The Best Lenses for Canon 80D in 2024

The Canon EOS 80D is for those who are only at the early stages of their photography journey but want advanced features without breaking the bank. The camera is described as an entry-level DSLR, and it is the newer DSLR version of the Canon EOS 60D.

If you own a Canon 80D, you may want to consider investing in some lenses to further expand your knowledge and skills in your newfound hobby. Here’s a rundown of the best Canon 80D lenses.

Best for General Photography

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Best All-around Lens for Canon 80D

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 18-135mm
Dimensions – 4.80 x 4.80 x 7.10 inches
Weight – 725.7 g (1.6 pounds)
Lens – Wide Angle, Normal, Telephoto
Compatible Mountings – EF-S
Aperture – f/3.5-5.6

Best Performing All-Purpose Lens For the Great Outdoors

If you want a feature-packed lens that does particularly well in outdoor applications without a lot of weight, the EF-S 18-135mm from Canon is an excellent option. This lens has an updated driving speed in the focusing lens so you can quickly zero in on your subject faster than before, and image stabilization so you can capture shots fast.

You’ll also find the autofocus system has seen an upgrade, and it works better than other comparable lenses, which are ideal when you’re outside and unsure of what to expect. You can use this lens for candid photos as easily as nature photography, even when you’re on uneven ground, such as in a boat or hiking up a mountain.

Users love that this lens helps them miss fewer shots while they explore, and it’s well suited to both inanimate objects and faster-moving targets. This lens is also pleasantly durable, and users found the autofocus easy to master in a short amount of time.

Pros

• Excellent lens for exploring different environments
• Feels sturdy and features a durable design
• Easy to use when out in the field
• Easy to switch between autofocus and manual focus

Cons

• Lens hood design needs improvement
• Smaller aperture than other lenses
• Not for high-end professionals

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Best All-in-one Lens for Canon 80D

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 18-200mm
Dimensions – 4.02 x 3.11 x 3.11 inches
Weight – 1.31 lbs (594.2 g)
Lens – standard zoom
Compatible Mountings – EF-S
Aperture – f/3.5-5.6

You Won’t Regret Taking This Versatile Lens Everywhere

Not only is this lens compatible with a wide range of cameras, but it takes high-quality photos whether you’re capturing a family gathering or outdoors looking at nature. This lens works well to capture wide-angle and some telephoto shots, but its lighter weight and ease of use make it a no-brainer when you’re out exploring and don’t want to carry a bunch of gear.

For unplanned shots you have only seconds to take, this lens ensures that you won’t need to make too many adjustments before you’re ready. The autofocus does a pretty good job of zeroing in on the correct target, and the images are sharp and feature good coloring.

Users love the contrast they get with this lens and how they can capture shot after shot without having to make several adjustments in between. If you like to explore, this lens might be the only one you need to take with you but be mindful of the vignetting that happens when taking a picture of an exceptionally bright subject, or a subject against a completely uniform or solid background.

Pros

• Highly durable
• Excellent as a medium-range telephoto lens for outdoor applications
• Best for mid-range professional photography applications
• Great zoom ratio

Cons

• Auto-focus could be better
• Some vignetting present

Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

Best Standard Zoom Lens for the Canon 80D

Four Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 24–105mm
Dimensions – 4.60 x 3.30 x 3.30 inches
Weight – 795 g (1.75 lb)
Lens – Standard
Compatible Mountings – EF
Aperture – f/4

A Great Choice For All Kinds of Events

The redesign of this lens has improved several features, such as its peripheral brightness, for better overall image quality. However, the real show-stopping feature is this lens’ ability to shoot both wide-angle and mid-telephoto shots with minimal adjustment or aberration. This high-performing lens does both wide-angle and mid-telephoto so well that it’s ideal for events where you’ll be at the back of the room or attempting to capture a large horizontal area.

Users don’t seem to mind that this lens is slightly heavier than other designs, and the lens hood glides on and off with ease so you can quickly catch a shot and know when the hood is securely attached. The zoom lock is another beloved feature, as this lens locks the zoom in its retracted position so it won’t shift as you move the camera to focus on your subject.

This lens is an excellent option for handheld photography and video. It is compatible with various camera models, but it likely won’t satisfy high-end professionals looking to capture high-definition shots. The UV Protection Filter with this lens helps to reduce the appearance of blue light in your images and filters out undesirable ultraviolet light so your colors stay true.

