9 BEST Canon Travel Lenses – Complete Guide & Review

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Searching for the BEST Canon travel lens?

Canon is one of the best brands in terms of camera and photography equipment. It goes without saying that the best Canon travel lenses are some of the greatest on the market today.

There are many different types of glasses to choose from and this is your full guide to the best Canon travel lens for both DSLR and mirrorless cameras.

The best lenses are high-quality pieces of equipment that enhance a photographer’s vision by providing impeccable detail and clarity for their subject matter.

One problem with choosing the best Canon travel lens is that there are many different types on offer, each with its own unique benefits and drawbacks.

To help you choose the right one, here are 9 specific travel photography lenses that may be perfect for your needs.

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WHAT IS THE BEST CANON LENS FOR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY?

To keep things short, these below are the best Canon travel photography lenses on the market today.

Whether you need an ultra wide-angle lens for travel or a prime lens to shoot fast-moving subjects, you surely won’t be disappointed with these glasses:

Make sure to read on to know all the details about each of them and more.

WHAT IS THE BEST CANON CAMERA FOR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY?

The best Canon travel lens would be nothing without a great camera. In fact, you can have the best glass on the market, but if you don’t attach it to a good camera for landscape photography, you won’t be able to get the dreamy shots you have in mind.

These are the best Canon cameras available today for traveling:

While these aren’t the cheapest devices, they are remarkably better than other cameras on the market in terms of resolution, size, video quality, and battery life.

Combined with the right accessories for photography, you will get outstanding results all the time.

best Canon travel lens, best Canon travel lenses

WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN GETTING A CANON TRAVEL LENS

A camera lens is the most important accessory that you can purchase for your camera. When comparing lenses, you should keep in mind that each has its own pros and cons as well as other important factors.

LENS SIZE AND WEIGHT

If you have a small camera bag or prefer to remain light when traveling, the size of the lens is an extremely important fact. Take notice of how much a lens weighs and how big it is before deciding how much you’re willing to carry.

In plain words, if you’re going to be bringing a lot of stuff with you, invest in a decent travel camera bag or simply consider a zoom lens to bring less glass.

APERTURE

Aperture is another crucial element to consider when choosing your best Canon travel lens. The exposure triangle, which must be considered if you want to take good images, comprises three components: shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.

A fast aperture (less than or around f/2.8) is always preferable because it allows for more light into the camera during a single exposure.

FOCAL LENGTH

The lens’s focal length determines the field of view, which in turn influences the photo’s compositional frame.

The wider the focal length, the more you can capture in a photograph; depth is also affected – foregrounds and backgrounds appear closer together when photographed with a longer lens and further apart with a wider lens.

Focal length is the millimeters part you see in every lens’ description (12mm, 50mm, or 70-200mm, for instance).

IMAGE STABILIZATION

Image stabilization (usually listed as IS) corrects for camera shake caused by hand-holding. Unless you’re using a tripod, this shakiness is usually unavoidable and can show up as blurring in photographs, making them sometimes unusable.

Handheld shooting becomes much easier when you don’t have to worry about steadying your hand since image stabilization prevents blurring.

best Canon travel lens, best Canon travel lenses

PRIME LENSES OR ZOOM LENSES – THE DIFFERENCES

One of the most significant distinctions between a zoom lens and a prime lens is the focal length.

Prime lenses have a constant focal length while zoom lenses have a wider and changeable focal length. Prime lenses are usually smaller, and lighter, and provide superior low-light performance than zoom lenses.

But to help you understand more in-depth, these are the pros and cons of both prime and zoom lenses.

PROS AND CONS OF PRIME LENSES

The most apparent benefit is picture quality. Professionals employ prime lenses to take the highest-quality photographs from their cameras.

The following are the criteria on which image quality is evaluated;

  • Vignetting
  • Sharpness
  • Distortion

The test results in all of these Canon prime lenses indicate a high rank for sharpness and low values for distortion and chromatic aberration.

On the other hand, the fixed focal length is the biggest disadvantage of choosing a prime lens over a zoom lens.

In fact, it is only when you begin shooting with a prime lens that you notice its limits. There is no zoom, so you’ll need to compose your shot by moving further away or closer to the subject.

PROS AND CONS OF ZOOM LENSES

Of course, there are also advantages of choosing a zoom lens over a prime one;

  • Different focal lengths in one lens
  • You have more room for creativity
  • Zoom lenses are great for wildlife photography

Apart from that, the disadvantage of carrying a zoom lens is that they are heavier. But, if you plan to carry multiple prime lenses, then the total weight of a zoom lens might just be less.

best Canon travel lens, best Canon travel lenses

9 BEST CANON LENSES FOR TRAVEL

It can be difficult to know what the best travel lens is the one for you, especially if you’re looking at every single specification.

Let’s go through the travel photography lenses that you should consider when going on a trip.

CANON EF 24-105MM f/4.0 L IS USM – OVERALL BEST CANON TRAVEL LENS FROM $999

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM is the perfect lens for various purposes like cityscapes, wildlife, and nature photography.

This lens offers a large focal range and delivers pictures of exceptional quality with its high-quality optics and construction. With a constant f/4 aperture, you will be able to be creative with a nice depth of field.

PROS AND CONS OF THE CANON EF 24-105MM f/4.0 L IS USM

  • Good zoom range
  • Shoots incredibly sharps photos
  • Optimum image stabilization
  • Very expensive

TAMRON 28-75MM f/2.8 XR Di LD – MOST AFFODABLE CANON TRAVEL LENS FROM $249

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF lens, while not being an official Canon lens, is a fantastic choice for your camera.

