6 Best Low Light Lenses for Canon Cameras in 2020
Insufficient light is one of the toughest challenges any photographer will face. Dim conditions increase the time your camera needs to focus on a target and make recovering detail from shadows much harder. Lenses with narrow maximum apertures force you to compensate by increasing ISO, but that introduces image noise that can seriously bring down the quality of your photos.
Luckily, Canon users are spoiled for choice when it comes to wide-open lenses. This review covers the six best low light lenses for Canon in detail and will help you decide which to add to your collection next. We’ve covered the focal range from ultra-wide to telephoto and have also frown in some excellent primes for good measure. Take a look at Canon’s brightest and turn darkness from a challenge into a signature of your artistic expression.
Budget
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
4.3/5.0
Type: Standard prime
Image stabilization: No
This has minimal barrel distortion.
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Best Value
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
4.6/5.0
Type: Medium telephoto
Image stabilization: No
Automatic and manual focus work equally well.
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Top Pick
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
4.9/5.0
Type: Standard zoom
Image stabilization: No
Little to no flaring and chromatic aberration.
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Low Light Lenses for Canon Cameras Comparison Table
Image
Product
Overall
Rating
Low-light
performance
Image
quality
Versatility
Price
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
4.9
4.8
4.9
5.0
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Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
4.6
4.7
4.5
4.6
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
4.8
4.8
4.7
4.8
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Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art
4.6
4.6
4.5
4.6
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Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
4.4
4.4
4.5
4.4
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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
4.3
4.6
4.0
4.4
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1. Best Overall – Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
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Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5
The EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is the best standard zoom lens Canon has ever made. Its wide aperture lets you take remarkable wedding photos no matter how dark the venue is or follow up the latest scoop with compelling images. The lens is built to last for decades, focuses fast and quietly, and has nearly flawless optical properties. If you can afford it, the decision to get one is a...