Pros

• Air Sphere Coating (ASC) reduces ghosting and flare
• Reduces ultraviolet light
• Noticeably lessens the bluish cast in your images
• Improved lens hood design

Cons

• Heavier than comparable lenses
• Focus abilities inconsistent

Best lenses for Portraits, Weddings & Events

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Best Budget Prime Lens

Five Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 50mm
Dimensions – 1.54 x 2.72 x 2.72 inches
Weight – 159 g (0.35 lb)
Lens – Standard
Compatible Mountings – EF
Aperture – f/1.8

A Powerhouse Lens With Excellent Value

If you want a lens that provides excellent performance without breaking the bank or skimping on features, then this lens is our top pick! With this lens, you can get beautifully sharp images and excellent contrast. The Silent Focusing System (STM) is also great if you’re into video – and it makes precision focus possible without any sound.

This lens also allows you to capture high-quality color in your images without aberrations or vignetting that you might expect from a lens in this price range. It’s also very light compared to other lenses, and that makes it an excellent option for walking around any environment or exploring where you won’t be too far from your subject.

Pros

• Sharp image quality with good contrast
• STM focus available for video and photos
• Excellent focal length for different photography types
• Works with all EOS cameras

Cons

• Less precise mechanical focus
• No image stabilization
• Feels a little “plastic-y” (cheap)

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard and Medium Telephoto Lens

Best 80D Lens for Any Occasion

Four Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 50mm
Dimensions – 2.01 x 2.91 x 2.91 inches
Weight – 290g (10.2 oz)
Lens – Standard/Telephoto
Compatible Mountings – EF
Aperture – f/1.4

• No chromatic aberration
• Excellent image quality
• Fast and accurate autofocus

Canon’s going for continuing the legacy of its best selling lenses with the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens. The lens performs at its best when shooting at its native 35mm full-frame format. Aside from this, the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is still a very capable shooter even when paired with a more resolution-demanding APS-C sensor. If sharpness is a top priority, then it is best to look for another option. Unfortunately, sharpness is the biggest weakness of this lens. It lacks sharpness at wider apertures. Also, the lens is also susceptible to flare with strong light sources in or near the frame. At the end of the day, this lens is for those who are looking for a small, lightweight prime lens.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens

Best Lens for Those New In Portrait Photography

Five Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 85mm
Dimensions – 2.83 x 2.95 x 2.95 inches
Weight – 425 g (0.94 lb)
Lens – Telephoto
Compatible Mountings – EF
Aperture – f/1.8

• Small & lightweight
• Good optical quality
• Affordable

For photographers looking to start in portrait, wedding, and events photography, the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens might be a good option where to start. The lens’ best quality is found with its optics. It is capable of producing incredibly sharp and renders good colors and contrast. While its image quality cannot match those produced with a Zeiss lens, it is still a capable workhorse that is consistent with the images it produces.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD Standard Zoom Lens

Best Lens with Wide Zoom Range

Five Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 15-85mm
Dimensions – 3.46 x 3.23 x 3.23 inches
Weight – 575 g (1.27 lb)
Lens – Standard Zoom lens
Compatible Mountings – EF-S
Aperture – f/3.5–5.6

• Lightweight
• Wide zoom range
• Four stop stabilizer

This zoom lens is recommended for photographers looking for a lens with a generous range in a lightweight body. Its four-stop stabilizer and focus distance scale are other advantages for this lens. These are especially true for photographers who like to use APS-C format cameras. But the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD is not without weakness. It struggles with sharpness, as well as having a narrow maximum aperture.

Best lenses for Travel & Landscape

Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Wide-Angle Fixed Lens

Best Affordable Lens for Landscape Photography

Four Stars

Focal Length – 20mm
Dimensions – 2.80 x 3.07 x 3.07 inches
Weight – 405 g (0.89 lb)
Lens – Wide Angle Prime lens
Compatible Mountings – EF
Aperture – f/2.8

Technical Specs

• Compact and lightweight
• Good optical features
• Comes with Intelligent Field Curvature (IFC)

The Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Wide-Angle Fixed Lens is one of the two fixed autofocus ultrawide lenses from the Japanese brand. While its introduction dates back to 1992, this lens is still very capable of landscape photography and can still compete with some modern offerings. The EF 20mm f/2.8 USM comes with Canon’s 20 USM that is equipped with Intelligent Field Curvature (IFC). This feature brings objects far from the center closer so that they can have better focus. It also comes with nearly instantaneous and fast autofocus, easy-to-operate manual focus, and optical elements that reduce flaring and ghosting. This lens is best for outdoor photography as it is lightweight yet still capable of those heavy, expensive zoom lenses.

