So you have a Canon camera and you’re wondering what the best Canon walkaround lens is?
Videographers and photographers have great liberty when choosing their lenses. Beginners usually start with a basic kit.
However, as time goes and they gain experience, they’ll start picking lenses that are specific to their needs.
Most professionals have three zoom lenses: standard zoom, ultra-wide-angle, and a telephoto lens.
Alternatively, some videographers go with a set of prime lenses. This is useful if you want to shoot portraits. A third, less known option presents itself, though. Walkaround lenses.
Best Canon Walkaround Lens – Introduction
You can consider walkaround lenses to be extended zoom lenses. While a standard zoom will cover wide angles to minimum telephoto, walkarounds cover an even wider range.
Thus, these lenses are beloved by some photographers as they minimize the number and weight of lenses you have to carry around.
However, distinguishing what is and isn’t a walkaround lens is difficult in itself, let alone finding a good fit for yourself.
So, today we compiled a buying guide for the best Canon walkaround lenses.
We’re going to list a few of our favorite choices for you to pick. We’re also going to talk about some things you’ll have to consider before buying.
Best Canon Walkaround Lens – The List
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best walkaround lenses for Canon and why they’re worth your time.
1. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
First up, we have the workhorse – the lens that most longtime Canon users regard as the epitome of the walkaround lens. The Canon EF 24-70mm 2.8!
This sturdy lens is sure to stay with you for a long time. The EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Offers a consistent f/2.8 aperture no matter how far you zoom. The lens also impresses with its use in low-light situations making it a perfect choice for filmmakers shooting on the go without much lighting equipment.
The brilliant autofocus system in this lens is practically mute. It’s fast, though, which is what matters after all.
You’ll also notice a nice blur effect in the background which adds a nice touch to your portraits. Although the lens is sturdy, it’s still light and compact.
If there are any gripes to be had with this lens it would be two things. First, the lack of image stabilization.
Put your camera on a tripod or get a gimbal if you’re using this lens. Second, the price tag may put off some. But for those willing to invest, it’s worth it.
Overall, this is a marvel of lens design and build. If you want a walkaround lens for your full-frame Canon body, this is the one we recommend. Just make sure that it doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet.
- 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...
2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Our first pick is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens. Some call it the “Nifty Fifty” because it’s a prime 50mm lens. The lens’s focal length, set at 50mm is perfect if you’d like to do some walk-around photography.
While the focal length is set at 50mm, that only accounts for full-frame bodies. If you mount this on an APS-C camera, it goes all the way up to 80mm thanks to the crop factor.
The lens is fast and responsive. This is largely thanks to its stopping motor. It’s quiet, operates a Movie Servo AF system to ensure that what you capture is smooth and reliable.
The image quality you’ll get from this lens is top-tier. This is because it captures things at a similar angle to our eyes. So whatever you shoot will look natural and aesthetically pleasing.
This is especially good for journalists or bloggers who want to capture things in a neutral way without any stylized flourishes.
- 50 millimeter focal length and maximum aperture of f/1.8
- Great for portraits, action, and nighttime photography; Angle of view (horizontal, vertical,...
- Minimum focusing distance of 1.15 feet (0.35 meter) and a maximum magnification of 0.21x
- Stepping motor (STM) delivers near silent, continuous move Servo AF for movies and smooth AF for...
- 80 millimetre effective focal length on APS C cameras, 50 millimetre on full frame cameras. Lens...
3. Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM
This lens is bound to satisfy both professionals and beginners. Belonging to the ‘L’ series of Canon lenses.
These excellent devices have always offered top-notch performance in conjunction with smoothness and great image quality. The Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM is no different.
This lens produces some of the clearest images and videos. The edges of the frame have practically no distortion whatsoever.
It’s also an incredibly versatile lens that goes from 24mm wide-angle all the way to 105mm mid-telephoto. You won’t need to change lenses when you have this one with you.
The autofocus system is fast and responsive. It’s an overall snappy lens that offers top-notch performance.
This one is highly recommended for photographers who don’t have a budget for multiple lenses and would like an all-in-one option that covers a wide range of angles.
- 24 to 105 millimeter standard zoom lens with f/4 maximum aperture for Canon EOS SLR cameras
- 1 Super UD glass element and 3 aspherical lenses minimize chromatic aberration and distortion
- Ring type USM system delivers silent but quick autofocus (AF); full time manual focus
- Image Stabilizer technology steadies camera shake at up to 3 stops; weighs 23.6 ounces
- Dust and moisture resistant; measures 3.3 inches in diameter and 4.2 inches long; 1 year warranty
BEST CANON WALKAROUND LENS
What Is A Walkaround Lens?
Walkaround lenses are a type of lens that is designed to be used by photographers with different types of photographic needs.
These lenses can be very expensive, but typically offer more versatility than other prime or zoom lenses.
Walkaround lenses allow you to take pictures without swapping out your gear for each shot and they are lighter in weight as well.
These versatile pieces of equipment are great for beginner photographers or those who want the best quality images possible while working on a budget.
4. Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Macro OS HSM
The Sigma 18-200mm lens is tailor-made for APS-C sensors. It offers both great image quality and versatility. In terms of design, the lens is compact, compared to superzoom lenses at least, this makes it a walkaround lens as carrying it around is no hassle.
