The telephoto lenses for Canon is a special lens that is mounted on reflex cameras. Increase the focal length and magnify and focus on subjects that are at long distances. Here are the best telephoto lenses to buy.
Perfect for sports photography, nature, night, and landscape … telephoto zoom lenses allow you to photograph with ease scenes that are very far from our camera and capture moments that without these optics would be impossible to achieve, such as close-ups of the moon or the intensity of a soccer match. We can get these images with optics like the Sigma 740954, one of the objectives selected by our experts. Today, we will review the best telephoto lenses for Canon Nikon Sony, and other brands of cameras.
Before buying telephoto lenses for Canon we must ask ourselves why we want this type of lens. What use we are going to give it? We speak in any case of optics that are not cheap and offer fantastic performance in terms of speed and aperture but with a high cost. It is not the same as looking for a 70mm lens or a 200mm lens. So it is interesting to evaluate the option of buying a variable or fixed focal optic if we manage a tight budget.
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What to consider before buying the best telephoto lenses for your reflex camera?
The telephoto lens is the perfect element to complement your photographic equipment, especially if you are an amateur with a medium-advanced technique and you want to raise your creative level. With this equipment, you can make beautiful portraits with an unfocused scene, capture images of nature, with wild animals in their natural habitat without approaching, and obtain photographic compositions as an artist.
However, choosing the right telephoto lens is not easy, mainly because they are expensive equipment and before leaving all your salary on one of them you must evaluate your level of technique and set a budget to find the goal the best price and performance fit your pocket.
To help you, we have prepared this guide to buy the best telephoto lens and mention the main aspects you should look for to make an intelligent investment without having to ask yourself how much it costs because all the recommendations presented here will lead you to choose the most economical one.
Compatibility
As you already know, each SLR camera has its standards for threads and lace systems, and this means that each lens must be manufactured for a specific brand, even for specific models of each brand. Although there are adapter rings for lenses, they do not always work, and as far as possible avoid adding extra elements to our camera that may interfere, even minimally, with the proper functioning of both the camera and the lenses.
In summary, therefore, the first thing you have to do is look at the telephoto models compatible with your camera. Below we analyze separately the Canon telephoto lenses, telephoto zoom lenses for Nikon, and other brands, the most demanded.
Focal distance
The focal length range, expressed in millimeters and corresponding to the distance between the optical center of the lens and the camera’s sensor, defines the zoom range of our lens. The greater the interval, the greater the reach or ability to approach the objects that we want to photograph, taking into account that for very large focal points, it is practically essential to use a tripod. In this sense, it is advisable to opt for focal points that are as close as possible to our needs.
If you are going to take pictures of birds or want to take pictures during a football game, for example, you will need to move in focal lengths of at least 300 mm, with the result of the other factors that we analyze below.
Focal Fixed or Variable
The fixed focal points do not allow to approach or move away from the objects in focus. This can be understood as a limitation, but by drastically reducing the number of lenses and elements that make up the lens, fixed telephoto lenses usually have a larger diaphragm aperture and overall quality. Also, they weigh less.
But if you want a versatile telephoto lens that allows you to move in short, medium, and long focal lengths, you should opt for intervals such as 50-200, 55-300, 70-300, etc. There are also telephoto lenses with variable focal ranges of high ranges such as 200-500, 150-600, etc.
Diaphragm opening
The famous F value of your lenses expresses in definite the maximum amount of light that will be able to enter the tube by what conditions, and in short, the quality of the shots and the ability to face low light conditions, shots to high speeds, etc. In general, as you will see, the greater the diaphragm aperture (lower figures), the higher the telephoto price, since getting a greater amount of light in a long tube with numerous lenses implies a logical technical sophistication of the apparatus.
Stabilizer
In a goal designed to take pictures of objects located at a medium or long distance, the use of a stabilizer is crucial, since moving in medium ranges such as 100-250 you will find many cases where you will not have the possibility to use a tripod. In those cases, only telephoto lenses with stabilizers assisted by a decent pulse can give a good result.
