If you’re ready to add a telephoto lens to your camera kit then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to review the 6 weightier Canon telephoto lenses looking at variegated areas like focal length. image stabilisation, vent and price.
What is a Telephoto Lens?
Firstly, a telephoto lens (or zoom lens) is used to provide a longer focal length than that of a standard lens. They are usually virtually 70mm or longer and provide a shallow depth of field with a magnified image.
Above all, they are unconfined for filming all kinds of scenarios such as whoopee sports, wildlife, tracery and anything you want to see up close.
What To Squint For in a Telephoto Lens?
In short, there are plenty of options on the market but reading uncounted specs can be troublemaking and overwhelming. To help find what’s weightier for you, we’ve simplified everything you need to know when ownership a Canon telephoto lens.
Firstly, here are a few quick questions to ask yourself.
- How far yonder is my shot?
- Do I need zoom?
- Do I need a low f-stop?
- Do I need image stabilization?
- What kind of focus do I need?
- Will it fit in my travel bag?
- Does the squint match my other lenses?
- Do I have on-camera audio? If so, the lens needs to be quiet.
Our 6 Weightier Canon Telephoto Lenses
Still a bit confused? No worries. To help make your decision, here’s a list of our favourite Canon zoom lenses with a full list of specs including some quick pros and cons.
1. Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III
- Lens Mount: Canon EF / EF-S
- Focal Length: 75-300mm
- Aperture: ‎ f/4-5.6
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.5m
- Weight: 498g
- Image Stabilisation: No
- Size: 71 x 122mm
- Focus Type: Auto/Manual
- Lens Type: Zoom
- Filter Thread: 58mm
This Canon telephoto lens is unconfined for live events. Firstly, it’s meaty but has an impressive 4x zoom which allows you to capture special moments from a loftiness without stuff noticed.
Secondly, it’s lightweight and meaty so plane if you think you might not need it, bring it with you anyway. Remember, you want to be ready when you only have one endangerment to get the perfect shot. ????
The Super Spectra coating ensures correct colour wastefulness and enhances contrast. It moreover helps reduce flare and ghosting – a worldwide problem caused by light wavy off a camera’s sensor.
For the money, it’s a unconfined investment and we consider it the weightier upkeep telephoto lens for Canon. The only drawback is there can be a slight colour distortion at times depending on the lighting situation.
Pros | Cons |
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![]() | ✘ Slight colour distortion |
![]() | ✘ No image stabilisation |
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2. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
- Lens Mount: Canon EF-S
- Focal Length: 18-135mm
- Aperture: ‎ f/3.5-5.6
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.39m
- Weight: 515g
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Size: 77.4 × 96mm
- Focus Type: Auto/Manual
- Lens Type: Wide Angle, Normal, Telephoto
- Filter Thread: 67 mm
There are many reasons why this lens should have a place in your camera bag. First off, 18-135mm gives you a lot of range.
Not many Canon zoom lenses are equipped with a wide angle, normal, and telephoto all in one. As a result, you have most of your focal lengths covered which is helpful in specimen you’re unable to bring uneaten glass with you.
Secondly, the USM technology delivers fast focusing that’s super smooth and quiet for filmmaking. Also, the lens elements reduce chromatic whimsicalness throughout its wide focal range giving you spanking-new colour and contrast.
Finally, its compact, lightweight diamond makes it a lens perfect for travelling. It’s important to realize, that framing flexibility with one lens is handy for filming but moreover saves on weight in your camera bag. This lens gives you plenty of room for experimentation as a beginner.
Pros | Cons |
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![]() | ✘ Little Pricey |
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3. Canon EF-S 55-250mm F/4-5.6 IS STM
- Lens Mount: Canon EF-S
- Focal Length: 55-250 mm
- Aperture: f/4-5.6
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.85m
- Weight: 374g
- Image Stabilisation: Yes
- Size: 70.0 x 111.2mm
- Focus Type: Auto/Manual
- Lens Type: Zoom
- Filter Thread: 58 mm
Without a doubt, this is a pretty versatile Canon telephoto lens. For example, it’s lightweight and has unconfined image stabilization which is a real bonus when going handheld. Canon’s Image Stabilizer technology allows shutter speeds up to 3.5 stops slower which is unconfined in low light.
The lens features a stepping motor (STM) which allows for smooth, quiet continuous focusing when capturing video. Also, STM focusing is so quiet that it’s not picked up by the camera’s microphone.
