Do you want to learn the best lenses for Canon 7D Mark II?
Choosing the right lens can be complicated.
However, in this easy-to-read guide, I will help you choose the best Canon 7D Mark II lenses in 2024.
Canon 7D Mark II brings truly pro-grade autofocus, taking its predecessor’s strengths: an intelligent autofocus system and video capabilities.
The new edition from Canon had those features upgraded. 7D Mark II comes with a 20 MPx dual-pixel AF CMOS sensor, ten fps continuous shooting with autofocus, 65 all cross-type autofocus sensors, enhanced environmental sealing, and shutters speeds up to 1/8000th seconds.
To enhance this great camera further, pair it with the proper Canon 7D Mark II lenses.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Lens | Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Lens | Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens |
Captivatingly sharp and versatile, this lens delivers stunning portraits and exceptional low-light performance. | Unleash your creativity with remarkable zoom capabilities, capturing incredible detail even from a distance. | Experience the ultimate convenience of an all-in-one lens without compromising on image quality or your wallet. |
5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Lens
Captivatingly sharp and versatile, this lens delivers stunning portraits and exceptional low-light performance.
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Lens
Unleash your creativity with remarkable zoom capabilities, capturing incredible detail even from a distance.
Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Experience the ultimate convenience of an all-in-one lens without compromising on image quality or your wallet.
Best Prime Lens For Portrait Photography
This is a top of the line lens from Sigma company with decent build quality that delivers best performance when it is used for shooting weddings and family portraits.
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 stands out in the prime lens category, offering an effective focal length of approximately 80mm on APS-C cameras like the Canon 7D Mark II, due to the 1.6x crop factor. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.4 while the minimum is f/16.
Ring-type ultrasonic autofocus motor has a full-time manual focusing option. With a minimum focusing distance of 40 centimeters (approximately 15.7 inches), this lens enables photographers to capture stunning close-up portraits with ease.
From the hardware perspective, it is good to mention that the lens has three outstanding low-dispersion elements and a floating system. The image quality is incredible.
I took the lens to various events, and under all light conditions, it performed pretty well. Pictures were razor-sharp, and the bokeh was silky smooth. The autofocus is accurate and responsive. The contrast Is excellent, with superior color transmission all around the frame.
No distortions were in the corners, no matter what focal length I used. From an ergonomic perspective, the manual focusing ring is nearly perfect and precise.
The lens is built with excellent materials and has a beautifully made lens cap that does not pop off.
Unfortunately:
The lens is quite heavy and does not have a dock seal; the only downside I found during the test.
Pros
- Incredible image quality
- Razor-sharp pictures
- Silky smooth bokeh
Cons
- Does not have a dock seal
Best Wide-Angle Lens For Landscape Photography
This lens for Tokina has good autofocus and an excellent f/2.8 aperture while delivering excellent photos for landscape photography.
Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 is a lens designed for cameras with APS-C sensors. It has an aperture range from f2.8 to f/22 and comes with two aspheric and two super-low dispersion lens elements.
The lens produces razor-sharp photos under all conditions. I even took the lens out in the night to capture night skies and was amazed by the image quality.
It also has a tremendous depth of field, making it great to get group shots and include the background. The focal length is vast and will satisfy most of your photographic needs in this manner.
This Tokina comes with an infinity setting, so I don’t have to worry about focus issues in the dark. A personal recommendation would be to get the polarizer for it since it comes in handy on a clear day.
There is a slight distortion at the edges, which is expected since it is a wide-angle lens. The distortion is easily corrected, so it is not a big issue. The Auto-focus system works incredibly well, and even though there is no image stabilization, I didn’t have any serious problems while shooting from the hand.
Generally, it is a versatile wide-angle lens for Canon 7D Mark II made of decent materials, and if you get it, you will probably keep it in your camera bag for quite some time.
Pros
- Tremendous depth of field
- Infinity setting
- Incredible autofocus
Cons
- Little distortion at the edges
Best All-Around Lens For Everyday Photography
The lens has an image stabilization that gains four stops, and it packs micromotor-type autofocus without full-time manual focusing.
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 with its closest focusing distance of 1.48 feet and a maximum close-up magnification of 0,24 x. Equipped with a micromotor-type autofocus system, this lens smoothly transitions from automatic to manual focusing, enabling precise adjustments while shooting.
Image stabilization is built into the lens and can reduce shaking up to four stops. I love Canon’s attention, so you will receive an EF-S mount for APS-C DSLR with the lens.
At 18mm, it’s a sprawling landscape lens, and at 200 mm, it is a tremendous medium-range telephoto. When we move to the image quality, I must say that the pictures’ delivery is crystal clear and sharp.
This lens works well at family events where a wide-angle zoom is needed and trips to the wilderness where a telephoto zoom is the best choice.
However, I wasn’t thrilled with lens performance under low light. I had to raise the ISO value more than I like to get decent images. That is why I started to use the auto-iso on 7D Mark II to compensate for this lens’s higher f-stops, which has helped significantly.
I captured many great shots across the entire focal range. There’s minor vignetting on the edges, but this is easily corrected in post-processing. Overall image quality is superb.
