Congratulations Alex Vincent, March 2024 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Kitchen". Alex Vincent - #906 Yvonne Raaijmakers - #909 Peter Wingfield - #902 Here's what Alex has to say: Thank you for the award of Photographer of th ...
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Inbuilt with features like continuous autofocus and subject trafficking, the Canon T5i camera comes with attributes you can only fully enjoy with the right lens. Below are my choices for the best lens for Canon T5I and a buying guide specially tailored to help you grab the best choice for you.
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Whether you know it as the 700D, Rebel, or Canon T5i, this camera can benefit much from a good lens. Dive in to see the ups, downs, contrasts, and comparisons of my top picks.
Being an improved version of the Canon 17-85mm lens, the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 features upgraded specifications to enhance user experience.
Its 15-85mm zoom range is a big plus. While you may get superzoom lenses that stretch well beyond 200mm, they may not offer you the same image quality as this lens.
It makes an excellent option for those looking for something more than just a wide-angle lens. Its focal range is ideal for real estate
It has a sturdy construction, and though its focus ring is a bit narrow, it runs pretty smoothly and is great for shooting videos. The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 has a smooth manual zoom ring, and despite the lens extending outwards, it still performs impressively.
Given it has full-time manual focusing, you can grab the zoom ring anytime and tune it as you wish, even during autofocus mode. Supported with excellent image stabilization, this unit is a suitable choice for handheld shooting with very minimal blurriness.
Thanks to its sharp focus, you get excellent footage convenient for broad coverage. Maximum aperture settings have impressive detail definition at centers though edges experience some chromatic aberration. Switch things to f/8 and above, and you’ll notice how dramatic the quality towards image peripheries improves.
While not having the ambitious focal range of Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 remains one of the best zoom lenses for real estate
The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 impressed me, given you can get it for slightly more than half the price of my best lens for Canon T5i. Though slightly larger than the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, it is lighter by 10g.
It might be a better option for those looking for bigger maximum apertures than my top pick. Its minimum focal length peeking at f/22 allows clarity in capturing both broad coverage and close-up shots. Like the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, it comes with optical stabilization to support handheld
The zooming isn’t the best with the lens extending outwards though it’s much better than a kit lens. The focus ring is pretty smooth and loose to use. Its short focus path of 45 degrees makes manual focusing slightly challenging. Unlike the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, it lacks full-time manual focusing.
Going for about five times as affordable as the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 was indeed built with the budget-tied photographer in mind.
I especially love how insanely tiny this lens is. With its diameter at 2.7 inches and length at only 0.9 inches, it is the smallest lens on my list and provides a petitely fitting companion for your Canon Rebel T5i.
Its weight blew me away, given it only weighs 125g. Being the lightest lens on my list and one of the best compact lenses for Canon T5i, it might be the most suitable option for on-the-go photographers.
Given its fixed focal length of 24mm, this prime lens is a fantastic wide-angle option. It is wide enough to cover large areas while not overly wide to kill emphasis in your photos.
The narrow focus ring adjusts smoothly. While you can adjust the focus ring any time, you can only change your focus with the lens set at manual focus.
One of Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8’s significant drawbacks is the lack of image stabilization, unlike most of my other options. If you are looking for a lens for real estate videography, then the pricier and more stable options on my list present a better solution.
With its advancements, like being the first Canon lens to feature their Nano USM (ultrasonic motor) autofocus, the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is another superb option for the Rebel T5i. This autofocus system combines the swiftness of USM autofocus with the control and efficiency STM (Stepper Motor) autofocus provides.
Equipped with the expansive zoom range, the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 makes for a flexible unit. While not overblown like the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3, this unit may be a great option if you are a versatile photographer seeking good picture quality.
Like most options on our list, image stabilization makes it ideal for quick photo capturing and videography applications.
Its build quality is good enough, and while it features plastic construction around a metal lens mount, it lacks weather sealing. Though considerably heavier than the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8, it is still lighter than most options on our list at 480g.
A plastic protrusion on the back of the lens deters you from mounting it onto a Canon full-frame camera. If you need a flexible option for your T5i plus a full-frame camera, this is not the best pick.
The unit is compatible with a separately power-zoom adapter. The adapter is a bit fiddly to attach and only turns on once you get your Canon Rebel T5i going. When using the module, your focal range lowers to 19-132mm.
While way older than the Canon T5i itself, the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 is still a top pick for your camera if you are into ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses.
Thanks to its focal length that extends as wide as 10mm, it is ideal for capturing as many details as possible in tight spaces like indoors. This focal length is also vital to push back your subject and give you more details in the background.
Its most extensive focal length at 22mm is impressive for an option in its caliber. If you get too close to your subject, it may be a bit challenging to capture a clean shot, given the lack of image stabilization.
Most of its build crafts from good quality plastic that feels solid though not too heavy. While its zoom ring may not be the best, it is smooth to move around, reasonably precise, and suitable for videography.
Its front doesn’t extend like some of my models, including the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6. Given that only its inner components move, you can attach a filter on the front and have a bit of weather sealing advantage.
The beauty of most prime lenses is their affordability, and the Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8 is not different.
While not the most affordable option on my list, the inclusion of a few features justifies its position as a fantastic wide-angle prime lens. Unlike the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, it comes with a durable lens hood yet at slightly over half the price of the former.
Another merit of the unit is the 14mm focal length. It is one of the best prime lenses for Canon Rebel T5i and has a very sharp focus perfect for quality images.
What some photographers may find as a disadvantage is the absence of a motor. It cannot autofocus, and you can only get sharper images manually.
For most real estate
If you are looking for the best yet most affordable zoom lens for Canon T5i, the Canon EF-S 18-55 f/4-5.6 might meet that plus your
It is also a very compact lens with its diameter of 2.6 inches and a height of 2.4 inches. Together with its weight at only 215g (second lightest on my review), its small size makes it convenient for days you are on your feet the most.