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens

Best Affordable Wide-Angle Starter Lens for Landscape Photography

Five Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 24mm
Dimensions – 0.91 x 2.68 x 2.68 inches
Weight – 125 g (0.28 lb)
Lens – Wide Angle Prime lens
Compatible Mountings – EF-S
Aperture – f/2.8

The size and capabilities of this lens make it ideal for a wide variety of photographers, including travel photography, landscape photography, and cinematography. 

The Smallest, Most Lightweight Canon EF

The Canon EF-S 24 mm is a great small lens. This pancake lens is ideal for travel photographers or anyone who wants a smaller, less expensive lens to add to their package. The strengths of this lens include extreme focus, soft backgrounds, and a wide angle. 

With a wide-angle lens, the Canon EF-S 24 is versatile. It works on both landscape nature and portrait photography and focuses extremely well. 

The Canon EF-S 24 works well in many scenarios and is extremely light, which makes it the perfect lens to travel. The lens is compatible with smaller Canons but not full-frame Canon cameras. 

Because the focus isn’t automatic, this lens can be difficult for beginners to adjust properly. There is also a risk of flare or distortion on sunny days from the lens’ wide angle. 

However, these negatives don’t take away from the overall value of the lens. It’s compact, widely useful, and produces high-quality photography for an amazingly affordable price. 

Pros: 

• Lightweight 
• Travel friendly
• Smallest wide-angle lens
• Soft backgrounds and extreme focus 
• Lower price point 
• Quiet aperture (excellent for filming) 

Cons: 

• Not compatible with full-frame Canon cameras
• Has some lens flare in the sun
• Can be difficult to focus manually

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is STM Lens

No products found.

Best Landscape Photography Lens

Five Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 10-18mm
Dimensions – Length 72 mm (2.83″)
Weight – 240 g (0.53 lb)
Lens – Wide Angle Zoom lens
Compatible Mountings – EF-S
Aperture – f/4.5–5.6

• Ultra-wide angle range
• Comes with image stabilization
• Great for street photography

The EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is STM Lens is a great piece of equipment for those looking to do landscape photography. This lens comes with an f/4.5-5.6, a perfect feature for landscape photography, while its f/5.6 aperture is most useful for portrait photography. This lens also comes with Canon’s Stepper Motor Technology that allows for quieter and smooth autofocus function. The lack of a moisture seal and its average bokeh performance is the biggest downside of using this lens. Given that it will be used for landscape photography, the lack of a moisture seal can, in the long term, damage the optics of the lens.

Best lenses for Nature, Wildlife, Sports & Action

Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM Lens

Best Lightweight Lens for Sports

Four Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 400mm
Dimensions – 9.17 x 5.04 x 5.04 inches
Weight – 1202 g (2.65 lb)
Diagonal Angle – 6º10’
Lens – Telephoto Prime lens
Compatible Mountings – EF
Image Stabilization – yes
Closest Focusing Range – 10.83 ft (3.3 m)
Autofocus – Yes
Aperture – f/4

In contrast to the EF-S 24 mm, this EF 400m lens was made for capturing action shots and landscapes from a longer distance. 

With extreme focus and incredible quality, this lens has positive reviews from both professional and amateur photographers. 

The Strongest Sports and Wildlife Lens

The Canon EF 400mm is a wide-angle lens for action shots, whether that’s in a sporting event or a wild animal. It’s one of the highest quality telephoto lenses available. 

The picture quality on this lens is exquisite both in the center of the focus and to the photo’s edges. Wildlife photographers and sports photographers need quick focus fixes for their photography. 

In addition to the extremely accurate focus, you can adjust your presets to specific distances. This focus is helpful for sports photographers when filming events with bases or goals. 

This lens also decreases the glare and increases the image quality with the stability with Optical Image Stabilization. It’s also one of the lightest long lenses available. 