Think that in focal lengths greater than 400 mm, not even the use of a tripod ensures total stabilization of the shot. Some brands like Nikon call the stabilizer VR. If you decide to buy a telephoto lens with a stabilizer, bear in mind that it can be activated and deactivated manually.
Manual / Automatic Focus
As good a view as you have, pretending to achieve a perfect approach manually when you are trying to photograph a bird moving at a considerable distance, is practically a utopia. In this sense, although most telephoto lenses have automatic focus, it is not always fast enough to be effective in certain circumstances. To know, you can take into account the opinions of other buyers.
Weight
We have already said that especially from certain focal ranges, the use of a tripod is basic, but even so, the weight of the telephoto lens is a very important factor, especially if it is going to be used in the professional field or, as an amateur, in long sessions. The prolonged use without a tripod or monopod of too heavy teles conditions our pulse and can cause muscular contractures.
The 7 best telephoto lenses on the market
Given that below, we will analyze separately some of the best telephoto lenses, at the time of making the comparison we have opted for mid-range models and affordable prices for the vast majority. For that same reason, they are also the best-selling telephoto lenses. Are you ready? Let’s start then.
Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens
This Sigma lens offers a focal length of 85mm. It is not a too-long telephoto lens, but it is a perfect optic to take portraits and get a perfect bokeh (defocus).
It is a very bright lens, offering an aperture of f: 1.4, so we can use it comfortably when the light conditions are unfavorable.
This telephoto lens is offered for mounting on Canon cameras, although it is also compatible with Nikon photographic equipment.
In addition, it is a very bright objective. It belongs to the Sigma Art series, which indicates that it will offer us good features, with very sharp images and good focusing precision, eliminating chromatic aberrations.
It has a very quiet focus motor (HSM) that allows us to focus quickly on subjects. We can also focus on manual mode with comfort.
Its mount is robust and resistant. Of course, we must bear in mind that this goal is quite large and is not light at all, with 1.13 kg of weight. So it will be necessary to have a good transport bag and a tripod to be able to handle it comfortably. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM
The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f / 4-5.6 IS STM stands out among the best telephoto lenses in the market right now. This is a lightweight and compact device, with which you will get clear photos without blurring when moving the camera, thanks to the effective stabilizer image that it has.
If you want to complement the basic zoom of your camera, this lens offers you a great scope to take excellent photos even if you are far from the protagonist, ideal to capture images of nature, animals in their natural habitat, and much more.
Users widely recommend this telephoto lens for those who are just starting in the world of photography and want to obtain artistic portraits with a soft unfocused background to highlight the subject even when light conditions are reduced.
With this objective, you can keep a discreet distance from what you want to photograph and capture the details of a scene individually without having to get close. This equipment has been improved with STM technology to be very silent and fast in capturing videos and photographs. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Tamron SP 150-600mm F / 5-6.3 VC USD for Canon and Nikon cameras
To know which is the best telephoto, you must make a comparison between the different models available in the market, and evaluate the requirements you are looking for in that team, whether you are a professional or beginner, but first, you must set a budget since the prices vary from a few brands to others for the benefits it offers.
The Tamron SP 150-600mm is not one of the cheapest, since it is designed for professional use.
This zoom reaches up to 600 mm to achieve the most beautiful photos of wild fauna and flora, and get unparalleled images of landscapes and portraits with clear objectives and unfocused backgrounds thanks to the high-power optical design that this device uses.
With the high-tech ultrasonic motor, you can handle the focusing lens silently, with precision and speed. Professional photographers prefer this model because it resists all kinds of conditions to perform adventurous work without the risk of the lens being wetted by the resistant materials with which it is manufactured. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-300mm
From the prestigious Nikon family, we present AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f / 4.5-5.6G ED VR, considered by customers as the best telephoto lens for Nikon F mount. This is a versatile team that stands out for the excellent optical quality that has to obtain photographs with great luminosity and high clarity throughout the zoom range that it has.
