📸 5 MUST-OWN Lenses For Canon EOS R In 2024 [Guide]

Jan 13, 2024 | Buying Guides

Are you looking to get the best Canon R lenses in 2024?

If so, you are probably aware that choosing the best Canon EOS R lens within your budget is a complicated task.

Luckily for you, after reading this article, you will have the skills necessary to choose the best Canon R lens.

If you are a proud owner of the Canon EOS R, you are probably aware that it is the first full-frame mirrorless camera with an RF mount.

lenses for Canon EOS R

The EOS R is capable of outstanding image quality with its 30 MPx full-frame sensor with dual pixel autofocus, up to 8 fps shooting, and UHD 4K/30p video recording.

However:

No matter how good the image quality is, photographers always look to enhance camera capabilities. EOS R is no exception; like any other camera, it has its limit.

However, photographers can push their boundaries further with the right Canon R lenses.

Luckily, I did a series of tests to ensure the top five Canon EOS R lenses that will take your photography to the next level in 2024.

Editor's Choice
Best Runner Up
Best Budget

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 Lens

Canon RF 15-35mm Ff/2.8 Lens

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Lens

Unleash your creativity with this versatile lens that captures stunning images at varying focal lengths with a wide f/2.8 aperture.

Experience the ultimate in wide-angle photography with this high-performance lens, delivering remarkable sharpness and clarity.

Discover the perfect balance of affordability and exceptional image quality with this compact lens, ideal for everyday shooting.

5.0
4.8
4.7
Editor's Choice

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 Lens

Unleash your creativity with this versatile lens that captures stunning images at varying focal lengths with a wide f/2.8 aperture.

5.0
Best Runner Up

Canon RF 15-35mm Ff/2.8 Lens

Experience the ultimate in wide-angle photography with this high-performance lens, delivering remarkable sharpness and clarity.

4.8
Best Budget

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Lens

Discover the perfect balance of affordability and exceptional image quality with this compact lens, ideal for everyday shooting.

4.7
Lasso Brag
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 Lens

Experience the power of precision with Canon's RF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens; offering fast aperture, incredible sharpness, and a versatile zoom range.

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  • Lens Type: Telephoto
  • Mounting Type: Canon RF
  • Focal Length Range: 70-200mm
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 0.7 m
  • Weight: 2.64 pounds
  • Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 5.7 inches

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 is a compact, lightweight, bright f/2.8 aperture telephoto zoom RF L lens. It has optical image stabilization with up to five stops of shake correction.

This telephoto lens for Canon EOS R sets the minimum focusing distance of 0,7 m while the dual Nano USM ensures fast focusing. One of the best things about this lens is its incredible optical image stabilization.

I set the shutter speed at almost 1/20 of the second, with a focal length of 150 mm, and the lens delivered tack-sharp images.

Another fact that I like is the size of the lens. It is very compact and packs considerably less weight than the competition, making it convenient for prolonged shooting sessions.

The zoom ring is tight enough, and I had no problems operating it. The image quality is fantastic, with virtually no distortion or vignetting.

The focusing system is excellent as well, with accurate and responsive performance. I went to the playground to take pictures of moving dogs and kids playing, and I didn’t miss a shot, thanks to the fast autofocus.

In conclusion, RF 70-200 mm is a versatile telephoto lens for Canon R that offers extraordinary performance.

Pros

  • Sleek design
  • Sharp images
  • Solid autofocus

Cons

  • Build quality could be better

#2 Best Runner-Up: Discover the Best Wide-Angle Lens for Canon EOS R

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 Lens

Canon 15-35mm f/2.8L is the most awesome lens for capturing wide-angle pictures. Its f/2.8 aperture will get you sharp images even in low-light situations.

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Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 offers a bright aperture and optical image stabilization with up to five shake correction stops.

The minimum focusing distance is 0,28 m, while the Nano USM ensures quiet and smooth autofocusing. The lens has a control ring for direct setting changes.

Another ergonomically critical lens is that the lens is light and compact, thanks to its plastic design and matte finish, which is a big plus that hides fingerprints.

During the testing:

I thought it would be interesting to shoot at night. I set the ISO at 800, maximum aperture, and 1/60 sec. I was delighted by the sharpness of the picture.

The focusing system is incredibly silent, making it ideal for video recording. It also works in a responsive and precise way without hunting problems.

