A Canon Surprise – The 70-300 Canon Lens
Canon 70-300mm
Looking for a “less expensive” zoom lens? Canon has a couple that you may have considered.
Actually, the most popular Canon mid-range zoom lens at Amazon is the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens
But, there is a kind of “sleeper” lens that many photographers have used with greater success. It is the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
Why pay twice as much? Performance is the key. Don’t always shop price first when looking for a Canon Zoom Lens. You may have to save up for a little longer, but the wait will be worth it.
Think about it. The lens is as important as the camera. You thought long and hard before you put down the cash for your digital SLR camera, right? What was the deciding factor? I’m guessing it was because you wanted better quality.
Then you have to decide on a lens… Why settle for less here? You hear what I’m saying?
Here are a couple of comments about the Canon 70-300mm lens in question (don’t go for the DO model – it has not gotten the same response as this one).
Comment 1: “I dumped the 55-250 IS and bought this (70-300) and now I wondering why I bought the 55-250 IS in first place.”
Comment 2: “Having recently used a Canon 55-250mm this 70-300mm restores my faith in Canon… Many have compared it to 70-200mm L glass – I have never used an L lens but I could easily believe this one matches pretty closely.”
Comment 3 (This is my favorite story of all): “This lens actually surprised me. I bought it used at a garage sale. Quite honestly, I bought it thinking I would give it to our son, who had expressed interest in photography and had bought an older Canon DSLR. But after trying it out, I decided to keep it for myself. It was too good to give away.”
The mid-range focal length zoom is obviously dominated by Canon’s flagship lenses, the 70-200 lenses, of which there are now 5. These range in price from about $600 for the 70-200 f/4 L to over $2500 for the top of the line model, 70-200 f/2.8 IS II.
When you think that you can get a longer length with very good quality, you may want to consider the 70-300mm lens. After all, it has IS (image stabilization) and USM (ultrasonic motor for fast focus).
The only drawbacks are that the lens barrel extends quite far, unlike the 70-200mm models which are fixed length, and it has a variable aperture, topping out at f/5.6.
Now, when compared to the 55-250mm lens, it out performs in every area except price. But, as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.”
Personally, the biggest mistake was to buy a 70-300mm lens for $160. It was a third party lens, and it was not worth the investment. It ended up in the camera bag with very little use.
Buy what you can afford, but if what you can afford is junk, leave it on the shelf.
Here is a quick look at the Pluses and Minuses for the Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Pluses:
- Great image quality at all focal lengths
- USM for fast auto focus
- IS allows you to leave the tripod at home, if desired
- Zoom range up to 300mm makes it great for a majority of Nature photography
- Light Weight
Minuses:
- You can’t use the Manual Focus ring while in Auto Focus mode
- Zoom does not hold steady at a desired focal length when the camera is tilted up or down – it tends to “slide” due to gravity
- Lens barrel extends (unlike the 70-200 L series) rather than internal zoom
- Focus ring turns during autofocus
- No focus distance scale
Get a great deal on a Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 from Amazon or B & H Photo.
Below are a couple of sample images from a totally new user of the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens…. very impressive. (originals can be seen at http://lavisions.blogspot.com/2010/03/canon-ef-70-300-f4-56-is-usm-lens.html
Below is a photo taken from quite a distance away, and below that is a crop of the bird in the first photo. Again, quite impressive considering he was not using Moose Peterson type equipment (you know, Moose would not consider shooting a bird photo with a lens that costs less than $5000).
Beginner Canon Digital SLR Lens
Have you been agonizing over the purchase of your first Canon digital SLR Lens?
That is a common dilemma for many first digital slr owners.
In fact, after your decision to get a Canon EOS camera, it SHOULD be your next decision. You really should know which lens you want before you even buy your camera.
Will you just settle for the kit lens? Or will you buy a different lens to get more bang for your buck?
The second scenario is that you already bought the camera with the kit lens, but you want to get a more capable all-purpose lens.
