The 10 Best Canon Lenses For Video
This wiki has been updated 20 times since it was first published in August of 2018. Canon's imaging capabilities are among the best in the business, and their equipment is widely admired throughout the film and television industry. This selection of lenses represents the most ideal combinations of focal length, sharpness, durability, and low-light performance that you could hope to pair with your DSLR, mirrorless, or cinema camera. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. CN-E 35mm T1.5 L
2. RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L
3. CN-E 50mm T1.3 L
Editor's Notes
November 06, 2019:
In revisiting this list, we decided to include several prime options from Canon's cinema series, as the company's EF mount will accept these on both their cinema cameras and their traditional DSLRs. That puts serious imaging abilities into the hands of the vast majority of Canon camera users, even owners of somewhat smaller APS-C bodies. One potentially confusing aspect here is the difference in aperture rating, as cine lenses use T-Stops rather than F-Stops (listed as T and a number as opposed to f/ and a number). T-Stops tend to represent a more thoroughly tested and consistent real-world exposure standard, making them ideal for matching shots in-camera, as opposed to relying on a potentially long and expensive post-production process.
The most useful of these cine lenses may be the CN-E 35mm T1.5 L, as it offers a focal length that could sustain an entire movie shoot in the hands of a capable and creative director. Call Me By Your Name, for example, directed by Luca Guadagnino, was shot on nothing but a single 35mm lens, and that garnered a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Of course, Canon has unveiled their new mirrorless full-frame lineup of cameras since we last curated this list, and their EOS R is undeniably designed to be used by cinematographers and videographers. That new body design came with a new mount, so none of the company's EF-mount lenses (including their cine lineup) are compatible without the use of an adapter. We included one dedicated lens for this system, though, a very capable model called the RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L.
4. CN-E 24mm T1.5 L
5. CN-E 85mm T1.3 L
6. EF 16-35mm f/2.8 III L
7. CN-E 135mm T2.2 L
8. EF 35mm f/1.4 L II
9. CN-E 14mm T3.1 L
10. EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).