The 10 Best Telephoto Lenses For Canon
This wiki has been updated 22 times since it was first published in August of 2018. If you're a Canon shooter who wants to be able to get up close and personal with a wide variety of subjects, you're going to want to get your hands on one of the telephoto lenses on our list. We've selected the absolute best that the company has to offer, along with some third-party options that may surprise you with their quality, ranked here by reach, sharpness, and low-light performance. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III
2. EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L III
3. EF 600mm f/4 L III
Editor's Notes
October 08, 2019:
Since our last ranking, Canon has come out with a handful of updates, as well as some new products that all deserve serious consideration. Both the 400 and 600mm models have been upgraded to include the company's latest dirt- and oil-resistant coatings, as well as quieter, faster autofocus and more advanced image stabilization. The longer your telephoto lens reaches, the more tiny vibrations can disturb the clarity of your image. This is the same thing you'll see if you shine a laser pointer on an object close by, and then on an object farther away — tiny variations in the steadiness of your hand have little to no effect on the nearby surface, but farther away those variations are exaggerated. That makes it wise to spend the extra cash on the newer models, to help ensure clear images, even if low light environments necessitate a slower shutter speed.
The other big advance in Canon's lineup has been the arrival of their EOS R and RP cameras, both of which are full-frame mirrorless offerings with a whole new lens mount. You can use any of their EF mount lenses if you have an adapter, but they're also in the middle of producing top-tier glass for their new mount, as well. Unfortunately, as of this ranking, the only offering to fall into a telephoto range (the RF 70-200mm 2.8) has yet to hit shelves.
4. Sigma 500mm f/4 DG
5. EF 200-400mm f/4L
6. Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 Sports
7. EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 II
8. EF 135mm f/4L
9. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sports
10. Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 HSM
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).