We quite often get emails from readers asking us what the must have Canon lenses are to go with a nice shiny new DSLR. In this post we’ll give our 3 must have lenses. In this post we’ll be forgetting about budget and focusing things such as focal length, image quality and performance.
Over time I’ve experimented with many different lenses and bought and sold different bits of glass. As my photography has developed I’ve now found myself in a position where I pretty much have three lenses that I call my bread and butter. I probably shoot 95% of my shots with the lenses below and they are always the first in the bag when I head out to shoot.
1. Canon EF 50mm f1.4 prime
We’ve discussed 50mm lenses many times before gone into some detail about the joys that a 50mm lens can bring. Simplicity, image quality, natural focal lengths and relatively low cost are all great reasons to own a 50mm. After starting off with the very cheap f1.8 version it wasn’t long before I upgraded to the f1.4 version.
When I was shooting with a cropped frame sensor I thought of my 50mm more as a portrait lens than anything else. However since moving over to shooting with a full frame sensor (a Canon 5D Mark II to be precise) the 50mm gives me more of a natural perspective. Now I’m using my 50mm more of a walk about lens, perfect for street photography thanks to it’s conspicuous size and reasonably wide angle. In fact a 50mm lens on a full frame give a focal length that is roughly equivalent to what the human eye sees, hence it’s natural feel on a full frame camera.
2. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
When I want something a bit more flexible than my trusty 50mm and am not concerned about size/discreetness then the next lens I’ll grab is my 24-70mm f2.8 L. This lens is probably the most used professional L series lens that Canon make, for good reason.
Wide enough to shoot landscapes at 24mm and long enough for great portraits this lens is as close to multi-purpose as a lens can get without losing quality by trying to do too much. As well as the flexibility of the focal length it is built like a tank. The construction is designed to take everything a roving press photographer can through on it and more.
3. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM
When I want something longer still the 70-200mm is what i reach for. Of the three lenses here I think the image quality this lens produces is better than the other two. The bokeh it produces is so creamy while the sharpness it produces continues to amaze me after over a couple of years use.
Combine the long focal length with the constant f2.8 and brilliant Image Stabilization (IS) and this is the perfect lens for shooting fast moving wildlife or indoor sports. I am still using the old version of this lens and I hear that the latest version is even better.
Summary
Of course I have other lenses I use and love but the ones mentioned above are the ones I now consider must haves. Sure I love to dabble in a bit of macro with my trusty old 100mm f2.8 (which is incredibly sharp) but i couldn’t live without the three above.
Of course everyone is different. We all shoot different things and want different things fro our photography gear. What about you? What lenses in your bag do you consider must haves? Let us know in the comments below.
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