You have a new Canon camera to begin (or continue) your filmmaking journey! At some point, you’ve probably asked yourself the all-important question: what is the best Canon lens for video?
This is a great question, because there are a lot of options. And we hear a lot of people asking variations of what is really the same thing: what is the best DSLR lens for video; what is the best wide angle lens for video; what is the best Canon prime lens for video?
The answer — as it is with many of the most important questions in life — is this:
It depends!
It depends on your vision and your budget. So instead of providing simply a general “best of” list, this will be an education on how to find the best Canon lens for your video (and provide some recommendations).
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By the end of this, you will know everything you need to shop with confidence and ensure the money you spend gets the results you want. We’ll cover two crucial categories and sprinkle in some recommendations to check out as well.
- Canon Lens Naming Convention
- Quality Levels and Price
Best Canon Lens for Video: A Buyer’s Guide to the Best Lens for DSLR Video
We’ll first preview what we believe are the best canon lenses for video, and then the second part of the article will be more of an education on selecting and buying a Canon lens.
Throughout, we’ll add perspective on each particular situation in which you might need a lens change. And, from there, we’ll provide our recommendations for each scenario and back it up with data points along the way.
First, let’s look at the best Canon lenses for each specific filming situation:
Best Walkaround Lens
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
What can we say about this workhorse of a lens? It’s considered by most in the know as one of the best Canon lenses of all time. And rightly so.
Whether you’re shooting corporate/commercial setups, or walking around at weddings or other event filming situations, this is a workhorse of a lense that is good in a whole range of situations.
Put it on a full-frame camera (like the 5D Mark ii or Mark iii), or a CMOS like the Canon C100, and you have a piece of kit that won’t let you down in pretty much any situation.
- 24 70 millimetre focal length, 38.4 112 millimetre equivalent focal length on Canon APS C cameras
- F2.8 constant maximum aperture; F22 minimum, ring type ultrasonic type AF motor with full time...
- 82 millimetre filters, closest focusing distance: 0.38 meter/1.25 feet
- Image Stabilization : No. Focus adjustment: Inner focusing with USM. Diagonal angle of view: 84° -...
- Purchase this product between May 1, 2016 and July 30, 2016 and get 13 months of free damage...
It’s solid for interviews, fairly wide angle stuff, and is also a sturdy zoom up to 70mm. And when you need a little bit of extra zip in your zoom, pair it with the 70-200mm 2.8 for a great one-two punch. In fact, that brings us to:
Best Telephoto Lens
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
This is another beast of a lens. When your 24-70mm hasn’t quite got that reach you need, in comes the ever-reliable 70-200mm 2.8. Long held as one of the very best video zooms out there, like the 24-70mm, this lens offers superior Canon L glass and goes two-to-two with any other telephoto zoom out there.
So what situations would you use this lens in? Pretty much anything is the simple answer. Here are just a few setups I use it for regularly:
- Corporate/commercial setups, especially interviews with people and even closeups on factory machine when you can’t get too close physically.
- Event filmmaking when you want to punch in on something. Especially good for low light church situations when you’re filming a wedding and you can’t get too close to the bride and groom.
- Sports videography situations. Get in close to the action!
- 70-200 mm focal length and 1:2.8 maximum aperture
- Lens construction consists of 23 elements in 19 groups (1 fluorite and 5 UD elements)
- 34-Degree - 12-Degree diagonal angle of view
- Inner focusing system with USM and full-time manual focus option
- 77 mm filter size. Extenders Compatible
BEST CANON LENS FOR VIDEO
What Are Canon Lenses?
Canon lenses are a type of camera lens that is used on Canon cameras. They were first released in 1987 with the EOS 650 SLR Camera and have since been updated to be compatible with many new technologies, such as autofocus.
The most popular canon lenses are those for full-frame DSLRs like the Canon 5D Mark IV, which can take photos up to 24 megapixels in size.
Lenses are either zoom or prime and often come in sets of two or more.
