Best Lens for Canon 80D 2023 – 15 Choices Reviewed For You

Since 2016, Canon EOS 80D has been making headlines for all the right reasons. It has a fast and accurate sensor and that’s in addition to it providing you with a wide range of manual controls.

The 80D is rugged just as it is dependable in a wide variety of shooting conditions. And there are three good reasons why we’d walk miles just to get the 80D:

• 45-point autofocus system
• Awesome DIGIC 6 processor
• The ability to record 1080/60p video

But to get the most out of it, it makes perfect to invest in the right lens for the job. And today, we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with a review of 15 such lenses.

Lens for Canon 80D 2023 – Comparison

Not ready for several paragraphs of our review analytics? You can easily grab your favorite lens from the comprehensive table provided right below.

1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens

This lens was introduced in 1993, although it borrows its design from the 1971 classic manual focus FD 50mm f/1.4. It was designed to work with the 35mm full-frame format cameras. Its optical design consists of seven elements in six groups, two of which are constructed out of high-refraction glass.

The build quality is very fantastic, with the lens mount being metallic while the barrel is made of plastic. The front element offers protection against stray light by receding from the filter thread by about one centimeter.

The lens is a compact unit, and it has a fantastic balance on the camera. The focus ring feels good in the hands and is easy to use.

The autofocus system uses the ultrasonic motor which ensures that the entire operation is quiet and fast.

On APS-C, the central sharpness will improve on stopping down, and you should get the maximum sharpness at apertures between f5.6 and f8. The lens will be sharp across the frame.

Lateral chromatic aberration is non-existent while the barrel distortion is very low at about 0.5%.

Pros

• Fast and quiet autofocus
•  Well-balanced on the camera
• Impressive build quality
• Pros4

Cons

• Prone to flares

2. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM lens

This Macro lens has a range of features which will stick in your memory for a foreseeable future due to the fantastic experience you will go through with the lens.

It is capable of focusing down to a magnification ratio of 1:1, and this combined with the minimum focus distance of 12 inches makes it suitable for capturing the tiniest insects out there.

The lens utilizes the Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization to ensure that even the slightest movements at close-focusing limits are immensely magnified. You will have to activate this feature via a switch located close to the AF/MF selector.

It uses an ultrasonic focus motor (USM) to give you fast autofocus. The lens barrel has the controls which you will use in setting the autofocus range, and they include 1-1.6 feet, 1.6 feet to infinity and 1 foot to infinity.

The lens uses 67mm filters, and it comes with an additional rugged lens hood for extra protection in challenging surroundings.

The lens will give you impressive sharpness at f/8 whereby the distortion is also non-existent. Lastly, the rounded nine-blade diaphragm will be vital in producing fantastic bokeh.

Pros

• Weatherproof construction
• Sharp images
• Has image stabilization

Cons

• Quite bulky

3. Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens

This lens was designed for APS-C cameras and is one of the best standard zoom lenses that you will ever come across. Its 24mm focal length at its wide end and 136 mm at its tele end make this lens very versatile, and you can use it for capturing landscapes, portraits, vegetation, etc.

The lens is heavy at 20 ounces and is very compact. It has a high-quality build from top-notch plastic and this combined with the metal mount gives it a very solid feel as well as reduce its vulnerability to wearing down.

The lens has modern ultra-sound motor autofocus which is silent, fast and accurate. Its image stabilizer will give you shutter speeds which are up to 4 times slower than the norm, and you will find this feature very useful for the long focal length.

It is a very sharp lens with effective resolution throughout the range. Finally, it has seven circular aperture blades which will help in creating a beautiful background blur.

Pros

• High-quality build
• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Very sharp
• Pros4

Cons

• Prone to distortion

4. Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM lens

This ultra-wide lens is pretty heavy, weighing 645 grams and it is probably due to its mostly metal build. The AF action is swift and quiet, and you can easily override this process and switch to manual focus by turning the focus ring.

The lens is relatively sharp in comparison to its predecessor. Chromatic aberration is barely noticeable with the performance at f/5 being particularly impressive.

The lens also has impressive corner shading resistance while the barrel distortion kept at a minimum level of 0.25%.

The lens has an improved magnification ratio of 0.15x and a close focus distance of 20cm.

Pros

• Fast and quiet autofocus
• Affordable
• Sturdy build

5. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS lens

This lens was designed to work well with smaller entry-level DSLRs, and this can explain its small and lightweight build. Most of its construction consists of polycarbonate plastic, and this contributes immensely to its light state.

Despite the plastic construction, the lens still feels great in the hands due to the smooth black finish and the wide rubber-coated zoom ring.

