Best Canon lenses in 2025: Get the best lens for your Canon camera this Amazon Prime Day

Looking to upgrade your Canon camera? Changing the lens can give it a new lease of life, but with so many lenses on offer, where do you start? With help from our expert reviewers, we have rounded up the best Canon lenses. It is important to note that Ef lenses are for Canon's DSLR range and RF lenses are for use with Canon's EOS R range of mirrorless cameras. Our guide to the best Canon cameras can give you a more detailed look at the range of Canon cameras that are available.

Now is one of the best times to purchase new photography gear with Amazon Prime Day coming next week on July 8. We expect many of these models to fall in price, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled!

You don't have to have a Canon camera either, you can buy lens adapters that will let you use Canon's lenses on the best cameras. If you are after a non-Canon lens, we have a guide to the best lenses for photo and video. Our guide to the best cameras for astrophotography is the best place to look if you are in the market for a new body.

There is a huge range of Canon lenses to choose from that are suitable for all kinds of photography, including astro. We have selected lenses that suit a range of purposes and pockets, from wide-angle lenses to ultra-powerful telephoto lenses. So, whether you are a pro or an enthusiastic amateur, you will find the right Canon lens for your Canon camera.

The quick list

Below you'll find out our picks of the best Canon lenses for astrophotography, with explanation of what or who they're best suited to. Click 'Read more below' for more in-depth specs and reviews for each lens.

Best Canon lenses we recommend in 2025

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Best ultra wide-angle lens

The Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM offers stunning wide-angle capture. (Image credit: Canon)

The Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM is Canon's widest sngle lense and, with up to an astonishing 130˚ field of view, it absolutely shows.

It's weather-sealed, as with the rest of Canon's L range, and is ideally suited to capturing landscapes, architecture, the night sky and more. That said, while it will capture a wide swathe of the cosmos, its f/4 aperture isn't as light-gathering as some of the other models on our list.

Despite this, it's surprisingly lightweight, light enough to be held in your hand, making its 5 stops of stabilization a real boon.

User reviews:

Users are seriously impressed with this lens, in particular its use for landscape photography. They compare it to a fisheye, though with less distortion.

Best RF wide-angle lens

The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is our pick for best RF wide-angle lens. (Image credit: Canon)

This Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM lens is pleasingly lightweight, coming in at under 500g. It's dust and moisture resistant, though not specifically weather sealed. It doesn't come with a lens hood, likely a cost-cutting measure, but you can purchase one separately.

Users of this lens report being happy with its image quality, praising its image stabilization in particular. They also mention its whisper quiet autofocus is excellent for video and it compares to other cameras at higher price-points.

Best RF lens for astrophotography

This Canon RF 20mm F1.4L VCM lens is excellent for night shoots. (Image credit: Canon)

The Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM is part of Canon's hybrid range, designed to offer pro-level features without a top-tier price. As well as its wide aperture it features a manual iris ring as well as a control ring, all astrophotography-friendly features. It's equally capable as still or video camera.

It doesn't have built-in image stabilization, meaning you'll need to couple it with a camera which does have IS. However, you'll get some impressively sharp images out of this camera whether you're shooting as is or pairing it with one of the best telescopes for astrophotography.

User reviews:

Users of the Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM report being impressed by its build quality, and by the camera in general. However, some have reported edge distortion when shooting to raw.

Biggest aperture lens

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM's large aperture is a boon for astrophotographers. (Image credit: Canon)

At a massive f/1.2, this camera's massive aperture drinks in light, making it an excellent option for close-up astrophotography such as photographing planets. However, it's not a wide-angle lens so it's less suitable for capturing the whole cosmos.

Its quality is superb, offering super sharp images, with the kind of quality optics you'd expect from Canon. Even five years after its release, this remains one of Canon's most impressive lenses. Its manual focus ring and digital control ring give you the power to fine-tune your shots.

The trade off, apart from it not being cheap, is that it's a huge lens, weight around 3lbs / 1360g. Be prepared for this to add a lot of heft to your camera, particularly if you've got a compatible but compact DSLR.

User reviews:

With its 85mm range, it may not be seen as a complete all-rounder, but users report it offering excellent quality for landscapes, portraits and more. A few have stated autofocus makes an audible noise, which could be an issue if recording video.

