Canon had the biggest lens collection in the world. You can always find a good deal compared to other brands. But the genuine question is which are the best canon lens to travel with? I will try my best to answer all your questions and will help you decide which lens is best suited for traveling. First, I want to explain the underlying information about Canon mounts and its focal length.
The reason to buy a Canon camera is its lens. Anywhere in the world, you can easily find the Canon lens. Ones, I was in Kenya with my Olympus mirrorless camera, and my main 17mm F1.8 lens was broken during the lens swapping. I searched the entire Nairobi camera market, but I didn’t find a single Olympus MFT lens there. So, at that moment, I decided I need to get into Canon or Nikon camera system. As you know by now, I embrace the Canon and fallen in love because of its very affordable entry price lens.
1. RF vs EF vs EF-S vs EF-M
There are 4 Canon mounts, but I call it 3 due to you can use the EF lens on EF-S, and vice versa. The EF/EF-S are the DSLR mount. The EF-M is the Canon APS-C Mirrorless mount, and the RF mount is for the Canon Full Frame Mirrorless cameras.
Canon R with RF Adapter to EF Mount
Take a sympathetic look at the table below for each lens before buying it. I don’t want you to end up purchasing the wrong lens, which doesn’t fit on your camera.
1.1 Can You Use EF/EF-S Lens on EF-M Camera?
Yes, but you need the EF-EOS M Mount Adapter. The autofocus is fast as it is on the native mount; it works perfectly with EF-M cameras such as M6 Mark 2, and M50.
1.2 Can You Use EF Lens on RF Mount EOS R Camera?
Yes, you can use it with the official EF-EOS R Mount Adapter. This works the same as the EF to EF-M, you get the autofocus, and OIS working.
1.3 Can You Use EF-S Lens on RF Mount Such as EOS RP?
Yes, but it will crop the sensor, which means 26MP of Canon EOS RP will be resulted in around 10MP. I will recommend not to use APS-C lens on Full Frame.
1.4 Can You Use EF-M Lens on EF Mount or Canon DSLR?
No, currently, there is no such adapter that can mount the EF-M lens on DSLR or RF Mirrorless cameras.
1.5 Can You Use RF Lens on EF-M Camera?
No, but its already been in rumors that Canon is working on RF to EF-M Mount Adapter. But for now, you cannot adapt the RF lens to EF-M cameras.
2. Is Canon Lens Weather-Sealed?
No, there is not a single Canon lens, which is weather sealed. But some Canon lens is the moist resistant lens. I will advise you to use lens rain cover if you want to shoot in a rainy environment.
3. How to Restart Canon Camera Lens Error?
Most likely, the Lens did not fully lock in the camera mount. First, turn off the camera, then make sure it has the battery and memory card. Unmount the Lens and Mount the Lens again with the right amount torque. If still, the camera produced the lens error, its often the Lens pins connecting points are damaged.
4. Which is the Best L Class Canon Lens to Get?
Canon EF 50mm F1.2L, This lens will up your travel photography game by a huge margin. I think ones you shot with F1.2 aperture, then going back, it is very hard. I just love the creamy bokeh of it when capturing random strangers’ pictures.
5. Which Canon Lens for Travel?
If a Canon lens did not make it on my Top 18 Best Canon Travel List, then it was not good enough in opinion. All of the lenses below I had personally used over the years. So, let us talk about which lets you should buy for your Canon camera body when you are shopping for a travel lens.
Traveling Man Taking Picture with Canon Lens
Best Cheap RF Lens
18. Canon RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| RF | Full Frame | Yes | 24-105mm | 38-168mm | 88.8mm | 395g |
If you are looking into buying the cheapest 4K Full Frame camera, I am talking about the Canon EOS RP. Then this is a must lens to have. The Canon RF 24-105mm is surprisingly lightweight around 400g for the Full Frame lens. If you pair this lens with RP, your camera + lens weight will be around 840g. Also, the pleasant news is that you can have both the RF 24-105mm with the RP camera body for less than $1,000. The only downside is the F4 aperture, but still, this F4 is Full Frame, so images turn out to be good.
Canon Telephoto Lens for Wildlife
17. Canon EF 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF/ EF-S | Full Frame | Yes | 70-300mm | 112-480mm | 146mm | 710g |
One of the best telephoto lenses ever I used, I had used the Canon EF 70-300mm with my Canon M50. I have to use the EF to EF-M adapter for it. This is a Full Frame lens, so if you are planning to use on an APS-C body, then the focal length will be 38-480mm. Yes, this is a plus point of using a Full Frame telephoto lens on my EF-M camera, I get more reach. This lens + M50 was my combo gallivanting in the Taman Negara National Park in Malaysia. The OIS in the lens is amazing; even at the longer end, I got very sharp images. One feature I adore a lot about this wildlife telephoto lens is the tiny screen on the lens. It comes in handy for display focal length and focusing distance.
