm |
1.0lbs / 445g |
|
Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM |
Canon RF |
20mm |
f/1.4 to f/16 |
Sure |
67mm |
519g (1.3 lb) |
|
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM |
Canon EF |
16-35mm |
f/2.8 fastened |
Sure |
82mm |
790g |
|
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM |
Canon EF |
24mm |
f/1.4L fastened |
Sure |
82mm |
650g |
|
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM |
Canon RF |
85mm |
f/1.2 – f/16 |
Sure |
82mm |
1360g |
|
Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM |
Canon RF |
100-300mm |
f/2.8 fastened |
Sure |
112mm |
5.84lbs / 2,650g |
|
Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM |
Canon RF |
10-20mm |
f/4 fastened |
Sure |
N/A |
1.65lbs / 750g |
Greatest Canon lenses: Continuously Requested Questions
What is the distinction between EF and RF lenses?
Canon’s RF lenses are designed to be used with Canon’s EOS R vary of mirrorless cameras, whereas EF lenses are designed for Canon DSLR cameras. Canon hasn’t deserted DSLRs, however many producers are leaning in the direction of mirrorless as a consequence of their superior high quality and imaging expertise. RF lenses are sometimes extra {powerful}, extra light-weight and sooner. For a extra thorough take a look at Canon’s digicam vary, now we have a information to the best Canon cameras.
What number of stops of picture stabilization does the Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM have?
The Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM lens has a picture stabilization worth of 5.5 stops however when mixed with a Canon EOS R digicam just like the Canon EOS R5 II, the entire stage of picture stabilization reaches eight stops. It’s because the in-body picture stabilization (IBIS) from the digicam combines with the lens’s picture stabilization potential.
Not all lenses have picture stabilization however lots of newer Canon cameras have robust IBIS, which might cut back the necessity for impartial picture stabilization on the lens.
In case you primarily shoot telephoto or handheld in low-light situations, then an image-stabilized lens could be an enormous profit. Giant values of picture stabilization enable the digicam to make use of longer shutter speeds and decrease ISOs to let in additional mild and create higher publicity. It really works via a system of gyro sensors that detect motion, which then sign motors to shift floating lens parts and bend the sunshine to counteract hand motion.
Can you utilize an EF lens on an EOS R digicam physique?
Sure, you should use an EF lens on an EOS R digicam physique if in case you have a lens adapter like this K&F Concept EF to EOS R adapter. Whereas we’d advocate getting RF lenses to make use of together with your EOS R digicam for one of the best efficiency, utilizing an EF lens with an adapter will be an effective way to economize when shopping for a brand new lens so it’s price contemplating.
You can not use an RF lens on a Canon DSLR as a result of there are at present no adapters that make this attainable.
Can you utilize a Canon EF lens on a non-Canon digicam?
We extremely advocate utilizing a Canon lens with a Canon digicam for optimum efficiency however in case you are set on a sure Canon lens and have a special model digicam physique, there are methods to make it work.
We’d advocate an adapter like this Viltrox EF-Z Lens adapter that makes EF lenses appropriate with Nikon Z-mount cameras. Different fashions are appropriate with completely different model mirrorless programs so you will have to test you can get a appropriate filter to your digicam first earlier than committing to a Canon lens.