Eight of the best portrait lenses for Canon DSLRs. Choosing a Canon portrait lens

Updated: 02/28/2019 Oleg Lazhechnikov

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With lenses everything is somewhat simpler than with cameras, there are much fewer parameters and everything is much simpler. There is a focal length measured in millimeters, aperture ratio, and the presence/absence of a stabilizer. I'll tell you about everything in more detail.

Focal length

You don't really need to know what it means physically. It’s easier to remember that the more millimeters, the closer the object will be to you, or they often say that the angle will be narrower. This is true; when you zoom in on an object, you kind of cut off the frame at the edges and it doesn’t include anything that could fit into the field of view of a wide-angle lens. After using your first lens a little, you will immediately understand what focal length you need to use. Therefore, at first, do not buy many lenses, just one is enough to shoot, for example, the cheap kit Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II, which comes with many budget Canon cameras.

There are fixed lenses (they are called primes), and there are zooms. For the former, the focal length does not change in any way, for the latter, it can be changed manually by turning the ring on the lens. If you are just starting out, then most likely you do not need prime lenses, because they are bought for maximum quality and good aperture, and the price will be appropriate. Moreover, when you take photographs, it is much more convenient to be able to quickly zoom in or out of an object, otherwise you will need to change one lens to another, which takes much longer, and if this happens often, it really gets boring.

Crop factor

Next, I simply have to tell you that there is also such a thing as the crop factor, which in some way tells us about the size of the matrix of our camera compared to others. The matrix of a full-frame camera is taken as one (the cheapest full-frame ones are Canon 6d and Nikon d600), and other cameras have crop factors, which mean how many times the diagonal of the matrix is ​​smaller than that of the full frame. For example, 1.6 (Canon 650d, Canon 60d, Canon 7d), 1.5 (Nikon d300, d7000), 2.5 and more for different point-and-shoot cameras. The numbers mentioned (1.6, 1.5, 2.5, etc.) are the crop factor. I think it’s clear that the larger the matrix, the better the quality of the resulting image, and if this did not dramatically increase the price of a carcass, then everyone would just go with full-frame cameras and there would be no need to write about the crop factor.

Okay, screw it with the diagonal, what is more important is that the crop factor conditionally increases the focal length, that is, the larger the crop factor, the closer the object will be. For example, for a Canon 5d mark (crop factor 1) the standard lens will be 24-70 mm, and for a Canon 60d (crop factor 1.6) it will be 17-55 mm. That is, looking through the viewfinder of both cameras with the above-mentioned lenses, the objects will be visually at the same distances, although the millimeters are different. The crop factor is also sometimes called the focal length multiplier. For cropped bodies, you need to recalculate the focal length to get real numbers. That is, we take a 17-55 lens mounted on a cropped camera and multiply it by a crop factor of 1.6 (for all amateur DSLRs) and get 27-88 mm (17*1.6=27 and 55*1.6=88), that is, almost the same the same as a 24-70 lens for full frame. This is why we see equally close objects on these two cameras with these lenses. Remember that millimeters on all lenses are always indicated for the full frame, regardless of what camera the lens is intended for.

If the above seemed complicated to you, then don’t worry, by and large it’s not that important. You will put this or that lens on your cropped camera and get used to the millimeters that will be indicated on the lens body and you will operate with these numbers without any recalculation. And only if you suddenly switch to full frame, only then will you have to get used to the “new” millimeters again.

Aperture

It is designated as 1:4 or 1:1.2 and is indicated on the edges around the front lens. In fact, aperture is how much light is attenuated when passing through the lens; the aperture value depends only on the lens itself and nothing else. But in common parlance, aperture refers to the maximum open aperture that we can set on a camera with this lens. That is, if we don’t go into theory and talk about practical application, then the number after one is simply important for us (in this example, f4 and f1.2). The lower the number, the faster the lens. Typically, lenses with a value of somewhere around 1.2-2.8 are considered such, and they are very convenient for shooting in the dark or. But not only this is their advantage, but also their shallow depth of field (depth of field). Surely, you have seen photographs where there is a clear person in the foreground, and the background is beautifully blurred, and such things are done due to open apertures and, accordingly, fast lenses. Of course, you can do this with a regular aperture (for example, f5.6), but I will write about this in the next article.

Some nuances

• If you buy a lens for Canon, then it will not fit the mount (connector) for Nikon, and vice versa. There are also other companies that make lenses (as a rule, they are cheaper) for all cameras and mounts - Tokina, Sigma, Tamron. I would also like to mention the inexpensive high-aperture Samyang primes; they are highly praised, but they do not have autofocus, which is not suitable for everyone.
• There are adapter rings for attaching lenses that are not your own mount, but I have never used them.
• Each lens has a glass diameter (also measured in millimeters), which you will need to know if you buy a filter. The really necessary one is the CIR-PL polarizing filter. You can also purchase ultraviolet UV, which is essentially ordinary transparent glass and is needed only to protect expensive optics from scratches and shocks. But there are different opinions on this matter, and some say that it is of no use.
• The larger the zoom (focal length range), the worse the image quality. Usually this is really noticeable at large zooms, such as 18-135 mm or 18-200 mm, and manifests itself in the form of distortion, poor sharpness, aberration, etc. You need to look at pictures of a particular lens for these distortions and decide whether they suit you or not.
• A wide-angle lens (shirik) is somewhere around 10-15 mm for crop, and 15-20 for full frame. There is also a lens called a fish eye. Despite the ultra-wide angle, it is not an analogue of the wide angle, because they break out the picture in a peculiar way, sticking it out.
• A portrait lens is usually called 85 mm for full frame and 50 mm for crop.
• Before buying a lens, always read reviews about it and look at pictures already taken by other people, all of this is available on the Internet.
• Once again, the Canon EF-S 18-55 kit lens is a good thing and will definitely be enough for you for the first time, if you don’t know anything yet. When you buy a camera with this lens right away, you overpay literally 1-2 thousand rubles, that is, you get it almost for nothing (if you buy it separately, it is more expensive). True, there are other sets that will have a different lens.

• To shoot landscapes and architecture, you will need a zoom whose focal lengths start from 17-18 mm (for crop) and from 24-25 mm (for full frame).
• For shooting in a narrow space or a starry sky, a wide-angle lens, 10-15 mm (crop) and 15-20 (full frame), is useful.
• For reportage shooting, it is convenient to be able to bring a person closer, which means you need a zoom with a far end of about 100-150 mm. There are more (70-200 or 70-300), but then the near end will be too narrow and not suitable for anything other than reporting from afar.
• Lenses like 70-200 and 70-300 are usually used in landscape photography to zoom in on some piece of nature or to photograph animals and birds. It can also be used for macro.
• There are special macro lenses for shooting flowers and flies. But, if you don’t really need a strong approximation, then zooms are quite suitable, as I wrote above.
• To shoot portraits, it is best to buy a 50mm (crop) or 85 (full frame) prime lens, then you will have beautiful bokeh, a perfectly blurred background, and good aperture. But this is all in the case if you just want to shoot portraits, often and with a pretense of professionalism. Otherwise, a regular zoom will do. By the way, prime lenses come in different aperture ratios, so don’t go for the most expensive ones at first. For example, Canon 50 f1.8 will be enough for you, instead of Canon 50 f1.4 (twice as expensive). And I’m generally silent about the Canon 50 f1.2; it’s clearly not for beginners.
• If you are not picky about image quality, then for travel photography it will be best for you to take a large zoom (18-135 or 18-200), then you will cover all focal lengths and will not have to constantly change lenses. A sort of universal lens. In addition, the photo bag you take with you will be quite small from such a set, which is important for those trips where weight is important.

