10 Reviews: Best Telephoto Lenses for Canon (Apr 2024)

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is a more significant proposition at around double the price of the Sigma and Tamron 100-400mm lenses on the market. This lens is about 50% heavier, including a tripod mounting ring, and features Canon’s average L-series pro-grade build quality and weather-seals. Moreover, the lens’s Mark II model foregoes the trombone-style push-pull zoom mechanism in favor of a more traditional twist ring. However, it retains the original lens’s adjustable friction damper for the zoom mechanism, which aids in avoiding zoom creep. There’s also a 4-stop triple-mode image stabilizer and lightning-fast focusing. Overall, it is a superior lens to the previous model.

"This is a super lens. Good sharpness. Easy to zoom in and out. Autofocus is fast and accurate if you are in good lighting. Satisfied."

by Bill Sincler

This Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM is a significant upgrade over the original Canon 70-300mm IS USM, with a considerably quicker Nano USM focusing mechanism that is quiet while providing smooth transitions for video shooting. In addition, the image stabilizer has been much enhanced, with a 4-stop rating, and picture quality is considerably crisper and more contrasted. Another excellent feature is the LCD screen on the barrel, which has a pushbutton for changing display settings. Furthermore, these also include the focus distance and depth of field on an APS-C format camera, and the current amount of vibration.

"Love this lens! Razor sharp, untra fast focusing and extremely quiet! Worth the money. This maybe my favorite piece of glass for my Canon 90D."

by Columbus Ohio

The new and improved 70-200mm Mark II has an enhanced optical design for the best picture quality. Ghosting and flare are even less visible with more enhanced lens coatings and new glass components in a different arrangement. Moreover, fluorine coatings on the front and back components resist moisture and grease, making the lens simpler to clean. This lens also includes a 5-stop optical stabilizer and three switchable operating modes for even crisper shots. Also, the picture quality and handling are superb, weighing around half of what typical 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses do.

"This beautiful lens was perfectly packaged and arrived when scheduled."

by Gary J. Rivera

Unlike typical 70-200mm constant aperture zooms, this Canon lens for EOS R-series cameras features an inner barrel that expands at more extensive zoom settings. Specific disadvantages include an increased risk of dust being pulled into the lens and the possibility of zoom creep. It also has a reasonably modest weight in line with EOS mirrorless full-frame cameras. In addition, this lens has ultra-quick and quiet Dual Nano USM autofocus, 5-stop optical image stabilization, a customizable control ring, and the renowned L-series build quality for professionals. The image quality is exceptional, with fantastic sharpness and little imperfections.

"This lens is really light compared to my 28-70mm f2 and taking sharp images every time. I'm happy to purchase this lens. It's really worth it."

by Susanti Hollander

The Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM is a low-cost standard lens for the EOS R mirrorless system, offering a low-cost entry point into the world of prime lenses, low-light photography, and narrow depth-of-field effects. Despite costing almost twice as much as the EF 50mm f1.8 STM, it is by far the most affordable native lens in the RF system to date, making it suitable for anybody looking for a second lens to compliment an existing kit-zoom. Furthermore, the EF version is smaller when a mirrorless adapter is used. Besides, although the general design and depiction are identical, the newer RF version is crisper over a larger portion of the screen when fully open.

"Great lens for my Canon RF. Great glass. Ideal for street photography and a good price. Being s good quality lens and glass it produces a good image."

by Darrellglo

The newly introduced Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD weighs just more than a kilogram but provides double the telephoto reach of the typical 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. This lens is an exciting alternative for photographers who have upgraded from an APS-C body to a full-frame camera and are missing the additional ‘effective’ reach of a 70-300mm lens with a 1.6x crop factor. Furthermore, the handling has been improved with a super-quick autofocus, a 4-stop dual-mode stabilizer, and an autofocus limiter option that locks either the short or long end of the focusing range.

"Very happy with this lens. Using it to take pictures and videos of kid’s softball games. Images are sharp and focus is pretty quick. It can be handheld for pictures, but was a little unwieldy for video. Using a monopod gave better results."

by Scott C.

The Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Lens has a popular and useful focal length range, an attractive design, USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) AF, and VC (Vibration Compensation) at a very reasonable price. In addition, the 70-300mm (or equivalent) focal length range is quite popular, easily spanning the focal length range generally suggested for a second lens to anybody interested in purchasing one. Moreover, with an effective field of view comparable to that of a 112-480mm lens on a full-frame DSLR, APS-C sensor size DSLRs will frame the scene even more tightly when the Tamron 70-300 VC is attached.

"We are glad we waited to purchase this lens. The auto zoom works very well. This is for a Sony 70 - 300mm A380 DSLR."

by B. Bowman

The Sigma 100-400 Contemporary lens is the optimal choice for photographers on a small budget. In addition, at a reasonable price, this lens offers the reach-out-and-touch focal lengths required for a variety of applications, including portraiture, sports, and wildlife photography. Long focal lengths are often needed for landscape photographers’ quest for high picture quality. In this instance, outstanding picture quality comes in a (relatively) lightweight and small design that you will also appreciate. This lens does not have a wide aperture, but it is terrific.

"My picture taking has improved so much with this lens. I'm loving the quality of the photos and the ability to crop severely and make them look like I'm right next to the birds."

by M.V.

The most significant issue with telephoto lenses, in general, is the exorbitant price tag that most of them demand. Canon’s new RF 100-400mm lens is the latest in a string of successes for the company’s consumer line. Moreover, this lens has enough picture quality and performance capabilities that seasoned photographers will enjoy while drastically decreasing what has historically been an excessively high price point in this focal range. Furthermore, its build quality is undoubtedly mid-level, with Canon using robust polycarbonate for the barrel and precise tolerances all around.

"I am super happy with this lens. I was very much on the fence for quite a while and I read lots of reviews and was concerned about the speed. Combined with the higher iso and image stabilization and focusing capabilities of the R6, I am happy with the results. I have only used it for a couple of weeks, but so far I have been very pleased."

by Kurt Schumacher

The Canon PIXMA TS8220 utilizes picture blue ink to produce printouts with a resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi and outstanding color depth for mobile pictures and color prints. This Canon printer delivers professional-grade color printing technology in your hand, thanks to its optimal combination of wireless and color output technologies. In addition to Bluetooth and PictBridge wireless direct printing from your digital camera, this printer is an excellent picture printer. Moreover, the flatbed scanner’s optical resolution of 2400 x 4800 dpi enables you to wirelessly digitize high-quality color printouts and transfer them to your email, smartphone, and cloud storage.

"I am not sure now to rate it as it isn't for me. I won't know how to rate it until it is used after Christmas. It was highly recommended, though."

by RS Campbell