Best telephoto lens

It may not be cheap, but this lens excels at long-distance photography. (Image credit: Canon)

At nearly six pounds, the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM requires a sturdy tripod, but the results it'll deliver make it worth the effort. It offers stunning image quality at all zoom levels; it may have a hefty price tag but you're getting what you pay for.

This lens's excellent low-light performance means it's outstanding for astrophotography and night-time wildlife shoots. Its manual zoom, focus and control rings give offer you price control over your shoot.

It doesn't support drop-in filters, only screw on-filters, which may be a disappointment to some. But if you're looking for the ultimate Canon telephoto lens, this is it.

User reviews:

Users of this lens praise it as one of the best telephoto lenses they've used. They're stunned by with its image quality, mentioning that there's next to no distortion.

Best EF wide-angle lens

This lens may be expensive, but it delivers on performance and optical quality. (Image credit: Canon)

(Image credit: Damian Peach)

In our review of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM we said "It delivers superb results worthy of its price tag", and that still stands. This isn't a cheap lense, but it delivers superb image quality, with fast and accurate autofocus.

Users of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM are similarly positive about this lens, praising not only its image quality and autofocus but also its versatility. The only real complaints relate to its weight.

• Read our Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM review

Best EF lens for astrophotography

(Image credit: Canon)

If you're after a lens that excels at astrophotography and has the quality and performance for general use, the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM is for you. Its massive aperture drinks in light, and its has an impressively wide field of view. It doesn't have image stabilization, so you'll need a camera that does have IS. However, astrophotographers will likely be using a tripod anyway.

Its 24mm focal range means it's not ideal for close up portraits but it's excellent for shots where you want to show a subject in context. And while no-one wants to get rained off, the lens is weather-sealed to prevent water damage.

User reviews:

Users are mostly positive about this lens, praising its ability to capture stunning images of the cosmos. Some but not all have mentioned vignetting at full aperture, though going down a couple of stops vastly reduces it.

Best Canon lenses: Comparison

Best Canon lenses: Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between EF and RF lenses?

Canon's RF lenses are designed for use with Canon's EOS R range of mirrorless cameras, while EF lenses are designed for Canon DSLR cameras. Canon hasn't abandoned DSLRs, but many manufacturers are leaning towards mirrorless due to their superior quality and imaging technology. RF lenses are typically more powerful, more lightweight and faster. For a more thorough look at Canon's camera range, we have a guide to the best Canon cameras.

How many stops of image stabilization does the Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM have?

The Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM lens has an image stabilization value of 5.5 stops but when combined with a Canon EOS R camera like the Canon EOS R5 II, the total level of image stabilization reaches eight stops. This is because the in-body image stabilization (IBIS) from the camera combines with the lens's image stabilization ability.

Not all lenses have image stabilization but a lot of newer Canon cameras have strong IBIS, which can reduce the need for independent image stabilization on the lens.

If you primarily shoot telephoto or handheld in low-light conditions, then an image-stabilized lens would be a huge benefit. Large values of image stabilization allow the camera to use longer shutter speeds and lower ISOs to let in more light and create better exposure. It works through a system of gyro sensors that detect movement, which then signal motors to shift floating lens elements and bend the light to counteract hand movement.

Can you use an EF lens on an EOS R camera body?

Yes, you can use an EF lens on an EOS R camera body if you have a lens adapter like this K&F Concept EF to EOS R adapter. While we would recommend getting RF lenses to use with your EOS R camera for the best performance, using an EF lens with an adapter can be a great way to save money when buying a new lens so it is worth considering.

You cannot use an RF lens on a Canon DSLR because there are currently no adapters that make this possible.

Can you use a Canon EF lens on a non-Canon camera?

We highly recommend using a Canon lens with a Canon camera for optimum performance but if you are set on a certain Canon lens and have a different brand camera body, there are ways to make it work.

We would recommend an adapter like this Viltrox EF-Z Lens adapter that makes EF lenses compatible with Nikon Z-mount cameras. Other models are compatible with different brand mirrorless systems so you will need to check that you can get a compatible filter for your camera first before committing to a Canon lens.