Unlike the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8, it includes image stabilization like many of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5i. Attaining accuracy during handheld shooting is much effortless this way.
Although its build quality is not the sturdiest on my list, it is much better than the lens’s old version, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. It features a plastic mount like its old version, a typical feature in the low-end options.
Excellent addition to its build is the inclusion of the glass enclosure in its rear that protects the insides from dirt and moisture, something absent in the old version. The construction is excellent for this price range while being smaller and better than its old version.
Getting a suitable lens for your Canon T5i needs some consideration in aperture sizes, focal lengths, stability, and focus features, among others. Below is an in-depth guide of the essential features to consider besides the compatibility of your Rebel T5i with your lens.
The aperture denotes the amount of time your lens remains open when taking pictures. Lenses with lower aperture values, therefore, open wider. As you select your lens for the Canon T5i, you should consider a small maximum aperture value in real estate
A wide aperture allows more light to trickle to your sensor before the lens closes. In poorly lit spaces, adequate amounts of light can help you achieve better illumination and photo quality.
The amount of focus you need in your pictures also affects the lens to pick. Low maximum aperture values provide a shallow depth of field and draw attention to the subject. If you want to capture more items in the background, you should consider a high minimum aperture value.
Another thing to take note of is what benefits a particular aperture size helps in attaining your focus. You probably know that the Canon Rebel T5i utilizes nine cross-type sensors, one of the features enabling it to respond quickly.
Its center focus point is a dual cross-type sensor suitable for use at f/2.8. With this feature, the camera helps you to shoot while in dark conditions.
You may want to get your hands on a lens that has its maximum aperture rated at this point or slower to take advantage of the central focus point.
I partly covered this subject when looking at the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6. Canon lenses typically come with different acronyms of their lenses to indicate the type of motor.
They have the Stepping Motor (STM) lenses designed for silent and smooth video focus and more common in APS-C camera kits, including the Rebel T5i.
USM (Ultrasonic Motor) lenses are super for swiftness and accuracy when picturing still subjects. They, however, tend to be louder and take a bit longer to focus when filming.
So what should you pair your Canon Rebel T5i with? If you take real estate photos to showcase property features, USM lenses may be a better match. STM lenses may be a better option for filming, for instance, real estate videography.
A new wave of Canon lenses seeks to merge the benefits of these two motors to provide a great solution in both instances. The Nano USM lenses are smooth and silent as you take your videos while being speedy and precise for still
Picking a lens for your Canon T5i with a suitable focal length is essential in ensuring it meets the needs of your application. Your lens’s focal length determines what field of view can fall within the confines of your photos.
Real estate and landscape photographers require lenses with small focal lengths. With the comprehensive coverage wide-angle lenses bring to the table, you can capture more expansive spaces with more clarity while maintaining sharpness from the foreground to the background.
Wide-angle lenses are also crucial in capturing tight spaces. With an excellent wide-angle lens, you can capture all the vital details.
Zoom lenses are worthwhile options to pair with your Rebel T5i. Given you can swiftly zoom in and out, these lenses enable you to grab shots with various fields of view, level of focus, and more.
You can select between the different focal lengths to pick what suits the occasion and your style.
It is less challenging to capture images perfectly in tight sports with a zoom lens, given the numerous focal length options. Superzoom lenses are suitable choices for multi-tasking photographers or hobbyists.
Although prime lenses limit you to a single size of your field of view, they have various benefits over their zoom counterparts.
With a prime lens, you don’t have to worry about your lens suddenly flicking through several focal lengths with a weak zoom ring. Images from prime lenses tend to be generally sharper too.
A zoom lens allows zooming in and out to fit your subject within your picture from your location. Prime lenses, on the other hand, may force you to move about in tight areas. While this may be bad sometimes, you may find a better position to picture your subject as you move.
As you peruse my top picks for Canon T5i, you’ll notice most of these options come with image stabilization while a few don’t. The Rebel T5i comes with features like the Handheld Night Scene mode and multi-shot reduction. Do you, therefore, need to invest in a lens with image stabilization?
Your lens plays hand in hand with the camera body in helping you achieve the final level of detail definition you want. While you can always seek software to fine-tune your photos, too much blur may be challenging to fix.
Image stabilization allows you to capture images with your Canon Rebel even when your shutter speeds are slower than your focal length at the time.
Although image stabilization is excellent for capturing most real estate and landscape photos, it may not help in an action-packed situation. With too much activity going on, image stabilization may worsen the blurriness and is something real estate videographers should consider.
With your Rebel T5i on a tripod with image stabilization still on, you may experience a feedback loop even with your camera still. The effect of this is blurriness.
At only 205g, the Canon EOS Rebel T5i is a camera meant for lengthy shooting sessions and traveling. How much weight your lens comes with determines the ease to handle it during such instances.
The heaviness of a camera, in most cases, also depends on the build quality and the features it provides. You will have to decide whether you will opt for an option like the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 at 575g or Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 and sacrifice several advantages.
The speed you enjoy with autofocus may not be essential for stationary subjects common in real estate, portrait, and landscape
With a manual focusing lens, you may focus your subjects more precisely than with the autofocus mode. Manual focusing tends to also perform better in low lighting occasions.
Autofocus support allows you to be more flexible, and autofocus lenses also come with manual focusing. Whether you select one of my best lenses for your Rebel T5i with autofocus support or the two without, you are still okay in still
While some of my best options almost cost the price you pay for your Canon Rebel T5i, they give you all the necessary attributes to produce quality footage and images. If you pair highly budget lenses with quality flash options for the Rebel, so there is no excuse to let your Canon T5i underperform.
