List of great EOS lenses

[J Davis]

I'm seeing a lot of people needing advice on EOS lenses, hopefully this list will speed thing up for everyone.
It was originally appeared at bobatkins.com and linked is at bottom of this post ... BUT
I've altered his list to reflect up-to-date prices as per B&H and adding where lenses have been discontinued.

Best Lenses for Canon EOS approx $300

1 - Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro ---- rating 9.1 #reviewers 80 approx $300
2 - Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 ---- rating 9 #reviewers 111 approx $330
3 - Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 ---- rating 8.9 #reviewers 60 approx $260
4 - Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro ---- rating 8.8 #reviewers 51 approx $369
5 - Canon EF 100-300/5.6L ---- rating 8.8 #reviewers 20 approx $300 (discontinued, available used)
6 - Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 Macro ---- rating 8.8 #reviewers 21 approx $150 (discontinued, available used)
7 - Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS ---- rating 8.7 #reviewers 73 approx $220
8 - Canon EF 50mm f1.8 ---- rating 8.7 #reviewers 163 approx $120 (discontinued, available used)
9 - Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II ---- rating 8.5 #reviewers 361 approx $120 ********************* dvxuser favorite
10 - Canon EF 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 ---- rating 8.4 #reviewers 29 approx $70 (discontinued, available used)
11 - Canon EF 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 USM ---- rating 8.4 #reviewers 44 approx $200 (discontinued, available used)
12 - Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 ---- rating 8.4 #reviewers 82 approx $360
13 - Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS ---- rating 8.3 #reviewers 89 approx $199 ********** t2i/550d kit lens,
don't underestimate it, great for starting out filmmakers, see post 28
14 - Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro II ---- rating 8.3 #reviewers 33 approx $240
15 - Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM ---- rating 8.2 #reviewers 133 approx $230 (discontinued, available used)
16 - Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro ---- rating 8.1 #reviewers 57 approx $170
17 - Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 USM ---- rating 8 #reviewers 23 approx $80 (discontinued, available used)
18 - Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Macro ---- rating 8 #reviewers 47 approx $299 (discontinued, available used)
19 - Tamron AF55-200mm f4-5.6 Di -II Macro LD ---- rating 8 #reviewers 25 approx $165
20 - canon EF 35-135mm f4-5.6 USM ---- rating 7.9 #reviewers 17 approx $150 (discontinued, available used)



Best lenses for Canon EOS approx $600

1 - Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro ---- rating 9.6 #reviewers 299 approx $599
2 - Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro ---- rating 9.5 #reviewers 96 approx $459
3 - Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM ---- rating 9.5 #reviewers 89 approx $479
4 - Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro ---- rating 9.4 #reviewers 199 approx $449
5 - Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM ---- rating 9.4 #reviewers 247 approx $419 ********************* dvxuser favorite
6 - Canon EF 28-80mm f/2.8-4 L USM ---- rating 9.4 #reviewers 19 approx $500 (discontinued, available used)
7 - Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM ---- rating 9.4 #reviewers 336 approx $679
8 - Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f2.8 XR Di-II LD Asph. IF ---- rating 9.2 #reviewers 232 approx $459 ********************* dvxuser favorite
9 - Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro ---- rating 9.2 #reviewers 20 approx $449
10 - Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM ---- rating 9.1 #reviewers 360 approx $449 ********************* dvxuser favorite
11 - Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro ---- rating 9.1 #reviewers 80 approx $299
12 - Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X 124AF Pro DX ---- rating 9.1 #reviewers 107 approx $549
13 - Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro ---- rating 9.1 #reviewers 74 approx $479
14 - Canon EF 20-35mm f2.8L ---- rating 9.1 #reviewers 26 approx $500 (discontinued, available used)
15 - Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 ---- rating 9 #reviewers 111 approx $319
16 - Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 ---- rating 8.9 #reviewers 60 approx $259
17 - Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM ---- rating 8.8 #reviewers 266 approx $600
18 - Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro non USM version ---- rating 8.8 #reviewers 51 approx $325 (discontinued, available used)
19 - Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro ---- rating 8.8 #reviewers 51 approx $369
20 - Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF ---- rating 8.8 #reviewers 208 approx $499



Best Lenses for Canon EOS (price no object)

1 - Canon EF 85mm f1.2L USM Mark II ---- rating 9.8 #reviewers 177 approx $2099 ********************* dvxuser favorite
2 - Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM ---- rating 9.8 #reviewers 324 approx $1049
3 - Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM ---- rating 9.8 #reviewers 191 approx $799
4 - Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 ---- rating 9.8 #reviewers 55 approx $1329
5 - Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM ---- rating 9.7 #reviewers 179 approx $1499 ********************* dvxuser favorite
6 - Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM ---- rating 9.7 #reviewers 90 approx $6900
7 - Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM Mark I ---- rating 9.7 #reviewers 65 approx $1500 (discontinued, available used)
8 - Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM ---- rating 9.7 #reviewers 42 approx $7999
9 - Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0L IS USM ---- rating 9.7 #reviewers 321 approx $1281
10 - Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x ---- rating 9.7 #reviewers 43 approx $999
11 - Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM ---- rating 9.6 #reviewers 135 approx $4999
12 - Canon EF 200/1.8L USM ---- rating 9.6 #reviewers 126 approx $3000 (discontinued, available used)
13 - Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM ---- rating 9.6 #reviewers 13 approx $689 (discontinued, available used)
14 - Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro ---- rating 9.6 #reviewers 299 approx $599
15 - Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Mark II ---- rating 9.6 #reviewers 405 approx $2449 ********************* dvxuser favorite
16 - Canon EF 600mm f/4.0L IS USM ---- rating 9.5 #reviewers 47 approx $8899
17 - Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM ---- rating 9.5 #reviewers 124 approx $1329
18 - Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro ---- rating 9.5 #reviewers 96 approx $459
19 - Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM ---- rating 9.5 #reviewers 317 approx $1120 ********************* dvxuser favorite
20 - Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM ---- rating 9.5 #reviewers 89 approx $479






Source of info: Bob Atkins Please click here to read more, very interesting reading !!!
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/best_canon_eos_lenses.html




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[J Davis]

The one lens that this list doesn't have that you should also know about is the amazing
Tokina 11-16 f2.8

This lens is rectilinear (straight lines stay straight) and as wide as a lot of fish eye lenses.
Very very very useful if you are shooting short films, interiors especially.

It is also rated at f2.8 T2.8 by Matt Duclos which means it transmits light at 100%

The only downside to this lens is they are sometimes hard to get and backordered everwhere.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554035-REG/Tokina_ATX116PRODXC_11_16mm_f_2_8_AT_X_116.html

 

[J Davis]

Great sources to buy used lenses

keh.com -- >LINK
Adorama used --> LINK
B & H used --> LINK
Ebay search tool for locating prime lenses --> LINK

Zooms I noticed that are loved by DVXuser

Tokina 11-16/2.8
Canon EFS 10-22 f3.5-4.5 USM
Canon EF 16-35 2.8L USM
Canon EFS 17-55 f2.8 IS USM
Canon EF 24-105 f4L IS USM
Canon EF 24-70 f2.8L USM
Canon EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM

I bought the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f2.8.

Thanks Jay, I forgot that one!



Primes I noticed that are loved by DVXuser
Canon EF 35mm f1.4
Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM
Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II
Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM
Canon EF 85mm 85mm f1.2L

I thought the Canon 28mm f/1.8 was a great lens too.

Great addition Roberto!

Best lenses for Canon EOS under around approx $600
change sigma 50mm f/2.8 to the 1.4 version for about $500. Fantastic lens with FF coverage.

I forgot the Sigmas! 30mm f1.4 and 24mm f1.8 are great too, also sigma 50-150/2.8 zoom

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

The one lens that this list doesn't have that you should also know about is the amazing
Tokina 11-16 f2.8

This lens is rectilinear (straight lines stay straight) and as wide as a lot of fish eyes.
Very very very useful if you are shooting short films, interiors especially.

It is also rated at T2.8 by Matt Duclos which means it transmits light at 100%

The only downside to this lens is they are sometimes hard to get and backordered everwhere.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554035-REG/Tokina_ATX116PRODXC_11_16mm_f_2_8_AT_X_116.html

My FAVORITE lens!

 

[J Davis]

me too !
love my 11-16. Even though mine is nikon mount, I stick the stem of a Qtip in the groove to keep the aperture at 2.8, use a fotodiox $20 adapter from ebay and I'm shooting on a canon !

 

[Dave ©]

Excellent post and very helpful to see in consolidated lists. As a quick-glance reference, this is great!

