Do you own Canon EOS M3 and want to buy some new Canon M3 lenses?
Choosing the right Canon M3 lenses can be a highly complex task.
However, I will make things simple in this guide and show you the best lenses for Canon EOS M3 in 2024.
Canon M3 comes with a 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, its most advanced image processor, a new Hybrid CMOS AF III, and a 49-point AF system.
The camera is designed with DSLR-like controls that offer extraordinary ergonomic performance in the compact mirrorless body.
How does M3’s compact body work with high-quality Canon M3 lenses?
Exceptionally well! If you want to know which lenses to pick for your camera bag, keep reading.
Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 Lens | Canon 11-22mm f/4-5.6 Lens | Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens |
Captivatingly sharp images with beautiful background blur, perfect for stunning portraits and low-light photography. | Versatile wide-angle zoom capturing immersive landscapes and dynamic perspectives for creative storytelling. | All-in-one lens for everyday photography, delivering impressive image quality and flexibility without breaking the bank. |
5.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 Lens
Captivatingly sharp images with beautiful background blur, perfect for stunning portraits and low-light photography.
Canon 11-22mm f/4-5.6 Lens
Versatile wide-angle zoom capturing immersive landscapes and dynamic perspectives for creative storytelling.
Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
All-in-one lens for everyday photography, delivering impressive image quality and flexibility without breaking the bank.
Best Prime Lens For Portrait Photography
All of the pictures I have taken with this lens came out extremely sharp, significantly above an f/2 with beautiful and defocused backgrounds.
Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 brings a bright maximum aperture with a 32 mm field of view. The close-up shooting is easily achievable, with a maximum magnification of 0,25x.
Seven blades in a circular aperture ensure beautiful and smooth backgrounds. The images this lens produces are incredibly sharp, significantly above an f/2.
The bokeh effect is outstanding and nothing short of what you can expect from a lens of this caliber. The focusing system is fast and reliable. It is much quicker than some more expensive lenses and does virtually no hunting.
I did notice slight chromatic aberrations during the testing phase, but all of them were relatively easy to remove. The large f/1.4 aperture makes this lens an excellent choice for low-light conditions.
Additionally:
When shooting wide open, the lens gives creative control over the field’s depth. Color rendering is satisfactory since the colors appear natural and vivid, with good saturation. The design of the lens is of very high quality.
Though it is much heavier than I expected, it feels solid and easy to work with. For the price this Canon EOS M3 lens comes at, I would say it is the deal one should not miss.
Pros
- Smooth backgrounds
- Outstanding bokeh effect
- Fast and reliable focusing
Cons
- Slight chromatic aberrations
Best Wide-Angle Lens For Landscape Photography
The lens's focusing performance is impeccable, with a reasonably fast focus that does not hunt for a shot.
Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 is an incredibly versatile and capable lens for Canon M3. The EF-M, in the matter, is one of the best wide-angle lenses I have tested recently.
During the test phase, I went into the wilderness to capture some landscapes, and the image quality utterly blew me off. I held a photo session under direct sunlight and then after the sunset. The flare and ghost controls were terrific.
At 11 mm, the picture quality is astonishing, with virtually no distortions in the image. Image stabilization is very handy. I love using a slower shutter speed to convey motion. The shutter speed of 1/8 isn’t a big problem when I shoot from my hand.
STM is useful for recording video. There’s no sound of the motor being recorded. Although the lens has a maximum aperture of f/4-5.6, it shoots at low light without a problem, which is the case with all the EOS M lenses.
Construction-wise, the lens feels rock-solid, and it is easy to notice that it has been made from quality materials.
Finally:
When the camera is not used, it retracts and locks (manually) for safer and more comfortable carrying and storage.
Pros
- Astonishing picture quality
- Great low-light performance
- Good build quality
Cons
- Lens collapse switch can be annoying
Best All-Around Lens For Everyday Photography
The focusing system works reasonably well. It is not the fastest one in the market, yet it delivers decent results. Since it is silent, it works well for videos.
- Lens Type: Zoom
- Mounting Type: Canon EF-S
- Focal Length Range: 18-55mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.45 meters
- Weight: 0.44 pounds
- Dimensions: 2.76 x 2.72 x 2.72 inches
Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 comes with an image stabilization equivalent to up to four stops of shake correction. The lens supports continuous autofocus during video shooting, which is quite a nice feature.
The maximum magnification sets at 0,25x at the telephoto end, while the minimum focusing distance sits at 0,25 m at the entire zoom range.
The manufacturer equipped the lens with seven circular blades for soft backgrounds and pleasing bokeh. I was pleasantly surprised by the construction of the lens. The exterior is made of metal, with just a little plastic, and feels quite lovely when I hold it in my hands.
