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A photographer with a macro lens zooms in on some orange autumn leaves. Credit: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

The Best Camera Lenses of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

A photographer with a macro lens zooms in on some orange autumn leaves. Credit: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

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Product image of Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II

Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II

This lens from Sony features a constant f/2.8 aperture and a long zoom, making it an excellent choice for sports and wildlife photography. Read More

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Fast aperture
  • Speedy autofocus

Cons

  • Expensive
Product image of Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II

The Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II provides the optical quality of a prime lens in a compact, lightweight package. Read More

Pros

  • Compact
  • Stellar optical quality
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Expensive
Product image of Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8

Canon’s ultra-wide zoom lens allows you to capture every detail in tight spaces. Read More

Pros

  • Sharp across all zooms
  • Fast autofocus
  • Weather resistant

Cons

  • Expensive
Product image of Canon RF 50mm f/1.8

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8

This prime lens from Canon is affordable, compact, and produces fantastic images, making it ideal for casual everyday use. Read More

Pros

  • Extra affordable
  • Fast aperture
  • Compact size

Cons

  • Not weather-sealed
Product image of Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro

Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro

With a long focal length and close minimum focusing distance, this macro lens from Canon will let you get incredibly close to your subject. Read More

Pros

  • Fast and quiet autofocus
  • Excellent optical performance
  • Great for portraits

Cons

  • Expensive

Buying a high-quality camera lens is a critical step on your journey as a photographer. Not only can using the right lens unlock new creative possibilities, but it can help you grow as an artist. When searching for a lens, the build quality, focal length, and aperture are critical considerations, and can significantly affect everything from picture quality to contrast to color rendering.

Before purchasing a lens, you must consider what you plan to photograph. If you plan to take portraits, prime lenses are a good option, while a wide-angle lens is great for landscapes. There are also excellent one-size-fits-all lenses if you plan to shoot a bit of everything. Whether you want to take pictures of wildlife, landscapes, or people, our list features a range of the best camera lenses for various scenarios.

Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Product image of Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II

Sony’s FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM is an excellent choice if you need a zoom lens for nature or sports photography. The variable focal length means you can reach subjects that are far away while still being wide enough for closer subjects. The lens features four XD linear AF motors for fast autofocus and optical image stabilization so that images will look sharp without a tripod.

Despite its larger size, the lens is one of the lightest in its class at 2.3 pounds—29 percent lighter than the previous version—so it’s not too burdensome to carry around.

The Sony FE 70-200mm also features a fast f/2.8 lens aperture, making it an excellent option for low-light photography and for getting a shallow depth of field. For videographers, the lens can “de-click” the aperture for smooth operation and an iris lock, so the exposure doesn’t change while recording. As part of Sony’s G Master line, the lens promises the best build quality, weather sealing, and optical performance, making it a good fit for its excellent range of mirrorless full-frame cameras.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Fast aperture

  • Speedy autofocus

Cons

  • Expensive

Product image of Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II

Although it isn’t cheap, several reviews say Sony’s FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is worth every penny—and may be the only lens you’ll ever need. The standard zoom makes it a versatile option you can use in a variety of situations, offering the best optical performance in its class. Thanks to its compact size, it’s a perfect option for hybrid creators who shoot both still images and video.

The lens is lightweight, at 1.5 pounds, and measures 4.7 by 3.5 inches, so it’s easy to take on camping trips. And it features the same premium build quality that’s standard across Sony’s G Master line.

Compared to the previous model, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II offers quicker autofocus and on-barrel controls, including an aperture ring to control depth of field while filming. The lens also features a zoom tension toggle, so you can be much more precise with your zoom shots. This lens is one of the most versatile and should be in every hybrid shooter’s kit.

Pros

  • Compact

  • Stellar optical quality

  • Versatile

Cons

  • Expensive

Product image of Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8

Photographers who take pictures of landscapes, astronomy, or real estate will love the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM. The focal length is suited for getting as much of the scene into the frame as possible, and its f/2.8 aperture is fast enough to shoot in low light.

The wide-angle lens also offers five stops of image stabilization, which helps to reduce blur when shooting handheld. If you own the full-frame Canon EOS R5 or EOS R6, you can get an effective seven stops of stabilization combined with this lens.

In addition to excellent optical quality, the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM features a simple two-button design that makes operation easy. One of the buttons is a stabilizer switch, which some people like to turn off when shooting on a tripod. The lens is also compact—so it’s easy to carry around the backcountry—with a build that offers dust and weather resistance.

Reviewers have called this the best wide-angle zoom lens in Canon’s lineup, so we feel confident recommending it to everyone from wedding photographers to vloggers.

Pros

  • Sharp across all zooms

  • Fast autofocus

  • Weather resistant

Cons

  • Expensive

Product image of Canon RF 50mm f/1.8
Canon RF 50mm f/1.8

Beginner photographers and those on a budget will find the Canon RF 50mm 1.8 STM an excellent starter lens. As part of the “nifty fifty” club, this prime lens offers a focal length that many consider the sweet spot for everyday use, and it produces nice bokeh thanks to the f/1.8 aperture. Many people are drawn to the 50mm focal length because it’s the closest you can get to the human eye, representing the world more faithfully in pictures.

At just 0.35 pounds, the Canon RF 50mm 1.8 STM is lightweight, and its compact size makes it easy to maneuver and transport. The lens also offers helpful features like a control ring that you can configure to adjust everything from exposure settings to aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation. For the price, reviewers say the wide aperture, optical quality, and size are excellent for casual use and street photography. However, some experts have noted that the autofocus, while fast, can be a tad noisy.

Pros

  • Extra affordable

  • Fast aperture

  • Compact size

Cons

  • Not weather-sealed

Product image of Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro

A macro lens is an excellent tool because it lets creators get a more detailed look at their subject. This one features a tight focal length of 100mm, making it an ideal portrait lens, and it offers a minimum focus distance of 10.2 inches, so you can get up close and personal with everything from bugs to jewelry.

The Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM also includes a Spherical Aberration (SA) control ring, giving you greater artistic control over the shape and character of background blur. This feature is handy for altering the look of a light source that’s out of focus, also known as “bokeh balls.” Similar to other Canon options on our list, this lens features up to five stops of optical image stabilization and a fast autofocus system, which is critical when taking pictures of subjects up close.

Pros

  • Fast and quiet autofocus

  • Excellent optical performance

  • Great for portraits

Cons

  • Expensive

Meet the tester

Brandon Russell

Contributor

Brandon Russell is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

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