The element is very good.

Below are informational excerpts from Canon Lens Work up to “Optical designs of Canon lenses”, where the text is only mine. Explanatory texts on what “aspherical lenses” are, etc. belong to Canon.

Aspherical lenses
Light rays passing through the edges and through the center of spherical lenses converge at slightly different focal points. As a result of this optical phenomenon, known as spherical aberration, produces low-contrast images that appear to be covered with a thin veil. To address this issue, Canon has developed aspherical lens elements. A special non-spherical surface converges central and peripheral light rays into a single focal point, providing clarity throughout the entire image area. Aspherical elements, found in almost every EF lens today, are especially useful for large aperture, wide-angle and high-quality compact zoom models.

There are 4 types of aspherical elements:

1) ground and polished glass aspherical element
2) molded glass aspherical element
3) molded plastic aspherical element
4) a hybrid aspherical element, in which plastic is applied to a spherical glass lens to give it an aspherical surface

To make it short: ground glass lenses are good, molded glass lenses are good, the rest (plastic) not so good

In some places, where it is known what kind of aspherical elements there are, I signed them.

UD lenses— glass with ultra-low light dispersion. Greatly increases lens sharpness and reduces various . Relatively expensive, but was invented to reduce the cost of the lens and is still slightly (and sometimes much) worse than fluorite glass. Currently, the presence of a UD element puts the lens at least in the mid-price range.

Fluorite and ultra-low dispersion (UD) lenses

If you miss sunlight through the prism, a rainbow spectrum will appear. This happens because the rays of light different lengths the waves refract (in other words, change direction) inside the prism in different ways. The same phenomenon, but to a lesser extent, is observed in photographic lenses, and in this case it is called chromatic aberration. Most often, chromatic aberration appears in photographs as a colored fringe around the edges of objects. A combination of convex and concave lenses helps correct this effect, but does not completely solve the problem.

Optical glass is made from silicon oxide with admixtures such as lanthanum and barium oxide. In progress
manufacturing, these substances are mixed in a furnace, fused at high temperature 1300° - 1400°C and then slowly cooled.
, on the other hand, has a crystalline structure and has exceptional characteristics,
unattainable for optical glass - low refractive index and low dispersion.
Moreover, the dispersion characteristics of fluorite almost coincide with the characteristics of optical glass at
wavelengths ranging from red to green light, but differ significantly for wavelengths ranging from green to blue (this characteristic is called extraordinary partial dispersion). Using these special properties allows you to significantly improve the image quality of super telephoto lenses, as shown below.

Complete exclusion of secondary spectrum
When combining a convex fluorite lens with a concave glass lens with large variance according to the rules
red and blue wavelength adjustments extraordinary fluorite partial dispersion effectively
also compensates for green wavelengths, reducing the secondary spectrum to exclusively low level and mixing
all three wavelengths (red, green and blue) into one focal point, allowing almost perfect compensation of chromatic aberration (apochromatic characteristic).

In the 1960s companies Canon managed to artificially create crystalline fluorite and produce the first interchangeable lenses with fluorite elements for SLR cameras. In the 1970s, Canon developed the first UD (Ultra Low Dispersion) elements using low dispersion optical glass. This technology was then refined and Super UD lenses were introduced in the 1990s. The combination of fluorite lenses, UD and Super UD elements is used in many L-series super telephoto, telephoto zoom and wide-angle lenses today.

DO element

A separate diffraction optical is diffraction grating(very thin parallel strokes on the surface) that changes the direction of light. However, this process produces diffuse light, which is not suitable for photographic lenses and can cause glare.

Studio portraits with an aperture closed to F8-F11 are a different matter. Here he again takes his toll for those who love this focal length (and there are enough fans because there is already very little distortion on this focal length on a full-frame camera).
The focus ring has a short stroke, so macro photography is just “as it is.” If the focus ring had more travel, the lens would be much more valuable.

Canon EF 100/2.8 Macro USM

But here it's just glass. Lens in the lower price range.
The absence of a UD element, which is found in its older brother Canon 100/2.8L IS USM, causes a slight “blurring” of the image at the edges and middle of the sides of the frame. But the lens is quite good for its simple design and price. If you have a limited budget, I can confidently recommend it instead of its older brother as a lens for macro photography, since at “tightened” apertures they are the same in sharpness.

Canon EF 180/3.5L Macro USM

3 UD elements. Lens in the upper price range. A great, no-compromise macro lens. It also has a tripod mount, which allows you to attach it to many interesting tripod heads and rotate it on various micro-rails without touching them.
For macro photography it is super convenient as it gives a greater distance to the subject, allowing you to photograph various shy insects and work more conveniently in the studio without crawling up to the subject itself and without blocking the light with your back. At the same time, the lens is more suitable for working outdoors, where there is room to turn around, and in a large studio, because of its significant focal length, many medium-sized objects have to be shot far away so that the object is entirely in the frame.
Also, Canon EF 180/3.5L Macro USM is sharper than Canon EF 100/2.8L IS USM.
Of the minuses: Low and “tailored” for macro photography.