If we somehow summarize the choice of a lens for travel, then in most cases you will need a line of lenses, or one universal one with focal lengths somewhere from 17 to 100 mm, they are most often used, we are talking about crop. Naturally, this is in my opinion. When traveling (and at home too), a lineup of two lenses with a total focal length of 11-105 (Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 wide + standard Canon EF 24-105 f/4 zoom) is more than enough for me. Moreover, if I didn’t like photographs taken wide, then I could have done without the wide; after all, 11 mm is rarely needed in everyday life. True, then 24 mm would be too narrow in tight spaces. That is why I wrote that it is best to have a ruler starting from ~17-18 mm (for crop).

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Choosing a lens is quite a serious task, both for a professional photographer and for a beginner. The fact is that there are a lot of lenses, their names are indicated by different letters and numbers. This is why it is very easy to get confused and make the wrong choice. The numbers indicated in the name of the lenses are their main characteristics - focal length and aperture ratio. In order to help you choose a lens for a SLR camera, below will be a description of all its parameters, but if you don’t have time to read all this, then I advise you to watch this video.

Characteristics

Focal length

This parameter is measured in millimeters, thanks to it you can understand what viewing angle it has and how much closer it can be. Among the lenses of various systems you can find focal lengths in the range of 4.5 - 1000 millimeters or more.

Depending on the focal length, they can all be divided into:

• super telephoto lenses: 300mm and more,
• telephoto lenses: 50-300mm,
• standard lenses: 35-50mm,
• wide angle lenses: 18-35mm,
• ultra wide angle: 4.5-17mm.

Aperture

In the middle of each lens is a diaphragm, which consists of blades. By contracting and unclenching, the petals allow you to adjust the diameter of the hole through which light enters the lens. As a rule, the aperture value is indicated by a number: 1.4, 2.8, 3.5, 4.

Aperture is the maximum possible relative aperture value for a particular lens.

The aperture value is considered one of the main characteristics that influence the exposure of a photograph. From this we can conclude: the higher the aperture value, the worse the lighting it will be possible to shoot without fear of blurring the resulting frame. In addition, the depth of field depends on the aperture.

Fixed or zoom lens

Zoom lens has a variable focal length, which allows you to change the viewing angle, i.e. zoom in on the image. Zooms are more convenient compared to fixed lenses, since they have the ability to zoom in on the object you need to shoot without leaving your spot.

However, it is worth noting that zooms are much more complex in design than fixed ones, since they use more elements that move in relation to each other. In order to buy the most suitable model, do not forget about the additional parameters of this device.

Image Stabilizer

The image stabilizer is located inside. It allows you to compensate for hand shake during shooting, so that the photo will not be blurred even when shooting in poor conditions. This is a great device that helps you take high-quality photographs in poor lighting conditions, as well as with long shutter speeds. However, the presence of this device makes its cost significantly higher.

Focus motor

In order for auto focus to work, you must have a motor. As a rule, inexpensive models use a mechanical motor. The focusing speed is not very fast, and it buzzes during use. A fast and almost silent option is an ultrasonic motor.

Bayonet

In conclusion, I would like to draw attention to this concept. A bayonet mount is the name given to how it is attached to a camera. Each lens fits a specific camera from a specific company, but there are adapters with which you can bypass this if a competitor’s company has a super cool lens that you need. Surely, everyone understands that the most famous competing companies: Canon and Nicon are completely incompatible with each other.

Rating of the best lenses

If you are thinking about purchasing a lens for a SLR camera, you need to take this process seriously, since each device has its own parameters, characteristics, advantages, disadvantages and nuances in operation. After carefully understanding all this, you can choose the most suitable model. For greater convenience, I have made a list of the top best lenses for professional cameras over the past few years. Thanks to him, you can decide on the choice of this device.

• Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM
• Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8II
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
• Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
• Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
• Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
• Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II
  
• Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5–5.6L IS USM
• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

The best lenses for a nikkon camera

• Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
  
• Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f/1.8 Black
  
• Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
• Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G (JAA132DA)
  
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
• Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G (JAA014DA)
  
• Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR (JAA805DA)
  
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR (JAA795DA)
  
• Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
  
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
  
• Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED
  
• Nikon AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm F2.8
  
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
  
• Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
  

Top best lenses for Sony cameras

• Sony 50mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss
• Sony 18-200LE mm, f/3.5-6.3 for NEX cameras
  
• Sony 18-250mm, f/3.5-6.3 DSLRA100 (SAL18250.AE)
• Sony 50mm, f/1.4 DSLRA100 (SAL50F14.AE)
• Sony 50mm, f/1.8 DT (SAL50F18.AE)

Lenses, unlike cameras, do not become obsolete over the years or even decades. Unfortunately, the best of them are inaccessible to ordinary amateur photographers. But there is always a compromise between cost and quality level. Moreover, it can be very successful, like, for example, the best Canon EF lenses for the Canon EOS family of digital cameras.

We say: “Camera”, we mean Canon

If, when pronouncing the word “car”, the Mercedes brand immediately comes to mind for many, then the word “camera” is just as easily associated with the Canon brand.

In October 2011, this world-famous Japanese manufacturer of office and photographic equipment announced that it had produced its 70 millionth Canon EF lens, and a little earlier it announced the production of its 50 millionth EOS series SLR camera.

What is Canon EOS?

This abbreviation means “electro-optical system”, in which the control of the position of the optical elements of the lens for autofocusing (in lenses with a fixed focal length, the so-called primes) or changing the focal length (in the so-called zooms), as well as for controlling the aperture, is performed by mini-electric drives , built into the lens itself. Previously, such drives were placed inside the camera itself, and between it and the lens elements there were movable mechanical connections. Canon abandoned this principle and replaced it with the EOS system, which turned out to be absolutely correct, judging by the sales volumes of its products.

Canon EF lenses

To set the mini-electric drives of such a lens in motion, they must be powered by the camera itself, which has a built-in battery. Canon solved the problem of electrical communication between the camera and the lens by developing a special bayonet mount (or simply bayonet mount) for the lens, which is designated by the abbreviation EF and stands for “electric focus”.

As you know, a bayonet is a special unit for mechanically fastening two detachable parts. Canon has also added detachable electrical connections to it.

On the camera side, the EF mount has a number of electrical contacts located along the arc of the hole in the camera, to which the power supply circuits for the lens drives are connected. The lens for Canon has the same number of electrical contacts, which, when connected to the camera, fit tightly to its contacts, providing continuous electrical power circuits for the lens drives.

EF lenses for full frames and crops

As you know, SLR digital cameras differ in the size of their light-sensitive matrices. Thus, the matrices of the so-called full-format cameras (or full frames) have the largest size. Matrices corresponding to the APS-C or APS-H format are somewhat smaller in size.

Canon EF-S lenses, released in 2003, such as the popular Canon 18-55 mm zoom lens, are specifically designed for cameras with APS-C format sensors. EF lenses are also suitable for such small-format (in terms of matrix size) cameras (crop cameras in photographers' slang). But the EF-S lens will not work with full frames. The fact is that, with the same outer diameter, it is slightly longer than EF. If you try to install it in a full frame camera, its mirror, rising during shooting, will hit the back of the lens. Therefore, it is better not to do this.

In fact, the EF-S type lens for Canon is a budget option for beginners. Those who are planning to purchase a full-format camera in the future should initially focus on EF.

Both types of lenses are distinguished by a special marking symbol: EF is marked with a red circle, and EF-S is marked with a white square.

