The Best Canon Lenses for Beginner Photographers
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One of the best things about Canon is that they have a ton of lenses available.
That means that no matter what kind of lens you need, chances are that you'll be able to find just what you want for your Canon camera.
Of course, there can be too much of a good thing, so you might find yourself crippled with indecision because of the sheer number of choices you have...
That's where this list comes in.
I've whittled Canon's entire collection of lenses down to just three of the best for beginner photography needs.
Editor's Tip: If you typically take portraits, read this before you buy a new lens.
Best Canon Lens for Landscapes
There are plenty of options for landscape photographers in the Canon lineup, but as far as mix of value and features are concerned, I especially like the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM for shooters with an APS-C camera.
The lens is super lightweight, so it's easy to work with, but it doesn't feel cheap. That's a good combination when you need to carry it around outdoors all day long.
What's more, this lens produces images that are detailed and contrasty, with excellent color rendition.
It's also got image stabilization, which helps you take sharper photos when shooting handheld. In fact, with this lens, you can take sharp handheld images with a shutter speed of just 1/5 seconds.
The wide-angle range is obviously well-suited to landscapes, but you can give it a try for other pursuits, too, like architectural photography.
Perhaps best of all, this lens is just $280 brand new, and used pricing is even lower!
Get a complete review of this lens in the video above by Christopher Frost Photography.
Best Canon Lens for Wildlife & Sports Photography
If you're a beginner or enthusiast photographer and you want to expand your skills into wildlife and sports photography, a good lens to begin with is the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM.
The EF mount fits Canon APS-C cameras as well as full frame rigs, so if you upgrade your camera in the future, you can still use this lens.
Aside from upgradability, this lens offers excellent build quality, so it'll stand up to some abuse in the field.
Additionally, this lens has a fast autofocus system, which is exactly what you need when you're photographing animals or people that are moving at a rapid pace. It's also silent so as not to disturb wildlife when you're trying to get the shot.
Like the previous lens, this one also has built-in image stabilization that allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without inducing camera shake.
In other words, this is a great mid-range lens that has a lot of great features for photographers that need performance but don't have a huge budget.
Coming in at $449 brand new, this lens is more expensive than the first, but it's still certainly budget-friendly!
Editor's Tip: Are you struggling with your new lens? The problem might be that you aren't familiar with how to use it. Learn how to read the markings on your lens.
Best Canon Lens for Everyday Use
Again, it's a tough decision to determine the best Canon lenses for everyday use, but ultimately I have to recommend the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM.
This little guy is actually one of Canon's best lenses, but it's also one of their least expensive.
It has excellent build quality, especially for a lens that costs $125 brand new. Better still, you can find used versions of this lens for much less!
This lens has a superb autofocus system that performs well and is smooth and quiet. The sharpness of images that can be achieved is impressive as well.
It works on APS-C and full frame cameras, too, so like the previous lens on this list, when you upgrade your camera, you can still use this glass.
I would actually recommend this as the first lens any beginner Canon shooter should buy because it's incredibly functional, extremely versatile, and, as I mentioned, inexpensive, too!
Really, no matter which of these lenses you choose to buy, you'll be getting a great deal, especially if you can find good, used lenses.