Ordinary glass. Lens in the lower price range. It would be generally remarkable due to its sharpness, but it would only be suitable for cameras with a crop factor of 1.6.

Ordinary glass. Lens in the lower price range. It’s a fairly sharp macro lens and, despite its advantages, it’s cheap (around 300usd).

So this “old man” is not so bad.
Plus, it has a Life-size Converter from Canon, which allows you to get 1:1 macro on it (without a converter only 1:2).

Canon EF MP-E65/2.8 1-5X

1 UD element - mid-price lens. IN in this case it is actually expensive, but I’m talking about production costs, and not about marketing prices. It is clear that being the only such super-macro lens, it cannot be cheap on the market. However, its cost is low.

Anyone who is going to buy it should first of all think about how he is going to use it. The lens is specialized, so it won’t work “anyhow.” The lens needs a good tripod, rails, a special flash, etc. By itself, it is only a part of a good macro set and without additional devices it will not give you any advantages over other lenses. It is suited more for shooting stationary micro-objects in the studio than for shooting outdoors.

Canon EF 24-70/2.8L II USM - optical design

18 elements in 13 groups. Three aspherical elements, two ultra-low dispersion UD elements and one super-UD element. This is a relatively expensive lens. Those. The design itself involves many elements with ultra-low dispersion, but they tried to reduce the cost a little and put UD instead of the more expensive fluorite.

My test of this lens (and at the same time the first version of 24-70):

Canon EF 28-135/3.5-5.6 IS USM

One aspherical element. Inexpensive lens.

As a user, I will say that it is much inferior to L-lenses in terms of color reproduction. Perhaps because of enlightenment. Otherwise, it is very convenient with its range of focal lengths.
It creates a positive feeling when using it, but I gave it up after a “screwed up” photo shoot in Thailand, where I didn’t see a single frame from it with soft green undertones. It’s good that I had another 100-400/4.5-5.6L in reserve. It made some good photos in this regard.

Canon EF 800/5.6L IS USM

What can I say... The lens has two huge fluorite lenses and 2 UD elements. This is a super expensive lens in terms of cost.

If it were not for fluorite, there would be so many lenses in it that few would be able to lift it.
So Canon had to spend money and grow a couple of giant crystals.
All Canon telephoto lenses are in a sense masterpieces. These are highly specialized lenses and therefore they have been thoroughly worked on.

Canon EF 500/4L IS II USM

Again two large fluorite lenses. This is a super-expensive lens in terms of cost.
The quality must be great.

Canon EF 400/5.6L USM

Here we see that the fluorite has already been replaced with UD elements and there is nothing else. Plus the lens has lost aperture. This is a middle class lens in terms of cost.

Canon EF 400/2.8L IS II USM

And here is the older brother of the previous lens. With a focal length of 400mm, it has an amazing aperture ratio of F2.8!!!
It uses two giant fluorite lenses, so it is one of the expensive lenses in terms of cost.

Canon EF 300/4L IS USM

Here's a simpler telephoto lens again. It uses 2 UD elements instead of fluorite. This is rather an average lens in terms of cost. Maybe a little above average.

Canon EF 300/2.8L IS II USM

The older brother of the previous lens. There are two large fluorite lenses here.

Canon EF 200/2L IS USM

Expensive lens - 1 fluorite lens and 2 UD elements.

Peculiarities

• L series lens design

• Image stabilizer (equivalent to 5 stops of exposure) with tripod detection

• Fluorite and ultra-low dispersion elements

• Ultrasonic motor with manual focusing capability at any time

Accessories

• Plug-in filter with circular polarization 52 mm PL-C 52

• Extender EF 1.4x III

• Extender EF 2x III

Canon EF 200/2.8 II USM

2 UD elements, average cost lens in terms of materials.

Canon EF 135/2.8 Soft-focus

Inexpensive, special purpose lens. Gives soft portrait blur due to microscopic microlenses on the surface of one of the large lenses.
The design uses 1 aspherical element.

Canon EF 135/2L USM

2 UD elements, average cost lens in terms of materials. At one time it was considered a good lens and many successfully used it at an open aperture. It is no longer very suitable for modern cameras (it was released in 1996)

Canon EF 100/2 USM

Lens in the lower price range.

Canon EF 85/1.8 USM

Just optical glass.
Low cost lens.
Quite soapy around the edges and operating apertures from F2.8, but at a closed aperture it has good resolution. For beginners - great option. Not of interest to experienced photographers.