Best Cheap Prime Lens
Canon 50mm
Now, with this particular lens, you’ll notice that we haven’t added an aperture after the focal length. This is because you really have two solid options with the 50mm. You can opt for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4L USM or the (cheaper) baby brother, the 50mm f/1.8 STM (aka the “nifty fifty.”)
For video purposes, the “nifty fifty” is a perfect lens for wide shots and even two-shots (two people talking, for example). Size and weight wise, it, naturally, blows away its big brother (the 1.2 and 1.4). Unless you’re looking to get extreme with your bokeh, or you’re a professional war photographer, the 1.8 STM is Canon’s best 50mm.
It also easily makes this list as Canon’s best cheap prime. Just be advised that on a crop-frame camera it doesn’t look quite as good as on full-frame. Per No Film School, “once you get it on APS-C (or Super 35mm) sized sensors, it’s a lot less exciting as the resulting image doesn’t look nearly as wide as on a full-frame camera.”
Best uses for the 50mm?
- Two shots of people talking.
- Close ups of items (rings going on fingers at weddings, anyone?)
- If you do photography too, you’ll have a whale of a time with this lens!
Check out the awesome things you can do with this very cheap lens in the video below:
- This Lens Bundle comes with All Standard Canon Supplied Accessories and Includes:
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens, 49mm Lens Cap, Rear Lens Dust Cap
- Neoprene Soft Lens Pouch, 49mm Lenshood, Lens Cap Keeper, Dustblower, 2 in 1 Lenspen, 3 Pc Filter...
Best Wide Angle Lens
Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
Okay, so I know what you’re thinking: that maximum aperture doesn’t look like it’ll be too frisky in low-light conditions? And you’d be right.
However, like any lens on this list, it won’t be perfect in every single situation (although the 24-70mm comes close!)
What the Canon 10-18mm is, though, is a fantastic wide angle lens that offers great image stabilisation and works great hand-held. It’s also very affordable.
So what would you use this lens for?
- Establishing shots, where you show a building/area where your next shots are taking place.
- Some architectural stuff looks cool this wide, too.
- EF S ultra wide zoom lens. Drive System Lead screw and rack system driven by stepping motor
- Focal Length and Maximum Aperture: 10 18 millimeter, 1:4.5; 5.6
- Closest Focusing Distance: 0.72 feet. ; 0.22 meter
- Stepping motor for noise free video shooting
- Optical image stabilizer
Best Lens for Filming Interviews
Canon EF-S 17-55m f/2.8 IS USM Lens
This Canon lens is a step up from it’s little brother, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. The build quality is really good and the image stabilization makes this a solid lens for shooting interviews.
The USM (Ultrasonic motor) in this beast is real quiet (in fact near silent) which is great for filming interviews and avoiding any distractions to your subject.
What would you use it for?
- Interviews, interviews and interviews.
- Although it’s also a solid walk-around lens that benefits from pretty good low-light performance.
- This is a much cheaper alternative to the 24-70mm 2.8
- 17-55mm wide-angle zoom lens with f/2.8 maximum aperture for Canon DSLR cameras
- AD and aspherical elements deliver impressive image quality through entire zoom range, Closest...
- Image Stabilizer lens groups shift to compensate for image shake even in dim lighting
- Large circular aperture produces shallow depth of field; ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM)
- Measures 3.3 inches in diameter and 4.4 inches long; weighs 22.8 ounces; 1-year warranty
BEST CANON LENS FOR VIDEO
Advantages of Using Canon Lenses For Video
• Provides quality footage.
• Ideal for low-light environments.
• Easier to shoot in tight spaces.
• Provides versatility.
• Increases your shooting capabilities.
• Get away from constant lens adjustments.
• Captures higher quality footage than most other lenses.
Canon Lens Naming Convention
Let’s take a look at an example lens (coincidentally also one of the best Canon lenses for video and one that we’ve already mentioned in this article):
We are going to use this as an example to break down the naming convention into a series of questions you should ask yourself about your filmmaking needs.