Pros: 

• Lighter than many telephoto lenses
• Minimal glare 
• Amazing optics
• Weather-resistant
• Full-time manual focus with options for preset focus ranges
• Easy to handle

Cons: 

• High price point
• Autofocus doesn’t always work at mid-range

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

Best Sports Photography Lens

Five Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 100-400mm
Dimensions – 7.60 x 3.70 x 3.70 inches
Weight – 1570 g (3.46 lb)
Lens – Telephoto Zoom lens
Compatible Mountings – EF
Aperture – f/4.5–5.6

The Canon EF 100-400 mm lens brings versatility to telephoto zoom lenses. With extreme zoom power and autofocus, you can follow your subject no matter where they go. 

This lens is an essential part of any action photographer or videographer. With a wider angle and an incredible zoom range, the EF 100-400 makes it easy to takes pictures of anything. 

An Amazingly Versatile Lens

While the previous Canon EF lens offered amazing focus for sports photography, the Canon EF 100-400 mm can give you greater versatility in your sports or wildlife photography. 

Although it’s a heavier lens, the shift in focus makes it a great lens for a sporting event with a greater variety in distance (like a football match). It’s somewhat bulky, which can make it difficult for some photographers to carry around. 

The lens can automatically refocus depending on the distance of the subject. The zoom ring makes it easy to follow a subject–be it an athlete or an animal–across an entire field of sight. 

Pros: 

• Great mid and long-range focus 
• Good for sports and wildlife shooting 
• Rotation zoom ring for better composition and preciseness 
• Excellent autofocus
• Perfect for following subjects in movement 

Cons: 

• High price point
• Bulky lens 

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM UD Telephoto Zoom Lens

Best Weatherproof Lens

Four Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 70-300mm
Dimensions – 5.63 x 3.50 x 3.50 inches
Weight – 1050 g (2.31 lb)
Lens – Telephoto Zoom lens
Compatible Mountings – EF
Aperture – f/4–5.6

• Affordable L-grade telephoto lens
• Weatherproof construction
• Four-stop image stabilization
• Full-time manual focus override

For photographers willing to shell out a large amount of money for a telephoto lens, the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS USM UD is a capable lens with its great optics despite being heavyweight. The high asking price for this lens is justifiable with its mostly alloy material and metal filter threads. Despite being on the heavier side, ergonomics are great on this lens. It also comes with excellent focus and zoom function, as well as manual focus override.

Best lenses for Macro & Close-Up

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

Best Lens for Close-Ups

Five Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 100mm
Dimensions – 4.84 x 3.07 x 3.07 inches
Weight – 625g (22 oz)
Diagonal Angle – 23.4º
Lens – Telephoto Prime lens
Compatible Mountings – EF
Closest Focusing Range – 0.99 ft (0.3 m)
Image Stabilization – yes
Aperture – f/2.8

If you want to film sports or nature, the longer photo zoom lenses are for you. However, closer subjects, such as insects, flowers, or portraits, need a lens with a shallower depth of field. This lens is the one you need. 

A Great Lens for Portraits and Nature Photography

The first lens to incorporate Canon’s image stabilization technology, this lens offers a great focus on your smaller subjects. Macro lenses are excellent for portrait photography or extreme closeups, and this lens is no exception. 

The shallow depth of field keeps the focus close to the camera lens and increases the detail. For portrait photography, a macro lens is essential. 

With the manual and autofocus options and the lightweight design, the Canon EF 100mm lens is ideal for beginning and professional photographers. 

Pros: 

• Stabilization Image Technology
• Shallow depth of field 
• Autofocus, with manual focus options
• Lightweight 
• Easy to handle

Cons: 

• High price point
• An older model 
• Not compatible with lens extenders

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Fixed Lens

Best General Macro Lens

Four Stars

Technical Specs

Focal Length – 60mm
Dimensions – 2.76 x 2.87 x 2.87 inches
Weight – 335 g (0.74 lb)
Lens – Telephoto Prime lens
Compatible Mountings – EF-S
Aperture – f/2.8

• Great image quality
• Compact and lightweight
• Quick and silent autofocus
• Excellent sharpness

Macro and close-up photographers should have the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Fixed Lens in their bag. This Canon lens integrates comfortable short telephoto focal length and optimized close-up capabilities to come up with a true macro optic lens. The lens features a life-size 1:1 maximum magnification that is great for those macro shooting. It also comes with Super Spectra coating, an Ultrasonic Motor (USM), and a rounded seven-blade diaphragm. While its performance cannot be compared to the Canon 100mm macro lens, it is still great for general purposes and for cameras with smaller sensors.