Pictures from this lens are of top-notch quality, with extraordinary sharpness and barely visible corner distortions.

The bokeh effect is helpful if you isolate your subject from the background; otherwise, everything seems to focus.

One of the drawbacks of this Canon EOS R wide-angle lens is the high price, but since you are getting an “L” series lens with superb optical performance, it is well spent.

Pros

  • Light and compact
  • Silent focusing system
  • Useful bokeh

Cons

  • High price

#3 Best Budget: The Must-Have Prime Lens for Canon EOS R

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Lens

Capture life's brilliance with Canon's RF 35mm f/1.8 lens; exceptional low-light performance, beautiful bokeh, and razor-sharp detail.

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Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 is a compact lens with a 0,5x magnification ratio and a minimum focusing distance of 0,17 m.

The optical image stabilizations ensure shake correction of up to five stops, while the control ring allows for a direct setting change.

One of the lenses ‘ incredible feats is the fast-focusing system, even under harsh, wet conditions. Another excellent feature of autofocus is its astonishing performance under low light.

The bokeh effect is pleasing, even spectacular at moments. Color rendering is exquisite, with vivid colors and high contrast across the frame. Even at the maximum opening, the lens provides satisfactory performance in terms of sharpness.

Aside from its portrait performance, the lens can be used as a great walk-around and macro lens. I noticed traces of distortion in some images, but I was able to remove them in post-production.

Optical image stabilization works well and is an excellent addition to low-light situations.

The general design of the lens complements its peak performance. It has a nice finishing touch and feels helpful in the hands.

The only drawback is the lack of a weather sealant. Although the lens is limited to 35 mm, it offers a versatile performance that one could utilize in many ways.

The bottom line is:

If you are looking for a Canon EOS R prime lens that will shoot stunning photos, look no further, Ca; Canonm f/1.8 is a great solution.

Pros

  • Beautiful bokeh effect
  • Fast-focusing system
  • Great sharpness

Cons

  • Lack of a weather-sealant

#4 Unveiling the Perfect All-Around Lens for Canon EOS R

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L Lens

The zoom is nice and tight from an ergonomic perspective, so if you point the lens down and do a long exposure, the result will be a focused shot.

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  • Lens Type: Wide Angle, Telephoto
  • Mounting Type: Canon RF
  • Focal Length Range: 24-105mm
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 0.45 m
  • Weight: 1.54 pounds
  • Dimensions: 3.3 x 3.3 x 4.2 inches

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 lens brings a bright constant aperture throughout the zoom range. It’s an all-in-one lens that works great with the Canon EOS R camera.

The lens has an optical image stabilization of up to five stops of shake correction, paired with a control ring for natural settings changes. The construction comprises 18 elements in 14 groups, with the Nano USM.

The zoom is nice and tight from an ergonomic perspective, so if you point the lens down and do a long exposure, the result will be a focused shot with no zoom lens creep. The lens packs serious “L” quality.

It produces ultra-sharp images through the zoom range, even at the maximum opening. The contrast and color render are excellent, with fine details across the frame.

The Autofocusing system is incredibly responsive and accurate. It operates so quietly that you may think it didn’t even focus.

The control ring is brilliant, and I have used it to control the ISO value, which is quite a convenient option.

Another excellent point is the optical image stabilization that gets five stops of shake correction. I used the lens for various purposes, and even without a tripod and under the dim light, I achieved solid photos.

The only problem is knocking inside if carried with the lens fully extended.

Pros

  • Incredibly responsive autofocusing
  • Excellent color rendering
  • Great build quality

Cons

  • Knocking inside when the lens is extended

#5 Get Up Close and Personal with the Best Macro Lens for Canon EOS R

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Lens

Image quality from this lens is phenomenal. You will meet very sharp images with wonderfully creamy bokeh produced by its 15 elements.

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Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 offers four-stop hybrid image stabilization with an angle of view of 23.4 degrees. The life-size image reproduction is 1:1 in ratio, and the lens features the UD lens element.

I was expecting quite a heavy lens, and I was pleasantly surprised that the matter’s lens is relatively compact and lightweight.

I also noticed the right of the bat was the color rendering, with natural and well-saturated colors.

I met an outstanding representation of colors across the color palette without unnatural color-shifting due to low light.

