Best Telephoto Lenses for Canon DSLRs

recommended-telephoto-lenses-for-canon-dslr-cameras

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 DSLRsTelephoto 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