Are you looking for the best Canon R3 lenses?
If you are into photography, you may own the new Canon flagship.
Since the camera is relatively new, it is wise to ask what lenses best fit.
Because the body isn’t sold in large numbers, the amount of valuable guides is disappointing. Luckily, I have decided to put together the five best Canon R3 lenses.
Before I start talking about optics, let’s check out the camera specifications. The R3 is a top-notch mirrorless camera designed for photojournalists, wildlife photographers, and sports spectators. It has a 24 MPx CMOS Dual-Pixel AF sensor, 30 fps E-shutter, and 5.69-dot EVF. The R3 also sports a DCI or UHD 4k video at up to 120p, along with the raw video.
Canon’s playing to win with R3. But what optics suit it best?
Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L Lens | Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 Lens | Canon 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 Lens |
Versatile zoom capturing stunning shots with impressive clarity, ideal for a range of subjects and situations. | Exceptional portrait lens delivering breathtaking bokeh, perfect for capturing captivating details. | Affordable telephoto lens providing remarkable reach and image quality, making it accessible for all photography enthusiasts. |
5.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L Lens
Versatile zoom capturing stunning shots with impressive clarity, ideal for a range of subjects and situations.
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 Lens
Exceptional portrait lens delivering breathtaking bokeh, perfect for capturing captivating details.
Canon 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 Lens
Affordable telephoto lens providing remarkable reach and image quality, making it accessible for all photography enthusiasts.
Best Prime Lens For Portrait Photography
Pictures are incredibly sharp even at the widest opening. Canon 50 mm comes with an ultra-silent motor that ensures nice and smooth operation.
- Lens Type: Normal
- Mounting Type: Canon EF
- Focal Length Range: 50mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.45m
- Weight: 1.28 pounds
- Dimensions: 2.6 x 3.39 x 3.39 inches
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 has a fixed focal length with a minimum focus distance of 0.40m. It is built with three aspherical and one UD element. The lens has a control ring for direct setting changes and a 12-pin communication system. RF 50mm is easily one of the best Canon lenses.
The background melts away with the lens at the maximum opening while the subject in focus remains crystal-clear.
The sharpness is present from edge to edge without distortion. Albeit the lens lacks image stabilization, it wasn’t necessary since the aperture is incredible. No matter the lighting conditions, it delivered splendid results.
Furthermore:
The color distribution and rendering are incredible, with beautiful saturation across the frame. The focusing system is on point, swift, and accurate, thus making another point for these optics being the best Canon R3 lens for portraits.
The only downsides are weight and cost. Despite the largeness of the lens, I didn’t have problems using it for a longer time. Moreover, its design is elegant and in pair with other “L” lenses.
Pros
- Focal length
- Image quality
- Sharpness
Cons
- Weight
Best Wide-Angle Lens For Landscape Photography
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.
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 offers optical image stabilization of up to five stops of shake correction. The lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.28m.
It also sports high-speed, silent autofocus with Nano USM. It also has a control ring for direct setting changes, a great ergonomic feature. At the beginning of the test, I used the lens during the daytime but switched to nighttime.
I wanted to challenge myself, and the optics didn’t disappoint. I mainly shot at low ISO and an f/2.8, ranging the shutter speed from 1/15 to 1/60. Moreover, it provides stunning results at an f/4 or f/5.6.
The autofocus option is superior to the competition, with a great response time. The zooming option is speedy, while the focusing is silent. The optics are the best Canon R3 lens for wide-angle lenses, but it could do the same for videography. The focal range is great, and I achieved excellent results in cramped spaces.
Unfortunately:
The design is plastic, which is disappointing for some. I adore the matte finish.
It helps in hiding fingertips, and it keeps the weight down. However, since the price is relatively high, it may deter some buyers. But if the budget is not an issue, opting out of the lens is a significant investment.
Pros
- Focal length
- Wide aperture
- Great autofocus
Cons
- Lens collapse switch can be annoying
Best All-Around Lens For Everyday Photography
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.
- 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 is the first “L” series lens with Nano USM. It is constructed with 18 elements in 14 groups.
The optics provide optical image stabilization at up to five stops of shake correction. It also has a customizable band around the lens, which can be programmed to perform any function. It is a great asset to have for an improved ergonomic experience.
Moreover:
The zooming ring is tight, so when I point the barrel down for a long exposure, I get solid results without zoom lens creep. The lens has a trombone design (it is a telescopic lens).
Although it fits the camera bag easily, it is not the best choice for rainy weather due to internal humidity. The general image quality is outstanding, and the pictures are razor-sharp across the frame, even at the maximum opening.
The focus is reliable and fast. I didn’t face issues with missed shots or defocused pictures. It is undoubtedly the best Canon R3 lens for everyday use.
