The lens is the most important part of the camera. A good lens can stretch a camera with a mediocre sensor and vice versa - a bad lens will “kill” even the highest quality camera.
Our short guide will help you not get lost in the world of lenses; we selected the best 2020 camera lenses in every category - from zoom to fish eye. Have a good shoot!
Best Zoom Lenses
3. Tamron 100-400mm f / 4.5-6.3 Di VC USD
The average price is 49,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- Zoom telephoto lens
- Nikon F mount, built-in motor
- built-in image stabilizer
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 1.5 m
- dimensions (DхL): 86.2 × 196.5 mm
- weight: 1115 g
If you don't feel like tinkering with complex settings, then the Tamron 100-400mm f / 4.5-6.3 Di VC USD is the best choice. It is easy to use and ideal for those who do not want to overpay for professional delights that they will not use.
This model costs a little more than its counterpart from Sigma with the same focal length, but the clarity of the picture is very good, and a fourfold zoom allows you to get great shots. True, for a small hand, managing with more than a kilogram lens can be difficult.
pros: ease of operation, ease of handling.
Minuses: heavy, tripod mount not included as standard.
2. Tamron SP AF 70-200mm f / 2.8 Di VC USD G2
The average price is 70,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- Zoom telephoto lens
- suitable for Canon EF and EF-S
- built-in image stabilizer
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.95 m
- dimensions (DхL): 88 × 193.8 mm
- weight: 1500 g
The lens is a continuation of the previous model, Tamron 70-200 mm. Compared with the older brother, the new generation has improved optics, more accurate autofocus and a completely new five-step and three-mode image stabilizer (there is a static, there is a panoramic, and even a rare beast - exposure).
The main advantage of this lens is the shooting of moving objects. It is also fully protected along the entire length of the case and the mount from moisture, dust and other troubles.
pros: Sharpness, color, speed and quality of autofocus.
Minuses: not.
1. Canon EF 70-200mm f / 2.8L IS II USM
The average price is 84,300 rubles.
Specifications:
- Zoom telephoto lens
- suitable for Canon EF and EF-S
- built-in image stabilizer
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 1.2 m
- dimensions (DхL): 88.8 × 199 mm
- weight: 1490 g
Professional photographers love to use this lens. And it’s understandable why - everything in it speaks of quality, ranging from fluorite glass to two image stabilization modes.
It consists of five low dispersion elements, which reduces the likelihood of color distortion to almost a negative value. Ring-type autofocus is very fast and accurate, aperture is great. Of course, the case is protected from moisture and dust.
Want to dive into the world of professional photography? Wondering which lens to choose for Canon? Can you afford the EF 70-200mm f / 2.8L IS II USM? Do not look for another.
pros: sharpness, focus, stabilization, color reproduction.
Minuses: Stabilization is a little noisy when turned on and off.
Best fish-eye lenses
3. Samyang 12mm f / 2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-eye Sony E
The average price is 29,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- fisheye lens
- mount Sony E
- manual focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.2 m
- dimensions (DхL): 77.3 × 98.7 mm
- weight: 525 g
Unlike its more versatile (and more expensive) counterparts, which occupy the first and second places in the fish-eye lens rating, the lens at Samyang 12mm f / 2.8 ED AS NCS is rather diagonal rather than round. Although outwardly it looks 100% round and strongly protrudes beyond the edge of the case. However, do not be afraid for the safety of the lens - it is reliably protected.
The lens itself is made of a durable but lightweight aluminum alloy, and the optical elements include three ED elements. So chromatic aberrations, that is, color distortions, you can say for sure “Goodbye”.
Although the Samyang lens was designed for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony cameras, lenses for the Canon M, Fujifilm X, and Samsung NX can also be found at the same manufacturer. The image quality in all cases is pleasantly surprising.
pros: image quality, excellent sharpness.
Minuses: the scroll wheel rotation range is too large, blindly spinning is inconvenient.