Just so we understand terms, a kit lens is the one that comes with the camera unless you opt for a “body only” when you buy. The kit lens may vary depending on the Canon Digital SLR you are looking at. For the lower level cameras, such as the Rebels, the kit lens will be an 18-55mm zoom lens.
The first assumption here is that you want to get a lens that will service a wide variety of situations with excellent results. This would eliminate any prime lenses from this discussion. (Prime is a single focal length lens, like 50mm or 300mm - no zoom at all.
The second assumption is that you are looking for a really excellent lens, but you are not going to be submitting your photos to National Geographic Magazine, meaning you want good pictures, but this lens will serve as a general all-purpose, “let’s just get the shot” kind of lens. It would be used for things like street photography, vacations, birthday parties, and the like.
Lens Quality
Two parts of the photography puzzle work together to give you a great photograph. Of course the camera has to be part of that puzzle, but the lens is equally important. If you have a great camera and a piece of junk lens, the results will more reflect the lens quality and you will wonder why you are getting these lousy pictures. On the other hand, a high class lens attached to a poor camera will also give disappointing results.
The cost of a lens is usually a reflection of the quality. There are a few exceptions like the Canon 50mm f/1.8 which is one of the best quality lenses, yet is costs less than $100. That is a very unusual case. Most of the time good lenses are not cheap.
That being said, don’t expect to pay $149 get all your bases covered. Something about that lens is causing the low price, whether it is the glass quality or lack of focus or sharpness.
There are plenty of lenses that cost more than the camera. Just be forewarned.
Now that we understand where we are going with this page, let’s get there. The following lenses will serve you very well as a general walk around lens.
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
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Canon has always supplied a Kit lens, and it has gotten a bad rap in the past. However, there have been improvements and we can now recommend this lens as a starter lens for your Canon Digital SLR setup.
The good:
The Not-So-Good
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Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
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This lens is really ideal for someone who will be doing mostly available-light photography. It offers a wide aperture at 2.8 throughout the zoom range, PLUS it has IS (image stabilization). That’s why a hand held camera with this lens attached in low light settings can still result in a really sharp picture. The EF-S signifies that it can only be used with cameras that do not have full frame sensors. If your interest is mostly in landscapes and such, and you don’t mind carrying a tripod, you can save a good bit of money by going with one of the lower cost alternatives.
The good:
The Not-So-Good
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Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
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This Canon L lens has long been considered one of the “must have” lenses. Not so much any longer because of the wide variety of lens glass now available. But it is still an excellent lens if you are interested in landscape or cityscape type photography. It has a somewhat limited zoom range.
The good:
The Not-So-Good
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Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
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Another “L” lens, this one is really well regarded. From literally hundreds of users on different forums, this lens has always been rated at 8 or higher. That does not happen often. Down side, of course, is the cost. But if you want the best, this is it.
The good:
The Not-So-Good
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Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF)
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This non-Canon lens offers a very distinct advantage in wide aperture and lower price. It has been in production for quite awhile and has stood the test of time. Good for low light photography, it gives nice sharp images. It is similar to the Canon EF-S in that it can not be used on full frame camera bodies.
The good:
The Not-So-Good
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Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF
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This is a Super-Zoom lens. It is offered by all the manufacturers in several zoom ranges. This particular one has gotten better reviews than the others. The major advantage of a super-zoom is that it can take the place of two zoom lenses. It is great if you have only a limited budget or you want to keep just one lens on your camera all the time (not why you bought the digital SLR, though). Some feature it as a Vacation lens.
The good:
The Not-So-Good
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Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF)
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Another Canon competitor, this Tamron 17-50mm lens has surprised reviewers with its excellent performance. Save money and get the same results as with the Canon equivalent. Another constant aperture lens at f/2.8. Compared to the Tamron 28-75 above, it covers a wider focal range at 17mm.
