Moon in Focus: Top 4 Canon Lenses for Stunning Lunar Photography

So you wanna shoot the moon! Capture her glory with detail, drama, and a sprinkle of “NASA called, they want their shots back.” Luckily, Canon’s got glass to get you closer than your ex ever did. These four lenses? They’ll take you sky-high. Literally.

1. Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM

Your affordable starter for moon hunting. It’s the kit lens’s cooler cousin—decent reach, surprisingly sharp, and lightweight enough to not break your back. Sure, 150mm isn’t “face of the Man on the Moon” territory, but you’ll catch those lovely wide moonscapes and distant sky moods just fine.

Key Features

1. RF-S Mount (APS-C mirrorless)
2. 18-150mm versatile zoom range
3. Max aperture f/3.5-6.3
4. Image Stabilization built-in
5. STM motor for quiet AF
6. Min. focus distance: 0.17m (at 18mm)
7. 7-blade circular aperture
8. Light (310g) and compact
9. Super Spectra coating
10. Full-time manual focus override

Pros

• Very light and travel-friendly
• Affordable as heck
• Great for wide moon + landscape shots
• Built-in IS helps handheld stability

Cons

• 150mm max—not real “moon close-up” reach
• Small aperture limits night performance
• Less sharp at extreme zoom
• APS-C crop means a bit less light gathering

Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

4.6

• High-magnification zoom lens for APS-C cameras with the RF mount;automatic APS-C sensor cropping if mounted on full-frame EOS R-series cameras.
• Covers standard-angle to telephoto with a zoom range of 18-150mm.
• In-lens optical image stabilization with up to 4.5 stops of shake correction. Up to 6.5 stops of shake correction when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS).
• Dynamic IS for stabilization while shooting in motion in movie mode at wide-angle setting
• Lead screw-type STM helps provide smooth autofocusing when shooting videos.

2. Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM

Now we’re talking. 400mm brings the moon closer—good detail, great framing, and not wallet-destroying. This is the “I like moon shots but also wildlife and airplanes” lens. Sharp, reliable, and surprisingly light for this range. The f/8 max at 400mm stings, but the IS saves the day.

Key Features

1. RF Mount (full-frame)
2. 100-400mm flexible range
3. Max aperture f/5.6-8
4. Optical IS up to 5.5 stops
5. Nano USM for fast AF
6. Minimum focusing: 0.88m
7. Super Spectra Coating
8. Compact, only 635g
9. Compatible with extenders
10. Control Ring for custom settings

Pros

• Great moon framing potential at 400mm
• Lightweight for its class
• Good stabilization
• Very affordable telephoto

Cons

• Narrow aperture at 400mm
• Not ideal for dim lunar phases
• No weather sealing
• Sharpness dips at extreme zoom

Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM

4.6

• Compact, lightweight and high-image quality RF tele zoom lens, with a versatile zoom range of 100-400mm
• Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5.5 Stops of shake correction
• Up to 6 stops of shake correction when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS)
• Minimum focusing distance of 2.89 feet at 200mm and maximum magnification of 0.41x at 400mm
• High speed, smooth and quiet autofocus with Canon’s Nano USM

3. Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM

The Moon Slayer. This thing is ridiculous. 800mm reach. Tack-sharp moon craters. And weirdly light for its size. It’s f/11, so low-light shooting suffers—but for full moons or daytime astronomy? Legendary. Warning: you’ll see things no one else notices…like lunar wrinkles.

Key Features

1. RF Mount (mirrorless only)
2. Massive 800mm reach
3. Constant f/11 aperture
4. Diffractive Optics for light weight
5. Optical IS (up to 4 stops)
6. STM motor (smooth, quiet)
7. Extender compatible (hello, 1600mm?)
8. Min. focus distance: 6m
9. 2-element DO design
10. Lightweight for this focal length (1260g)

Pros

• Insane reach—craters, baby
• Sharp for the price
• Surprisingly light for 800mm
• Works well with extenders

Cons

• Fixed f/11 (needs strong light)
• No weather sealing
• Not for handheld at max range
• No close focusing flexibility

Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM

4.3

• Bring your world closer
• Enjoy sharp, shake-free images
• Revolutionary size and weight
• Focus smoothly and quietly
• An extreme telephoto for all

4. Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

Wait…a wide lens for the moon? YES—for wide field astrophotography. Moon plus stars. Moon plus landscape. Dramatic night skies. This beauty gives crisp corners, no coma (ugh, the star killer), and amazing landscape-moon blends. Not for close-ups—but for art? Chef’s kiss.

Key Features

1. RF Mount (full-frame)
2. 14-35mm ultra-wide range
3. Constant f/4 aperture
4. 5.5-stop IS
5. Nano USM AF motor
6. Aspherical + UD glass
7. Customizable control ring
8. Weather-sealed L-series build
9. Min. focus: 0.2m
10. Suppressed lens flare + ghosting

Pros

• Gorgeous for astro landscapes
• Sharp edge-to-edge
• Excellent IS
• Weather-sealed for night adventures

Cons

• Useless for moon close-ups
• Expensive wide-angle
• Some vignetting wide open
• Needs careful foreground planning

Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM

4.5

• Dramatic, creative possibilities with 14mm ultra wide-angle coverage.
• Covers entire wide-angle zoom range, from exceptionally wide 14mm through 35mm.
• Bright, constant f/4 zoom lens with L-series optical construction; includes Canon’s SWC and ASC lens coating technologies.
• Compact design — Approx. 1.2 lbs. weight, similar to RF85mm F2 IS STM lens.
• Close-focusing down to 7.9 inches at all focal lengths, and maximum magnification of 0.38x, at 35mm zoom setting.

Want the moon on your wall? Canon’s got you. From wide dreamy moonrises to razor-sharp crater close-ups, these lenses suit every lunar mood (and budget). For big moon detail—grab that 800mm beast. For landscapes lit by moon glow—rock the 14-35mm. Whatever you choose, your shots will be out of this world. Literally.