Last Updated on March 16, 2021
Are you looking for the best low light lens for Canon Cameras?
I shoot in low light conditions frequently and having the right lens for the lighting can make your image quality significantly better. Whether you are into landscape, street, outdoor, or sport photography you will often find yourself shooting in low light conditions. Having the right lens for your lighting is easy with one of the top quality low light Canon lenses below. I’ve reviewed the top Canon lenses for low light conditions and after read this article you will know the recommendations.
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Check out the quick list below for links to customer reviews and prices for the best low light lens for Canon picks, or read on for the full review:
- Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM Lens
- Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens
- Rokinon 16M-C 16mm F/2.0 Aspherical Wide Angle Lens For Canon EF Cameras
- Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM Lens
- Canon EF-S 55-250mm F/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens
Best Low Light Lens for Canon Top Picks
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens
This is the best wide angle low light lens for Canons. This L series lens offers exceptional performance and build quality. The EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens is compatible with all EOS SLR cameras. It features four stops of correction with an ultra wide angle zoom and optical image stabilizer that provides exceptional image quality even in poor and low light environments. This lens performs well throughout the zoom range thanks to the two UD lens elements that minimize image aberrations. It is equipped with a circular 9 blade aperture that allows you to keep your subject in sharp focus while allowing beautiful bokeh backgrounds. The autofocus is accurate and quick and performs well even with moving subjects. You can also go with fully manual focus mode for added flexibility. This lens is dust resistant as well as water resistant making it a great lens for outdoor shooting. This is an exceptional low light Canon lens for those seeking a wide angle option.
- Top wide angle Canon low light lens
- Fast and accurate autofocus and full manual focus mode
- Exceptional image clarity and quality
- Excellent value low light lens
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens
This is a top low light Canon lens for all around shooting. With a standard focal length of 50mm this lens is versatile and great for day to day shooting. It offers a high performing, ultrasonic autofocus motor that is not only quiet but also fast and accurate. It offers smooth focusing allowing for smooth shooting even with moving subjects. This Canon lens features two high refraction lens elements with Gaussian optics which suppresses astigmatic difference and eliminates astigmatism. The 8 blade diaphragm produces excellent image quality with beautiful background blur. Add in that it offers exceptional peripheral brightness even at the max aperture. It offers super multi layer coating that minimizes flare and ghosting. This is a great performing all around low light lens for Canon cameras.
- Best all around low light Canon lens
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Excellent image quality
- Ideal for many shooting syles
Rokinon 16M-C 16mm f/2.0 Aspherical Wide Angle Lens for Canon EF Cameras
This is an exceptional ultra wide angle, low light lens for Canon cameras. This lens is ideal for a number of shooting situations including outdoor, landscape, and sporting photography. The 16mm lens is designed for APS-C crop frame sensor cameras. It offers exceptional build quality and is designed to last making it and excellent value. The 13 element in 11 group design offers 2 spherical lens elements. This design reduces distortion and chromatic aberrations. The removable hood is a nice touch and it is compatible with 77mm filters. This lens produces exceptional quality images with excellent image detail and clarity. This is an excellent value low light, ultra wide angle lens for Canon EOS cameras.
- Top value low light Canon lens
- Ultra wide angle
- Exceptional image quality
- Great performance at a low price point
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
This is a top performing low light Canon lens ideal for portrait, action and nighttime photography. This camera is compatible with APS C sensor and full frame cameras. It offers an 80mm focal length with APS C cameras and 50mm with full frame cameras. This lens offers 6 elements in 5 groups. Image quality is excellent and this camera is great for an all around low light lens. The minimum focus distance is 1.15 feet and it offers a max magnification of .21x. The autofocus performs very well and it is smooth and quiet. This lens works very well for both still shots and movies. At a relatively low price point this is an exceptional value low light Canon camera lens ideal for those seeking a great portrait and overall lens.
- Top value portrait and all around low light Canon lens
- Great performance at a good price point
- Excellent image quality even in low light conditions
- Smooth and accurate autofocus
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens
This is the top low light telephoto lens for Canon cameras. This camera is ideal for taking long distance shots in low light environments. It is ideal for taking shots of outdoor landscapes, wildlife, and sporting events. This lens offers a high zoom ratio that is equivalent to a lens with a 88-400mm focal length. The image stabilization performs exceptionally well making this a great lens for shooting moving subjects. This makes this a great night wildlife and sport lens. The four shutter speed helps create great shots even when shooting without a tripod. The UD lens element offers chromatic aberration correction that allows excellent image quality throughout the entire zoom range. This is an excellent telephoto Canon lens for low light conditions.
- Best Canon telephoto lens for low light conditions
- Aperture f/4 to f/5.6
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Excellent value
For more photography guides and tips read these articles
Here are the best low light lens for Canon picks quick list one more time. To view prices and customer reviews for each lens see the links below.