The lens is equipped with a hefty aspherical element and cannot be cheap. This version of the lens was released in 1989. and still remains relevant. Recently they released a second version, which has a higher resolution, but still it was not possible to achieve the ideal at a fully open aperture of F1.2. And there is no need, since the lens is beautiful and is very well suited for artistic shots, be it in the studio or on the street.

The lens has a very durable design and is quite heavy (1.025 kg). I was happy to shoot with it, but artistic shots at an open aperture with an autofocus lens are not my cup of tea, so I sold it. If you need such a lens, please contact me, I will try to help you find a “like new” version from Japan. The main difference from the second version is slower autofocus. But it is quite enough for almost any type of filming (except for races and dog races :)).

Canon EF 85/1.2L II USM

The lens is inexpensive in terms of cost, only 1 aspherical element is used. True, it is made of polished glass, which is very pleasing.

Canon EF 85/1.2L II USM - working aperture from F2. In the first version there were quite high CAs on open values apertures for an L-class lens, but in the second they were well corrected even for F1.2.
On the one hand, the lens of the second version is good, but in my opinion it is greatly overrated both in terms of focal length and optical quality. In my opinion, few people will need aperture F1.2 due to the very low and low sharpness at this value.

Canon EF 50/1.8 II

lens features - none

Quite good in terms of sharpness from cheap ones, the optical design is Planar, like most 50mm.
The working aperture is from F2.8, it lathers quite strongly around the edges.

Canon EF 50/1.4 USM

Just optical glass. Cheap lens.
Nevertheless, the sharpness is much more uniform across the frame than that of the 50/1.8 II.
Working aperture from F2.8

Canon EF 50/1.2L USM

One aspherical element molded from glass. The lens has an average cost in terms of materials.
Optically better than 50/1.8 II and 50/1.4, but this is also understandable from its high price.
In fact, with F2.8 the sharpness in the center of the frame is almost equal to 50/1.8 II (it blurs around the edges).
And you can no longer distinguish it from 50/1.4 at F2.8 in terms of sharpness across the entire field of the frame.
On the plus side, it gives a beautiful cat-eye image, like Zeiss lenses. Of the minuses - this disk cuts from above at F1.2

6 elements in 4 groups, 1 aspherical element (molded glass). 7-blade rounded diaphragm.

My comment on this topic:
I don’t see much reason for “writing with boiling water” here... but as usual, a new product is preceded by PR and hype. Moreover, it is stimulated, as a rule, by the seller company.
I don’t want to assume anything about the review of my respected TDP, but note that where they put a new one in a row for comparison 40/2.8 with the old man 35/2.0 , which God knows how old, but not, for example, Canon EF 50/1.4.
Accident? :) They have approximately parity in sharpness. He doesn’t “tear” anyone there in terms of harshness. An aspherical element was added to it to compensate for the emerging HA due to the increased viewing angle. And so he remained a Planar. Usually pancakes were made by Tessars and they had fewer lenses and a different bokeh, worse.
It is for EF mount, so it will work on all cameras with EF mount. On full frame it is 40mm, and on crop it is 64mm.
In general, this is its advantage - on a full-frame lens it is almost a wide-angle, and on a cropped lens it can easily serve as an “every day” lens. Previously, I had nothing special to recommend as a standard one for crop. offered 50/1.4 taking into account the replacement of the camera with an FF in the future (but it’s on an 85mm crop, which is a lot for a standard one). And now there is a solution.
From 35/2 Still, it’s not entirely correct to do a regular one on a crop. It will fit in terms of focal length (56mm), but not in terms of optical design and design work.

In general, for a crop lens, yes, it’s worth trying it as a standard portrait lens.

P.s. In general politics Canon In terms of lens production, it’s quite original. For example, for a long time There was no high-quality, convenient 100mm macro lens, although it was in great demand. And it appeared only in 2009, and before that there was only a non-L version.
That’s how it is with a staffer on a crop. God knows how long there was no staff member for crop. Unless EF-S 60/2.8, but this meant dooming yourself later to throw away this lens when switching to full frame.
In 2012, a staffer for crop appeared, when the era of crop was generally coming to an end. For full frame cameras 35/1.4 it will not replace, just like 50/1.4 . And 50/1.2 generally much better.
In advertising they talk about video filming, but as far as I know, camera operators shoot films with cameras Canon prefer the long travel of the focusing ring of manual lenses. Such as Zeiss, For example.

Canon EF 35/2

lens features - no

The lens is an old design made of ordinary optical glass, but is quite convenient as a standard lens on a cropped lens.

Canon EF 35/1.4L USM

Wide-angle retrofocus lens with one aspherical element. No special types of glass were used, although in general wide-angle lenses with a large number lenses are expensive to manufacture (compare with the old analogue 35/2 in terms of the number of lenses)

Canon EF 28/2.8

A simple wide-angle lens with a single aspherical element. Inexpensive to produce.
A good budget wide-angle due to its more uniform sharpness across the frame than 28/1.8.