The good:
The Not-So-Good
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Sigma Macro Lenses For Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
Many photographers love to shoot tiny objects such as insects or mushrooms. Others do product photography of small objects like jewelry. And still others are medical photographers who need to get in close to record images of human tissue. These types of photography require a special lens called a macro lens.
Sigma 105mm macro lens
A macro lens is one which will focus on a subject close enough to render it “life-size” on the image plane in your camera.
Sigma Corp is one of the photography manufacturers that makes Canon EOS macro lenses. In fact, many of the Sigma lenses are considered comparable to those produced by Canon themselves.
Sigma lenses for Canon are made with quality in mind. After all, they are competing in a market where buyers are very discerning. While some photographers are motivated totally by price, that is not the case with most Canon digital SLR owners.
A Sigma Macro Lens for Canon EOS digital cameras must be high quality, both in lens build and image quality. There are a couple of Sigma Macro lenses that match these criteria. And, yes, when you find the right match of a Sigma Macro lens for your Canon EOS digital camera, you will indeed save a few pesos.
So, here is the Sigma Macro for Canon EOS lineup:
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG
The Sigma 105mm is listed first because it is the most widely used Sigma Macro lens. The f/2.8 aperture is a huge plus. It allows maximum light and creates a beautiful amount of bokeh (softened background).
This Sigma Macro 105mm F2.8 EX DG is a large aperture medium macro lens ideal shooting the smaller things in our world that exist virtually unseen. It also has a “flat” field” front lens element so that it can shoot images of flat objects such as artwork or postage stamps and be tack sharp all the way across the image. This Sigma Macro 105mm F2.8 is ideally suited for taking pictures insects or other small creatures, but it is also the perfect focal length for facial portraits rendering the best perspective of the human face.
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM
Sigma 150mm Macro
This lens is again an f/2.8 aperture lens. One advantage of the Sigma 150 is the HSM (hypersonic motor) which makes it much easier to focus on moving objects because of the faster focus.
This Sigma Macro 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM is a large aperture, medium macro lens. It is ideal for shooting the smaller things in our world that exist virtually unseen. It also has a “flat” field” front lens element so that it can shoot images of flat objects such as artwork or postage stamps and be tack sharp all the way across the image. With HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor) a quiet & high-speed auto focus is ensured.
70-200 Canon Lens – Which One Is Best
Which 70-200 Canon Lens is the best?
That question has been bantered about among photographers and online photo forums since the second 70-200 lens was produced.
Let’s get one thing out of the way. Every photographer that uses Canon photo equipment needs a 70-200 Canon lens. This should be the second lens you purchase, after you get your basic walk-around lens. It fits into the category of “medium telephoto,” and it covers a very valuable focal length range.
It can be used for a wide range of photography types, from close-up to street photography to nature photography, and even portraits.
Actually portraits are one of the most popular uses. The optimum focal length for portraits is 100mm, which is right in the “sweet spot” for this zoom lens.
Now, back to the question, which one is best…
Each 70-200 Canon lens has its own set of benefits, but the major benefit of every one is superb image quality. This lens from Canon is their “flagship” lens. They are proud of them, and they should be. They are each fantastic.
Notice that each one has the coveted “L” in its title. L is attached to only the best build quality lenses made by Canon.
There is also HSM. This stands for HyperSonic Motor. It helps the lens for focus at super-fast speeds. Another plus of these fantastic pieces of photographic equipment.
There are four lenses to choose from made by Canon (there are also third party manufacturers):
| Model | Weight | Dimensions w/o Hood | Filter | ||
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM |
24.9 oz | (705g) | 3.0 x 6.8″ | (76 x 172mm) | 67mm |
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| Model | Weight | Dimensions w/o Hood | Filter | ||
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM |
26.8 oz | (760g) | 3.0 x 6.8″ | (76 x 172mm) | 67mm |
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| Model | Weight | Dimensions w/o Hood | Filter | ||
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM |
42.2 oz | (1310g) | 3.3 x 7.6″ | (85 x 194mm) | 77mm |
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM |
51.9 oz | (1470g) | 3.4 x 7.7″ | (86 x 197mm) | 77mm |
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| Model | Weight | Dimensions w/o Hood | Filter | ||
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM |
42.2 oz | (1310g) | 3.3 x 7.6″ | (85 x 194mm) | 77mm |
Canon’s newest addition to the 70-200 Line Up.
