Camera lenses make otherwise distant and blurry photos better. Great camera lenses make those pictures amazing. Here are five that get the job done.
#1 – Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM ($2149)
Yeah, it’s expensive, which is why it might not be listed as one of the best camera deals, but it comes with near perfect ratings. It’s hard finding a review site where this lens scores below 90% in any category. It often receives perfect ratings. It’s sharpness is superb, it cycles through auto focuses in nearly a second, there’s little alteration or blurriness in photographs, stabilization techniques are pristine, and it has the durability of a tank – not that it should be used as one.
If there is cash to get it, then do. This lens is well worth the price for those needing expert pictures without second guessing quality.
#2 – Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor ($219)
This one is much cheaper than the Canon EF at number one. The quality is good, with strong aperture rings. It maintains sharpness through most of its cycle, but does produce some grainy pictures at high aperture levels. However, no distortion in pictures occurs because of the lens. The autofocus only works on Nikons with made for screw-on lenses.
This Nikon 50mm is by far the best lens that anyone on any budget could purchase for a camera. This model has been produced for a while, so make sure to buy a current version.
#3 – Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Lens ($748)
Although the Canon EF 70-200mm lens has great telephoto capabilities, this Canon provides the sharpness and colors expected of camera, but from a wider angle. Canon equipped this lens with three Aspherical lens elements. There are some aberrations at apertures near the low- and high-ends of its range, but the quality it gives throughout the middle is amazing. As an added bonus, the lens was constructed to be weather-resistant throughout its operation.
It’s a mid-priced lens with good quality, but its purpose is meant for landscapes and wide-angle exposures.
#4 – Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 II Zuiko Digital ($520)
Olympus has constructed an admirable lens here. It’s an upgrade to the previous model of the same name. It’s predecessor suffered from distortion issues, and they’ve been corrected in this updated model. It also gained speed in its autofocus. Sharpness is good and it performs well in wide-angled shots.
Cheaper than the Canon EF at number three, it’s also comparable to many of Olympus’s other lenses. Consumers may find others that better suit their needs.
#5 – Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro APO ($239)
This is truly the only lens labeled a macro lens on the list, although its macro distance is worse than the Olympus 14-54mm at number four. It excels in its sharpness at the lower spectrums of its aperture, making it a specific-focus lens. Otherwise, it’s average.
It’s a lens, and it’s at the lower-end of the price tag. It makes the list because of its superb performance and quality in macro shots. Since it’s cheap, it can be bought with other lenses to help a photographer build a nice tool kit.