Canon EF 28/1.8 USM

One aspherical element.
Fast, but very “soapy” around the edges up to F2.8.

Canon EF 24/2.8

Regular optical glass.

By use: Relatively slow autofocus for a wide-angle lens. At 1.4 it’s frankly “soapy”. At the same time, there is no autofocus alternative to this very convenient one, and with F2.8 it already works very well. The bokeh is beautiful, typical for all L-frames.

The relative aperture of 1.4 in is presumably made for photography in a dark room (a critical case when you don’t want to or can’t use a flash), but here you need to keep in mind at what distance what depth of field will be.

Canon EF 20/2.8 USM

Regular optical glass.

Canon EF 14/2.8L II USM

2 aspherical elements, 2 UD elements (low dispersion) - an expensive lens in terms of the materials used. The manufacturer clearly tried to correct all possible CAs.
Convenient for photographing landscapes and architecture.

Canon EF 8-15/4L USM FISHEYE

1 aspherical and 1 UD element. Mid-price lens.
Nevertheless, a very convenient universal fisheye. If the distortion is not corrected, it has very tolerable HA. When compared with the Samyang 8mm, it convincingly wins. True, it costs a lot more. There is no point in comparing it with Soviet fisheyes, it is much better.
Convenient for photographing landscapes, architecture and kitschy photos.

3 aspherical and 1 UD element. An expensive lens in terms of cost. In terms of image quality, it is quite good for a zoom lens, especially at the “long end”, i.e. at 105mm. It is inferior to prime lenses, catches glare in backlight, like all “super-zooms”, due to the abundance of lenses, but I still think its price is more than justified. The only negative reason why it is often sold is its low aperture ratio.

Canon EF 28-300/3.5-5.6L IS USM

3 aspherical and 3 UD elements. The lens is expensive in terms of materials used.

For portrait photography, a good lens is something you can and should invest in. Even a beginner's camera, if equipped with high-quality glass, will be able to take great pictures. But the opposite (a cool camera with an average lens) will not work. So perhaps, instead of spending money on an expensive camera, it is better to invest in a quality lens.

Choosing a lens for portraits is not so easy, but now we will look at what you need from portrait glass and which lenses are suitable for portraits.

What to consider when choosing a portrait lens?

We need to start from the beginning: variable or fixed focal length? We have already talked about the difference between the two types of lenses. So, if you take zoom lenses, their focal length can vary from 24mm to 70mm, from 70mm to 200mm, etc. The choice is huge and such lenses are convenient and extremely useful for a large number of shootings. Plus, they are much easier to transport (after all, you don’t need to take several glasses with you, one is enough).

A constant focal length will provide better image quality and clarity. If you know exactly what kind of shooting you are going to do, it is better to choose a prime lens.

For portrait photography, the ideal choice is a prime lens, as quality and clarity are very important in this type of photography.

Focal length

When choosing a portrait lens, be sure to decide on the desired focal length. Consider where you are going to shoot, how much space there will be, how much surroundings you will need in the photo, how close to the model you plan to be. For standard portraits, lenses with focal lengths from 35mm to 200mm are usually used. But in general, it all depends on preference, style and model.

How many lenses are you willing to carry with you?

If you find it most convenient to travel with one single lens, you should pay attention to zoom lenses. Glass with a focal length of 24-105mm is suitable for almost any shooting. But if you are a fan of prime glasses, but dream of shooting in different genres, you will have to stock up on a bag and additional lenses. Many professional photographers do just this, changing glass on the fly or even using multiple cameras with different lenses.

How many people will be in the frame?

If you plan to shoot with in large groups people, a wider angle lens will do to capture all the characters. You need to remember that a wide angle leads to distortion: people at the edges of the frame will either be larger or stretched out. So the width of the corner should not be too large either. Never forget that by taking a step back, you will capture more people in the frame without distorting the photo.

Space available when shooting

If you shoot outdoors, there are more options, depending on your preferences. Inside you will have to take a wider-angle glass. Zoom lens 70-200mm or prime - 85mm is suitable for open spaces. The focal length is less suitable for indoor shooting.

bokeh

The larger the aperture (and less number f-steps), the more bokeh you get. If you want to take photos with beautiful, blurry bokeh, you can look at special portrait glasses.

Matrix size

To correctly build the exposure, it is important to take into account the matrix. Remember that the size of the sensor (crop or full format) will affect the focal length. That is, different distances will behave differently at different types matrices For example, 50mm will look longer on a cropped matrix.

Price

Of course, the size of the wallet plays a decisive role. Let us only remind you that it is better not to skimp on quality glass.

The best Canon portrait lenses

The best Nikon portrait lenses

With such a huge choice, the decision is not so easy to make. Therefore, it most often comes down to personal preference. We recommend that you always thoroughly familiarize yourself with the lens and try it in action before purchasing.

