Lens Recommendations
It’s hard enough to choose the right camera these days, but lenses are even harder. There are hundreds of them to choose from, ranging from less than $100 to more than $10,000. Unfortunately, the image quality that they produce does not always match their price tag.
Since starting this website, I have been asked one question more than any other: “What lens should I buy?”
Rather than continually filling the comment sections with the same basic recommendations, I thought it would be more efficient to simply post my answers here, once and for all. As usual, though, I’m more than happy to answer further questions or take suggestions.
Thanks Matthew, about your comments on canon 18-200 mm IS lens. Since I am beginner of DSLR camera and I have canon 60D, I need your suggestion on lenses. Can you pls give me the suggestions which Canon lenses will be best – the range between 15 mm to 300 mm? If I buy two lenses, which two lenses? And if I buy which three lenses, which three lenses. Not prefer “L “lenses, because those are very expensive and I am not using for professional purposes. Some one suggested me Canon-EF-S-15-85mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-USM and Canon-EF-70-300mm-f-4-5.6-IS-USM.
But I need to know from you..
Thanks
Hi Jamal,
There are lots of good lens combinations to cover that range, and again, it really depends on what you’ll be using them for. But the suggestion of the 70-300mm f/4 -5.6 IS USM is a good one. I personally would take a Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 IS HSM instead of the Canon 15-85, because I need the low-light capabilities of the f/2.8 lens, but they’re both good lenses, so you can pick the one that better suits your needs.
- Matthew
How is canon 18-200 mm is lens? I got it with Canon 60D. Which lens you recommend for this camera?
When it comes to optical quality, this lens (and the Nikon version) are pretty bad… and the Sigma version is too. Honestly, this is just the problem with trying to pack a huge zoom range into a single lens; it’s convenient, but the image quality just isn’t very good.
Lens choice always depends on what you expect to do with it
What will you be using it for?
- Matthew
How are these lense. I have canon T3i. Canon-EF-S-15-85mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-USM and Canon-EF-70-300mm-f-4-5.6-IS-USM. Pls let me know
Hi Jamal
They’re both good lenses, but to me, the optical quality of the 15-85 doesn’t justify it’s price, especially as an f/5.6 lens. It’s good, though… just not great. If I’m not mistaken, it was sharper at the lower end of the zoom range, softening up as it zooms out beyond 50 or 60mm. I probably would feel better about the lens if it were a 15-50mm, and it can be used that way, so perhaps I’m being a little hard on it. Still, I think that for $700 I’d rather have an f/2.8 for that range and lose 2mm, like with a Canon 17-55, or the much more reasonably priced Sigma 17-50 or Tamron 17-50.
The 70-300, again is a great quality lens, optically, though it feels a little cheap. It’s a USM, so it focuses fast and has IS, but the f/5.6 make it less than ideal for anything fast-moving in low light, so it really depends on what you want to shoot with it. If low light is important to you, the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 is relatively inexpensive.
- Matthew
Thanks Matthew for your valuable comments on Canon-EF-S-15-85mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-USM and Canon-EF-70-300mm-f-4-5.6-IS-USM.
What is your best suggestion for me to buy lenses? I would like to buy tow lenses between the ranges from 15/18mm to 300mm for my T3i camera. I am not professional and beginner of using SLR camera. Purpose is only capture family photo, portrait of my daughters, party and travel photo. That’s all.
Please reply.
Many thanks, Jamal
Jamal
Jamal,
I’d recommend the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 (always use the lens hood that comes with it), and the Canon 70-300mm. That will cover the full range with high quality optics, and very good low-light performance in the 17-50mm range, too. The 70-300 won’t be perfect for low-light action photography, but it will be great for travel and wildlife, and family photos in general.
- Matthew
I am wanting to take some pictures outside of scenery and some outside portraits. I already have the 50mm lense. I am refreshing my photo skills and would like to know what you would suggest for a good outdoor lense. Not too cheap of a lense but not the most expensive. I have the Canon T3i
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Taegan
The portrait lens is not too tough… whether you’re shooting indoors or out, an 85mm lens with a large aperture is a good choice. Canon’s 85mm f/1.8 is a nice lens, and not outrageously expensive at [aprice asin="B00007GQLU"]. Similarly, Sigma’s 85mm f/1.4 can give you even shallower depth of field, but it costs twice as much.
The landscape lens is a little more tricky, since you can take great shots with about any focal length…. what’s most important is optical quality (and of course, your shooting technique) and finding a lens that matches your personal style. A lot of landscape photogaphers shoot wide angle… in fact, ultra-wide angle is very popular. Others shoot mainly with telephotos.
Assuming, though, that you’re like most landscape photographers, and like to compose with a strong foreground element, then I can recommend something in the 10-22mm range. Sigma’s 10-20 is not too expensive, and is optically quite good (for the type of lens it is)… optically, it’s about on par with Canon’s 10-22. I prefer the Tokina 11-16, but that’s only because I shoot events with it and need the f/2.8.
- Matthew