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Sigma Lenses for Canon EOS Cameras | Best Canon EOS Lenses by Sigma
Sigma Lenses for Canon cameras can give you, the photographer, the best of two options. First, you get great optics because Sigma is a trusted name in producing Canon EOS Lenses (remember, EOS is the camera type, not the lens type). And second, you may be able to save a boatload of cash by purchasing Sigma Lenses for Canon digital SLR cameras.
Not every lens is created equal. This is true whether you are buying a lens produced by Canon Corp or a “third party” manufacturer. But the truth is that Sigma and others have been busy improving their Canon EOS lenses, and photographers have recognized this. You will see in photography forums that some photographers even prefer the Sigma Lenses for Canon more than the native lenses produced by Canon. This is a function of the quality of the lenses, as well as a cost savings.
Taken with a Sigma 18-250mm lens mounted on a Canon Rebel T3i
Here are a few of the excellent Sigma Lenses for Canon.
| Sigma Lenses for Canon | User Rating (5.0 is best) |
Price |
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| All Purpose (Walk-Around) Sigma Lens for Canon EOS Cameras
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens This super-zoom lens incorporates Sigma’s original anti-shake compensation function, with a 13.8 times zoom ratio. For the camera have anti-shake function in the camera body, this lens’s Hybrid Optical Stabilizer provide not only anti-shake function for the camera body compensation, but also provide the function to compensate the image shaking in the view finder of the camera like anti-shake compensation built in the lens. Incorporating four Special Low Dispersion glass elements and three Aspherical lens elements provides excellent image quality throughout the entire zoom range. |
4.5
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$469
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| Macro Sigma Lens for Canon EOS Cameras
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO HSM IF Macro Lens This large aperture telephoto macro lens enables you to shoot up to 1:1 life size close-ups. Its large F2.8 aperture makes it an ideal lens for digital SLR as well as film SLR cameras. The new lens power layout provides the ultimate correction against lateral chromatic aberration to which digital cameras are prone. Two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements control various color aberrations and assure high image quality. A floating focusing system moves two different lens groups in the optical system to different positions. This system compensates for astigmatic aberration and spherical aberration. The HSM models provide ultra quiet high-speed autofocusing as well as full-time manual focus override. |
5.0
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$729
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| Telephoto Zoom Sigma Lens for Canon EOS Cameras
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG IF HSM APO Telephoto Zoom Lens This lens transforms a large-aperture F2.8 300mm lens into a zoom lens that allows you to determine the picture composition you want without having to change your vantage point. It has two SLD (the special low dispersion) glass elements in front group and another element of SLD is being used for rear group for excellent correction of chromatic aberration.The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost, which is a common problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range.The AF drive for Sigma SA, Canon and Nikon cameras is equipped with a silent, responsive and high speed HSM, which also provides full-time manual focus function.Since focusing and zooming do not change its overall length, this lens is easy to hold and use. |
4.75
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$2999
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| Prime Sigma Lens for Canon EOS Cameras
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Large Aperture Lens This lens does not have a rating yet, but it is touted to be the answer to the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 lens – with a one-stop smaller aperture and a price tag of less than half the Canon model, this is a super buy! For more Click on Sigma 85mm f1.4 Lens |
N/A
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$899 |
Canon EOS Lenses | The Best Canon EOS Lenses
What is a Canon EOS Lens?
Canon first introduced EOS in 1987. It stands for Electro-Optical System, and it is a kind of electro-communication system between the camera and the lens. When first produced, it was for 35mm film cameras, but now it is used to reference digital SLR cameras.