That being said, some of these highest rated lenses (presumably ratings courtesy of B&H?) aren't necessarily the "best" lenses for video. I would love to see these lists "DVXuser-ized". Not sure exactly what it would look like but essentially open up a poll to have experienced users (say, at least 500 posts?) rank these same lists top-to-bottom (where "top" = most likely to use on projects and highly recommend; "bottom" = most unlikely to use on projects; don't touch it). Sure, the uses vary across DVXusers but they're all at least in video/film settings so the aggregate would be much more useful/specific than the B&H list, which includes photographers, etc.

 

[Jay Rodriguez]

Great thread! I was going to mention the Tokina 11-16 but see that you did. Good stuff...... Last night I bought the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f2.8.

 

[USLatin]

I thought the Canon 28mm f/1.8 was a great lens too. Not worthy enough?

 

[Kenneth Fisher]

This is a Great Start

This is a Great Start

Thanks very much for this list, I am new to non-fixed lens camera systems, and "which lenses to buy?" is one of my biggest questions.

I see people refer to lens by focal length and stop but for a newbie like me, it is difficult to find exactly which lens is being referred to in this way. Specifically the brand, and is it compatible with the camera, and if not, what adapter do I need and where do I find it, and what is the trade off?!

It is too easy for a person like myself to buy an expensive lens which may not be good for my purposes, when maybe there is another brand that is not as pricey, with comparable quality and utility, and if I do make a mistake, it doesn't sting as much!

***

I also second the opinion for some of the more experienced shooters helping us new jacks rank the lens that will be helpful for video purposes, especially those of us who are on shoestring budgets identify the best/most useful lenses.

Ken

 

[J Davis]

Excellent post and very helpful to see in consolidated lists. As a quick-glance reference, this is great!

That being said, some of these highest rated lenses (presumably ratings courtesy of B&H?) aren't necessarily the "best" lenses for video. I would love to see these lists "DVXuser-ized".

I was thinking the same. The above list is not from B&H but from Bob Atkins and the link is at the bottom which I encourage everyone to check out as it makes great reading.

The rating is very much based on things like sharpness, vignetting, barrel distortion etc.
I'm adding a little section in POST 3 listing a few lenses I have seen that are loved by DVXuser.

 

[USLatin]

Hey Davis, thanks for doing this. I should clarify though, I have not used the 28mm myself yet.

I haven't heard anything bad about it though, and it seems to have good specs for the price. Also I think it covers FF35, right?

 

[J Davis]

Hey Davis, thanks for doing this. I should clarify though, I have not used the 28mm myself yet.

I haven't heard anything bad about it though, and it seems to have good specs for the price. Also I think it covers FF35, right?

Yes, its full frame and its canon's second fastest wide. The 24mm f1.4 is the fastest.

28 is a great focal length. I shot this at f8 on a 28mm

 

[J Davis]

Great thread! I was going to mention the Tokina 11-16 but see that you did. Good stuff...... Last night I bought the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f2.8.

Hi Jay. Tamron 17-50 ... another DVXuser favorite. I added it to the first posts

 

[J Davis]

Added another to the
'Zoom's I noticed that are loved by DVXuser' list in post 3
Canon EFS 10-22 f3.5-4.5 USM

 

[soarprod]

Best lenses for Canon EOS under around approx $600

change sigma 50mm f/2.8 to the 1.4 version for about $500. Fantastic lens with FF coverage.

 

[J Davis]

Best lenses for Canon EOS under around approx $600

change sigma 50mm f/2.8 to the 1.4 version for about $500. Fantastic lens with FF coverage.

of course !
I forgot the sigmas, good call. I added you into post 3
30/1.4 and 24/1.8 are great too

 

[J Davis]

... and just had to add one more zoom and it is of course the Canon 16-35 2.8L

I added it to post 3 because I've seen it in quite a few posts around on DVXuser.
Also that glidecam skate vid with this lens is off the hook LINK

 

[shaocaholica]

Maybe I should start a thread for "Best lenses under $100, or your money back"?

 

[tears2040]

maybe i should start a thread for "best lenses under $100, or your money back"?

+1

 

[Jay Rodriguez]

Added another to the
'Zoom's I noticed that are loved by DVXuser' list in post 3
Canon EFS 10-22 f3.5-4.5 USM

I almost bought this lens used from (http://www.thephotocenter.com/used-equipment-canon.html) for $629.99. I went in there and played with the lens on the 7D. It's such a good lens. I ended up not buying it because of the aperature settings.