Looking for recommended telephoto lenses for Canon DSLR camera ? A telephoto lens is a lens whose focal length is longer than the focal length of a standard lens. There are two type of telephoto lenses: Telephoto prime lens and telephoto zoom lens.
Here is the list of best telephoto lenses for Canon DSLRs (Both full frame and APS-C). According to the DxOMark, below is suggestion of best telephoto lenses for Canon.
Telephoto Prime Lenses for Full Frame DSLRs | Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Full Frame DSLRs | Telephoto Prime Lenses for APS-C DSLRs | Telephoto Zoom Lenses for APS-C DSLRs
Best Telephoto Prime Lenses for Canon 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II, 6D, 1D X Full Frame DSLRs
Below is most recommended Telephoto prime lenses for Canon full frame DSLRs. Tested on 5D Mark III, the best telephoto prime lenses are from Zeiss, Zeiss 135mm f/2 Apo Sonnar T* and Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Lens. Both lenses are very expensive, if you need a cheap one, Sigma 85mm f/1.4 and EF 100mm f/2 USM lenses are best choice for you. At super telephoto prime lens range, the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens is a great lens for Canon DSLRs.
| Lens | DxOMark | Check Price at | |
| Zeiss 135mm f/2 Apo Sonnar T* ZE | 38 | B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO Planar T* | 38 | B&H/Adorama/eBay/Rent | |
| Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM | 35 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 100mm f/2 USM | 33 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZE | 32 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM | 31 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF | 30 | Amazon/B&H/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 85mm f/1.8 USM | 28 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZE | 28 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| Super Telephoto Prime | |||
| EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM | 32 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM | 30 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM | 26 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM | 26 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM | 25 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro | 24 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM | 22 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
| EF 300mm f/4.0L IS USM | 19 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent | |
Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Canon 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II, 6D, 1D X Full Frame DSLRs
If you are looking for a Telephoto zoom lens for Canon full frame DSLRs, The Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM is the best lens, but the price is very expensive. You can choose the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and new released Sigma 150-600mm lens.
| Lens | DxOMark | Check Price at |
| EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM | – | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM | 29 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 SP Di VC USD | 28 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM | 27 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM S | – | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x | 24 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM | 21 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD | 17 | B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO | 17 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM | 17 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical IF Macro | 14 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
Best Telephoto Prime Lenses for Canon 7D Mark II, 7D, 70D, 60D, Rebel APS-C DSLRs
As for Canon full frame DSLRs, the best Telephoto lens for Canon APS-C cameras is same, they are also from Zeiss, Zeiss 135mm f/2 Apo Sonnar T* and Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Lens. Both lenses are very expensive, if you need a cheap one, Sigma 85mm f/1.4 and EF 100mm f/2 USM lenses are best choice for you. At super telephoto prime lens range, the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens is a great lens for Canon DSLRs.
| Lens | DxOMark | Check Price at | |
| Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO Planar T* | 24 | B&H/Adorama/eBay/Rent | |
| Zeiss 135mm f/2 Apo Sonnar T* ZE | 24 | B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM | 22 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 100mm f/2 USM | 21 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM | 20 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZE | 20 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 135mm f/2.0L USM | 19 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZE | 19 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF | 19 | Amazon/B&H/ebay | |
| Super Telephoto Prime | |||
| EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM | 20 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM | 19 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 200mm f/2.8L IS II USM | 18 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM | 17 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM | 16 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro | 15 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM | 14 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| EF 300mm f/4.0L IS USM | 11 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
| Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di LD IF Macro | 11 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay | |
Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Canon 7D Mark II, 7D, 70D, 60D, Rebel APS-C DSLRs
Below are top telephoto zoom lenses for Canon APS-C DSLRs. Take a look. The Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 is a great lens for Canon APS-C DSLRs.
| Lens | DxOMark | Check Price at |
| Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 SP Di VC USD | 19 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM | – | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM S | – | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay/Rent |
| Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM APO | 19 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM | 19 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM | 17 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x | 15 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM | 12 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II | 11 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM | 11 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD | 10 | B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO | 10 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |
| EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM | 10 | Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay |