The 4 Best Canon Lenses Under $500 To Purchase Today

Canon has created some remarkable lenses over the years. The company has the L-series, which is quite exceptional for professionals, but there are also some lower-end models that were created to help beginners and semi-professionals. Since we have already created a list of some of Canon’s best lenses for professionals, here is a small token for those who want budget-friendly models as their second or third lens. Let’s dive in.

Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM

The Canon RF 16mm is designed for those looking to capture vast vistas. The lens has been designed with 9 elements in 7 groups, including one aspherical element and Super Spectra Coating. It has a 7-round bladed diaphragm, a 0.13m close focusing distance, and 0.26x magnification. The lens also has 5.5-stop image stabilisation and weighs 165g. Other than its price, the lens excels at its quirky perspective, bright aperture, simple design, and decent focus. Speaking about its performance, we said: “The Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM is an Instagram-ready lens that captures wide-angles affordably and without weighing the camera down. I can easily see new photographers loving the ultra-wide view and quirky distortion that such a wide view creates. The colors are right on the mark and the autofocus works great.”

Canon RF 24-105mm f4-7.1 IS STM

For many photographers, a zoom lens is far better than a prime lens. For those who want effective zooms at a decent range, the RF 24-105mm is an ideal option. Designed with 13 elements in 11 groups, it features a close focusing distance between 0.2m and 0.34m, image stabilisation, and a 67mm filter thread. The macro capabilities of the lens are quite exciting and the autofocus does not disappoint. The only challenge is the lack of weather sealing and minimal distortion.

Canon RF 35mm f1.8 USM IS

The RF 35mm is another wide wonder, designed with 11 elements in 9 groups, a 0.17m focusing distance, and a 305g weight. It has 0.5x magnification, nine aperture blades, and a 52mm filter thread. Other than its size, things that impressed us were fast autofocus, image stabilization, creamy bokeh, and sharpness. In a way, its performance is closer to L-glass lenses, which is a huge feat considering its price. Our only qualm is that it should have had weather sealing and a better build.

Canon RF 50mm F1.8

Canon 50mm is a gem for portrait photographers on a budget. The lens’ minimum focusing distance is 0.30m, while its maximum magnification is 0.25x. It has a 43mm filter thread, 7 aperture blades, and weighs 160g. The color and bokeh are excellent, the autofocus is quick, while flare and vignetting add some character to the device. Plus, it is a first-party lens that is just for $219. “Looking at the bokeh, it’s hard to tell the shots came from a cheap lens,” we said in our review. “While an f1.8 doesn’t get quite as smooth as an f1.2, the lens still produced some great bokeh.”