So, you just bought the camera of your dreams, received all the due congratulations on this event and asked the logical question: what’s next? Which lens should you choose first? And which one for the second? How to form the best arsenal and maintain balance in the categories of “price” and “quality”? We have accumulated 5 years of experience, several dozen hours of detailed study of the issue and several interviews with professional photographers in order to recommend the four best lenses for a beginning photographer with good ambitions.

In more detail:

In this article we will talk about lenses for a regular Canon DSLR camera (from the English. Digital single-lens reflex camera - that is, qi DSLR camera). DS LR camera manufacturers and third parties produce huge amount lenses for your cameras and you can choose between them for as long as you like. But that’s why we’ve gathered here, so as not to drown in the swamp of choice, but to take a confident path in the formation of an optical arsenal, avoiding mistakes and wasting time and money.

Your Canon camera will probably come with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens - it's a good standard everyday zoom lens for exploring all aspects of your camera. It makes sense to shoot with it for some time in order to understand all the features of the “body” and identify your format, i.e. favorite genre of photography. There are traditionally four main formats: macro photography, close-up photography (the so-called zoom), landscape (wide-angle) and portrait. Each genre requires a lens specially “tailored” for it, and here are our confident recommendations from the top four.

The best primer for a beginning photographer

The easiest way for a beginning photographer to develop his skills is to work with lenses whose focal length remains constant. Yes, you lose the ability to zoom out or zoom out on something, but this design allows you to achieve amazing photography quality at a very reasonable price. All other lenses are essentially a search for a compromise between the ability to change the focal length (bringing the subject closer or farther away) and the desire not to degrade quality. As a result, the better the photo quality becomes, the higher the price per lens. In the case of primes, the photo quality is immediately excellent, and the price is one of the lowest.

Separately, it should be noted its appearance: white Canon lenses are usually typical for the professional line of lenses, which are very, very expensive. However, in the case of the Canon EF 70-200 mm f/4L USM, we have professional shooting quality for quite amateur money. This is a very, very good offer.

Average price in Russia: 44,000 rubles

Wide angle lens

For wide-angle shooting. When will it be useful? For photography in tight spaces (review of a hotel room, for example), parties, architectural, landscape photography.

This lens is small, lightweight and has excellent sharpness. Its image quality and autofocus accuracy are a very strong competitive advantage over currently available lenses in this class. In addition, it contains a stabilizer, which allows you to avoid “smudges” in photographs.

The compact size of this wide-angle lens makes it suitable for everyday use, when traveling, or you can simply keep it in your pocket as a backup just in case. Average price in Russia: 16,000 rubles

Macro photography

This type of photography is considered highly specialized, but often becomes a favorite genre among photographers. In this category, we consider the Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP to be the best

The build quality, lenses and 145mm viewing angle make this lens great solution for a more or less reasonable price (reasonable compared to the Canon branded lens, of course, because the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro ISUSM costs 30% more). The lack of image stabilization may require the use of a tripod.

Average price in Russia: 45,000 rubles

Universal lens

At the very beginning of the text, we say that the kit lens needs to be replaced with something better. Meanwhile, the very idea of ​​complete glasses is quite reasonable - a novice photographer is given a lens with universal focal lengths that works in most genres. Yes, the quality of the whales is not the best. Therefore, to the high-quality, but no less versatile Sigma AF 18-35mm F1.8.

As one of the commentators on this lens on Yandex.Market writes:

“This is the best zoom lens for crop at the moment. It replaces 3 prime lenses: 18, 24 and 35 mm with an aperture of 1.8. Consider that you have several lenses on your camera at the same time and you don’t need to waste time changing them.”

An important nuance - this lens has problems with autofocus in low light. Therefore, after purchasing a lens, we recommend finding a USB dock. This device allows you to update the firmware and fix the focus. In addition, on thematic forums it is advised to come to the store and try several copies, because... The quality of lenses even in the same batch may vary. Yes, there are possible pitfalls here, but you won’t be able to find any other lens for the money that can shoot like this.

Average price in Russia: 48,000 rubles

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 novice photographers master this art, they develop a taste for it and develop a desire to take richer, sharper photographs. A logical question naturally arises: how to choose the best universal lens for Canon? Today we will try to answer it.

Where to start?

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 best companies, based on user reviews and quality characteristics techniques:

• 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 relative small company, which produces equipment for a wide variety of purposes. Tripods, flashes, protective filters and much more. But special attention focuses specifically on 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 dislodge 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 fixed focal length technique. 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 transmit a more familiar picture 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 maximum values focusing turns into portraits, at minimum - into wide-angles.

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 high price dictates the highest requirements for the quality of optics. Users respond in the best possible way about it, confirm that their expectations are met by glass.