"Fifty dollars" from Canon

This is what photographers call the Canon 50mm lens, i.e., it has a fixed focal length of 50 mm. They usually have fairly large aperture openings. Thus, a number of “fifty kopecks” from Canon include lenses with aperture numbers (or f-numbers): f/1.8, f/1.4 and f/1.2. As you know, the smaller the number in the denominator of such a fraction, the larger the minimum aperture opening and the greater the light flux incident on the camera matrix during the exposure time of the image, i.e. the lens aperture increases. Its price increases significantly as the denominator of the fraction decreases. The fact is that the high aperture of the lens allows you to take photographs in poor lighting.

“Fifty dollars” were popular in the era of film cameras, but did not lose their position in the era of digital cameras.

Canon USM lenses

EF lenses that use piezoelectric (aka ultrasonic) electric motors (US-Motor) are used as an autofocus drive are additionally marked USM. No autofocus system works without a motor that moves the lenses. Not only the quality of focusing, but also the durability of the camera’s batteries depends on its speed and accuracy.

In the first models of USM lenses (for example, the Canon EF 50 f/1.4), the force from the US-Motor shaft was transmitted through a gearbox, which reduced the efficiency of the drive and increased its noise. Subsequently, the company developed the US-Motor, in which lenses moved during autofocus were inserted into a rotor ring. Such a motor provides direct (gearless) drive with an arbitrarily low rotation speed, and it is almost silent.

How the autofocus drive works in Canon EF lenses

The motor stator is a thin ring of piezoelectric material, on the flat end surface of which a thicker ring of elastic material with teeth is applied. At a short distance from the tops of these teeth, a disk (ring) rotor is fixed to the axis.

When an ultrasonic frequency voltage is applied to the piezoelectric stator ring, mechanical vibrations arise in it, having the nature of deformation waves moving along the ring in a certain direction. Under the influence of these waves, the rotor teeth perform periodic oscillations, extending in the direction of the rotor. At the same time, they rub against it and, as it were, push it in the direction of movement of the deformation wave, as a result of which it begins to rotate.

Luxury EF lenses

Canon L-lenses (from the English luxury - “luxury”), according to their labeling, belong to elite and, accordingly, expensive models. Having excellent optics and a durable body, they are able to withstand harsh external factors while in constant use. Their latest models are dust and splash proof, which makes them even more popular in a professional environment.

It should be noted that Canon is the only one among the world’s photo brands that mass-produces an autofocus high-aperture “fix-fifty” lens with an aperture number of f/1.2 in the L-class. True, today it costs about 100 thousand rubles, although a couple of years ago it could be purchased for half that price.

How are Canon L lenses different from regular EF lenses?

In addition to the reinforced housing design, they are distinguished by a significantly more advanced optical design. Typically, a lens for Canon in the L-series contains fluorite lenses combined with ground glass aspherical elements. It is known that fluorite (otherwise known as fluorspar) has a much better ability than optical glass to transmit light without an iris along the edges of objects, and aspherical lenses provide a clear image over the entire area of ​​the frame. But their presence in the lens is not a sufficient condition for classifying it as L-class, since such optical elements are also found in conventional EF lenses. L lenses are most often equipped with US motors and an optical stabilization system to compensate for the harmful effect of “shake” at long shutter speeds. At focal lengths of 200 mm and above, they are usually white instead of the usual black.

L lenses have a red ring on the body and the letter L after the aperture number in the designation.

The main criterion for choosing a lens for portrait photography

In the classical sense, a photographic portrait is a photograph of an object against a blurry (unsharp) background. This effect can be easily achieved if you choose the right lens for photography. The secret to getting background blur is to use a fast lens with a large aperture and, accordingly, a small f-number.

Aperture is a powerful tool for controlling artistic expression in photography. By choosing a lens with the required aperture opening range, the photographer gets a means of highlighting the desired object in the picture on which he would like to focus the attention of the viewer, whose gaze is involuntarily drawn to what the photographer wanted to emphasize.