For professional and amateur photographers, this telephoto lens allows you to make excellent portraits and photos in the foreground because it isolates the subject from the whole scene achieving a photographic composition of great artistic value.
Among its main technical characteristics is the powerful DX zoom lens with an increase of 5.5, it can also reach a flexible focal length of 55-300 mm, as well as the possibility of using shutter speeds of 3.0 slower points, with The Silent Wave Engine can achieve fast and silent autofocus.
Your telephoto lens will always be protected from dust and water thanks to the hermetic seal that you have to achieve perfect photos at all times. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 Lens for Sony E-Mount Cameras
For many years now, even the Japanese company Sony has enhanced the production sector of its digital SLR cameras, with the result that its telephoto lenses are increasingly in demand.
So we could not miss, in our guide, the E 55-210 mm models with E APS-C coupling. It is compatible not only with Sony SLRs but also with those produced by the well-known Minolta brand. The E 55-210 features the SteadyShot stabilization system to reduce the effect of vibrations. It also has a particular diaphragm with seven blades with a circular opening, which guarantees a more natural and rounded blur effect when using the photographic technique of “bokeh”, in images with shallow depth of field.
The people who bought it consider it a good telephoto end of the economic range, but nothing particularly exceptional since, unfortunately, it is not very bright and not suitable for use in the evening or low light conditions.
Sony is a guarantee in several fields, not least in that photography. This is why in our guide to choosing the best telephoto lens we could not miss this model.
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Pentax 560mm f/5.6-45 – Best Telephoto Lens for Pentax Cameras
Here is a true marvel of the technique applied to the world of professional telephoto lenses for professional-quality photos. As you see, it is fixed of nothing more and nothing less than 560mm. Thus it is ideal for paparazzi, nature photographers, sports photographers, etc.
This Pentax is compatible with the K frames that incorporate the Pentax SLR cameras. It weighs 3 kilos, which may seem a lot only if it does not compare with the weight of other models of similar capabilities.
This telephoto lens offers a maximum aperture of 5.6. It features a really fast, silent, and effective autofocus system, in addition to optional manual focus. What one comes to expect when making disbursement of this nature, of course.
In addition, as expected, it integrates its polarizing filter, in addition to a special anti-reflective treatment that improves the sharpness of the shots even when light is scarce. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75 to 300mm
The Olympus model is a telephoto zoom lens, appreciated for its versatility. The photographer can immortalize sporting sequences, including the fastest ones. We think of skiing, rodeo, Formula 1, and more. This cheap goal also allows us to obtain beautiful images of concerts or weddings, to make animal documentaries… Depending on the subjects to be photographed, and video sequences to be recorded, the user chooses the adapted focal length, in this case from 75 to 300 mm.
In addition, this Olympus model owes its performance to the speed of its autofocus, whose silent operation also makes it easy for the photographer to make quality videos. The photo or video rendering is even better than the lens equipped with ED technology, known to significantly limit chromatic aberration.
In addition, the autofocus of the lens quickly detects the best contrast, depending on the focal length chosen. If the focus is not motorized, it is nevertheless silent and also represents an asset for the quality of video recordings. We also note that the telephoto lens Olympus is a Digital model, which means that it is much more powerful than a digital camera like Canon or Nikon.
Wondering where to buy the best telephoto lens on the market? Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED will suit you perfectly. Whether you are a professional photographer or a beginner, this model ensures high-quality results. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
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Conclusion: Telephoto lenses for canon
In our opinion, these are the top 7 best telephoto lenses for Canon. In pursuit of these objectives we have taken into consideration these characteristics:
- Value for money
- Focal lengths reached
- Brightness
- Opinions of those who use them
- General reviews
Do you agree with our choices or do you have other favorite telephoto lenses for Canon? Leave us your favorite telephoto lenses in the comments! Thank you.