Canon EOS Lenses refers to those lenses that are made to attach to a Canon EOS camera. They include lenses made by Canon or any third party manufacturer that makes lenses that work on Canon digital SLR cameras. Manufacturers that produce Canon EOS lenses include Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, and LensBaby.
The designation of the Canon Corp for Canon EOS lenses is actually Canon EF Lenses. In this case, the EF stands for Electronic Focus. You may also see lenses with a designation of Canon EF-S. This refers to lenses specifically made for use on Canon digital cameras that are manufactured with APS-C sensors.
Canon EOS digital SLR Sensors
Briefly, there are three types of digital SLR sensors. Professional grade Canon EOS cameras have what is know as a “full frame” sensor. Full Frame cameras are known for their excellent build quality and great photographic quality.
The next best digital SLR has a smaller sensor with a designation of APS-H. This is also a high quality, well built camera. It just has a sensor that has a small multiplication factor of 1.3. This means that an image taken at 50mm will actually appear as if it was taken with a 65mm lens at full frame.
Finally, there is the APS-C sensor. This is the sensor in the entry level and mid-level digital SLR cameras in the Canon EOS lineup. The multiplication factor (sometimes also called a “crop factor”) is 1.6 in the APS-C sensor. That means that a photo taken with a 50mm lens will appear as if it was taken with a 80mm lens.
This technical stuff is pretty important, but what you need to know is which type of sensor you have in your Canon EOS camera so you will know if the lens you are considering will fit on the camera. If you have a camera with an APS-C sensor, any EF or EF-S lens will be compatible. However, if you have a Full Frame sensor or and APS-H sensor, only EF lenses will work. Actually, Canon has designed the hight end digital SLR cameras in such a way that you will not be able to put an EF-S lens on a full frame camera.
Which Canon EOS Cameras take EF-S Lenses?
This group of digital SLRs includes the entire Canon EOS Digital Rebel Line. It also includes the Canon EOS 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, and 7D.
Which Canon EOS Lenses are right for me?
When you are looking for a Canon EOS lenses, you want the very best lens that you can possibly afford. Because, after all, the lens is the most important part of the camera.
With that in mind, you will find an extremely short list of Canon EOS lenses below. These are lenses that camera owners and camera experts consider to be the very best. You can see that the ratings listed are all very high. Choose one of these Canon EOS lenses and you will not have to suffer from buyer’s remorse. (These lenses are the BEST that Canon has to offer. If you want to view a more affordable group of lenses, go to the Canon Beginners’ Lens page.)
Canon EOS Lenses by Canon with Prime Focal Length
| Canon EOS Lenses – Prime Lenses | FM Rating (10.0 is best) |
Price |
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| Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
Retaining the impressive optical performance and large aperture of the original Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L lens, this revamped medium telephoto lens employs a ring-type Ultra Sonic Motor (USM), high-speed CPU, and optimized algorithms to achieve an autofocus speed that’s approximately 1.8x faster than the original. This high-speed autofocus system combines with the circular aperture to create a shallow depth of field that brings attention to the subject and blurs the background, an ideal effect for portraits and weddings. In addition, the lens’s floating optical system includes an aspherical lens element that suppresses aberrations and produces an excellent imaging performance. |
9.5 | $1869 |
| Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
The fastest 135mm telephoto lens in its class, the Canon EF 135mm f/2L lens is ideal for indoor sports photography and portraits with background blur. Although the lens offers complete automatic focusing capabilities thanks to its Ultra Sonic Motor (USM), you can still take advantage of its manual focus function even when the camera is in AF mode. The lens also offers two UD glass elements that help minimize chromatic aberrations, giving your images outstanding sharpness and color. Other details include a 3-foot close focusing distance, an 18-degree diagonal angle of view, and a 72mm filter size. The lens–which is compatible with EF 1.4x II and 2x II extenders–carries a one-year warranty. |
9.9 | $999 |
| Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
