The Best Budget Friendly Canon RF and Canon EF Lenses in 2025 (Under $400)

Given how everyone is affected by the rising cost of living, you may be forgiven for believing that photography is currently out of your reach. We have created this post to help anyone seeking affordable and high-quality photography under a tight budget. These are the top-rated and most low-priced lenses that we recommend for Canon users. Every Canon lens here will provide you with a wide variety of shooting alternatives and viewpoints. The best part is that each of the lenses on this list costs less than $400, and many are significantly less expensive.

Two primary lens types are available from Canon. They are the RF and EF lenses.

1. Canon RF lenses: They are designed for the EOS R cameras, the company’s newest flagship mirrorless system. Although you would have thought these lenses would be quite costly, this isn’t the case. This line includes some excellent and reasonably priced lenses from Canon. This category has lenses that work with APS-C EOS R and full-frame cameras, as well as one that’s made especially for the smaller sensor models (called an RF-S lens).

2. Canon EF lenses: These lenses are among the largest lens selections available for its renowned DSLR line, offering excellent choices from both Canon and other manufacturers. This category includes some older lenses that are quite good and go for a fraction of the price of newer models.

Let’s look at some of the most low-cost and effective lenses available for Canon users.

Some Affordable Canon Lenses in the RF Category

1. Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM Lens

Any photography enthusiast should love the mirrorless Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM lens. It is incredibly light and has updated optics that are sharper than the DSLR version. It is also really surprising how sharp Canon has produced a lens at such a low cost. For the best effects, stop down to f5.6 or f8, or whack it wide open to f1.8 for dreamy bokeh and narrow depth of field.

With a lifelike perspective that is neither too tight nor too wide, the 50mm focal length is ideal for strolling around and taking pictures of ordinary scenes. The lens is excellent for street photography since the stepping motor makes sure that focusing is rapid, precise, and almost silent.

Pros:

• Practical walk-around focal length.
• Amazingly sharp for the price.
• Incredibly compact and lightweight.

Cons:

• No AF/MF switch.
• No weatherproofing.

2. Samyang MF 85mm f1.4 Lens for Canon RF

The Samyang MF 85mm f1.4 is a remarkable portrait lens that is significantly less expensive compared to any Canon-made alternative. Its eight-blade diaphragm and f1.4 maximum aperture allow you to produce stunning bokeh. It is an ideal lens for blurring away the background and can perform exceptionally well in low light. It is also well-made, with a weatherproof shell. Although the additional padding makes the lens slightly heavier, it helps give the user a feeling of security against weather damage when shooting outside.

Pros:

• Fantastic value for the money.
• Bright aperture.

Cons:

• Weatherproofed.
• Has only manual focus.
• A little heavy at 730g.

3. Canon RF-S 55-210mm f5-7.1 IS STM Lens

The cheapest RF lens for APS-C cameras is the RF-S 18-45mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM. That lens, however, is probably already in your kit if you already own an APS-C EOS R camera, such as the EOS R50 or R10. Therefore, the Canon RF-S 55-210mm f5-7.1 IS STM is a superior option to think about if you’re searching for an alternative. With new camera models like the EOS R100, Canon’s RF-S lens provides a versatile lens for APS-C users. Although operating a superzoom can be difficult, the RF-S 55-210mm f5-7.1 IS STM’s advanced stabilization feature is incredibly useful.

Pros:

• Made especially for APS-C bodies.
• Strong stabilization (seven stops or more). Weighs Only 270g.

Cons:

• No weatherproofing.
• The long end of the zoom reduces the aperture to f7.1.

4. Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM Lens

The Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM is worthy of mention in the RF-mount lineup. It is a lightweight, small lens with a very broad field of vision. This 16mm f2.8 lens is extraordinarily adaptable and compatible with mid-range Canon mirrorless systems, making it ideal for both picture and video applications. It also has a near-silent STM motor, a maximum f2.8 aperture, and a sophisticated optical structure that enables super-smooth AF performance and all-around versatility.

This reasonably priced Canon RF-mount lens allows you to play with depth of focus with more creative freedom. It can be used for anything from high-end vlogging to landscape photography. It is noteworthy that the lens’s extremely low cost makes it forfeit certain features, such as weather-proofing and inbuilt stabilization features.

Pros:

• Compact and portable design Wide-angle footage is ideal for vlogging.
• Quick autofocus system.

Cons:

• No weatherproofing.
• No inbuilt stabilization feature.

Some Affordable Canon Lenses in the EF Category

5. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens

This lightweight wide-angle lens is ideal for situations where you want to capture as much as possible in the frame. It has an effective focal length of roughly 16–29mm, making it suitable for landscapes, architecture, and interiors, among other aspects of photography. It uses the company’s STM technology for quick focusing and silent operation while filming. It is made especially for APS-C bodies, making it comparatively small and light. If you intend to upgrade soon, it might not be worth the investment because it is incompatible with full-frame EF DSLRs.

Its image stabilization feature helps when taking handheld photos at slower shutter speeds, and a 22-cm minimum focusing distance allows you to go up close to subjects while still keeping a wide field of vision.

Pros:

• A usefully broad zoom range is excellent for close-up photography.
• A four-stop stabilization feature.

Cons:

• APS-C supported only.
• Not weatherproof.

6. Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM for Canon EF

This Sigma lens is compatible with full-frame and APS-C Canon DSLRs and has a 1:1 magnification factor, making it a “true” macro lens. While the Sigma’s Hyper Sonic Motor offers high-speed autofocus, its SLD glass regulates aberration. Additionally, there is a full-time manual focus override if you would rather do things by hand. Considering the telephoto focal length, the Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM’s huge f2.8 maximum aperture enables users to capture their main subject in crisp focus with a fashionably blurred background. Also featured in this lens is Sigma’s Optical Stabilizer, which offers correction up to about four stops. It is an exciting idea to create a genuine macro telephoto with a big maximum aperture at this low price.

Pros:

• Extremely sharp.
• Exceptional capability for macrophotography.
• 3 years of warranty.

Cons:

• Not much to critique.

7. Lensbaby Spark 2.0 Lens for Canon EF

It would be highly recommended that you try the Lensbaby Spark 2.0 Lens for Canon EF. The Spark 2.0 is a brilliant example of the company’s signature tilt-shift style, and these lenses are made with an emphasis on character and creative expression rather than technological perfection. You may manually adjust the point of focus in an image and add stylized blur around it to create a surreal look by physically bending the lens. The Lensbaby Spark 2.0’s 12-blade aperture ensures that its photos are instantly eye-catching. The lens’s distinctive squeeze-to-focus feature makes it enjoyable and tactile to operate, and the results are consistently impressive.

Pros:

• An innovative focus effect.
• Stunning, surreal bokeh quality.
• Experience with tactile handling.

Cons:

• Largely manually operated, requiring everything to be done by hand.

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