Best Wide Angle Lenses For Canon [2024 Review]

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Breathtaking, mind-blowing, aesthetic, a view like no other; these are just some of the words used to describe a good image. And if you want your work to be praised in the same way, you need to buy a good wide lens as soon as possible.

A wide-angle lens is one of the most popular kinds on the market right now and rightfully so too.

Its superior quality, coupled with the small focal length allows you to capture the minute details of your subject and reproduce the scene in a way not possible with other lenses.

Review of the Best Wide Angle Lenses For Canon Cameras

If you are an ardent photographer, the chances are that you have already looked on the internet for the best wide-angle lens, but you haven’t found them yet. This article contains the best of the best on the market.

Brand
Canon EF-S
Tamron
Canon EF
Product
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is STM Lens, Lens...
Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II VC HLD Wide Angle...
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L is USM Lens - 9518B002,...
Aperture
10-18mm
10-24mm
16-35mm
Focal Length
f/4.5-5.6
f/3.5-4.5
f/4L
Brand
Canon EF-S
Product
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is STM Lens, Lens...
Aperture
10-18mm
Focal Length
f/4.5-5.6
Brand
Tamron
Product
Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II VC HLD Wide Angle...
Aperture
10-24mm
Focal Length
f/3.5-4.5
Brand
Canon EF
Product
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L is USM Lens - 9518B002,...
Aperture
16-35mm
Focal Length
f/4L

Best Overall and Best Canon EF Wide Angle Lens: Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is STM Lens, Lens...

PROS

  • Comes with an image stabilizer for more clarity
  • Allows for noise-free image and video shooting
  • Ultra-wide lens allows you to focus on minute details
  • Comes with a cutting-edge and smooth performance
  • Wide aperture allows for shooting in low light settings

CONS

  • Heavier thus difficult to carry
  • Price is relatively higher than other models
  • Will experience more distortions than a telephoto lens

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers are extremely pleased with the performance of this Canon wide-angle lens. They have complemented its Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 ultra-wide lens that allows them to capture minute details of their subject with ease.

Moreover, it also comes with a wide aperture that allows the maximum light to flow in thus allowing the users to capture images in low light settings.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The lens comes with a cutting-edge performance that ensures the best optical performance at all times. Its strong construction and its 4 groups’ optical system is precisely why it stands out to us. The zoom comes with enhanced lens coatings that not only present you with extremely high-resolution pictures but also ensures that ghosting and flaring do not disrupt your results.

Who Will Use This Most

For people who like a soft background blur in their images, this lens is definitely the perfect fit. The 7-blade aperture allows you to focus on the subject whilst producing a blur in the background. This not only makes your image more attractive but also ensures that every small detail of your subject is captured.

Moreover, it also allows you to create the perfect level of contrast between the subject and the background.

Bottom Line

This compact and lightweight model is trending on the market for all the right reasons. Its ultra-wide-angle, coupled with its wide aperture, is perfect for anyone looking to capture a stunning image. It also comes with an image stabilizer that allows you to element or compensates for the handshaking that new photographers often experience.

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is STM Lens, Lens...
  • EF S ultra wide zoom lens. Drive System Lead screw and rack system driven by stepping motor
  • Focal Length and Maximum Aperture: 10 18 millimeter, 1:4.5; 5.6
  • Closest Focusing Distance: 0.72 feet. ; 0.22 meter

Runner-up: Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II VC HLD Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II VC HLD Wide Angle...

PROS

  • Enables precise and stable photography
  • Allows for photography in low light situations
  • Compact and lightweight body for easy portability
  • Allows you to make very fine adjustments to your model
  • Steady optical performance against the entire zoom range

CONS

  • Isn’t suitable for faraway scenery
  • Image stabilization is not very good
  • Might lead to some distortions in the image

What Recent Buyers Report

Appealing to recent buyers is no easy feat, but Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 wide-angle lens has surely done it with ease. Its vibration compensation technology is loved by the customers as it allows them to capture stunning images both indoors and outdoors.

Moreover, this allows the buyers to capture images without any blur as technology helps remove any vibrations or shaking from your hand.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The product stands out to us because of its amazing optical performance across the whole zooming range. The design comes with 16 elements, all set in 11 distinct groups. This advanced technology helps to achieve an amazing resolution of your images. Moreover, it ensures that you experience minimum aberrations while making videos.