With large aperture openings, close-ups of flowers, insects, human portraits against a blurred background or standing out against the background of surrounding people are very good. On the contrary, with minimal aperture openings, group shots, city streets or landscape shots are obtained well, where blur is unacceptable and all the details need to be displayed.

Fast lenses have a low minimum f-number. Of the number of lenses suitable for portrait photography, the Canon 2.8 lens has the maximum allowable number. All other models with a lower f-number from 2.0 to 1.2 will also be suitable for this purpose. By decreasing the f-number of the lens, you can achieve increasingly blurred background in a portrait photo.

Fast lenses capture a greater luminous flux during the exposure time, which makes it possible to shoot with them in concert and theater halls, clubs, churches, etc.

It just so happens that fifty-kopeck primes are often used as portrait lenses. And the modern lineup from Canon quite deservedly justifies this choice of the photo community.

Now Canon offers users four “fifty dollars”: a lens with an f/1.8 aperture starts the line, models with f/1.4 and f/1.2 continue, and a special macro lens with an f/2.5 aperture stands out.

On crop cameras with APS-C format, the image from “fifty kopecks” is practically indistinguishable from those obtained on full frames. Close-up photographs are obtained without distortion of perspective, and the background comes out quite beautifully. On mirrored full frames from “fifty dollars” both subject photos and half-length portraits are obtained well. Their high aperture turns them into a universal photographic tool that allows shooting both indoors and outdoors.

Canon 1.8 lenses, represented by the famous fast prime Canon EF 50mm f/1.8, opened the door to the world of fast optics in general for millions of photographers. Even if there are any complaints about the quality of the image from this lens, its current price in the range from 2000 to 2500 rubles makes it the best in terms of price/quality ratio.

When sold, all modern cameras are equipped with simple kit lenses. But, unfortunately, they do not have sufficient aperture and high-quality optics, but they allow amateurs to experiment with a variety of genres. As they master this art, novice photographers develop a taste for it, and they have a desire to get richer and sharper photographs. A completely logical question naturally arises: how to choose the best universal lens for Canon? Today we will try to answer it.

Where to begin?

Important! Before you start comparing models, decide on the range of tasks that you would like to see in the camera. And then we present to your attention.

The first step is to decide on your genre preferences:

• To create portraits, it is better to use optics with a fixed focal length.
• Macro lenses are used for photographing insects.
• For sporting events or wildlife - long-focus devices.

Important! Canon produces dozens of models for each type of shooting, ranging from budget ones to expensive professional optics, which are quite expensive.

But, regardless of the price, there are more and less suitable models, and their range of lenses is regularly updated. A little later we will present a rating of Canon lenses that were able to gain recognition among photographers.

Which companies make lenses for Canon?

Today, many companies produce photographic lenses suitable for the Canon line. But we tried to highlight the best companies, based on user reviews and quality characteristics of the equipment:

• Canon. This company employs several thousand people, thanks to whose efforts and work it was able to be one of the first to enter the world market and offer fans of SLR digital technology relatively inexpensive models.

Important! The flagship representatives of this manufacturer are considered a model of scientific achievements, because they allow you to create simply gorgeous, amazing photographs.

• Sigma. This is a relatively small company that produces equipment for a wide variety of purposes. Tripods, flashes, protective filters and much more. But special attention is paid to the lenses. Thanks to this, the products of this company were able to enter the ranking of the best.
• Samyang. This is the youngest Korean company engaged in the production of photographic accessories. Specializing exclusively in photographic equipment, she managed to move even the world's giants and occupy her own cell. And all this thanks to our own unique developments.

Important! The company designs lenses for mounts from the most popular manufacturers, offering customers high-quality equipment. Undoubtedly, having a camera, you need to take care of additional components. For example, we recommend studying.

Standard prime lenses

Any professional photographer has a technique with a fixed focal length. High-aperture optics allow you to take pictures without a flash, even in poorly lit rooms, and create a pleasant background blur effect. Standard devices convey an image that is more familiar to the human eye and do not distort the geometry.

