The Canon holy trinity of lenses are the three flagship zoom lenses from Canon. They let you capture high-quality images quickly and in just about any situation.
The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is widely recognized as the most versatile of the three. This is a go-to lens for wedding photographers, hobbyists, and just about any other style of photography.
These are the Canon trinity lenses that every photographer needs.
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
The Wide Angle Canon Holy Trinity Lens for RF-Mount Cameras
Bottom Line: The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is the perfect lens for anyone shooting wide-angle photos and videos.
Pros
- Nano USM AF System
- Constant f/2.8 aperture
- Optical Image Stabilizer
- Weather-Resistant Design with Fluorine Coatings
Cons
- Less of an all-around lens than the 24-70mm
Why We Picked It
The Canon lens trinity starts with the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens.
This is Canon’s flagship wide-angle zoom lens. It’s designed for everyone from landscape photographers to documentarians who need a reliable and powerful wide-angle lens to capture the shots they are after.
Since this is one of Canon’s flagship lenses, you can bet that it comes packed with just about everything you look for in a performance lens.
Even at the widest 15 mm focal length, you can still get great performance from the constant f/2.8 aperture. The optical image stabilizer is also ideal when taking a delicate landscape panorama or when shooting video handheld.
There are multiple optical elements and a few different coatings on the glass of the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens. Canon has built a reputation over the years for creating some of the most elegant lenses and this is no exception.
This is a Canon L lens. This means it is built to professional standards and that includes a weather-resistant design and fluorine coatings to protect the lens.
Who It’s For
The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is going to be the ideal lens for anyone doing wide-angle photography or videography work. If you want something fast and flexible, this is the lens to throw in your kit.
We’re going to focus on the photographers out there first.
This is going to be a top choice for anyone doing astrophotography or landscape photography. It offers you powerful wide-angle shots and has a build quality that you can rely on when you’re out in the field.
This lens also makes a great second choice for a two-part lens kit. If you have a normal focal length lens or a telephoto lens, pick this lens up, and you’ll be able to round things out with one of the best wide-angle lenses out there.
Anyone shooting videos is also going to love this lens. It’s fast and responsive with very quiet autofocus.
This is a great choice if you’re vlogging in an apartment that has some tight shooting conditions. It’s also perfect for anyone working on a run-and-gun documentary who needs a lens that’s just as fast on its feet as they are.
Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
The Everyday Choice of the Holy Trinity Canon Lenses
Bottom Line: The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is the perfect everyday lens for professionals, students, and serious hobbyists alike.
Pros
- Three Aspherical Elements
- Customizable Control Ring
- Nano USM AF System
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
- Optical Image Stabilizer
- Weather-sealed
Cons
- Almost no real cons to this lens
- You’ll want to add the other two lenses eventually
Why We Picked It
When it comes to the holy trinity of lenses Canon really knocked it out of the park with the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens.
The first thing we need to highlight about this lens is just how flexible the focal length is. 24 mm is flexible and wide-angle enough to let you do landscape photography while 70 mm is perfectly serviceable for casual nature photography as well as professional portraits.
The focal length range of this lens has enough versatility to make this lens function on its own for just about any style of photography.
The lens also comes packed with the most high-end features that Canon has to offer. It’s a professional-grade lens, so it is weather sealed and ready for the elements.
This lens also has a fast and nearly silent autofocusing system. The customizable control ring is another high-tech feature that gives you more flexibility with how you set up your shots.
The pictures and videos you take with the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens are going to be crisp and free of distortion. This lens has plenty of optical elements and coatings that all work together to protect your images.
Who It’s For
The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is in the middle of the trinity of lenses, but it is actually on the top when it comes to who it’s for.
If you only ever had to get one lens, make it the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens.
There are plenty of professional photographers that carry just this lens to work with them. It lets you instantly snap between a wide angle and the upper limit of standard focal lengths.
Students and hobbyists are going to get a lot of value out of this lens. It will let you explore many photography styles all with a single lens.
This is also a great choice for travel photography. You can take just a single lens with you and pack light on your next trip thanks to just how flexible this lens is.
We can’t stress enough that this lens is also ready for professional-level work. Photojournalists and wedding photographers regularly rely on the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens for its quality and durability.
Whether you’re a working professional looking for something new or this is your first photography lens, the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is absolutely where you should start.
