Best Cheap Lenses for Canon

A couple of years ago, we published a post containing a list of affordable and cheap lenses to be used with Canon DSLR cameras. The post name is “Cheapest Canon Lenses – Going Long On Budget”, And the list of our choices are:

• CANON EF-S 10-18 mm f/4.5-5.6 IS                      
• CANON EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 STM IS
• CANON EF-S 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
• Canon EF 50 mm F/1.8
• CANON EF 75-300 mm f/4.0-5.6 III USM
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Lens

In this post, we are extending our list of affordable and cheap lenses for Canon DSLR cameras to include lenses manufactured by third-party companies.

What is a third-party lens, and why do we use them?

The leading third-party lens brands are Sigma, Tamron, Rokinon, Samyang, and Tokina. they are best known for their lenses, which are designed for use with cameras from brands such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm.

One of the most common reasons to use a third-party lens is its price; generally, third-party lenses tend to be more affordable than their first-party counterparts are. In addition, a third-party lens may offer a specific focal length and aperture combination that is not offered by your camera’s brand.

To clear things out, the “Cheap” word used in this post should not imply, by any means, that a lens has a low image quality or lower performance.

Best Cheap Lenses for Canon

1- Rokinon HD8M-C 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye Lens

(best budget fisheye lens)

The 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens with Removable Hood for Canon from Rokinon gives you a 167º view with dramatic, exaggerated perspective when used with an APS-C camera, or a powerful circular image floating in the frame when used with a full-frame digital camera or 35mm film camera.

With hybrid aspherical elements and multi-layer coating, you will produce sharply defined images with a minimum of flare and ghosting. The 8mm lens focuses as close as 12″ (30.48cm) from the lens.

This version of the 8mm f/3.8 Fisheye lens comes with a removable lens hood that will offer glare reduction and lens protection, but can be removed to offer an increased and unobstructed angle of view when shooting with full frame digital or 35mm cameras.

Specification

2- Rokinon 14mm F/2.8

(best budget wide-angle lens)

The 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Lens for Canon EF from Rokinon gives you approximately a 115° view with dramatic results when used with a full-frame digital camera or 35mm film camera. With hybrid aspherical lenses, you will produce sharply defined images with a minimum of distortion and chromatic aberrations.

This manual focus 14mm lens focuses as close as 0.9′ / 28cm from the lens and has a built-in petal-type lens hood. With some cameras, Shutter Lock must be disengaged on the camera’s menu.

Specification

3- Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8

(best budget standard zoom lens)

Mixing a useful zoom range with a sophisticated design, the Canon EF-mount Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM is a Contemporary-series lens, also characterized by its compact, lightweight profile.

The bright f/2.8-4 maximum aperture range pairs with the wide-angle to short-telephoto zoom range to create ideal travel photos and everyday shots. The optical design uses a series of low dispersion and aspherical elements to control color fringing and distortion in order to realize high clarity and sharpness.

A Super Multi-Layer Coating has also been applied to suppress flare and surface reflections for improved contrast in bright conditions. Also, this zoom sports a high 1:2.8 maximum magnification and 8.7″ minimum focusing distance to suit working with close-up subjects.

Specification

4- Sigma 85mm f/1.4

(best budget Canon lens for portraits)

The EF 85mm f/1.8 USM from Canon is a short-telephoto prime characterized by its slightly compressed perspective for achieving flattering results. Its bright f/1.8 maximum aperture also enables isolating subjects and working with shallow depth of field techniques, and further benefits working in low-light conditions.

Helping to achieve high color fidelity and contrast, a Super Spectra coating has been applied to individual elements and serves to minimize reflections, lens flare, and ghosting.

Additionally, a ring-type USM is employed to deliver quick and quiet autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus control.

Specification

5- Sigma 105mm f/2.8

(best cheap Canon macro lens)

The Canon EF-mount 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro from Sigma is a short-telephoto prime characterized by its ability to achieve a 1:1, life-size magnification along with a 1′ minimum focusing distance for macro applications.

The optical design employs two SLD elements to virtually eliminate chromatic aberrations and color fringing throughout the focusing range for improved clarity and color rendering. A Super Multi-Layer Coating has also been applied for greater contrast when working in strong lighting conditions.

Balancing the optical assets, this lens also features a floating internal focus design that maintains consistent sharpness throughout the focusing range.

A Hyper Sonic Motor affords quick and quiet autofocus performance while an Optical Stabilizer minimizes the appearance of camera shake for sharper handheld shooting.

Specification

6- Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC

(best budget “All in one” lens)

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens is designed for APS-C format Canon EF mount DSLRs, where it will provide a 28.8-320mm equivalent focal length range.

One hybrid aspherical element and one low dispersion element are incorporated into the optical design and help to reduce distortions and aberrations throughout the zoom range for sharp, clear, and color-accurate imagery.

Vibration Compensation image stabilization is integrated into the lens design, too, and helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake for sharper handheld shooting in difficult lighting conditions.

Additionally, a DC motor gear train AF drive module is also featured and helps to maintain the fast, accurate focusing performance that is equally smooth and quiet to benefit both stills and video applications.

Complementing the expansive zoom range and refined optical design, this 18-200mm also features a moisture-resistant construction to enable working in nearly any situation.

Specification

7- Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3

(best budget super Telephoto Canon lens)

The Canon EF-mount 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM from Sigma is a Contemporary-series telephoto zoom characterized by its sophisticated optics and flexible handling.

One FLD element and three SLD elements are used to reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range and a Super Multi-Coating also helps to suppress flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color accuracy when working in strong lighting conditions.

Balancing the optical design, this lens also features a Hyper Sonic Motor, which provides especially fast and quiet autofocus performance as well as full-time manual focus override.

An Optical Stabilizer also works to minimize the appearance of camera shakes for sharper handheld shooting. Additionally, a removable, rotating tripod collar is included to suit working atop a tripod or monopod.

Specification

Where can I buy a used lens?

Buying and selling used cameras and lenses has almost become an industry by itself. There are many high-quality second-hand cameras and lenses out there, meaning you can fulfill your needs and save a good bit of money. For more information that is detailed check my posts:

What Is The Best Place To Buy Used Camera Lenses

How To Buy Used Camera Lenses? – KEH Is The Answer!

Although Amazon, B&H, and ADORAMA have their markets for used photography gear.

My recommended place is KEH. It is a one-stop shop for camera and lens enthusiasts who love the process of buying and selling gear. They have one of the largest online lens collections around and they have streamlined the process of buying and selling in a way few others have.

Here is a sample search result of Sigma 105mm f/2.8

Conclusion

Third-party lenses offer more options for photographers when searching for a new lens.

When you are thinking of buying a new third-party lens, my advice is to go for a reputable third-party manufacturer like Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Rokinon, or Zeiss.

Third-party lenses have some advantages of their own:

• A third-party lens may offer a specific focal length and aperture combination that is not offered by your camera’s brand because camera manufacturers can’t make a lens to suit every need, so third-party companies step in and fill the gaps.
• To be competitive with the big camera companies, many third-party lenses don’t cost as much as the first-party alternatives.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the article, in case you have any questions just drop them below & I will be happy to answer you.

The featured Image by Thomas Breher from Pixabay

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