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 devices, because more important factors when choosing, the main purpose of the lens, quality characteristics, focal length and expected conditions for future shooting are taken into account.

Updated: 04/26/2018 15:24:15

No self-respecting photographer can do without additional lenses. But how do you decide on a specific purchase? For example, there are now several hundred lenses for SLR Canon cameras- how not to get lost in such diversity? This article is intended to help you navigate.

Below you will get acquainted with the best optics, created for Canon photographic equipment and available for purchase right now. At the same time, the authors of Expertology divided all products into several categories, because there is no point in directly comparing lenses for portrait photography with optics having a 400 mm focal length. Separately, it should be noted that we will talk here exclusively about products produced by Canon itself. About optics from third party manufacturers we might talk sometime next time.

Rating of the best Canon lenses

Nomination	place	product name	price
The best standard prime lenses for Canon cameras	1		94,900 ₽
	2		20,000 ₽
	3		17,000 ₽
The best Canon lenses for portrait photography	1		94,890 RUR
	2		94,900 ₽
	3		49,900 ₽
The best Canon zoom lenses	1		115,000 ₽
	2		38,900 ₽
	3		RUR 32,490
The best Canon telephoto lenses	1		RUB 105,990
	2		49,900 ₽
	3		61,000 ₽
Best Canon wide angles	1		102,500 ₽
	2		RUR 33,300
The Best Canon Lenses for Macro Photography	1		46,990 RUR
Best Fisheye Lenses	1		63,400 RUR

The best standard prime lenses for Canon cameras

If there is an optic that perfectly blurs the background, then this 85mm lens is it. The photographer has access to an aperture of f/1.2, at which the zone of sharpness narrows to an indecent size. The eight-blade diaphragm, which gathers into a perfect circle, also contributes to beautiful bokeh.

The lens may seem small. However, high-quality glass and a metal case did their job - this specimen weighs exactly 1 kg. This imposes certain difficulties on using the lens while traveling. Also, don’t expect fast autofocus from the product - this model is designed for portraits, not reportage photography.

Advantages

Reliable design;

Very wide aperture;

Ultrasonic (silent) focusing;

Beautiful bokeh even with a closed aperture;

Highest aperture ratio;

Soft contrast.

Flaws

Slow autofocus;

Impressive weight;

The cost reaches 91 thousand rubles.

One of the most inexpensive lenses, which, nevertheless, is sometimes used even by professionals. For about 21 thousand rubles. the buyer receives “glass” with an 85mm focal length and an ultrasonic autofocus motor. Eight aperture blades open up to a maximum of f/1.8, which may seem insufficient to some. However, it is quite difficult to find fault with the resulting image; with the right skill, the photographer will achieve a very nice bokeh. Another undoubted advantage of the optics is its low weight of 425 g.

Beginning photographers will note some difficulty using the widest aperture. The fact is that autofocus may miss at such moments. This is a traditional problem for all inexpensive portrait glasses.

Advantages

High sharpness;

Ultrasonic autofocus;

High aperture ratio;

Good bokeh;

The lens turned out to be quite light;

No chromatic aberration.

Flaws

Not the most reliable design;

Autofocus at f/1.8 regularly misses;

It is extremely difficult to use on a cropped camera.

A universal lens that can be used on both cropped and full-frame cameras. This “glass” is very inexpensive - just over 17 thousand rubles. Such an affordable price tag is explained by the plastic case. On the one hand, this made the design less reliable - dropping the lens is not recommended. On the other hand, the optics weigh only 290 g, which will especially appeal to amateurs.

Advantages

Well-defined bokeh;

High sharpness;

Minimum dimensions and weight;

Good aperture ratio;

Low price.

Flaws

The lens cannot be called durable;

Auto focus doesn't always work perfectly;

Not all lenses are glass.

The Best Canon Lenses for Portraiture

Every owner of a cropped camera should have a lens with a 35mm focal length. The above model allows you to get very beautiful portraits. The maximum aperture here opens to f/1.4, and the picture remains very sharp even with it. Beautiful bokeh is achieved, among other things, due to the nine-blade diaphragm design. The product should also feature an ultrasonic focusing motor, which can only be heard in complete silence.

People who write reviews find fault with the lens only about its relatively light weight and appearance. The product really doesn’t look expensive, although such optics cost 89 thousand rubles.

Advantages

High sharpness across the entire frame area;

Very good aperture;

Nice bokeh;

Focuses on close objects;

Fast and very quiet autofocus.

Flaws

Not everyone likes the appearance;

High cost.

A lens already mentioned in our selection. But it’s not a sin to repeat myself, having already mentioned the strictly portrait qualities of this optics, without focusing on the specifications. Unlike many analogues, the product is capable of opening its aperture to f/1.2. Usually, with this value, the picture begins to “float” and the sharpness disappears somewhere. But in the case of this model there are no such problems. The background here is blurred almost perfectly. It’s not for nothing that this “glass” is used for artistic photography, when it is necessary to draw the viewer’s attention to a specific detail.