Common Questions on the Best Lenses for the Canon 80D

Photographers are always on the hunt for a great accessory for their hobby. Lenses are a big deal in photography. It helps in making great images and immortalizing a person, a landscape, or an event. This section will focus on the most asked topics when picking among the best lenses for the Canon 80D.

What are all the different lens types that are available?

Canon has released several lenses throughout the years. Here are some of the different lens types manufactured by the company:

• EF – this is the lens type Canon introduced when it announced the EOS camera system back in the 1980s. The lens showed the world how lenses can be electronically attached to a camera. Most of the lenses under this type are compatible with every EOS camera produced by Canon including EOS M series.
• EF-S – For Canon cameras and other cameras with a more compact sensor, the EF-S delivers lightweightedness, versatility, and portability. This lens does not only deliver on the community’s demand for a small and lightweight lens, but it also offers a great wide-angle range.
• EF-M – This lens type took compact lenses to another level. This type was introduced together with the original EOS M line of cameras in 2012. It is offered in ultra-wide to telephoto to macro models. Also, it is portable enough for everyday photography.

What lenses are compatible with Canon 80D?

The EOS 80D camera has a 24.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor.

This means it supports Canon EF Lenses (including EF-S lenses, excluding EF-M lenses)

Do Canon lenses fit all cameras?

No. Each camera released by different manufacturers feature a unique lens mount. This means that a certain lens might only work for some cameras from Canon or other big names in photography. But it is not the end of the road. There is a wide range of adapters available just in case a lens does not fit the camera a photographer owns.

How do I know which lenses fit my camera?

It all boils down to the lens mount system present in a camera. For Canon full-frame DSLRs, the brand’s EF mount lenses can fit on all full-frame cameras. It can even work on DSLRs with the Japanese brand’s EF-S mount cameras. However, given that the EF-S mount is relatively smaller than the EF mount systems, the former cannot fit cameras with the EF mount. In short, any photographer needs to know their camera’s lens mount before purchasing a new lens.

What is the sharpest Canon lens?

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II is the sharpest lens for the 80d. This lens comes with a focal length of 24-70 and can still deliver great sharpness at 38-115 even on a cropped sensor camera. This lens is most recommended for photographers dabbling in wedding photography.

Are Canon L series lenses worth it?

Depends. The brand’s L-series is its professional line of SLR photography lenses. Most of the lenses under this line share some similarities that are not available in Canon’s lower-priced offerings. One standout is its more durable and premium construction. Some L-series lenses come with dust and water-resistant rubber seals for additional protection. These lenses also feature higher quality optics with many of them having aspherically ground, fluorite, or ultra-low dispersion glass elements. It is definitely a must-buy if money is not an issue.

How old is the EOS 80D?

The EOS 80D camera was announced by Canon in February 2016. It has a 24.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor, and it is the newer DSLR version of the EOS 70D.

Can the EOS 80D shoot 4k?

No, the EOS 80D can shoot video at:

• Full HD
  1920 x 1080 at 60 fps / 30 fps / 24 fps
• HD
  1280 x 720 at 60 fps / 30 fps

The Best Zoom Lenses for Canon EOS 80D

• EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
• Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens
• Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD Standard Zoom Lens
• Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is STM Lens
• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
• Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM UD Telephoto Zoom Lens

The Best Prime Lenses for Canon EOS 80D

• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
• Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Wide-Angle Fixed Lens
• Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens
• Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens
• Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM Lens

The Best Telephoto Lenses for Canon EOS 80D

• Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM Lens
• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
• Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM UD Telephoto Zoom Lens

The Best of the Best Lenses for the Canon 80D

The list may be long but the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is the winner among the best lenses for the Canon 80D. This lens is the best budget 50mm prime lens that every photographer needs to have in their bag the more advance you became, you can choose a higher tier of 50mm to put in your bag.

For other alternatives, the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens is best for landscape photography with its wide-angle range, affordability, and compact size. It also offers great bokeh and blurring capabilities for a more dramatic landscape image. For sports photography, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens performs the best. It offers a wide focal length, great sharpness, and image quality.