Always a favorite of motor sports, wildlife and nature shooters, the relatively lightweight 500mm lens now adds Image Stabilization for an unbeatable package of handling and sharpness. Fluorite and UD-glass–a combination available from no other lens manufacturer–provide great performance, even with the EF 1.4x II or 2x II tele extender attached. It focuses down to less than 15 feet (4.5m), and offers the same weather-resistant design and incredible AF speed as its 300mm, 400mm and 600mm siblings. |
9.9 | $6140 |
Canon EOS Lenses by Canon – Zoom Lenses
| Canon EOS Lenses – Zoom Lenses | FM Rating (10.0 is best) |
Price |
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| Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Designed to meet consumer demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, the EF-S 17-55mm offers image quality on par with Canon’s highly regarded L-series lenses. The lens features a large circular aperture that produces a shallow depth of field, creating background blur that draws special attention to the photographic subject. |
9.0 | $999 |
| Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Incorporating Canon’s second-generation Image Stabilization technology, this 70-200mm telephoto zoom responds in as little as 0.5 seconds while providing up to three stops of correction for camera shake. As a result, you can easily capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with a blurred background. The lens’s autofocus (AF) system, meanwhile, has been refined for better response time and tracking speed. And photographers will love the new eight-blade circular aperture, which offers a more pleasing out-of-focus image. Constructed to pro standards, the EF 70-200mm lens is highly dust- and moisture-resistant and carries a one-year warranty. |
10 | $1899 |
| Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM
Capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with the Canon EF 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens. The L-series lens offers an Image Stabilizer that provides up to four stops of shake correction–a first for Canon IS lenses. The use of fluorite UD lens elements, meanwhile, produces an excellent optical performance in terms of resolution and contrast. Add in a sturdy housing with water- and dust-proof construction and you have a lens that’s both portable and high performing. |
9.1 | $1130 |
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM Lens
The Ultimate all-purpose lens. Great for travel/vacation as well as every day use. A Canon “L” lens which means it will give you the highest optical performance in its class, plus the convenience of focusing as close as 2.3 feet over the entire zooming range. A powerful ring-type USM drive provides silent, high-speed autofocusing, plus the wide zooming range provides an easy, enjoyable picture-taking experience. |
9.0 | $2420 |
Canon EOS Lenses by Canon for Macro
| Canon EOS Lenses – Macro Lenses | FM Rating (10.0 is best) |
Amazon Price |
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| Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens
Bring small things into full-sized view with the Canon EF 100mm macro USM lens. Macro lenses can uncover detail that would be impossible to detect by the eye and give new perspective to extremely minute subjects such as insects or the petals of a small flower, and this lens is no exception. The lens offers such features as a three-group floating system for exceptional close-up performance; a secondary diaphragm that blocks stray light at f/2.8, which increases contrast when shooting wide open; a ultra-sonic monitor (USM) that provides outstanding autofocusing speed at all focusing distances; a wide manual focusing ring with smooth action; and full-time manual focus even in AF mode. |
9.6 | $519 |
| Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Lens
A unique manual-focus lens designed exclusively for macro shooting, between life-size (1x) and 5x life-size – at its maximum magnification, you can fill a 35mm frame with a grain of rice. Compatible with the Macro Ring Lites and new Macro Twin Lite, it eliminates the need for awkward bellows accessories for many macro shooters. The optical system uses a floating system to preserve optical quality at different focusing distances, and features a UD-glass element. |
9.8 | $949 |
| Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM
Canon EF 180mm macro USM lens. Macro lenses can uncover detail that would be impossible to detect by the eye and give new perspective to extremely minute subjects such as insects or the petals of a small flower, and this lens is no exception. The 180mm lens offers such features as three UD glass elements and an internal floating system, which combine to minimize aberrations caused by changes in the focusing distance; an advanced ultra-sonic monitor (USM) for high-speed, quiet autofocusing; full-time mechanical manual focusing; and a focusing distance range of 1.57 feet to infinity. |