Best Budget Canon Portrait Lens
16. Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM II
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF/ EF-S | Full Frame | No | 50mm | 80mm | 39mm | 159g |
The most affordable nifty fifty lenses on the planet. Please stay away from any third-party clone of the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 lens. If you need the cheapest bokeh lens, this is the answer. I had also used the Canon 50mm with my M50, which gave the focal length of 80mm. This makes it the perfect street portrait lens. I love to capture peoples on the street, at the same time, maintaining some distance from them. But this lens is not good for any wide shots if you are planning to use it on an APS-C body.
Cheapest Wide-Angle Lens for Canon
15. Canon EF-S 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 IS STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-S | APS-C | Yes | 16-28mm | 10-18mm | 72mm | 240g |
This is the lens; every Canon DSLR owner’s and first buyers must own. This is the cheapest ultra-wide-angle lens you can buy; many Sony mirrorless tries to adapt the Canon EF-S 10-18mm on their cameras. Most of the ultra-wide lens from Sony and Fujifilm cost 3 times more. This is the best lens for your crop body DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Best Budget Telephoto Lens for Canon
14. Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-S | APS-C | Yes | 88-400mm | 55-250mm | 108mm | 375g |
If you are looking for the best-priced telephoto lens for an APS-C DSLR body, you just can’t find a better deal than this one. This is a very inexpensive lens but gives you stunning results. If you are just getting into wildlife photography, then start with this lens. Also, this is a perfect combo for the tiny Canon SL3 compact DSLR camera for your Safari trip.
Best Mid-Range Zoom for Canon
13. Canon EF-M 55-200mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-M | APS-C | Yes | 88-320mm | 55-200mm | 87mm | 260g |
This lens is the reason to move to the crop EF-M system over the EF-S. The Canon EF-M 55-200mm is a very sharp lens, even sharp at 200mm. If you ask me Canon EF-S 55-250mm vs. Canon EF-M 55-200mm, the EF-M lens is sharper and had a better color rendition.
I had bought this 55-200mm for my wife Canon M200, but I used the most due to its super lightweight for a telephoto lens at only around 260g. If you need the ultra-portable telephoto lens, you can’t find better than this one.
Best Walk Around Lens for Canon
12. Canon EF-M 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-M | APS-C | Yes | 28-240mm | 18-150mm | 87mm | 300g |
Marvelous, that I have to say, this being my walk-around lens in Legoland Malaysia. This is a very lightweight lens for an all-in-one lens, and stabilization is very effective in the lens, both images, and video. If you are looking for a compact camera body, go with the Canon M200 (lack EVF) + EF-M 18-150mm, and the total weight will less than 600g.
Best All-in-One Lens for Canon DSLR
11.
11. Canon EF-S 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 IS
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-S | APS-C | Yes | 28-320mm | 18-200mm | 102mm | 595g |
I don’t know why this Canon 18-200mm is not much talked about; I got them used on my Thailand trip. I paired the lens with my older Canon 80D, and the results were stunning. I like this lens more than EF-M 18-150mm due to the longer focal length. But the major thing I dislike is the weight. But right now, I am not using this lens anymore for my traveling purpose but still a pleasant option for the DSLR lovers out there.
Best Canon APS-C Pancake Lens
10. Canon EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| APS-C |
If you are thinking of buying the Canon DSLR such as the 90D, make sure to get the EF-S 24mm pancake lens. This lens is tiny, and it seems it’s a body cap. The 24mm produces delightful images straight out of the camera, and I also like the contrast of the lens. Overall, it’s a must-buy for any Canon DSLR owners out there. The pancake size makes it perfect to wear the camera on your neck or shoulder without bumping the lens on things around you.
Best Canon Full Frame Pancake Lens
9. Canon EF 40mm F2.8 STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF/EF-S | Full Frame | No | 40mm | 64mm | 22mm | 130g |
This is the only pancake lens for the Canon Full Frame DSLR users out there; you can also use it on APS-C, which will give 64mm focal length. The reason you want to use the 40mm F2.8 over the 50mm F1.8 for your crop APS-C camera bodies is the size of it. The 40mm F2.8 is very compact. This is also a perfect lens to buy with the above EF-S 24mm for your APS-C DSLR camera.
Best All-in-One Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Lens
8. Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| RF | Full Frame | Yes | 24-240mm | 38-384mm | 122mm | 752g |
If you shoot RAW, then this lens produces huge vignetting. So why I’m recommending this lens? This is the perfect all-in-one lens for the new Canon RF Full Frame mirrorless cameras out there. The vignetting issue can be a fix by turning the camera corrections on your camera, but it won’t help the RAW. For RAW images, you can use vignetting fix feature on image editor out there, such the Luminar 4. Also, you can download the lens profile for the lightroom. If you need one lens and want to travel the world, then this is for you. The OIS in the lens is superb. If you take a lot of videos, the Canon RF 24-240mm can give up to 5 stops of stabilization.