This lens is impressively sharp at all focal lengths although you will start seeing diffractions past f/11. The optical construction includes one UD element which helps in reducing chromatic aberration.

The lens has fast and quiet autofocus, mainly due to the STM motor, high-speed CPU and a rear focusing system. The accuracy of its focus is terrific too.

Lastly, the lens has a minimum focusing distance of 8.7 inches f you zoom to 18mm.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Accurate, fast and silent focus action
• Extremely sharp

Cons

• Not weather-sealed

6. Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens

This 55-250mm lens was released in December of 2013 and has several updates from its first two predecessors. The major improvements are in the focusing sector.

First, it utilizes the STM stepping motor autofocus system, which is very silent and fast. It has also incorporated internal focusing implying that manual override for focusing is now available. Additionally, it has rear focusing, high-speed CPU and a better autofocus algorithm.

The lens is impressively sharp even at the highest apertures, but do not exceed the 200mm focal length since you will start noticing some corner sharpness past this length.

Distortion is well-controlled, with the barrel distortion being at 0.5% at 55mm. The optical construction consists of fifteen elements in twelve groups, one being a UD element. The aperture includes seven rounded diaphragm blades which contribute to a fantastic bokeh.

It weighs only 13 ounces and this coupled with the most high-quality plastic construction makes it a small and lightweight package.

Pros

• Has an image-stabilization feature
• Very light
• Extremely sharp

Cons

• Prone to vignetting

7. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens 

This medium lens came into the market in 1992 and for many years has been very popular with portrait photographers. We shall explain to you why we think this lens is a must-have gadget for you as a photography enthusiast.

To start with, it is quite light weighing 14.6oz with the two lens cap on and 13.9oz with both caps off. It also balances very well when mounted on the Canon 80d camera.

The body is made of high-quality black plastic which when added a bit of gold accent portrays a stylish and classy look. You can add the Canon lens hood to reduce flaring, increase image contrast as well as provide some protection for the front element.

It has an Ultra-Sonic Motor (USM) for a silent focus action as well as a rear focusing system. The ribbed rubber focus ring allows for a smooth and fast focusing operation.

The optical construction consists of 9 elements in 7 groups while the eight aperture blades contribute to the fantastic bokeh.

Distortion is barely noticeable while vignetting is non-existent when stopped down to f/2.8 or more. The minimal flaring that you may encounter is one you can easily correct.

Finally, it has impressive sharpness throughout the range.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Outstanding bokeh
• Fast and silent focusing

Cons

• The focus can be a bit soft

8. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens

This prime lens incorporates several impressive features into one affordable unit. First, it weighs only 160g and measures 1.5 inches, making it one of the smallest lenses you will ever find. It balances very well when mounted on the Canon 80d camera.

We can say that the build quality is acceptable, featuring an all-plastic construction and a metal mount. It maintains a solid feel as with other prime lenses. The focus ring is easy to operate with the fingers due to its ridged rubberized grip band.

The focusing action is very quiet, and this can be attributed to the built-in Stepping Motor (STM). The chromatic aberrations and distortion are very-well controlled while the bokeh is fantastic and this is due to the iris diaphragm with seven rounded blades.

You will get impressive sharpness from f/5.6 to f/11, beyond which you may experience diffraction.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Lightweight with a good balance
• Flare and ghosting resistant

Cons

• Slow autofocus

9. Canon EF-S f/2.8 STM lens

This pancake wide-angle prime lens was designed specifically for Canon’s APS-C DSLR cameras. It has a variety of amazing features which we shall briefly guide you through.

First, this is the lightest and slimmest Canon EF-S lens to have been produced, weighing just 125g and measuring 23cm long. It has a conventional all-plastic construction with a metal mount and a narrow focusing ring containing a ridged and rubberized grip band.

The lens has built-in STM, meaning that the autofocus action is fast and accurate. The Chromatic aberrations are very well handled while the barrel distortion is mild and you can easily correct it.

You can utilize this lens as a macro lens, with a close-focus point of 0.52ft and maximum reproduction ratio of 0.27x.

The lens has an iris diaphragm that has 7-rounded blades which will be vital in producing a fantastic background blur.

You will be impressed by the sharpness from f/2.8 to f/11, but if you get to f/16, it will be affected by diffraction.

Very light

Pros

• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Affordable

Cons

• Noisy autofocus

Read more: Best Monitor for Security Cameras

10. Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens

This ultra-wide lens is designed for Canon APS-C DSLRs and will offer you an equivalent focal range of 16-35.2mm. This range gives it the capability to work well in a variety of shooting conditions.