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
The Trinity Lens Canon Made for Telephoto Photography
Bottom Line: The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is the single best lens for short to medium telephoto photography.
Pros
- Smaller and lighter than ever before
- Dual Nano USM AF System
- Customizable Control Ring
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
- Customizable Control Ring
- Several buttons to control essential settings
Cons
- Still a bit large on those small mirrorless cameras
- No wide-angle coverage
Why We Picked It
The holy trinity of Canon lenses would not be complete without the biggest, baddest member of this trifecta. The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is an absolute must for anyone interested in telephoto photography.
Telephoto zoom lenses have always had a bit of an issue when it comes to these smaller mirrorless cameras. They tend to be too big, but Canon has made this lens smaller and more lightweight than ever before.
Canon accomplished this weight savings without compromising on quality. In fact, this is one of the cleanest telephoto lenses Canon has ever produced.
The tech features are where we should start. The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens comes with a programmable control ring which is what you’d expect, but it’s also got several switches on the side that let you control essential telephoto settings.
Canon also put more optical coatings and elements into this lens. This will help to protect against the optical distortions that can appear more frequently with these telephoto cameras.
This lens also has optical image stabilization. This is absolutely vital when working in telephoto focal lengths or even a slight movement can distort your shot.
Who It’s For
The trinity lenses Canon makes are completed with the addition of the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens.
The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is going to be the ideal choice for anyone working in portraits, nature and wildlife photography, and sports photography.
This versatile telephoto lens handles portraits on the lower end of its focal length and is a great choice for sports and wildlife on the higher end of the focal length. The flexibility of this lens also makes it a great choice for birders going on vacation or anyone about to go camping in the wilderness.
This lens is also recommended as a second pick if you have either of the other two members of Canon’s Holy Trinity. Those lenses do a great job covering more wide-angle shots while this lens will handle your telephoto work.
If you’re looking to go on a trip and take only two lenses with you, make sure one of the other choices is the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens.
Canon Holy Trinity RF FAQ
What Is The Holy Trinity Of Camera Lenses?
The holy trinity of Canon lenses includes the three zoom lenses that cover every focal length from 15 mm to 200 mm. These lenses are of professional quality and represent Canon’s flagship RF lenses. These are often the first three lenses photographers buy.
While these are all zoom lenses, there is also the Canon holy trinity of prime lenses which include different focal lengths. These are typically one wide angle, one normal focal length, and one telephoto lens.
Why Do People Love The Trinity?
People love the Canon holy trinity zoom lenses because they offer unbeatable quality and utility. The Canon RF lens trinity represents the most advanced lenses Canon has ever designed. These lenses take stunning pictures and are even ready for video.
Lenses are expensive and can get heavy when you need to take three or four prime lenses out into the field. The Canon holy trinity lets you save on money and weight without losing quality.
What 3 Lenses Should Every Photographer Have?
The holy trinity of Canon RF lenses are the first three lenses every photographer should buy. These lenses let you handle virtually any photography style with just three zoom lenses. Photographers typically start with the 24mm to 70mm lens and add the other two as they are needed.
Holy Trinity Lenses Vs “Unholy” Trinity Lenses
The Canon holy trinity lenses represent the best of the best which means the unholy Canon trinity makes a dead with the devil for some savings. The unholy trinity lenses typically have the same focal lengths, such as 24mm to 70mm, but cut corners on features to bring the cost down.
Two common features that are absent from unholy trinity lenses are weather sealing and a much slower aperture around f/4. People sometimes label off-brand lenses as members of the “unholy trinity,” but third-party lenses from brands like Sigma can be nearly as good as Canon’s lenses.
What Is The Best Lens For General Photography
The holy trinity of Canon lenses is crowned by the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens. The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is easily the best of the Canon trinity RF lenses for general photography. This lens is perfect for travel photography, street photography, and even events like weddings.
Wrapping Up the Canon RF Holy Trinity
The Canon trinity lenses are the first three lenses most photographers buy. These are professional-level lenses that cover all of the essential styles of photography.
The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is the best all-around lens made by Canon and is perfect as a first one to purchase. The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens and the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens cover their specialty focal lengths with professional quality and round out any photography kit.
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Which of the Canon holy trinity of lenses are you picking first? Let us know in the comments and check out our other Canon lens articles to find the best lenses for your camera!