Important! Their only drawback is the lack of zoom, so in order to remove or zoom in on an object, you need to come closer to it or move further away.

Now we will look at the most popular models in this category.

Canon EF 40MM F/2.8 STM

This is the best semi-professional model, leading the rating of lenses for Canon, which is affordable. The undeniable advantage of this lens is its versatility. Professionals may not agree with this opinion, but it is true.

Yes, this is not a device for creating portraits, but it is quite a decent wide-angle. With such characteristics, a slight distortion of space is inevitable, but in practice it is not noticeable. A sufficient focal length allows you to turn around in small rooms, shoot portraits and landscapes on the street.

Important! Consumers and experts, in turn, note good build quality, which cannot be called typical for budget models of this kind. Also, do not forget that a high-quality photo can only be obtained if you have a decent level of optics and.

Main advantages of the model:

• Framing the mount in a metal ring.
• High quality plastic with rubber inserts.
• Compact and lightweight lens.
• Pleasant impression from the pictures.
• Smooth color transitions, close to pastel shades.
• Tenacious autofocus.

Of course, achieving a perfect result without a flash is difficult, because you only have to use daylight. Loud engine noise spoils the sound. The device is adapted for video shooting, and the manufacturer promises smooth focusing.

Important! For plots, this is not the best optics.

Canon EF 50MM F/1.4 USM

This is the most popular standard lens. Offers the perfect combination of quality and price. He doesn't stay on display for long.

Important! Despite the low cost, the quality of the optics is still sufficient for shooting portraits.

Advantages of the model:

• Externally, the device looks quite solid.
• The design itself is heavy, but at the same time creates a good impression.
• This classic lens delivers dramatic background blur and sharp images.
• It is one of the brightest models, and it is a pleasure to work with it even without a flash in dark rooms.

But, according to users, opening aperture 1.4 is not enough for work, since the picture quality drops and chromatic aberrations appear. Autofocus has an ultrasonic motor that works silently and quickly, but, unfortunately, the automation often misses.

Important! The disadvantages of this model include the unreliability of the design, because the manual focus ring is made of plastic, which requires delicate handling.

Standard varifocal models

Any novice amateur photographer will find a zoom lens quite comfortable. Scrolling the zoom ring lets you zoom in and out without moving. Digital soap dishes have the same function, so there should be no problems with it. But, unfortunately, such versatility affects the quality of the images. Genre optics with the same settings give a higher quality picture.

It is important to understand that moving objects farther and closer allows you to simultaneously change the viewing angle and the filling of the frame. Whale models with a focal length of 18-55 turn into portraits at maximum focusing values, and into wide-angles at minimum ones.

Important! The capabilities of such kits are limited, so fans of reportage photography and travel should better pay attention to models with coated optics and a wider range of photons.

Canon EF-S 17-55MM F/2.8 IS USM

This is an ideal replacement for a kit lens for cameras with incomplete frames. It is considered the most expensive in its line. But such a high price dictates the highest demands on the quality of optics. Users speak highly of it and confirm that the glass meets their expectations.

Advantages of the model:

• The narrow range allows you to achieve decent optical efficiency; sharp shots are obtained at any focal length.
• Unlike budget options, this device is equipped with a working three-stage stabilizer, which allows you to shoot comfortably without a tripod at short shutter speeds.
• The bright lens is suitable for shooting indoors near a window without flash.
• Amateur photographers note distortion and vignetting, but pillows and barrels remain weakly expressed.

Important! One big minus is the unreliable case. The weighty proboscis becomes loose during prolonged use and begins to fall out due to its own gravity.

Canon EF-S 18-135 MM F/3.5-5.6 IS STM

Despite the low cost, according to many consumers, this is the best universal lens for Canon.