The image stabilization is excellent on this, you can see this clearly when shooting in telephoto.
You won’t need a gimbal or a tripod to get clear and sharp visuals. The lens is equipped with a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) which makes for snappy and reliable AF.
You can shoot both in wide-angle and in telephoto angles. We did notice that the lens struggles a bit to focus on subjects during low-light shooting using Telephoto mode. That, however, shouldn’t deter from the rest of the lens capabilities.
Overall, this will do great as a walkaround macro lens that can shoot in more focal lengths than any other on the list. Just be mindful of using it in low-light conditions.
- The Sigma 18-200mm lens was designed for APS-C sensors and features a new matte black finish,...
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 39 cm / 15.4 in
- Having the ability to shoot from wide angle to telephoto is highly useful particularly for travel...
- A Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures quiet, accurate and fast autofocus and an optical Stabilizer (OS)...
5. Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II SLR
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II has a slower aperture. This allows it to capture more details in every image. Not only that, the lens packs a roster of impressive features at a thankfully budget-friendly price.
Whether you’re using an f/3.5 or f/5.6 aperture range you’re bound to always get dazzling image quality out of this lens. Slower apertures will more likely perform worse in low-light, though. So if you’re planning to use it, make sure there’s enough light.
Thanks to a focal length that ranges from 18mm to 55mm you can get creative and have a plethora of options of what to shoot:
Do you want to capture landscapes? Perfect, you can do that.
Do you like portraits? This lens can do that, too.
The lens also utilizes Canon’s own image stabilization technology for the best possible performance.
Overall, an excellent lens with few drawbacks. Just make sure that this EF-S lens is compatible with your Canon DSLR since it only works with APS-C sensors.
- 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)
BEST CANON WALKAROUND LENS
Advantages of Walkaround Lenses
• Smoothes out your vision to eliminate nearby objects with a constant focal point.
• Increases the clarity of distant objects that are not close enough for regular lenses to focus on.
• Often have better optics for use in low light conditions.
6. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM
Our last choice is a third-party lens. The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Art DC HSM has an aperture of f/1.8. This makes the lens capable of shooting wide vistas regardless of the level of zoom you’re at. You’ll have no problem tackling any portraits that you want to capture.
Sigma built the lens with Low Dispersion and aspherical elements which help eliminate any distortion or aberrations that could occur in the image. What this means is that you’re getting the cleanest and sharpest image possible.
The lens is equipped with an ultrasonic ring AF motor. This ensures that autofocus will never fail you as it’s manual 100% of the time.
Regardless of the zoom level, this lens won’t have any issues zooming.
Overall, a well-made and built walkaround lens that’s sure to satisfy.
- F1.8 maximum aperture
- F16 minimum
- Ring-type ultrasonic-type AF motor with full-time manual focusing, 72mm filter size
- Minimum focusing distance 28 cm/ 11.0 in. USB Dock compatible, MC-11 compatible.
- Available in Canon EF (EF-S), Sony Alpha (dot), Nikon f (DX) mounts
Best Canon Walkaround Lens – Buying Considerations
There really is no best lens for everyone. Instead, the lens that suits your budget and helps you achieve the results you want from it is the best for you. However, it never hurts to know what affects the performance of a lens.
Focal Length
Focal length is measured in millimeters. It’s basically the frame’s field of view. The size dictates how large or small the frame is. The wider the numbers are, the larger the area covered by the frame will be.
Wide-angles are great for capturing landscapes since the bigger space allows for more information to be captured on one frame.
The depth of field is also affected by the width of the range. Foregrounds seem farther than backgrounds when using wide-angle lenses.
Aperture
Aperture tells you how fast a lens is. It also lets you know the amount of light allowed into the lens. Aperture is measured in f-numbers like f/3.5 or f/4. The larger numbers indicate a slower aperture.
The smaller the number, the more light a lens can take in and the better it performs in low-light situations.
Autofocus
The faster the autofocus the more it’ll cost you. Therefore, most people prefer to have average autofocus at a reasonable price.
Just ensure that the autofocus isn’t slow or loud so it neither infuriates you nor distracts you.
With time you may even give up on autofocus and switch manual focus which allows you to control the focus system by rotating the ring on the lens.
Best Canon Walkaround Lens – Wrapping up
This concludes our comprehensive guide on the best canon walkaround lenses. While you’ll hear that professionals only use specialized lenses, the truth is most of them carry at least a single walkaround lens.
The reasoning is simple. They are versatile, compact in design, and light in build. This makes them a breeze to carry around and use.
Hopefully, by now you’ll have a better idea of what walkaround lenses do and how to pick out the best one for you.
So what are you waiting for? Save your money that you would have spent on buying a whole roster of specialized lenses by picking out one of these walkaround lenses and have fun experimenting.
We hope this guide to the best Canon walkaround lens has helped you make a buying decision. Have you had a great experience with one of these walkaround lenses? Let us know in the comments!
And if this wasn’t enough for you and you need more of a Canon fix, we have an awesome guide to Canon lenses in general right here on the site.
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