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Best Lens for Canon 80D Photography [2024 Review]

In: 
Published: 10/03/2023

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Even if you own one of the top DSLR Canon cameras, like the 80D, you’d still want to experiment on focal length, aperture, and perspective to ensure you have quality images for real estate photography. This is why you need the best lens for Canon 80D photography experiments. I’ve included top options on our list to help you make an informed buying decision.

Our Top Canon 80D Lens Reviews

Whichever location you are shooting from, I've rounded up the top lens for the Canon 80D camera to suit either well-lit or poorly-lit environments. Check our in-depth analysis and comparison of each lens.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM Lens

If you also do some landscape photography, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 is specifically designed for you. With this high quality and high aperture zoom lens, high detail images and beautiful artistic bokeh is guaranteed.

This lens performs better in low light conditions than the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 thanks to the f/2.8 aperture. The lens is fast with silent autofocus, you won't miss great details.

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm comes with a three-stage image stabilizer to subdue different conditions that cause blurring during photography. This is a stand-out feature that most lenses like the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 lack. The lens motor and constant torque enable high-speed focusing to achieve the desired focus point.

The zoom action is very smooth, and the focus ring turns with ease, which is perfect for filmmakers ready to explore the efficiency of the Canon EF-S lens. It weighs 22.8 ounces, and its small design makes it a good companion on your trip.

What makes it stand out from the rest is the clear and crisp images, even in poorly lit areas. Plus, it comes with a one-year warranty.

Even though it has great features, it is still really expensive compared to models like Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX. If you are planning to spend more on excellent quality, this is a reliable camera lens.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm F/3.5-5.6

The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 is a high-performance standard zoom lens. Like other Canon EF-S Lenses, it mounts on EF-S compatible Canon bodies; specifically, those with APS-C sized sensors. This makes it versatile for all your photography needs.

The camera lens provides a wide shooting angle thanks to the 24mm wide-angle end with a 136mm telephoto end that enables you to shoot different images from landscapes, flora, and portraits. You also get a super zoom lens while retaining excellent image quality.

The focal length coverage from 15mm is an added advantage on this lens. It surpasses those from 17mm and 18mm lenses making it unique. Built from high-quality plastic with a metal mount, you are sure of the extreme durability and great value for your investment.

Image stabilization when shooting while moving is guaranteed. This lens gives you four times slower shutter speeds via the image stabilizer. It supports autofocus, though not as excellent as its older brother 17-85mm lens. However, it is still great for all levels of photography. Another negative is the low light performance which cannot match pro-grade lenses like the Canon 17-55mm f/2.8.

Similar to the Canon EF-S 17-55mm, this lens operates silently for smooth capture. You get color rendition and naturalness that other competitors with poor zoom lenses lack. It is also compact enough for travel and weighs 20.3.

Canon EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6

Are you looking for a telephoto lens? The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6e offers a wide application. Its compact body means you can use it in different conditions for photography.

The 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens guarantees high-quality images. With the f/4.5-5.6 maximum aperture, you get sharp images as it lets in enough light. Although it’s not better than the Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8, it will still offer great images. With gyro sensors, the lens slows the speed of the target image. 

Shooting at a 300 mm frame improves the shutter speeds and overall performance, including getting quality images in low light conditions. Unfortunately, the lens lacks image stabilization, so you won’t have steady images unless you get a tripod stand.

The micro USM motor uses ultrasonic frequency vibrations, which promote silent operation and excellent speeds. Thanks to the high-speed CPU and the optimized AF algorithm.

The best part is that the lenses are cost-effective compared to models like Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8. It is, therefore, a great entry unit for real estate photography.

Suppressing flare and ghosting on the lens is possible thanks to the Super Spectra lens coatings and lens element shaping. This increases light absorptions while reducing reflections to give undistorted images with a natural color balance.

Canon EF-S 10-18mm F/4.5-5.6

The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is affordable yet durable. It has an ultrawide angle lens, useful for cityscape, real estate, and landscape photography.

The lens starts from 18mm and zooms back to 10 mm for a broad coverage. This makes it suitable for tight space shooting or when shooting in an open area.

Since it is made from hard plastic, it has a relatively long lifespan. It is small and lightweight, and you can carry it everywhere and capture images and videos on your trip.