2. Nikon 8-15mm f / 3.5-4.5E ED AF-S Fisheye
The average price is 98,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- fisheye lens
- Nikon F mount, built-in motor
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.16 m
- dimensions (DхL): 77.5 × 83 mm
- weight: 485 g
As Canon introduced a lens with a changing focal length seven years ago on the market and, accordingly, switching from a circular to a diagonal “fish eye,” Nikon copied it.
Like the leader of the selection of fisheye lenses, the range of this model is 8 - 15 mm. Both lenses have electromagnetic aperture adjustment. Although this kind of mount has long been a must for Canon, Nikon is still new to it. Therefore, attention! - Nikon 8-15mm f may not be compatible with previous generation cameras.
But unlike Canon, whose aperture ratio is constant, the Nikon lens has a variable aperture, and the larger the increase, the higher the aperture. And do not be afraid that the image will flicker, because a special option called Nano Crystal Coat will not allow this.
By the way, you do not need to remove the hood at maximum magnification. And the image quality is, of course, excellent.
pros: usability, image quality.
Minuses: price.
1. Canon EF 8-15mm f / 4.0L Fisheye USM
The average price is 55,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- fisheye lens
- suitable for Canon EF and EF-S
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.15 m
- dimensions (DхL): 78.5 × 83 mm
- weight: 540 g
The uniqueness of the EF 8-15mm f lies in the following: its circularity or diagonality depends on the focal length. If the focal length is set to a minimum of 8 mm, the lens works like a circular fish-eye. And if this distance is increased to 15 mm, and it immediately turns into a diagonal. Like it or not, this is very convenient (instead of two lenses you can carry one in your bag).
However, since the convex front element protrudes from the lens body, the lid has a two-stage, the cylindrical part of which is used as a hood if the focal length is 15 mm. But with 8 mm, you have to remove it manually, otherwise it falls into the frame.
The company does not knit brooms, so the assembly, and the quality of the images, and the sharpness of these lenses are at their best. In general, if you are an avid amateur photographer who owns a Canon DSLR, are not afraid of fish eyes and are ready to pay the required price, then choose the EF 8-15mm f - one of the best lenses on the market.
pros: great image quality
Minuses: color distortion with an open aperture, a lot of fuss with a hood-hood.
The best macro lenses
3. Olympus ED 30mm f / 3.5 Macro
The average price is 15,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- constant-angle wide-angle lens
- Micro 4/3 mount
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.1 m
- dimensions (DхL): 57 × 60 mm
- weight: 128 g
Opens the top 3 best lenses for macro photography, a device that occupies an intermediate position between the "ordinary" and "professional" models, designed for shooting small objects from a short distance.
The Olympus ED 30mm f / 3.5 Macro lens has a large f 3.5 aperture with a range of up to 22 and is capable of enlarging the image to 1.3x. This is a good universal lens with sensitive autofocus, anti-glare ring, moisture protection (they can be removed under water).
At the same time, it is quite light and its size is small, so the Olympus ED 30mm f / 3.5 Macro can be easily carried in a bag or even just in your pocket.
pros: high quality shooting, excellent price / quality ratio.
Minuses: a small aperture, however, it is always small.
2. Canon EF 100mm f / 2.8L Macro IS USM
The average price is 46 000 rubles.
Specifications:
- constant focal length macro
- suitable for Canon EF and EF-S
- built-in image stabilizer
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.3 m
- dimensions (DхL): 77.7 × 123 mm
- weight: 625 g
Many lenses have been specially developed for Canon EF, but perhaps the best of them is the company's own development - the EF 100mm f / 2.8L Macro IS USM. This model appeared on the market several years ago, however, to this day it remains a very good option for macro photography.
Distinctive features of the lens are a focus of 100 mm, a diagonal of 23.4 degrees and 15 components (as a rule, the more elements "participated" in the creation of the lens, the better it is, the zoom is steeper, and the sharpness is greater). And if you were annoyed by the noise that magnification worked in other lenses, then the EF 100mm f / 2.8L Macro IS USM is almost silent.
One of the main features of the model is Canon's image stabilization technology, which prevents image distortion when shooting close-ups or in low light. By the way, the lens is quite versatile and, in addition to macro photography, can still make good portrait images.
pros: color reproduction, sharpness, accurate and fast autofocus.
