The widest prime lens in the Canon catalogue is a real gem: the EF 14mm f2.8L II USM, now in an improved Mark II version, delivers ultra-wide coverage without any of the distortion of a fisheye. This is the lens to go for if you want to capture big skies, large buildings or expansive landscapes…
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If you’re really into photographing tiny subjects like insects, consider Canon’s MP-E65 which can achieve greater than 1x magnification without attachments. At its closest focusing distance of 24cm, the MP-E65 can deliver 5x reproduction for spectacular close-ups, which combined with the f2.8 aperture can also achieve very blurred background effects. It’s manual focus only, but…
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Close-up fanatics wanting a top-quality Macro lens should consider the EF 100mm f2.8L, which works on cropped and full-frame bodies, delivers 1x magnification and boasts Canon’s first Hybrid Image Stabilisation system which counteracts both lens shift and angular motion. The ‘L’ build quality is dust and moisture-resistant, and the out-of-focus effects look great thanks to…
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Canon’s EF 100mm f2.8 Macro is a close-up lens which will work on both cropped and full-frame bodies. The maximum magnification is 1x, allowing you to reproduce subjects at actual size on the frame for excellent close-ups, while the f2.8 aperture enables blurred backgrounds. The USM focusing is quick and quiet and there’s also full-time…
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Canon’s EF-S 60mm f2.8 is a Macro lens designed for cropped-bodies; as an EF-S model it’s not compatible with full-frame bodies. When mounted on a cropped-body it delivers an equivalent focal length of 96mm, which combined with a minimum focusing distance of 20cm allows you to enjoy serious close-ups. There’s quick and quiet USM focusing,…
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If you want a quality telephoto zoom with longer reach, consider the EF 100-400mm IS USM, now available in a Mark II edition. Compatible with both cropped and full-frame bodies (and delivering equivalent coverage up to 640mm on the former), it’s ideal for capturing distant action or wildlife. The ‘L’ build quality is superb and…
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Canon’s EF 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM brings L quality to this popular zoom range. You get tough build quality, quick and quiet USM autofocusing, full-time manual focusing, effective image stabilisation and great optical quality in a barrel that’s comfortably shorter (albeit fatter and heavier) than the EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM. It may not feature…
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Canon’s EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM is a professional workhorse for both cropped and full-frame bodies. Like the model above it enjoys USM focusing, Image Stabilisation and ‘L’ quality, but what makes it really special is the constant f2.8 aperture allowing faster exposures for action shots and delivering nice blurred backgrounds for portraits. This…
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Canon’s EF 70-200mm f4.0L IS USM is the first ‘L’ lens in this list and really delivers the goods on both cropped and full-frame bodies. The range may not extend as far as 70-300mm models, but the optical quality is superb and as an ‘L’ lens, the build quality is also excellent. The lens also…
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The EF 70-300mm IS USM also works on both cropped and full-frame bodies, delivering a classic telephoto range. The price may be a lot higher than the model above considering it shares a similar range, but crucially this lens features both USM for quick and quiet focusing, along with Image Stabilisation to iron-out any camera-shake…
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