Who Will Use This Most

In the world of an ultra-wide zoom lens, this is definitely one of the top models. It comes in a compact body and is very portable, so if you are a photographer who has to travel frequently and cover events at distant locations, then this is the perfect fit for you. It is also perfect for wedding photography.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a lens that ensures the least amount of flare and ghosting, then look no more, because we have the right product for you. The excellent and smooth driving motor coupled with a full-time manual focus enables you to get creative with the art and experiment with your styles.

Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II VC HLD Wide Angle...
  • Tamron introduces the HLD (High/Low torque-modulated Drive) AF drive system. Full-time Manual Focus...
  • A shortened overall length vastly improves optical performance while maintaining a compact size-even...
  • The optical design Includes 16 elements in 11 groups. A new large aperture Aspherical Lens and ld...

Best Wide Angle Lens for Canon Full-Frame: Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L is USM Lens - 9518B002,...

PROS

  • Background blur is achieved
  • Allows for greater precision in photography
  • Provides a higher bokeh for excellent results
  • Enables you to experiment with a range of different focal lengths
  • Promises an excellent contrast between the subject and background

CONS

  • Heavier than some other models
  • Cannot be used on the full-frame after upgrading
  • Wide-angle is often destroyed by the crop factor on some lenses

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers prefer precision and accuracy above everything, and Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L is exactly why they buy and recommend this product. The lens comes with a range of focal lengths and a manual focus option that allows you to be as accurate as possible. The model also ensures greater diversity, which is a dream-come-true for any photographer.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The higher Bokeh effect is achieved with this lens, and that is exactly why it stands out to us. This special effect allows you to focus on your subject whilst also keeping your background into consideration. The superior contrast between the two helps achieve greater precision and beauty in your images. Moreover, the soft background blur produced with it also aids the effect.

Who Will Use This Most

This is one of the best wide-angle lenses that exist in the market and have a professional-level design. The minimum focusing distance, coupled with a range of focal lengths, allows you to capture images in a number of different settings. Smaller ranges make it perfect for portrait photography, whereas the relatively larger focal lengths make it ideal for action photography.

Bottom Line

Most camera lenses get dirty very soon and thus require a lot of maintenance and cleaning, but that’s certainly not the case with this Canon lens. The product is built especially to cater to all weather and environmental conditions. Not just that, its high-end construction makes it dust resistant, thus ensuring that a weak lens doesn’t stop you from exploring rough areas.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L is USM Lens - 9518B002,...
  • Make sure this fits by entering your model number
  • Full-time manual focus permits critical focusing precision, even in AF mode. Help provide excellent...
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Best Budget Wide Angle Lens for Canon: Altura Photo 58MM 0.43x

58MM 0.43x Altura Photo Professional HD Wide Angle...

PROS

  • Promises only high-resolution images
  • Allows for quick expanding of the view
  • Has a macro lens that is easily detachable
  • Lets you take excellent close-up imagery
  • Comes inside a protective pouch for added safety

CONS

  • Leads to some optical blur
  • Only compatible with the 58mm lens camera
  • Cannot be used with ultra-wide-angle lenses

What Recent Buyers Report

When you get a product at such a low cost, you are bound to be satisfied with it. 58MM 0.43x Altura 2-in-1 design comes with a wide-angle lens perfect for all sorts of indoor photography. But that’s not the only reason customers love it. Its wide aperture coupled with the longer focal length allows you to capture a wide field of view.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The best thing about this lens is its multi-coated glass. This advanced construction allows you to get pictures of high resolution in all settings. Not just this, the product also ensures the least amount of glare when it comes to taking portrait photography. To top all this off is the steel barrel construction that ensures greater durability.

Who Will Use This Most

If you are a photographer who is interested in zoom capability, then this product is for you. It comes with an auto focus option too that allows you to adjust the focal length without moving or changing your direction. Not just this, its wide range makes it a suitable option for outdoor photography too, where you have to capture images at a relatively greater distance.

Bottom Line

This product is the perfect alternative to high-end professional lenses. With this product, you get the best results of a professional lens at a relatively lower price. It is also easier to mount and dismount, thus making it easy for you to change lenses. Moreover, its wide-angle lenses also add diversity, thus making it a perfect fit for you.

58MM 0.43x Altura Photo Professional HD Wide Angle...
  • LENS ATTACHMENT: Easily screws on to the front of your lens, and instantly expands the field of view...
  • LENS COMPATIBILITIES: Popular 58MM Lens models including Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM, Canon...
  • CAMERA MODELS: Canon EOS Rebel T7 T7i T6i T6 T6s T5i T5 T4i T3i T100 SL3 SL2 SL1 90D 80D 77D 70D...