Zooming goes very smoothly, and from an ergonomic standpoint, I have no complaints. However, this lens is pretty heavy for an all-around lens, which may deter some users.
The photo quality is satisfactory. Images appear very sharp, with good contrast and preservation of fine details. Bokeh’s effects look eye-pleasing, and you notice excellent separations between subjects and backgrounds.
The autofocus seems to be responsive and accurate. However, it could be a little faster for my taste. For those familiar with Canon EOS M3 lenses, the lens in matter belongs to the typical M-tier lens quality.
Pros
- Feels lovely in the hands
- Very sharp images
- Eye-pleasing bokeh effect
Cons
- Autofocus could be a bit faster
Best Telephoto Lens For Wildlife Photography
The best selling point of the lens is its versatility and ability to accomplish both small package weight and reliable performance.
Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 is a lens constructed with 17 elements in 11 groups with a diagonal angle of view of 2750′-750′. The closest focusing distance is set at 1,0 m.
I particularly liked this lens’s ability to focus manually and automatically all the time. The auto mode doesn’t lock the gear, so you can manually tweak the settings.
Since the lens is limited to an f/4.5 at the complete end and even with the image stabilization, the lens does not deliver impeccable results compared to prime lenses. On the other hand, for what it is, it is reasonably sharp and performs adequately on EOS M3.
My other complaint relates to the build quality. Although it passes all standards, I feel its plastic lens mount makes this lens feel cheaper than it is.
When it comes to image quality, this Canon EOS M3 lens delivers excellent results. All the images I have gotten with this lens were crystal clear, with a decent amount of fine details.
There is a bit of distortion at the telephoto end; however, I could remove it in post-production.
Pictures appear pretty sharp at an f/4.5, though be vary. You will need a reliable external light source for evening and night photo sessions.
Pros
- Reasonably sharp
- Excellent image quality
- Fine details
Cons
- Limited to an f/4.5
Best Macro Lens For Macro Photography
The general image quality is outstanding, with beautiful and natural colors accompanied by high contrast. LED addition is useful.
Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 is a compact, light macro lens featuring a built-in macro lite, enabling an automatic supply of light to photos. Most of the time, I would call this type of feature a gimmick, but in this case, it gave me an excellent sense of depth and dimension.
The lens, in the matter, has autofocus capable of focusing at infinity in normal and macro shooting with up to 1.2x magnification.
The lens has a Stepping motor that works a superb job in providing smooth and quiet processes, while it operates in near silence when you are recording videos. Design-wise, the lens is built of light aluminum with a plastic mount.
The lens feels nice in the hands and is pretty enjoyable to work with. The stabilizer works nicely and is an excellent option for such close-up levels. The amount of details is very high.
I could see small details that would otherwise go unnoticed by the human eye, and even at a wide aperture, the lens is very sharp. I did not notice any fringing, even on high-contrast subjects up close.
For a macro Canon M3 lens, an f/3.5 is a solid choice for aperture since I was mostly shooting at an f/8 and got pretty nice images.
Considering this lens’s price and outstanding performance, I would say it is a deal no one should miss.
Pros
- Smooth focusing
- High details
- Excellent sharpness
Cons
- The bayonet mount is plastic
What is the best lens for Canon M3?
Canon M3 is an exceptional camera, combining both two worlds. Its compact body, packed with world-class features, offers an incredible photographic experience.
I had quite a good time testing M3, and it is one of the finest cameras I have encountered lately.
As a proud owner of this Canon, if you want to know how to elevate its performance, listen to me – buy any Canon EOS M3 lenses from the list, and you are ready to go.
Please comment below for those who still can’t decide on the right lens for you. I will do my best to help you further find the best Canon M3 lenses for your personal needs.
Also, check out other guides on this blog, such as tutorials for Canon M50 lenses and Canon T7i lenses.
Just read your article about best lenses for Canon eos M3. The camera I brought has a 15-45mm which you didn’t even mention.
I’ll mainly be using this camera for self take shots of fish I hopefullymanage to catch , day and night. I’d like to hear what you have to say regarding choice as I’m an absolute beginner just wanting decent shots.
Many thanks,
David
Appreciate you reading my article on the best lenses for the Canon EOS M3, David! I didn’t mention the 15-45mm lens in it, but it’s an excellent option for beginners and offers reliable all-around performance. If you’re looking to up your low-light photography game, we recommend checking out the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM or Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Lens – both lenses give great results even when light is scarce and aren’t compromising in quality either! Plus, their lightweight design makes them ultra-easy to carry around for self-shots of fish!