It has a complex optical design which includes one Super-UD element which is very crucial in minimizing chromatic aberrations and color fringing.

The design also features three aspherical elements which will also minimize chromatic aberration as well as reduce distortion. This will contribute to enhancing the excellent sharpness of the lens.

Additionally, it has a Super Spectra coating which will ensure that the lens has impressive flare and ghosting resistance, and in the process make the lens have an amazing contrast which is which is crucial when operating in strong lighting conditions.

The lens has a rounded six-blade diaphragm which will be vital in producing a remarkable bokeh, and you will find it particularly useful when you are using a shallow depth of field.

When it comes to the focus action, the lens has the ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) which when combined with the internal focusing will deliver you an accurate, fast and silent autofocus operation. Additionally, the lens will have a full-time manual focus override.

Pros

• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Amazing bokeh
• Minimum distortion

Cons

• Stiff and squeaky focus-ring

11. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens

This lens was introduced in 2010 as the firm had to keep up with the market dynamics which included sensors with more megapixels which were gradually making an entry into the market. It features several redesigns from its predecessor with the goal of improving the image quality.

First, it has fantastic build quality, with an all-around metal body which is fully weather-sealed. This gives it a very solid feel and the capability to withstand the challenges of daily usage or stressful environments.

It has a fixed focal range, and the focus ring operates very smoothly. The front element of the lens is pretty easy to clean, keeping in mind that it has no extra coatings.

The lens features the USM motor, meaning that the focus action is very quiet. It is also fast and accurate with a minimum focus distance of 1.2m, a very convenient for close-up photography.

The Canon EF 70-200mm II lens features a 4-stop lens stabilization system and this combines with the vibration reduction system does an excellent job of reducing vibrations, making it easy for you to track your mobile subject.

The bokeh is quite impressive for a fast aperture zoom lens while vignetting improves as the lens is stopped down.

Flaring is well-handled while the barely noticeable chromatic aberration can easily be corrected.

Pros

• Features an image stabilization system
• Fast and quiet focus action
• High-quality build

Cons

• Too bulky

12. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM lens

This lens was specifically designed for APS-C crop-sensor cameras, and you will be impressed by its versatility that makes it edge its competitors.

The lens is exceptionally sharp, even when at a wide aperture of f/1.8 or f/16, you will barely notice any impact of diffraction.

Chromatic aberration is well controlled and is more significant at wide-angle focal lengths. The vignetting too is well-controlled, and it is barely noticeable when stopped down to f/4 and beyond.

Distortion is also well-handled, and you have the option of correcting it via a straightforward process. The autofocus operation is high-speed due to the electronic Hyper Sonic Motor while it is silent due to the AF motor.

It has an excellent build-quality consisting of a Thermally Stable Composite material to make it very light and durable. The rounded 9-blade diaphragm aperture will be vital in creating a beautiful bokeh.

Pros

• Very sharp
• Fast and silent autofocus
• High-quality build

Cons

• Difficult to assemble and use

13. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens

We can confidently tell you that this is the fastest standard focal length zoom lens and incorporates many impressive features into one package.

It is quite big, weighing 645g and measuring 14.5cm long when zoomed to 55mm. It has a fantastic build quality and has a solid feel. It has a narrow focusing ring with a ridged rubberized grip band to make the focus action very easy.

The lens features the Canon Image Stabilizer which you can quickly activate via the on/off switch on the side of the lens.

The autofocus action is fast and silent mainly due to the USM motor. Chromatic aberrations are well-controlled while the background blur is fantastic due to the seven rounded diaphragm blades.

It is incredibly sharp throughout the range.

Pros

• Sturdy and top-notch build
• Features an image stabilizer
• Very sharp

Cons

• Too bulky

14. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens

This lens weighs roughly 629.5g and is not as light you would have hoped. However, this heavyweight nature gives it a fantastic balance when mounted on the camera. The body mostly has a plastic construction

It has fast, silent and accurate autofocus while the manual focusing may be a bit noisy. It has remarkable sharpness throughout the range and diffraction sets in at f/11.

Chromatic aberration is very low, and it increases mildly as you stop down. The optical design consists of 15 elements in 10 groups, one being a UD glass which contributes to minimizing color fringing.

Finally, the lens produces a pleasant bokeh.

Pros

• Fast and silent autofocus
• Nice bokeh
• Extremely sharp

Cons

• Front element rotates during focusing

15. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART DG HSM lens

This prime lens was released in 2014 and is highly rated in the photography world. It was designed to work on APS-C cameras and has an optical design consisting of 13 elements in 8 groups, two of the elements being SLD and aspherical elements which will help in minimizing chromatic aberrations.

