8 Best Vlogging Lenses For Canon Cameras in 2024

Are you looking for the best vlogging lenses for Canon cameras? There’s never been a better time to jump into vlogging, but to get started you’re going to need the right lens for the job.

The best vlogging lens for Canon cameras is easily the Canon EF 50mm. Better known as the Nifty Fifty, this lens is great for filming vlogs in pretty much any condition.

Let’s explore what Canon has to offer for beginner and experienced vloggers alike.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens: Best Overall

Five Stars

Specs:

• Focal Length: 50 mm
• Size: 69.2 x 39.2 mm
• Weight: 160 g
• Sensor Type: Full-Frame
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.8
• Autofocus: Yes

When it comes to finding the right vlogging lens, you want to pick a lens that is an all-around star. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is not only Canon’s best vlogging lens, but it’s also one of the best lenses for general use.

The Best Canon Lens Ever Made. Period.

It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that this is one of the best Canon lenses that’s ever been made. The 50 mm Canon lens, commonly referred to as the Nifty Fifty, is widely respected by everyone from street photographers all the way over to videographers.

This is the best vlogging lens for Canon 70d with an APS-C sensor or a Canon 6D Mark II with a full-frame sensor.

This would be a great choice whether it’s your first vlogging lens or you’re looking for something to improve your arsenal of lenses. Ask any seasoned photographer or videographer, and they’ll tell you that no kit is complete without a nifty fifty.

Pros

• Extremely light and versatile
• Quick autofocus with a quiet STM motor
• Medium focal length great for bokeh and in tighter spaces
• Budget-friendly for beginners
• Pros use this lens for everything from model photography to video

Cons

• The 50mm focal length might be too tight for your room
• Prime lenses don’t have the versatility of a zoom lens

Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS II: Best for Budgets

Three Stars

Specs:

• Focal Length: 18 to 50 mm
• Size: 68.5 x 70 mm
• Weight: 200 g
• Sensor Type: APS-C
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Aperture: f/3.5 to f/5.6
• Autofocus: Yes

Need a great vlogging lens, but don’t want to spend any money? That kit lens that came with your camera is actually a great pick!

A Great Choice When Keeping Costs Down is a High Priority

Let’s get something out of the way really quick. Yes, inexpensive lenses will always create a better image, but some of the best photography and videography that’s ever been done has been shot on budget equipment. Famous director Ben Wheatley built his lenses out of literal dollar store toys when he filmed his award-winning movie A Field in England. He’s certainly not alone when it comes to picking budget lenses over big prices.

Which lens is best for Canon 200d? It just might be the kit lens that came with it.

You can take advantage of filming your vlogs on your kit lens while you build up your skills. Odds are this kit lens will be free since it already comes with your camera. They also go for nearly ¼ of their retail price on the second-hand market.

Pros

• You might already have one
• The 18 to 50 mm focal length covers most vlogging needs
• Lets you learn the craft without breaking the bank

Cons

• Kit lenses come with cameras for a reason—you’ll want to upgrade soon
• Not known for their durability
• Less responsive than other options

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens: A Space-Saving Choice for Full Frame Cameras

Three and ½ Stars

Specs:

• Focal Length: 40 mm
• Size: 68.2 x 22.8 mm
• Weight: 130 g
• Sensor Type: Full-Frame
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/2.8
• Autofocus: Yes

Next up were talking about two lenses that commonly go by the name pancake lenses. They got the same because they’re so small photographers and videographers off and use them as body caps that double as lenses.

A Lens That Will Replace Your Camera’s Body Cap

This lens is a great choice for photographers who want to have an ultra-lightweight option if they can take with them anywhere. The 40 mm lens is a great choice for vlogging in hotel rooms, bedrooms, or taking with you on trips. It also makes a great second lens to have on your camera at all times in case your primary lens breaks.

Pros

• Lots of pro videographers often carry a 40mm in their kits because they’re so light
• The 40 mm focal length is very forgiving for videography in tight spaces
• Quick autofocus for “talking head” style vlogs
• Great to have around as a backup lens

Cons

• Some videographers find 40 mm to be an awkward focal length
• It’s great, but it’s no 50 mm or 35 mm
• There’s no L glass option for this focal length

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens: The APS-C Pancake Lens

Three Stars 

Specs:

• Focal Length: 24 mm (38.4mm Full Frame Equivalent)
• Size: 68.2 x 22.8 mm
• Weight: 125 g
• Sensor Type: APS-C
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/2.8
• Autofocus: Yes

What if you want a 40 mm pancake lens, but you’re currently shooting on an APC-C camera? This is where the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens comes in.