On a side note, if you’re going to use a tripod, turn off image stabilization to save battery. When image stabilisation is activated, be well-considered that your framing can transpiration slightly. ????
Lastly, for the price, this lens has unconfined image quality. The glass element and Super Spectra lens coatings unhook crisp, sharp, high-contrast footage throughout the zoom range. Also, stuff a general-purpose zoom lens, you’ll find it a must have for your entry-level kit.
Pros | Cons |
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![]() | ✘ Mostly plastic build |
![]() | ✘ Not unconfined for sports |
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4. Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
- Lens Mount: Canon EF
- Focal Length: 135mm
- Aperture: f/2.0
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.9m
- Weight: 771g
- Image Stabilisation: Yes
- Size: 82.5 x 112mm
- Focus Type: Auto/Manual
- Lens Type: Prime
- Filter Thread: 72mm
We don’t unchangingly shoot with primes, but when we do, we praise the gods. The L-series is Canon’s flagship professional lens range, representing the weightier in high-quality optics.
This Canon telephoto lens has one of the lowest f-stops on the list at virtually f/2.0 which is pretty awesome. It’s platonic for many uses, but studio scenarios and wildlife shoots are where it shines.
The narrow depth of field is something else and gives you what you need in the trickiest of lighting conditions. Also, the ring-type ultrasonic motor allows you to autofocus extremely quickly, and in near silence.
So if you’re looking for something fast but happy to settle for a stock-still focal length then squint no further.
Pros | Cons |
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![]() | ✘ Stock-still focal length (not zoomable) |
![]() | ✘ Closest focus range is 3 feet |
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5. Canon RF100-400mm F/5.6-8 IS USM
- Lens Mount: Canon RF
- Focal Length: 100-400mm
- Aperture: F/5.6-8
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.88m
- Weight: 635g
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Size: 79.5 x 164.7mm
- Focus Type: Auto/Manual
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Filter Thread: 67mm
This Canon telephoto lens is perfect for getting in-the-moment whoopee and with the Ultrasonic motor, it’s pretty fast. Not the cheapest, but you can hands capture subjects at upper speeds accurately.
Most telephoto lenses are prone to shake, however with 5.5 stops of correction, this lens delivers spanking-new stability. Moreover thanks to a Nano USM motor, focusing is quiet and smooth.
Weighing just 635g and measuring 164.7mm in length, this compact, lightweight lens is well balanced, plane when fully extended, and fits in a kit bag beautifully. Moreover with the solid weatherproofing design, it offers unconfined moisture resistance.
People who can’t justify the increasingly expensive Canon L series version will love this sharp and silent beauty.
Pros | Cons |
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![]() | ✘ Slight softening at 400mm |
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6. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM
- Lens Mount: Canon EF
- Focal Length: 70-200mm
- Aperture: f/4.0
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1m
- Weight: 780g
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Size: 80 x 176mm
- Focus Type: Auto Focus
- Lens Type: Zoom
- Filter Thread: 77mm
Looking at the price, this might go whilom your upkeep for a zoom lens, but the quality is unmatched. This Canon EF 70-200mm telephoto lens is minion by all shooters.
Firstly, the build quality feels indestructible. As mentioned the Canon L-Series lenses are their flagship range, with top-notch fluorite lens elements and weather sealing that protects versus pebbles and moisture.
Shoot with confidence, plane in poor light, thanks to a 5-stop IS system that guards versus mistiness from camera shake. Also, the lens’s unvarying f/4.0 vent stays the same when it’s zoomed, so exposures remain consistent.
Finally, weighing just 780g, this versatile 70-200 telephoto lens is perfect for anyone on the move, shooting travel, sports and wildlife videos.
The only thing this lens doesn’t do is disappoint. For these reasons, if you can sire it, get it!
Pros | Cons |
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![]() | ✘ Heavy |
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Best Canon Telephoto Lens – Wrapping Up
To sum up, there are plenty of options out there but what matters is what’s unquestionably going to be useful for you. Work out what you mucosa most of the time, whether it’s wildlife, events, or music videos and pick the most suitable one based on the features you need.
For example, if you shoot in low light conditions then go for a telephoto lens with a lower f-stop and if you mucosa whoopee then make sure you have good image stabilisation.
Also, it’s worth experimenting with a few variegated Canon telephoto lenses until you find one that fits. Try renting one from your local camera shop or rental house and have a play.
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