Do I have a Full Frame or APS-C camera?
- Lenses are denoted first with either “EF” (full frame) or “EF-S” (APS-C)
- Any EF lens works on both full frame and APS-C cameras, however . . . the focal length will be 1.6x the listed length of the EF lens if you use it on an APS-C camera
- EF-S lenses are only compatible with APS-C cameras
What needs do I have for my video in terms of focal distance?
The next numbers (24-70mm in this example) provide the focal length and depth of field.
- A single mm number means this is a prime lens, in focus only on subjects at specific distances. It can be a cheaper option if you expect a fixed distance all the time (like if you only plan on doing interviews all from the same distance).
- Range — like the one above — shows the range at which the lens can be focused on the subject.
So what do you need?
- 35-50mm is around the focal length of a human eye. Most natural shots can be done in this range which makes this lens perfect for filmmakers
- If you are looking for best wide angle lens, look at focal lengths under 35mm (good for capturing wide expanses like landscape nature shots).
- If you are needing to film from a distance, look for over 70mm (again great for nature if you are needing to focus on something at a distance).
- For those long zooming shots that used to be more popular (finding your protagonist in a huge crowd), make sure the lens range supports that shot!
What are these other letters?
Other letters will follow the focal length.
Here’s a quick guide:
- IS (Image stabilization): not as important for video and lenses under 70mm
- L (Luxury): will revisit this under quality levels and price
- STM (Stepper Motor): autofocusing system good for budget
- USM (UltraSonic Motor): higher end autofocusing system
- I, II, III: versioning of the lens; higher the number more recent (and expensive) it is
Let’s review with the example:
EF (full frame lens)
24-70mm f/2.8 (good range of focus for most video needs)
II (“mark II” design)
USM (with an UltraSonic Motor for autofocus)
Quality Levels and Pricing
When it come to the “best Canon lens” — really the “best” anything — it’s a safe rule of thumb that higher quality means higher price.
Canon has three quality levels:
Silver
Identified by the silver lines (or absence of lines) on the lens. Usually come with camera kits, cheaper and will not last as long but can provide an affordable option if you are starting with basic Canon DSLR
Recommendation in this price range:
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
- Note: EF-S lens meaning only for APS-C cameras
- Focal Length & Maximum Aperture - 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
- Lens Construction - 16 elements in 12 groups, including UD-glass and aspherical lenses
- Diagonal Angle of View - 74 20' - 7 50' (with APS-C image sensors)
- Focus Adjustment - Gear-driven
- Closest Focusing Distance - 1.48 ft./0.45m (maximum close-up magnification 0.24x)
Gold
Identified with gold lines; better than Silver at higher price points.
Recommendation in this price range:
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
- Note: EF-S lens
- Also note: the low focal distance, this is a wide-angle lens for some expansive shots; maybe you have a mountaintop wedding to film?
- 10-22mm wide-angle zoom lens with f/3.5-4.5 maximum aperture for EOS digital SLR cameras
- Superior AF performance and speed, with full-time manual focus with the turn of a ring
- Close focusing to 9.5 inches; fills the frame with subjects as small as 3.6 x 5.4 inches
- Circular aperture design produces natural highlights
- 1-year warranty
Luxury
Identified with red stripes and the “L” designation in name; highest quality and highest price points; if you are looking for long-term relationship with your lenses (which most filmmakers and photographers have) this is the place to look.
Recommendation in this price range:
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L ll USM
- 16 35mm ultra wide angle zoom lens with f/2.8 maximum aperture
- 3 high precision aspherical lens elements produce superior image quality, Closest focusing distance:...
- Circular aperture produces natural background blur at wider apertures, Ring type USM for fast and...
- Measures 3.5 inches in diameter and 4.4 inches long; 1 year warranty
The Canon EF Mount
The Canon EF mount is a thing of beauty. In recent times, the Canon EF mount has come to mean a lot for filmmakers and videographers because of its consistency and versatility.