The bokeh effect is decent, although not impressive. The only flaw I noticed is the longitudinal chromatic aberration at the telephoto end since it is a quality optic in a compact, solid body.
Pros
- Optical stabilization
- Versatility
- Sharpness
Cons
- Chromatic aberration
Best Telephoto Lens For Wildlife Photography
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L is a clear winner. It is a high-speed, high-efficient lens with a minimum focus distance of 2,95 feet.
Canon RF 100-500 f/4.5-7.1 offers optical image stabilization with up to five stops of shake correction, along with three stabilization modes. It sets the minimum focus distance of 0.9m and sports Dual Nano USM.
The first thing I noticed was the phenomenal image stabilization which allows for an enjoyable handheld shooting experience. I used it for a static subject at the 1/160 sec at the telephoto end.
The optics also work fine on a tripod (I turned the OSS off). I was content with the available image quality since the color rendering is excellent, with beautiful saturation and solid contrast.
Moreover:
The aperture isn’t limiting, despite being an f/4.5-7.1. It is because the tighter gaps provide enough depth of field at the telephoto end, so it focuses narrowly on the subject.
I also shot a lot at 100mm, and it is great to have a lens that can shoot both telephoto and nearly close-ups. Focusing is fast and accurate, without missed shots. Despite its focal length, the lens isn’t hefty or item for longer sessions.
Pros
- Focal length
- Versatility
- Image stabilization
Cons
- Price
Best Macro Lens For Macro Photography
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L is a top-notch lens with high image quality with a super-bright aperture of f/1.2 and a minimum focusing distance of 2.79 feet.
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 comes with blue spectrum refractive optics for reducing chromatic aberrations. It sets the minimum focus distance at 0.85m. The lens is constructed with one aspherical and one UD lens element. It also sports a control ring for direct setting changes.
The image quality is superb, with ultra-sharpness across the frame. I love the focal length, which can be used for portrait photography, but it goes further than 50mm.
The aperture is much faster compared to EF 100mm /f2.8.
Furthermore:
The bokeh effect is gorgeous, with beautiful separations in the background.
Macro photography is excellent with these optics since it allows one to get close to the subject, and the focal length is quite versatile for a macro lens. The aperture is perfect, and I didn’t lose sharpness at the maximum opening.
Moreover, I didn’t notice distortion or chromatic aberrations. The design is on par with other “L” series lenses, and since this optics offers a solid price-performance ratio, it is the best Canon EOS R3 lens for macro photography.
Pros
- Wide aperture
- Great autofocus
- Sharp images
Cons
- Price
Helpful Tips for Canon EOS R3 Beginners
Enable the electronic level function to help keep your shots straight. This is useful for landscape and architecture photography.
Use the customizable control ring on RF lenses to change settings quickly without going into menus. For example, assign ISO control to the ring.
Try different autofocus modes like tracking and face detection to get sharp focus on moving subjects. The R3 excels at autofocus.
Shoot in RAW format to get the most flexibility in post-processing. The R3’s files hold a lot of detail.
Use silent shutter mode for quiet shooting. The electronic shutter is perfect for sensitive environments.
Take advantage of the R3’s excellent high ISO performance to shoot handheld in low light. Images are very clean up to ISO 6400.
Customize the various function buttons and dials to speed up your workflow. Set critical settings like drive mode and white balance to a button.
Enable the highlight alert function to see overexposed areas quickly when chimping. Adjust exposure compensation accordingly.
Use Dual Pixel autofocus in video mode for smooth focus transitions. For manual focus, use focus peaking aids.
Monitor audio levels and use the wind filter during video recording. The R3 has great built-in microphones.
Shoot bursts at 20 fps with continuous autofocus to capture fast action. The deep buffer means you can shoot longer bursts.
What is the best lens for Canon EOS R3?
Canon continues to dominate the market, again offering an extraordinary mirrorless camera.
The EOS series is more prosperous for another great performer. It doesn’t come as a surprise that photographers want to know the best Canon EOS R3 lenses.
With that in mind, I’ve created this article. Pick any Canon R3 lenses from the list, and you can’t go wrong.
Surf our website to find more similar articles, such as the ones for Canon Rebel T6 lenses and Canon M50 lenses.
If you follow the suggestions in this guide for Canon R3 lenses, you should be able to pick the right lens.
But if you are still unsure of the right solution for your specific needs, comment below. I will do my best to help you find the right lens for your situation.
Happy shooting!
My husband recently got an R3 as a gift and he only has a 70-200 lens. He’s looking for the next two lenses he should buy and I wanted to get him one. Could you advise what the next logical choice would be?
Hi Monona,
Can you give me more details such as your budget and the type of photography your husband primarily does with the camera? I think based on that information I can help you choose the ideal lens for your husband.