The 40mm Pancake Lens’s Little Brother

This is one of the smallest lenses in the entire Canon product line. It’s pretty much the size of the body caps on the front of your camera. This makes it an ideal choice for vloggers who do a lot of traveling. This is especially the case if you’re using an APS-C camera.

This is the best vlogging lens for Canon 90d and other APS-C cameras.

APS-C sensors, more commonly known as crop sensors, slightly magnify the focal length of the lenses they use. This is going to convert this 24 mm into a 38.4 mm which is very close to the film standard of 35.

Pros

• The 38.5 mm focal length is about as close to glorious 35 mm as APS-C cameras get
• Light, cheap, and great quality
• A solid choice for beginners and more experienced vloggers looking to get more angles

Cons

• You’ll eventually graduate to Full Frame sensors and leave this lens behind
• You might not use it as much as a 50mm or even the kit lens

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens: For That TV Studio Feel

Three Stars

Specs:

• Focal Length: 55 to 250 mm (88 to 400mm equivalent)
• Size: 70 x 111.2 mm
• Weight: 175 g
• Sensor Type: APS-C
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/4
• Autofocus: Yes

A telephoto lens on a vlogging list might turn some heads, but you can trust us when we say that the 55-250mm focal length has some impressive tricks up its sleeve.

Don’t be surprised if this won’t be the last telephoto lens on this list.

A Versatile Lens With A Unique Feel

When we think of vlogging lenses, we tend to think of shorter focal lengths. This is because most people are vlogging in bedrooms and living rooms which lend themselves to a naturally shallow shooting angle. However, a telephoto lens can give you that unique TV look while opening up the potential of having some more exciting shots.

You’ll be able to use this lens at its shortest focal length in most living rooms and bedrooms. Its larger focal lengths make a great choice for getting more interesting shots as well as doing some unique travel vlogging.

Pros

• That “squished” telephoto look can really give your vlog that “TV” look
• A 250mm max focal length opens up the potential for some interesting travel vlogs

Cons

• You’ll be very tight in the frame unless you’re shooting in a spacious room
• Standard APS-C sensor cons still apply here

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens: The Gold Standard

Four Stars

Specs:

• Focal Length: 35 mm
• Size: 80.4 x 105.5 mm
• Weight: 760 g
• Sensor Type: Full-Frame
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.8
• Autofocus: Yes

Canon’s 35 mm lens is arguably one of the best camera lenses being produced today. We recommend this lens for nearly every type of photography so you know it’s also going to make the top of our videography list.

The Unquestioned Champion of Vlogging Lenses

35 mm is an iconic focal length. We’re talking old-school Hollywood when we pop this lens onto our vlogging camera. This will help open up some new cinematic potential in your volume style. This lens is also incredibly versatile making it useful for vlogging on the road as well as setting up unique shots in your room.

We’re only taking off a star because the high price tag can be a little too much for some vloggers.

Pros

• 35mm is the standard focal length of film, and helps you achieve that cinematic look
• It’s great in every application from vlogging in your room to vlogging on the road
• Canon’s L glass is the top of the line

Cons

• This is from Canon’s premier line, so expect to pay a premium cost

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens: Best for Tight Shooting Conditions

Three and ½ Stars

Specs:

• Focal Length: 16 to 35 mm
• Size: 88.5 x 127.5 mm
• Weight: 790 g
• Sensor Type: Full-Frame
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Aperture: f/2.8
• Autofocus: Yes

We brought up a bunch of lenses that are great for shooting in larger spaces, but what if you’re vlogging out of a studio or a dorm room?

Great Coverage for Small Rooms

This zoom lens gives you great coverage when you’re vlogging out of a tighter space. You can drop down to that 16 mm focal lengths to give yourself plenty of breathing room and even the tightest spaces. This is pretty ideal for vloggers who are going to be working out of their bedrooms.

That 35 mm upper end is also ideal for pretty much any shooting condition. You can consider this lens the jack of all trades when it comes to vlogging as long as you’re willing to pay for that significant price tag.