Advantages

Almost maximum aperture;

Perfect build quality;

Beautiful bokeh;

The sound of autofocus operation is almost inaudible;

Sharpness is maintained throughout the entire aperture range.

Flaws

Autofocus does not work instantly;

The cost will not suit every professional.

Not everyone likes to use a long focal length for portrait photography. Meanwhile, it is precisely this that allows you to achieve maximum blurring of the background. At 135 mm, and even with an f/2 aperture, it literally turns into jelly or milk. It’s surprising that a lens with such characteristics costs only 49 thousand rubles. It seems that the manufacturer understands that there will be very few people willing to purchase such a large “portrait”, so they are lured by the price.

Before purchasing, it is worth considering that with such a focal length you will have to move very far from the subject, thereby risking losing contact with it. But no other portrait lens will provide such blurry bokeh.

Advantages

Quiet autofocus;

Relatively light weight for such a lens (750 g);

The price tag cannot be called extremely high;

High aperture ratio;

Perfect color rendition.

Flaws

Not the best choice in low light;

The focal length will not suit everyone.

The best Canon zoom lenses

A very expensive lens, the cost of which is due to its unsurpassed characteristics. In fact, this product can be called universal. The range of focal lengths here starts from 28 mm, and this allows you to photograph landscapes and even simple portraits. The maximum available to the user is 300 mm, which is suitable even for sports photography. Surprisingly, at maximum FR the aperture will open up to f/5.6. This increases the aperture ratio and provides very beautiful bokeh. The product has a built-in optical stabilizer, so you don’t have to be afraid to make the shutter speed a little longer.

Of course, this optics also has disadvantages. They consist, as mentioned above, in cost (116 thousand rubles - a significant amount even for a very successful photographer) and heavy weight.

Advantages

There is an image stabilizer;

Excellent build quality;

The minimum focusing distance is only 0.7 m;

Quiet focusing;

Natural color rendering.

Flaws

Weight reaches an impressive 1670 g;

Very high cost;

Autofocus does not work perfectly in all cases.

A rare type of lens when a constant aperture is used at a variable focal length. And if at 24 mm the f/4 value may seem insufficient, then at 105 mm it gives nice bokeh and a very high aperture ratio. This product also has an image stabilizer, which never hurts at long focal lengths. Another feature of this model is the minimum focusing distance, which does not exceed 0.45 m. This makes the lens universal - in fact, it can be used to shoot in a variety of genres (however, it is still not capable of real macro photography).

Advantages

Weight does not exceed 670 g;

There is built-in image stabilization;

Focuses even on very close objects;

The autofocus sound is almost inaudible;

The price tag cannot be called astronomical;

There is dust and moisture protection.

Flaws

The zoom ratio (4.4x) is not too high;

Not very sharp;

There is some slight distortion and vignetting.

One of the most inexpensive zoom lenses released by Canon. In Russia, this “glass” costs approximately 23 thousand rubles. In this regard, one should not be surprised at the 600-gram weight, which indicates not the most high quality housings and glass. However, this is a great option for cropped cameras. There is even an image stabilizer, thanks to which you don’t have to worry about the aperture not opening wide enough. In short, the lens should suit many people who decide to try their hand at photo hunting.

Advantages

There is an optical stabilizer;

Macro mode available;

Very high zoom ratio (11.1x);

Relatively small size and weight;

Affordable even for amateur photographers.

Flaws

There are geometry distortions with minimal DF;

Sharpness is far from ideal;

Unreliable design;

Not the best color rendering.

The best Canon telephoto lenses

An excellent telephoto lens, suitable for sports photography or bird photography, for example. In the second case, however, you will need an enlarger, since a 200 mm focal length may not be enough. The price tag of 96 thousand rubles indicates the high quality of manufacturing of both the body and lenses. The one and a half kilogram mass also hints at this.

The product includes a four-stage stabilizer. This allows for very long shutter speeds. The stabilizer also comes in handy in those moments when the photographer is trying to photograph a moving vehicle or a running football player.

Advantages

Excellent shooting quality;

Well-implemented image stabilization;

Autofocus works instantly and without unnecessary noise;

The lens contains five low-dispersion elements;

Huge aperture ratio for such optics;

Implemented dust and moisture protection;

Artistic bokeh.

Flaws

Large sizes and weight;

Huge cost;

The tripod foot is a little small.

Fixed 135mm lens. Has a black body. Like almost all the products we reviewed, it has ultrasonic autofocus. In this case, it is also very fast, because the focusing motors do not need to cycle through many different focal lengths. Fixed FR allowed the creators to introduce an f/2 aperture. It makes the lens fast and very sharp. Of course, this value also leads to a beautifully blurred background.