Minuses: not.
1. Tamron SP 90mm f / 2.8 Di Macro 1: 1 VC USD
The average price is 41,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- constant focal length macro
- Nikon F mount, built-in motor
- built-in image stabilizer
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.3 m
- dimensions (DхL): 79 × 114.6 mm
- weight: 600 g
After reviewing user reviews and expert opinions on specialized sites, we gave first place to the representative of the latest Tamron line of macro lenses. It boasts a new hybrid image stabilizer and XY offset compensation.
In addition, due to the design of the lens flare and unnecessary reflections in your photos simply can not be. And this model also has low-dispersion glass and manual control of the focal length.
In addition to outstanding optical characteristics, the lens is very well made and durable, which is important when shooting outdoors. We add that it is equipped with protection against moisture and dust. By the way, the special coating on the front panel repels not only dust, dirt and moisture, but also eliminates fingerprints.
A focal length of 90 mm is perfect for everyday use. The lens can be used on both Nikon and Sony A, and Canon EF cameras.
pros: build quality, tenacity autofocus, low weight for such materials.
Minuses: The hood mount is too loose.
Best Constant Focus Lenses
3.Nikon 85mm f / 1.8S Nikkor Z
The average price is 55,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- constant telephoto lens
- mount Nikon Z
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.8 m
- dimensions (DхL): 75 × 99 mm
- weight: 470 g
Although the aperture ratio of this lens does not stand out so much (only f / 1.8), the picture will be of excellent quality. And, unlike the kilogram monster, which ranks second in the list of the best fixed lenses of 2020, the lens for Nikon weighs only 470 grams and will serve as an excellent addition to mirrorless cameras of the Z series.
This version has two low-dispersion elements and a special anti-reflective coating Nano Crystal Coat. The build quality is excellent, there are sealing elements to protect from the weather, and autofocus is fast, accurate and, importantly, almost silent. Users praise high contrast, rich colors and lack of distortion.
pros: details, silent autofocus, color rendition.
Minuses: filter with plastic thread.
2. Sigma 85mm f / 1.4 DG HSM Art
The average price is 59,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- standard constant focus lens
- suitable for Canon EF and EF-S
- auto focus
- dimensions (DхL): 94.7 × 126.2 mm
- weight: 1131 g
A large and not the cheapest lens with a focal length of 85 mm and weighing more than a kilogram. When creating it, the engineers probably thought how to fit newfangled technical stuff into it and how to make it durable and resistant to environmental influences, and not about whether the photographer would be easy.
As a result, an optical system with two low-dispersion elements, a round aperture, excellent sharpness and fast and accurate autofocus was born. The sharpness of the image is really outstanding, which is especially impressive considering the “fast” f / 1.4 lens. Even distant objects are very clear, and the colors of the picture are bright and rich.
pros: sharpness and image quality.
Minuses: size and weight.
1. Canon EF 85mm f / 1.4L IS USM
The average price is 77,000 rubles.
Specifications:
- standard constant focus lens
- suitable for Canon EF and EF-S
- built-in image stabilizer
- auto focus
- minimum focusing distance 0.85 m
- dimensions (DхL): 88.6 × 105.4 mm
- weight: 950 g
There are only two 85mm lenses for Canon cameras with image stabilization in the world, and the Canon EF 85mm f / 1.4L IS USM is one of them.
Build quality will amaze the customer: the lens has a shock-absorbing body, protection against moisture, dust and other atmospheric troubles and a fluorite coating on the front and back. Of course, moisture protection during portraiture to ordinary users may seem unnecessary, but wedding photographers strongly disagree with this.
The optical element is constructed from 14 components (and more means better), and is equipped with a special anti-reflective coating of Canon Air Sphere Coating. At the same time, the lens is lighter than its direct competitor - the 85 mm lens for Sigma - even by 950 g. Although in sharpness it is slightly inferior to the Sigma lens, but it takes its own due to image stabilization, and photos with blurring the background are simply magnificent.
pros: image quality, sharpness, blur effect.
Minuses: price.