Close focus is excellent, and the lens hood allowed me to get very close to the subject without worrying about contact with the glass.

Compared to shorter focal lengths, I find this to be a real benefit of the 100 mm macro lens.

The aperture of 2.8 is fast enough for handheld performance in decent light, and the depth of field is narrow at this aperture.

Image stabilization is beneficial if you want to try to shoot handheld. Autofocus is blisteringly fast and made even better because you can adjust the focal range with a switch on the side of the lens.

The bokeh effect is exceptionally soft and butter-smooth, making this Canon R macro lens ideal for portrait photography, aside from its macro performance.

Pros

  • Lightweight and compact
  • Great color rendering
  • Amazing autofocus

Cons

  • It feels cheap in the hands

Capturing Brilliance: FAQ Answers for Choosing the Perfect Canon EOS R Lens

What lenses can the EOS R use?

The Canon EOS R can use both RF and EF lenses. It natively accepts RF lenses, but it can also use EF lenses when combined with a Canon EF to RF adapter.

Do all Canon lenses fit the EOS R?

he Canon EOS R can use both RF and EF lenses natively and with an adapter respectively. However, it cannot directly use EF-S or EF-M lenses without a suitable adapter. Always make sure to check lens compatibility.

What lens mount is Canon EOS R?

The Canon EOS R uses the RF lens mount, a newer mount type introduced by Canon specifically for its mirrorless camera lineup.

Can I use Sigma lens on Canon EOS R?

Yes, Sigma lenses can be used on the Canon EOS R. However, you will need a compatible adapter if the Sigma lens uses the EF mount. Sigma also manufactures RF mount lenses which can be used directly with the EOS R.

Can I use EF-M lenses on EOS R?

EF-M lenses, designed for Canon’s APS-C mirrorless cameras, cannot be used on the EOS R without an adapter.

Does the Canon EOS R use RF lenses?

es, the Canon EOS R uses RF lenses. The RF mount is Canon’s latest mount design and was specifically developed for the EOS R series of full-frame mirrorless cameras.

What is the best lens for Canon EOS R?

Canon EOS R is an exquisite piece of equipment aimed at professional photographic work.

Although it doesn’t offer more high-end video capabilities than the competition, its image-taking capabilities are stunning.

Through the testing phase, it showed as one of the finest Canon cameras I’ve worked with lately. The “R” series has an excellent future, with smaller and more compact lenses that will flood the market in the upcoming years.

If you are looking for severe Canon EOS R lenses to work with, you can’t go wrong by opting out of any of the list’s lenses.

I hope this guide helped you to make the right decision and get the best Canon EOS R lenses for your personal needs.

However, if you have any additional questions, please comment below; we are more than willing to help you choose the right Canon EOS R lens.

Also, please read our other articles, such as the Canon M50 lenses guide or the best lenses for the Canon T7i tutorial, as they will help you make the right decision for other cameras.

Happy shooting!

BEST RECOMMENDATION:

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 Lens

Experience the power of precision with Canon's RF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens; offering fast aperture, incredible sharpness, and a versatile zoom range.

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Stacy WItten

Stacy WItten

Owner, Writer & Photographer

Stacy Witten, owner and creative force behind LensesPro, delivers expertly crafted content with precision and professional insight. Her extensive background in writing and photography guarantees quality and trust in every review and tutorial.

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4 Comments

  1. I was told by a Canon rep that I’d need to get a software update in order for the RF 70-200mm F2.8 to perform well. Have you done the update?

    Reply
    • You are much appreciated! To ensure you have the newest firmware version for your camera, we suggest checking with Canon’s customer support or looking it up on their website. Updating your camera’s firmware will guarantee that it can be used in the best possible way and for compatibility with the latest lenses too!

      Reply
  2. Hey guys,

    I am planning to purchase a Canon EOS R for my dad as a retirement gift. He always wanted a professional camera but this would be his first purchase. Can you please suggest a beginner must-have lens and all the other equipment that goes with it?

    Looking forward for your reply!
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Venkata, Well for Canon EOS R I would suggest buying either 1 all-around lens for your dad, or if you want to get better quality, get a prime and wide-angle lens. All of the suggested ones in the article will do just fine for your situation. As far as other equipment goes, maybe get him a tripod as well? I’m not sure what is his level of professionalism, but another great option would be to buy a Canon EOS R bundle.

      Reply

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