Advantages

High aperture ratio for such a FR;

Beautiful bokeh;

Fast and quiet autofocus;

The price tag is not exorbitant (49 thousand rubles);

Weight does not exceed 750 g.

Flaws

In low light, a shutter speed of at least 1/160 sec is required;

There is no optical stabilizer.

The length of this lens reaches an impressive 256 mm. But you also need to add a lens hood to this; you are unlikely to take photographs without it. Such a long body hides, oddly enough, only seven optical elements in six groups. Knowledgeable person will immediately understand that such a lens cannot help but be fast. And this is at a huge 400mm focal length!

This model is sold in Russian stores for 61 thousand rubles. In fact, this is one of the cheapest “glasses” with a fixed 400 mm focal length and f/5.6 aperture. Therefore, it should not be surprising that many aspiring sports photographers make their choice in favor of this lens. Before purchasing, you need to take into account that there is no stabilizer here, which makes handheld shooting almost impossible. And it’s difficult to hold a camera with optics, the weight of which reaches 1250 g.

Advantages

Very long focal length;

Not a bad aperture;

Reliable design;

Ultrasonic motor is used;

High sharpness across the entire frame.

Flaws

• No image stabilizer.

Best Canon wide angles

A fairly specific lens, the design of which provides the user with a variable focal length with a constant aperture of f/2.8. It is important that even at the widest angle the picture does not have serious geometric distortions. The 16mm focal length is recommended for shooting landscapes and urban areas. And 35 mm will help you take a portrait when there is no lens more suitable for this purpose at hand.

First of all, this “glass” is intended for the most expensive full-frame Canon cameras, which easily shoot on very high values ISO. If you use the lens on simpler equipment, strong vignetting will be noticeable.

Advantages

High sharpness in the corners of the frame;

No geometric distortion;

Fast and fairly quiet autofocus;

Excellent color rendition with good contrast;

High aperture ratio;

You can achieve a nice blurred background.

Flaws

The price (97 thousand rubles) will not appeal to everyone;

Strong vignetting on most cameras.

Another zoom lens, but with a slightly wider range. This “glass” is already less universal, since the aperture here opens only to f/4. This means that portraits using such optics are not so beautiful. It is precisely because of the lack of versatility that they ask for only 35 thousand rubles for the lens. However, there is another reason - this is not the most reliable design, as evidenced by the 500-gram weight.

However, this is a pretty good wide-angle lens designed for shooting city buildings and landscapes. Despite the relatively low cost, it uses ultrasonic autofocus, which works quickly and without unnecessary noise. The picture is sharp and detailed. You can only complain about small geometric distortions, which can be corrected in a graphics editor with just one click.

Advantages

Excellent color rendition;

Sharpness is maintained throughout the entire frame;

Autofocus is fast and quiet;

A range of focal lengths that suits most buyers;

Very light weight.

Flaws

Barely noticeable geometric distortions;

Externally, the lens does not give the impression of an expensive product;

Not the highest aperture.

The Best Canon Lenses for Macro Photography

Quite massive and large optics designed for shooting insects, coins and other small objects. To do this, the creators ensured that the “glass” focuses on an object located 30 cm from the camera. At a 100mm focal length, the subject is huge and well detailed, even if it is some kind of beetle. Autofocus responds quickly to subject movement, as does image stabilization to help keep your shot clear. Here you can’t even find fault with the weight - the 625-gram “glass” can hardly be called heavy.

A lens with a pronounced convex front lens. From this feature you can understand that the product has a huge viewing angle. If you use an 8mm focal length, the field of view will be a full 180 degrees! Unlike budget “fisheyes”, here there is an opportunity to change the FR, choosing the 15 mm option and getting a viewing angle of 91 degrees. This allows you to act depending on the circumstances, using one lens instead of two. It’s nice that the product turned out to be relatively light, and I’m also pleased with the aperture, which opens to f/4.0. The only thing that can confuse you is the cost, which in Russia reaches 60 thousand rubles. However, it seems to the authors of Expertology that such “glass” should be in the arsenal of every wedding photographer using Canon technology.

Advantages

Variable focal length;

Relatively wide opening aperture;

Weight does not exceed 540 g;

You can get a picture with a viewing angle of 180 degrees;

High contrast and color rendition;

Excellent sharpness throughout the entire range of photons.

Flaws

A little scary price;

The hood cover is not secured tightly enough.

Conclusion

The Japanese company Canon has been producing lenses for many decades. And even if we take the fleet of modern optics designed for digital SLR cameras, then even it will turn out to be extremely wide. We have selected the best “glasses” especially for you. Rest assured, buying any of them will definitely not disappoint. Downside Each lens has a high price - alas, budget optics are immensely far from ideal.

Attention! This rating is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.