Not only is the EF mount of a staple of modern Canon DSLR cameras, but it’s also available on a range of more high-end cameras, too:
- Canon’s own C series of cameras (C100, C300 and C500), and
- Blackmagic Cinema Camera has an EF mount version.
Canon L Glass
As mentioned earlier in the article, the Canon L series lenses are seen as the most premium of all Canon lenses. Canon have designed these lenses to be the most superior and top quality lense builds they manufacture, and their price point proves this.
Being a higher-end type of lens, Canon L glass (like any well-made lens) will follow you through your professional career, even as you change camera bodies. Yes, it’s true: a good lens, well looked after, will last much longer than a camera body that normally has a certain half-life of use.
Manual focus or Auto focus?
This is a question that crops up regularly, especially asked by less experienced videographers and filmmakers. To autofocus or not, that is the question?
First, a little bit of history. As auto focus lenses became faster and more efficient due to digital technology, manual lenses were getting very out of fashion. Photographers, especially, would readily favor an auto focus lens over a manual one.
However, as HD video with DSLRs became more common place in the last 10 years, all of a sudden manual focus lenses are back on the rise.
With manual focus, filmmakers get a more precise focusing option, which is great for video work. Also, the ability to change the focal point of the shot whilst shooting (aka ‘rack focus‘) has become an option, which obviously benefits what filmmakers can do with their films.
Making your lenses last
You’ve invested a lot of money in your kit. So you’ll want to make sure it lasts. Your lenses, especially, are potentially very expensive and broken lenses, or lenses full on fungus, are costly to repair.
If you want to make a lens last, you need to:
- Put a filter on your lense the minute you get it.
- Keep your lens cap on when you’re not using it, when changing lenses or when it’s just sitting there whilst you’re doing something else. Get into the habit of putting your lens cap on!
- Clean your lens regularly.
- Get insured for your equipment, especially expensive lenses.
Are there other lenses to shoot video besides Canon?
There are, of course, other lense manufacturers out there. Nikon makes solid glass, but it tends to be photographers who prefer Nikon and videographers who prefer Canon.
Sigma and Tamron make a lot of great video lenses that are often seen as budget versions of the more expensive Canon lenses (especially L glass lenses).
And then there’s the lesser known manufacturer Rokinon, which is quickly growing in popularity over the last 5 years as a quality manufacturer of filmmaking lenses. Rokinon are actually an off-shoot of the well known Samyang lens company. Rokinon make a great set of cine prime lenses that are great for filmmaking.
Conclusion
Now you have the knowledge to shop with confidence as you build your arsenal of lenses for your filmmaking needs. If you are just starting out and playing around, I would not jump into the high-end stuff. Consider buying a camera kit and seeing what you can do with the included lens.
If you’re more advanced, and especially if you’re shooting with Canon professionally, should you definitely check out the 24-70mm 2.8
Don’t forget, though, that sometimes the best Canon lens for video is the lens that you have with you.
If you are more serious and your budget allows it, lenses can make a huge difference in video quality, and you do get what you pay for. A higher-end lens is an investment that will follow you through your career, even as you cycle through cameras.
Have fun!
Mike Parker & Matt Jacobs
We have Gear Buyer’s Guides on every type of Filmmaking Equipment!
Awesome list!!
Thanks, Brett!
Excellent explanation, thank you very much!!!
Thanks, Hector. Appreciate that.
Hi Matt,
Thank you so much for the information above. Could you tell me the configuration of the camera in the first example video (CANON EF 24-70MM F/2.8L II USM). It didn’t lost focus anytime. I have the same lenses but a canon eos rebel t6i and I have difficult to keep the focus in my subjects when I am doing videos.
Thank you.
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for the comment.
As for the camera configuration, I’m not sure exactly as it’s not my video. The description does mention that it’s a Canon 5D Mark II.
Cheers,
Matt