Pros

• Those extra wide angles will make your studio look like a mansion
• Ideal for vloggers working out of bedrooms and dorms
• Also great for outdoor vlogs that focus on breathtaking landscapes

Cons

• Not a budget lens
• A little distortion is typical with this wide an angle

Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens: For the Mirrorless Vlogger

Specs:

• Focal Length: 14 to 35 mm
• Size: 8.4 x 9.9 cm
• Weight: 544 g
• Sensor Type: Full-Frame, Mirrorless
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Aperture: f/4
• Autofocus: Yes

That crisp sound of the shutter snapping is a thing of the past. The new wave of mirrorless cameras means a new wave of lenses to match their high-tech standards.

The Future of Vlogging

Now we’re talking about the latest advancement when it comes to Canon cameras. Mirrorless cameras don’t have the traditional mechanisms that a DSLRs. This also means that they’re going to be using new types of lenses.

This is a great choice for the best vlogging lens for Canon EOS R.

The 14 to 35 mm lens is a great choice for people who are shooting on one of Canon’s mirrorless cameras. This has similar features to other lenses as we’ve discussed with similar focal lengths. The biggest difference here is that this is for the early adopters of mirrorless camera technology.

Pros

• One of the best videography lenses for Canon’s mirrorless line
• 14 to 35 mm gives you total coverage for most vlogging conditions
• You get all the weather-proofed build quality of L glass

Cons

• Only good if you’ve jumped on the mirrorless bandwagon

What Should You Look For in a Canon Vlogging Lens?

The best vlogging lenses for Canon cameras are the ones that are going to get you out and vlogging more!

Would a 35 mm lens inspire you to take more video? Then that’s the right one for you! Outside of personal preference, you want to consider the space you have to film in which will determine how small your focal length needs to be.

Do I Need APS-C or Full-Frame?

Here’s the big argument. Do you need a full-frame camera or will an APS-C work?

APS-C cameras are typically much more affordable. These are a consumer and entry-level models that have a fraction of the price tag as their full-frame bigger brothers. So, what’s the difference?

APS-C sensors slightly magnify their images. This means your APS-C 28 mm lens will actually be closer to 38 in the final image. Full frame sensors are considered more professional, but if you’re just starting out, you should be fine with either option.

Best Vlogging Lenses for APS-C Cameras

The best vlogging lens for Canon m50 is going to be able to accommodate the challenges of a crop sensor.

APS-C sensors have a way of magnifying their images. A 28 mm focal length on a crop sensor is going to be closer to 38.4 mm in the final image. This means you want to pick a smaller focal length to adjust for that magnification.

So, when you look for the best vlogging lens for Canon 80d or another APS-C sensor camera, you want to find a focal length that is slightly smaller than you might otherwise pick.

Related:

• The 8 Best Lenses For Canon M50 Mark II in 2023!

Best Vlogging Lens for Full Frame Canon Cameras

The best vlogging lens for Canon cameras with full-frame sensors are going to be Canon’s EF lenses with the “L” designation. That L, often stylized as a lower case “l,” signals Canon’s premiere range of lenses.

These are professional lenses with weather-sealed bodies. With one of these, you can even vlog in the rain or a humid greenhouse if you wanted to. They are only topped by Canon’s Cinema line of lenses designed for professional filmmaking.

Vlogging Lenses for Mirrorless Cameras

Mirrorless cameras are the latest craze. The best vlogging lens for Canon m6, EOS R, RP, and R6 are going to be identical to the lenses you pick for a DSLR. There’s one big difference that you need to keep in mind.

You want to find lenses with the “RF” classification. These lenses are designed to work with the newer, mirrorless cameras. Mirrorless cameras have smaller bodies and the RF lenses are designed to work with these new standards.

Which Lens Should You Start With?

Are you picking out your first vlogging lens for a Canon camera?

It can be really intimidating to make the commitment to buying your first lens, but once you get that piece of glass in your hands a whole new world of artistic creativity is going to open up for you.

If we had to pick with just one lens on this list, it would be the Canon EF 50 mm. The Nifty Fifty is a versatile lens that can open new doors for your vlogging content.

Conclusion

This covers the best of what Canon has to offer for vloggers.

The best vlogging lens for Canon is the EF 50mm. It’s affordable, versatile, and makes a great addition for pros and beginners alike. The Canon EF 16-35mm and the Canon EF 40mm can help round out your kit and give you more coverage options on your next shoot.

Which of the best vlogging lenses for Canon are you going to start filming with? Let us know in the comments and check out our other articles for more vlogging tips!