Best Budget Zoom & Multipurpose Lens for Canon
7. Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-S | APS-C | Yes | 28-216mm | 18-135mm | 96mm | 515g |
You will be wondering about Canon EF-S 18-135mm vs. Canon EF-S 18-200mm, the 135mm is way better and sharper. I will advise you to sacrifice the 200mm for extremely sharp images at 135m. This lens cost less than $300, just watch out for deals out there, and very affordable travel lens. I don’t see any major downside to this lens other than the weight at around 500g.
Cheapest Wide-Angle Lens for Canon Full Frame
6. Canon EF 20mm F2.8 USM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF/EF-S | Full Frame | No | 20mm | 32mm | 71mm | 405g |
This is the brightest and most affordable ultra-wide-angle lens for the Canon Full Frame cameras. You can use the Canon EF 20mm F2.8 on your Canon RF EOS R camera with the help of an adapter. This is a dazzling lens for night-time landscape photography. I know there’s a more super ultra-wide lens up to 16mm, but they are starting at F4, which is not ideal for low light shooting.
Best Canon Lens for Portraits
5. Canon EF 50mm F1.2L USM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF/EF-S | Full Frame | No | 50mm | 80mm | 66mm | 580g |
Need the best lens in the entire Canon lens line-up, be ready to pay a premium price for it. I just love this lens. First, let me quickly talk about your concerns about 50mm F1.8 vs. 50mm F1.4 vs. 50mm F1.2. I sold both of my 50m F1.8 and 1.4. You just need a single 50mm for Full Frame. Then get the best 50mm out there. The F1.2 shallow depth of field is outside of this world. The F1.2 aperture produces ravishing portraits and stunning images. The 50mm F1.2 also works on RF mount and EF-M mount; make sure to have an adapter to use with. Sometimes focusing can be a problem with the F1.2, but I think it’s worth such minor annoyance for delightful experience using it.
Best RF Lens for Traveling!
4. Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| RF | Full Frame | Yes | 35mm | 56mm | 63mm | 305g |
If you need the native budget lens for the RF mount, this is the best option out there. Also, you can use the Canon RF 35mm F1.8 for macro photography. The thing which amazed me is the OIS in the lens work very well for handheld videos. This lens is the perfect combo with your lightweight 440g Canon RP. The images that come out of this 35mm F1.8 is flabbergasting.
Best Lens for Food Photography
3. Canon EF-M 28mm F3.5 Macro IS STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-M | APS-C | Yes | 44mm | 28mm | 45.5mm | 130g |
Now, here is the Canon EF-M trinity lens you must get. I love food photography; this lens has a magnification of 1.2x, which is very good for its size. Most of the time, this lens is in my cargo pocket; when I sit down to eat something, then I use it. The build-in circular LED comes in handy for lighting up the subject, which is obviously is food for me. I used this lens in Malaysia’s adventure. You just can’t find a better than lens than the EF-M 28mm on other camera systems for such a low price. This lens produces some striking macro photography.
Best Canon Sharpest Wide-Angle Lens
2. Canon EF-M 11-22mm F4-5.6 IS STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-M | APS-C | Yes | 17.6-35mm | 11-22mm | 58mm | 220g |
First, let me talk about EF-S 10-18mm vs. EF-M 11-22mm, the EF-M one is sharper even at the corner of the image. Also, it is shorter and very compact. The price of the 11-22mm is very close to 10-18mm. There is no reason to use the 10-18mm on your EF-M mount with an adapter, which makes it way bulky. I had tested the 11-22mm on my new Canon EOS M6 Mark 2 for vlogging; the OIS is very fruitful for stabilizing the walking shakes. This is the best Canon ultra-wide lens of all time, in my opinion.
Best Canon Bokeh Pancake Lens
1. Canon EF-M 22mm STM
| Mount | Format | OIS | FE Focal Length | APS-C Focal Length | Lens Length | Weight |
| EF-M | APS-C | No | 35mm | 22mm | 24mm | 105g |
The best pancake lens of all time. The 22mm is the reason I had moved to the EF-M mirrorless camera mount. You cannot find any F2 pancake lens on any other camera mounts. The 22mm which is 35mm in Full Frame, which makes it the best lens for all propose to use. I had used the 22mm F2 for food, photography, and selfie thanks to my wife Canon EOS M200 camera. The bokeh you get from the Canon 22mm F2 is jaw-dropping. If you want to travel, then travel super light. The 22mm F2 is a perfect fit for M50, M200, or for the M6 II with removable EVF. The Canon 22mm F2 is my go-to lens when I’m traveling around the world these days for a quick snap.