Best Ultra Wide Angle Lens for Canon: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom...

PROS

  • Offers zoom feature in all situations
  • Has a weather-resistant construction
  • Allows for silent and fast auto focusing
  • Comes with three aspherical lens elements
  • Super optics are created via the amazing UD glass element

CONS

  • Higher distortions in higher focal lengths
  • Zoom feature often hinders experimentation
  • Relatively more expensive than some other models

What Recent Buyers Report

The lens comes with a weather-resistant construction, and that is exactly why recent buyers love it so much. Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L feature enables users to use it in any kind of setting, thus adding to their ease. It is also water and dust resistant, which means that it doesn’t get dirty easily. Moreover, it also comes with a silent auto focus option that allows them to work in ease and comfort.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The product stands out to us because of the perfect aperture size of the model. The f/4 allows you to capture the best images, even in low light settings. So whether you are indoors or outdoors, you won’t have to wait for enough light to show up to capture a clear image.

Who Will Use This Most

The lens is an ideal one for both digital and film-making purposes. It comes with extremely fine optics and three aspherical lenses that aid its performance. Moreover, the super ultra-low dispersion glass element and the fine coating on it reduces the additional glare and flare that you might experience otherwise.

Bottom Line

This fast ultra-ring lens is already making its mark on the market by bringing some of the best features with it. It has a smooth and constant aperture that aids its performance and makes it perfect for auto focusing. This not only allows people to use it for professional purposes, but its ease of use also makes it a fine model for amateurs.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom...
  • 17 40 millimeter ultra wide angle zoom lens with f/4 maximum aperture for Canon SLR Cameras....
  • 3 aspherical lens elements and super UD glass element create superior optics in all conditions,...
  • Powerful ring type ultrasonic monitor (USM) produces fast and silent autofocusing, Focuses as close...

Best Wide Angle Lens for Canon 6D: Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Wide-Angle Lens

Canon 5178B002 EF 35mm f/2 is USM Wide-Angle Lens...

PROS

  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Offers greater image stabilization
  • Comes with greater versatility than other models
  • Rear focusing system adds to ease of photography
  • USM focusing distance allows you to get sharper pictures

CONS

  • Low bokeh level achieved
  • Does not allow you to capture very small objects clearly
  • Aperture size is relatively smaller than some other models

What Recent Buyers Report

Canon EF 35mm f/2 lens offers extremely bright and clear images, and that is why fans appreciate and praise the model so much. It comes with greater versatility than other products because it offers a range of different focal lengths. This coupled with its image stabilization mechanism makes it a perfect fit for high-level photography.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The best thing about this lens is its advanced construction. The mechanical and the optical structure has been redesigned to bring you the best possible features. The new model comes with aspherical lenses to ensure the perfect performance of the periphery. Not just that, the auto focus option also complements this feature and makes it easy for customers to make use of it.

Who Will Use This Most

Since the model comes with an auto focus option with greater precision, it acts as a perfect gift to give a professional photographer. It also allows you to switch to manual focus with ease, thus ensuring that you can experiment with your styles. Since the model offers a range of focal lengths, you can use it for a portrait as well as sports photography.

Bottom Line

The model is a testament to the fact that the photography industry is booming with each passing day. Its lightweight and compact design allow you to carry it with ease. And its superb, high-end construction ensures greater image stabilization and less glare at all times. If that’s not enough to convince you, then look at its redesigned optics, and you will surely consider buying it at your earliest.

Canon 5178B002 EF 35mm f/2 is USM Wide-Angle Lens...
  • Focal length and maximum aperture: 35mm 1:2
  • Lens construction: 10 elements in 8 groups
  • Diagonal angle of view: 63 Degree

Best Canon Wide Angle Lens 10-22mm: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM SLR Lens

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM SLR Lens for EOS...