9.7 | $1270 |
Canon EOS Lenses by Canon for Cheap
| Canon EOS Lenses “on a Budget” | FM Rating (10.0 is best) |
Price |
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| Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM
The Canon EF 28-105mm standard zoom lens retains the optical capability of Canon’s previous EF 28-105mm USM lens but with a refined exterior design. The lens is distinguished by a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) drive that provides silent, high-speed autofocusing, along with full-time manual focusing. The 1.6-foot close-focusing distance, meanwhile, lets you take great close-up portraits and nature shots. A good match for the Canon EOS A2/A2e or ELAN 7 series cameras with built-in flashes, the EF 28-105mm lens is an excellent zoom lens for everyday use. |
8.4 | $390 |
| Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Bring your photographic subjects closer with this Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer Telephoto Zoom Lens. It is designed with Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer technology and is compact and light. This high zoom ratio lens is equivalent to a focal length of 88-400mm in the 35mm format (when used on Canon EOS cameras compatible with EF-S lenses). The image stabilizer effect is equivalent to a shutter speed about 4 stops faster than the same size lens without Image Stabilizer. In other words, if the slowest shutter speed you could formerly hold a 250mm lens steadily was 1/250th of a second, with Canon’s 4-stop stabilization correction, you could hand-hold at shutter speeds as slow as 1/15th of a second. |
9.0 | $215 |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 50mm lens–which offers a fast f/1.8 aperture–is an excellent lens for people who prefer a fixed focal length. Canon’s lightest EF lens at a mere 4.6 ounces, the lens boasts a traditional Gauss-type optical design that delivers a sharp performance even when wide open. As a result, the lens provides an image that’s extremely close to how your eye perceives a subject, making it excellent for portraits and images that require a natural depth of field. In addition, the lens focuses as close as 18 inches, helping you take extreme close-ups. |
9.0 | $99 |
Canon EOS Lenses are those lenses that are compatible with Canon Digital SLR cameras. EOS is short for Electro-Optical System. The lenses are equipped with electronic sensors that allow interaction with the camera and the lens to provide accurate auto focus. Canon produces many of its own lenses which are accurately labeled EF lenses (for Electro-focus).
In addition to the Canon EF lenses for EOS digital cameras, there are several companies that manufacture lenses compatible with EOS electronics. Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina produce many Canon EOS lenses. Since EF is a term that is specific to the Canon brand, these third party lenses are not officially EF lenses, however, they do in fact work on Canon EOS digial cameras and can technically be called Canon EOS Lenses since they are purposely produced to interact with Canon EOS digital cameras.
These third party Canon EOS lenses are usually a more economical choice for photographers. And you may be surprised to know that many of these lenses are actually rated higher than Canon’s own products. Make sure you read check the ratings before buying any lens.
There are lots of photographers’ “watering holes” around the Internet. Places where photographers hang out and interact, giving their opinions on any and everything photography related. These websites are a great place to find out which Canon EOS lenses the experts and amateurs alike are using (or would like to be using).
The list of Canon EOS lenses on these pages is compiled using the ratings of experts at websites such as DPReview.com, Imaging-Resource.com, StevesDigicams.com, and BobAtkins.com, as well as the users’ ratings from the database at FredMiranda.com, BHPhoto.com and Amazon.com.
Please use the category list at the right to check the best Canon EOS lenses in the category of your choice.
Before you do that, though, here is a list of great places to buy your Canon EOS Lenses.
B & H Photo – Amazon.com
Reasons for buying from these Canon EOS lenses dealers?
- First: they are highly reliable (check with ResellersRatings.com)
- Second: you will get exactly what you want – unlike the local camera store, it’s always in stock
- Third: you will save money
- Finally, there is no high pressure “up-sell” after you place your order