Pros
- Crystal clean images
- Fantastic color rendering
- Vivid colors
Cons
- Weighty front element
Best Telephoto Lens For Wildlife Photography
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sports has one SLD and four FLD elements with a super multi-layer coating that reduces flare and ghosting issues.
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Mounting Type: Canon EF
- Focal Length Range: 150-600mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 280cm/110.2 inches
- Weight: 4.25 pounds
- Dimensions: 10.2 x 4.1 x 4.1 inches
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sports has one SLD and four FLD elements with a super multi-layer coating that reduces flare and ghosting issues. The lens uses a hypersonic motor for autofocus, and it has an optical image stabilization function.
Let’s start with the exterior. The lens has a sleek design with dark colors. Its lens cap is fabric and slides over the front of the lens, making it challenging to put on and off when you are in a hurry.
Since it is a telephoto lens made of metal, it is easy to conclude it is massive and bulky. While that is nice from a protection point of view, it does make the lens heavier. Moving from physical characteristics to performance, I will say that picture quality is incredible.
I have taken the lens out mainly in the morning light and a bit indoors in the evening. The results have been about what I expected for image quality and better than I expected for image stabilization.
The sharpness was fantastic, even at maximum aperture, but the quality was even better when I stopped down to f/8. The image stabilization is incredible, as well. I shot 1/40s at 600 mm and had sharp images.
The auto-focusing is fast and responsive, even in demanding situations. In conclusion, this Sigma telephoto lens is incredible, and every aspiring photographer should at least try it out.
Pros
- Excellent optic experience
- Image stabilization is great
- Fast and responsive focusing
Cons
- Zoom ring is a little tight
Best Macro Lens For Macro Photography
Tamron 90mm F/2.8 is an outstanding macro lens that is budget-friendly while still being able to deliver photos full of details with crisp and vibrant colors.
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Macro lens is a moisture-proof and dust-resistant lens with a durable fluorine coating on to front element that repels water and fingerprints.
Its advanced coating technology reduces flare and ghosting. Since it is a macro lens, I also love to use it as a portrait lens, and I am happy with the results. Its circular aperture can achieve beautiful, rounded bokeh.
Due to advanced technology, there are zero chromatic aberrations or ghosting problems. The lens is not the fastest on the market, but its image stabilization makes up for the f-stop difference compared to other lenses.
I can shoot at 1/13th shutter speed and have a razor-sharp image. I took the lens outdoors and took pictures in the nearby forest, and I was content with the results.
Images are sharp, clear, and with excellent contrast. The amount of detail you can capture with this gem is incredible, and it is one of the stronger macro lenses I have seen recently.
The solid construction utilizes quality materials for durability, and the lens is comfortable to handle during prolonged shooting sessions.
Pros
- Sharp images
- No chromatic aberrations
- Great image stabilization
Cons
- Focusing can wander
Practical Lens Selection Tips for Canon 7D Mark II Users
When choosing a lens for your Canon 7D Mark II, consider the following practical tips:
Understand the Crop Factor: The 7D Mark II has an APS-C sensor, which means it has a 1.6x crop factor. This changes the effective field of view of lenses. For example, a 50mm lens will behave more like an 80mm lens. Keep this in mind, especially when looking for wide-angle shots.
Prime vs. Zoom: Prime lenses, like the Sigma 50mm f/1.4, offer superior sharpness and a wide aperture, perfect for low-light conditions and depth-of-field control. Zoom lenses, such as the Canon 18-200mm, provide flexibility to cover a range of focal lengths without changing the lens.
Lens Aperture: Aperture affects exposure and depth of field. Lenses with larger apertures (lower f-numbers) allow more light, which is ideal for indoor or low-light photography. They also enable a shallower depth of field, which is great for portraits with blurred backgrounds.
Image Stabilization: For handheld shooting, lenses with image stabilization (IS) are beneficial. They help to minimize camera shake and are particularly useful in low-light conditions or when using telephoto lenses.
Autofocus Performance: Consider lenses with ultrasonic motors (USM) or stepping motor (STM) autofocus systems for faster and quieter operation, which is crucial for capturing fast-moving subjects or for video recording.
Assess Your Needs: Think about what you photograph most often. Landscape photographers may prioritize a wide-angle lens like the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, while wildlife photographers might lean towards a telephoto option like the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3.
Budget Wisely: Lenses are an investment. High-quality glass can outlast camera bodies, so consider your long-term photography goals when allocating your budget.
Check Reviews and Samples: Before purchasing, read reviews and look at sample photos taken with the lens. This can give you a better idea of the lens’s performance in real-world conditions.
By considering these factors, you’ll be able to choose a lens that not only complements your Canon 7D Mark II but also suits your photography style and needs.
What is the best lens for Canon 7D Mark II?
Though I had my share of experience with mirrorless cameras, full-frame DSLRs are still my favorites.
Canon 7D Mark II is a great camera that took the best features from its predecessor and upgraded them to a new level.
This Canon is an excellent camera, from technical capabilities to material quality. If you already have this gem and want to elevate your photo game, try out any recommended Canon 7D Mark II lenses.
Hopefully, you can further improve Canon 7D Mark II with some of the best lenses from this guide.
If you need more help in choosing the perfect lens for you, please comment below.
Meanwhile, feel free to visit similar articles on this blog, such as Canon RP lenses and Canon R6 lens guide.
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