The autofocus operation is fast and quiet due to the Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) while the bokeh is quite stunning and this can be attributed to the aperture with a 9-blade diaphragm.

It feels pretty solid with an all-metal barrel which makes it very heavy.

Pros

• Amazing bokeh
• Fast, silent and accurate AF
• Excellent sharpness

Cons

• Too bulky

How to Choose the Canon EOS 80D Lens

There is no one-size-fits-all camera lens. And, therefore, your best bet is to first understand what exactly it is you might need in your career. For that, we have provided some tips to guide you.

Your Style of Photography

What exactly do you want to achieve with your photos or videos? Are you a professional or a newbie? The answers you provide for those two questions can help determine the best lens for you.

If you are a professional, a typical 17-55mm focal length lens would probably be the most dynamic one you can get. That’s particularly true if it comes with a large aperture – an important feature for low light performance.

With just a few tweaks, you would comfortably achieve that creamy bokeh and sustain the sharpness that by far exceeds what an average kit lens can deliver.

Planning to shoot landscapes? You will probably need a wide angle lens and something within the 10-28mm focal range would be a perfect bet. And generally, for outdoor photography, your best bet is a lens that’s durably built.

Looking for the perfect travel lens for Canon 80d? Your best bet would be one that’s light in weight and compact.

Manual or Autofocus

Manual focus is always great especially if you’re a pro or if you grew up when the only lens available were manual ones. However, with the entry of Autofocus technology, you can as well take a backseat and focus more on capturing great shots and less on tweaking the manual focus ring.

Talking about Auto-Focus, you’re likely to come across three acronyms i.e. USM, Nano USM, and STM. Ever wondered what those ones mean? We’d like to break it all down for you.

USM Autofocus

This is a short form of Ultrasonic motor. USM motors have carved a niche for themselves all thanks to their reputation as fast and accurate choices. Unfortunately, they were mainly designed for still photography and tend to be too noisy for video recording.

Nano USM Motor

Nano USM is the newest kid on the block as far as Canon lenses are concerned. It is reputed for its ability to focus fast and remaining quiet at the same time. So, it sustains the benefits of USM but does away with the noise.

STM Autofocus Motor

STM is the short form of Stepping Motor which is a type of lens that has also gained the reputation of being smooth and silent. It is especially popular among entry-level cameras.

Keep The Crop Factor In Mind

There’s a long history behind the crop factor. However, all you need to keep in mind is the fact that the crop factor is simply the ratio of your camera’s sensor size.

In that regard, your typical APS-C cameras come with a 1.6X crop factor. And simply put, if you use a 50mm lens on such a camera, it would end up functioning like an 80mm one.

So, given the fact that the Canon 80D has a 1.6x crop factor, you’d need to carry out this calculation in order to make an informed bed. So, if looking for a 50mm focal length, your best bet would be to settle for a 35mm lens and so forth.

Best Music Video Lens for Canon 80D

If you are into videography, it’s important to keep in mind that the 80 provides 1080p shots at best. The camera offers different speed options ranging from 24fps, 30fps to 60fps. And, therefore, it can be relied on for fast action recording e.g. recording high energy dance sessions etc.

Generally, if you’re a video shooter we’d recommend a typical 18-135mm lens. Such a lens would provide you with a wider focal length.

Also, it makes perfect sense to bank on the Nano USM motor. As discussed earlier, this kind of motor is not only fast but also quiet meaning it can be used for video recording.

Should You Get A Third-Party Lens

Quite a number of third-party lens manufacturers exist. They include Tokina, Tamron, and Sigma. The good news is that they also make lenses that are compatible with the 80D from Canon.

Yet another good thing with these third-party lenses is that they tend to be cheaper than their Canon-branded counterparts.

Which One Is The Best Overall?

The Canon EF 50mm is our best pick. It has a wide aperture and a highly effective USM motor. What’s more? It boasts a minimum focusing distance of 17.8-inch. And yup, that’s quite close!

The first runners-up choice would belong to the Canon 15-85mm which has a dynamic aperture and an incredible focal range as well.

If you’re thinking of getting a third-party lens for your Canon 80d, we’d recommend the Sigma 15-35mm HSM Lens with f/1.8 aperture. It is a pocket-friendly option that packs quite a few user-friendly and quality-conscious features.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it! Our comprehensive list of the best lenses that you can find for the 80D camera from Canon. We do hope that you’ll find a model that meets or even exceeds your needs in the reviews above.