Similar to expensive lenses like the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 features a smooth zoom ring to easily zoom in and out during photography.

Image stabilization is also another useful feature that photographers of all levels will love. This feature makes it better than the Canon EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 that lacks stabilization.

Our primary concern is the amount of light getting in for shooting as it is inadequate to guarantee you clear shots, especially in dark rooms. The maximum aperture at 4.5-5.6 is not adequate for good light, and that is where other lenses like Sigma 35mm F1.4 excel.

If you are a beginner or under a tight budget, this lens is durable, has a great stabilizer, and is great to meet different kinds of shooting and videography needs. 

Sigma 35mm F1.4

Sigma is known for producing fast and wide-angle lenses, and they didn’t disappoint in the production of the Sigma 35mm F1.4. It is as good as the Canon 35mm lens at half the price.

The 35mm focal length is exceptional on a full-frame canon. It is wide enough for general photography and long enough to give the subject some emphasis.

The lens features an f/1.4 aperture for precise and quality images in low-lit areas for a glowing background. Compared to Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8, the f/1.4 aperture means more light and many shooting opportunities. The lens is precise for reasonably wide-angle shots around the house, and you can easily get natural pictures in different zoom sizes without distorting the image.

Regarding the built quality, the lens is enclosed in durable plastic with a metal ring. Unlike its competitors, such as Canon EF-S 15-85mm, this model comes with a large focus ring which makes zooming in and out very smooth and easy.  

I did not like the lens because it lacks optical stabilization. That means in rough conditions like running and jumping, you won't get steady images. 

Canon EF-S 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens excels when it comes to stabilization. It makes images steady in different shooting environments, and it performs better than the Sigma 35mm F1.4.

Focal length is 18-135mm, sufficient to capture images at a wide angle. Since the lens incorporates NANO USM technology, it is highly beneficial to the multimedia image-makers who value a smooth and silent video supporting all-around focusing performance at quick speeds.

The EF-S 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 performs better than the 18-55mm version in that you can take close-range shots regardless of the zoom range and still get clear and quality images with sharp corners. However, the wide aperture results in dim corners.

Its greater contrast and color neutrality are practical when you have the Canon EF-S 18-135mm. The super Spectra coating applied on individual elements of the lens helps minimize ghosting and flare.

The lens is compatible with the optional PZ-E1 Power Zoom Adapter so you can experience smoother, more natural, and silent zooming. This versatile walk-around lens weighs 23.5 ounces, which is heavier than competitors like Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 that weighs 22.8 ounces.

Sigma 10-20mm F/3.5

Another lens in the wide-angle category is the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5. I find it handy and great for corner to corner photography.

The zoom range ends at 20mm, which provides a wide-angle for shooting. It zooms in and out through 10mm, wide enough to compete well with top-grade lenses like the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8.

Shooting in tight spaces and large buildings requires wide lenses, and this is where the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 performs well. The lens has a nice zoom range with a constant maximum aperture of f/3.5, which performs great in low light conditions yet not as good as the Sigma 35mm f/1.4, which lets in more light.

The built quality is solid and heavy. The heaviness could be a limitation to users who prefer lightweight camera lenses.

When using the autofocus setting, it makes some clicking noise as the lens goes through micro-adjustments. This is quite annoying. To limit or do away with the noise, you need an external mic situated about one foot away from your camera.

I did not like the absence of a stabilizer, which makes this lens unsuitable for shooting in unstable conditions.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6

If you are a beginner looking for a lens, the Canon EF-S 55-250mm F/4-5.6 is a good option for you. I liked that the image stabilizer is more effective and results in still images. This makes the lens better than its predecessor, famous for its wobbling and jerky noise with a lot of clicking sounds. 

The lens is also lightweight. This gives it an edge over its competitors that force you to carry a large camera bag. Unlike the older version, Canon EF-S 55-250mm features STM, making the lens quiet and smoother, differentiating it from other telephoto lenses.

In addition to the STM technology, the lens features a newly designed excellent speed CPU, an improved AF algorithm to boost speeds, and a rear focus mechanism. This makes the lens fast like the 18-200mm model.

This lens has the One UD lens element that minimizes chromatic aberration as you zoom, resulting in high resolution and contrast for excellent image quality. At the telephoto end, it has a maximum magnification of 0.29x thanks to the six-group zoom system.