This stabilized lightweight lens offers superb image quality and fast, accurate autofocus for both stills and video work.

Delivering sharp images at any focusing distance, this affordable lens is the perfect solution for photographers who need to balance performance with their budget.

PROS AND CONS OF TAMRON 28-75MM f/2.8 XR Di LD

  • Great price for such a good lens
  • Light-weight and ideal for traveling
  • Fast lens great for low-light travel photography
  • Slow autofocus compared to the other best Canon travel lenses

CANON 50MM f/1.8 STM – BEST PRIME LENS FROM $149

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM is an affordable, fast, and light lens for your camera. The 50mm focal length is the “normal” lens that mimics what you see with your own eyes, so this lens is perfect for everyday shooting.

Plus, it has a bright f/1.8 maximum aperture that’s ideal for low-light shooting situations wherever you are in the world.

Lastly, it is one of the best full-frame lenses that is adaptable to ASP-C sensors too.

PROS AND CONS OF CANON 50MM f/1.8 STM

  • Very fast last
  • Affordable price
  • Adaptable to both ASP-C and Full-frame sensors
  • Not weatherproof

SIGMA 18-200MM f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM – BEST ULTRA WIDE ANGLE LENS FROM $399

For only $399, the Sigma 18-200mm lens is perfect for everything from close-ups to long-distance shots, giving you the ability to capture just about any photo.

The 18-200mm focal length is perfect for landscapes or buildings, and fast enough when shooting at 18mm at night.

PROS AND CONS OF SIGMA 18-200MM f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM

  • Compact and light-weight
  • Image stabilization is top-notch
  • Great zoom range for both wide and zoomed shots
  • Not super sharp at the maximum aperture

CANON RF 24-240MM f/4-6.3 IS USM – FROM $899

The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is another of the best Canon travel photography lenses. The 24mm wide-angle will offer up a more dramatic perspective from closer to the subject, while the 240mm telephoto will zoom in on your subject from afar.

This lens has been designed for use with APS-C-sized sensors and offers a range of shooting situations with its versatility and sharpness.

PROS AND CONS OF CANON RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM

  • The 10x zoom capacity is impressive
  • The build quality is sturdy
  • Quiet and fast autofocus
  • Sharpness isn’t great on wide photos

CANON EF-S 17-55MM f/2.8 IS USM – FROM $429

With its remarkably fast aperture for an affordable price, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is considered the best Canon travel lens for many reasons.

This lens gives you a great focal length, perfect for landscape photography, portraits, and everyday shooting. The lens also has an image stabilizer which helps reduce camera shake by up to 4 stops making it easier to handhold at slower shutter speeds — allowing you to achieve sharper images that are free from blur caused by camera shake.

PROS AND CONS OF CANON EF-S 17-55MM f/2.8 IS USM

  • Image Stabilization
  • The constant 2.8 aperture
  • Photos are bright on both wide and zoomed ranges
  • The lens extends when focusing

SIGMA 17-50MM f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM – FROM $319

SIGMA 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a high-quality zoom lens with a fast maximum aperture that is perfect for taking low-light shots or candid shots without flash.

It has an optical stabilizer system to help compensate for camera shake and it’s lightweight so it’s easy to carry around all day long!

PROS AND CONS OF SIGMA 17-50MM f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM

  • The price is great for this fast lens
  • Image stabilization is very decent
  • The lens is able to shoot bright photos quickly
  • It isn’t weatherproof

CANON 70-200MM f/4.0L USM – FROM $1,199

The Canon 70-200mm f/4.0L USM lens offers a five-stop aperture range, and it allows photographers to get up close and personal with their subjects without sacrificing quality or sharpness.

Durable construction will withstand the bumps and bruises of travel photography, while a circular aperture produces a natural-looking background blur. Photographers of all levels will appreciate this lens!

PROS AND CONS OF CANON 70-200MM f/4.0L USM

  • The sharpness is first-class
  • The image stabilization is fantastic
  • Fairly light for the amount of glass
  • The edges tend to get soft when fully zoomed

CANON 10-18MM f/4.5-5.6 IS STM – BEST WIDE ANGLE CANON TRAVEL LENS FROM $249

If you’re looking for a great Canon lens that will stand the test of time, you might want to consider their 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens.

This is one of the best travel lenses that Canon has and it’s also one of the most popular lenses on the market!

PROS AND CONS CANON 10-18MM f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

  • The price is very attractive
  • Photos are sharp throughout the whole range
  • Ultra-wide angle – Great for travel photography
  • The lens is made out of plastic

MORE PRODUCT GUIDES

If you are planning a road trip or an international adventure, be sure to check out these other product guides that will make your life easier abroad:

CONCLUSION – THE 9 BEST CANON TRAVEL LENSES

This list of the nine best Canon lenses for travel is a great starting point if you’re looking to purchase a new set.

These lenses are all compatible with your favorite mirrorless or DSLR camera, which makes them easy to use on the go or in-studio.

To conclude, these Canon travel lenses will be able to handle any situation, from wide shots of landmarks and expansive landscapes to close-up portraits of people or animals.

They can all do a great job at capturing images that accurately represent what is happening around you to share with friends on social media or your audience on your blog.

If you have any further questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

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TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

bookingcom

Search and book accommodation worldwide.


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Compare and book cheap flights to anywhere.


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Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.


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Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.


discover cars

Search all rental cars in your next destination.


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Need travel insurance for your next trip?

THANKS FOR READING

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