Pros of the model:

• Outwardly, it looks solid and has impressive weight.
• According to its main characteristics, it is similar to the whale one, which is sold complete with cameras. But it benefits greatly due to the increased range of focal lengths.
• Photographers call tenacious automatic focusing one of its advantages. The stabilizer is not particularly surprising, but, nevertheless, it works. Its motor is quite quiet and fully adapted to video shooting.

We have presented you with the best lenses for Canon in the most popular categories, now the choice is yours. The main thing is to remember that you cannot be guided solely by the cost of the devices, because more important factors when choosing are the main purpose of the lens, quality characteristics, focal length and expected conditions for future shooting.

Having an expensive camera does not mean that with its help you will create beautiful and high-quality photographs. Bright optics are of great importance. In our article today we will present to your attention a rating of the most popular and sought-after lenses among photographers.

Models from different manufacturers and different price categories are shown here. The unifying factor for all lenses is the excellent cost-quality ratio of the presented models, as well as the popularity of the optics among photographers.

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM

The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is one of the most popular lenses among photographers, having a constant F1.8 aperture. Designed specifically for DSLR cameras with APS-C size sensors, it covers an equivalent focal length of 28-50mm. The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is compatible with cameras from Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Sony and Pentax brands. A large aperture lens allows you to create photos with blurred backgrounds, and also gives you the ability to work in low light without using high ISO settings. The lens uses a Sigma Hypersonic motor for silent focusing. The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM costs around $800.

Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8LISIIUSM

The updated version of Canon's professional fast lens is one of the company's most popular models. The constant aperture throughout the focal length makes the lens an excellent option for shooting distant subjects. The Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM is a great option for shooting in dark environments and creating bokeh. You can buy the Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM for $2,500.

The updated version of the Nikon 70-200 mm telephoto lens allows you to create high-quality and bright photographs. The model has an updated version of the VR vibration reduction system. The fast lens is compatible with DX and FX format cameras. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II is priced at approximately $2,400.

Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM

The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM lens is designed for full-frame SLR cameras. The design uses 13 elements in 8 groups, and the minimum focal length is 40 cm. The fast lens is perfect for photographing portraits and street shots. The model is compatible with APS-C and FX cameras. The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM costs around $950.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8G ED is Nikon's fast, high-performance, ultra-wide-angle lens for FX and DX format (APS-C) DSLRs. The lens produces extremely sharp and clear photographs. The lens design uses 14 elements in 11 groups. The Nikkor 14-24mm features a focus motor that provides manual control and quiet and fast autofocus. The model is compatible with DX format DSLRs, as well as full-frame cameras such as the D600, D800 and D4. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8G ED wide-angle lens is priced at $2,000.

Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM

The EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM from Canon is an excellent model designed for professional photographers. The lens is weather sealed and provides silent focusing. It is designed for full frame models, but can also be used with cameras with a smaller sensor. The only drawback may seem to be the lack of image stabilization, and this forces the use of optics with cameras with built-in stabilization. The Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM costs about $2,300.

The lens was announced alongside Nikon's first full-frame camera back in 2007 and is still very popular. The model is compatible with FX and DX format cameras (APS-C). The lens covers a wide range of focal lengths, thereby allowing you to realize your wildest photographic ideas. The waterproof lens includes 15 elements in 11 groups, and 3 ED elements (3 extra-low dispersion elements), 3 aspherical elements and a nanocrystalline coating. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8G ED costs $1,900.

Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R

The Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R is a high-end lens designed specifically for Fujifilm mirrorless cameras. It offers an angle of view equivalent to 85mm on full frame cameras. The model uses an autofocus motor that provides fast and silent autofocus. The Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R costs around $1,000.

The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM is designed specifically for photography enthusiasts and professionals. From a design standpoint, this is a truly excellent lens that is at least as good as other lenses in its class. The affordable price of the lens makes it an attractive option for purchase. The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM costs around $900.

CanonEF 100mm F2.8LMacroISUSM