I did not like the plastic construction on the lens, making it a lower quality compared to the plastic and metal ring options like Sigma 35mm F1.4. Thus, dropping it accidentally can dismantle the entire unit.

Features to Consider in the Best Lens for Canon 80D

The Canon 80D is an APS-C camera with a crop factor effect of 1.6x. With this small sensor size, this camera can perform poorly in poor lighting if you don't pair it with the right lens. 

The following features can help you choose a lens that can boost the performance of this camera in both indoor and outdoor photography. Moreover, the table below outlines the most basic features you should consider when choosing the lens.

Comparing Lens Features for Canon 80D Photography

LensesApertureImage StabilizationFocal Length
Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 f/2.8Yes55mm
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 f/3.5-5.6Yes85mm
Canon EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 f/4-5.6No300mm
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 f/4.5-5.6Yes18mm
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 f/1.4No35mm
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 f/3.5-5.6Yes135mm
Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 f/3.5No20mm
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 f/4-5.6Yes250mm

Maximum Wide Aperture

The aperture is an opening you can adjust to control the amount of light reaching the camera sensor. Like any other camera setting, the aperture has maximum and minimum values. Usually, many lenses can achieve a narrower aperture as it is about narrowing the opening. 

When it comes to the maximum wide aperture, things are quite different, as lenses require advanced optical elements to make the aperture wider. That is why only high-end lenses such as the Canon EF 17-55 mm f/2.8 have wider apertures. 

The advantage of a lens with a wide maximum aperture is its ability to allow more light to reach the camera sensor when shooting in bad lighting. Also, a maximum wide aperture allows users to capture images with a pleasing background blur that can draw the attention of the viewers toward the main subject. 

Angle of View

The angle of view is an important aspect to consider as it affects how much the camera lens can view at a given time. The angle of view depends on the lens's focal length. A focal length of less than 35mm gives a wide-angle field of view. 

In most cases, this is the field of view you will need when taking interior photos in cramped rooms or exterior photos while standing in the backyard. Since the Canon 80D has an APS-C sensor, the 35mm focal length will change to an equivalent of 56mm. 

For you to get a wide-angle perspective when using the Canon 80D, you need to pair it with a lens with a short focal length, such as the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6. Usually, the focal length changes to an equivalent of 16-28.8mm, which is still a wide angle.

Zoom Range

Zooming is about changing the angle of view, which means the focal length needs to be adjustable. The versatility of the zoom depends on how adjustable the focal length is. For instance, you can adjust the focal length of the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 by around 185mm. 

Usually, this gives a more flexible zoom compared to a lens such as the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5, where you can only vary the focal length by 10mm. Just like the angle of view, the crop effect of the Canon 80D tends to increase the zoom range. 

For instance, the zoom range of the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 will change to an equivalent of 88-400mm when paired with the Canon 80D. In the same, the zoom range of the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 will change to an equivalent of 16-32mm when paired with the Canon 80D. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Canon 80D Lens Is Good for Indoor Photography?

You can use any Canon 80D mid-range lens that has a focal length of about 35mm to 50mm for indoor Photography. If the place is dim, you can go for a lens with a larger aperture, such as the Sigma 35mm f/1.4. If there is sufficient light or a camera flash, you can use a lens with a smaller aperture, such as the Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 lens.

Can You Carry Different Lenses When Shooting With the Canon 80D?

Yes, you can carry different lenses when shooting with the Canon 80D due to its EF-S lens mount style that makes mounting easier and quicker. One of the best combinations to carry is tilt-shift, normal-to-telephoto, and prime telephoto lenses. Depending on the space that you are shooting from, you can vary the lenses between wide-angle and telephoto.

What Is the Difference Between the Canon EF and EF-S Lenses?

The Canon EF lenses are designed to work with both APS-C and full-frame cameras. On the other hand, the Canon EF-S lenses are designed to work with the Canon APS-C cameras, which have a smaller image circle.

Conclusion

Three camera lenses lined up in a table

Pairing your Canon 80D with the best accessories like proper flashes and lens will give you a better shooting experience. Have you found the right Canon 80D lens for you from our list? Our buying guide provides in-depth information on the top units currently available. Check them out and identify a suitable and affordable lens for your real estate photography.

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