PROS

  • Comes with a full-time manual focus
  • Ensures higher performance and speed
  • Ring-shaped circular design adds rigidity
  • Can fill extremely small subjects with ease
  • Natural highlights are produced via the circular aperture

CONS

  • Not suitable for landscape photography
  • Manual focus often makes adjustments time-consuming
  • Perspectives often get distorted at such small focal lengths

What Recent Buyers Report

The product has garnered quite a lot of praise from recent buyers, mainly because of its high optical performance and speed. The product comes with an ultra-wide Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 lens that makes it convenient for users to capture the most minute and important details about the subject. It also generates speedy results, further adding to its appeal.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The best thing about this lens is its close focusing distance up to 9.5 inches. This allows you to fill the smallest subjects in the frame without much difficulty. Not just that, the product also comes with an inner focusing system that ensures no front element rotation. This means that regardless of what object you zoom, the length of your zoom will not change.

Who Will Use This Most

The lens produces some of the best natural highlights; hence people looking to capture the real beauty of close-up subjects and objects will make the most use out of it. Moreover, since it’s an ultra-wide lens, it means that it can also be used for portrait photography where small details are important to capture.

Bottom Line

This lens comes with amazing optical quality, and this is one reason why it is considered one of the best products on the market. Its compact and relatively lightweight design adds to its higher portability. Moreover, the ability to switch from auto focus to manual focus is also something that sits really well with fans of this superior lens.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM SLR Lens for EOS...
  • 10-22mm wide-angle zoom lens with f/3.5-4.5 maximum aperture for EOS digital SLR cameras
  • Superior AF performance and speed, with full-time manual focus with the turn of a ring
  • Close focusing to 9.5 inches; fills the frame with subjects as small as 3.6 x 5.4 inches

Best Sigma Wide Angle Lens for Canon: Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens

PROS

  • Features a multi-layer lens coat
  • HSM lets you take pictures in silence
  • Prevents the additional ghosting and flare
  • Ensures clear images with a high contrast
  • Comes with a superior and enhanced peripheral brightness

CONS

  • More distortions in perspective
  • Not suitable for action photography
  • Multi-layer coatings add to additional cost

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers are always looking out for better and cheaper products, and they have found one in this Sigma lens. The product comes with a small focal length and a wide aperture. Together, these features enable you to capture clear and focused images both indoors and outdoors.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The best thing about this lens is definitely the multi-layer coating on it. This is a rare feature and hence appreciated more by everyone. It allows you to capture images with sharp contrast and clarity. Not just this, the model also prevents the additional flare and ghosting that you might experience otherwise.

Who Will Use This Most

The lens provides extremely consistent results throughout its zoom range. This means that it is able to accurately capture the distinct relationship between the subject and the background. This makes the model a perfect fit for wildlife photography involving smaller insects and bees. The USM motor also enables you to take pictures in utter silence.

Bottom Line

Sigma has one single motto, and the company has worked tirelessly to further that mission. It is doing all it can to produce the products with the highest standard of design and manufacturing. With its ultra-wide lens, its USM technology, and its wide aperture, you can rest assured that you will get the images with the highest quality.

Best Canon Rebel T5 Wide Angle Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens

PROS

  • Silent imagery is ensured via the USM
  • Consistent and steady results throughout the zoom range
  • Image shaking is well compensated via the image stabilizer
  • Shallower depth of field is produced by the circular aperture
  • Impressive images are delivered via the aspherical elements

CONS

  • Lower bokeh effect achieved
  • Close-up imagery not possible at higher focal lengths
  • Aperture size is relatively smaller than some other models

What Recent Buyers Report

When it comes to recent buyers, there aren’t many products that have gotten this much praise. This wide-angle lens comes with a range of focal lengths, allowing you to use it for a number of different purposes. Moreover, its wide aperture ensures that you can work in all light settings easily.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The lens ensures minimization of the motion blur, and that is exactly why it stands out to us. Its large maximum aperture combines with the extra high shutter speeds to produce this effect. Moreover, it has the ability to produce a shallow depth of field that ensures your subject is in focus. It also enables you to get sharper and brighter images.

Who Will Use This Most

The product comes with high compatibility with most camera models; hence it can be used by a number of different people for a range of uses. The best use of it would be for portrait photography. This is because it enables you to create a background blur that puts your subject in focus. This function is also aided by the image stabilizer that further produces consistent results.

Bottom Line

With smooth construction and amazing image stabilizing technology, this product is already making its mark in the industry, and for all the right reasons. It comes with USM, which allows you to get images in utter silence. Moreover, it’s auto focus option is best for people who want to indulge in professional photography.

Comparison of the Best Wide Angle Lenses For Canon

What Are The Best Uses For a Wide Angle Lens?

When it comes to lenses, wide-angle lenses are extremely popular. They not only capture the subject in detail but also ensure that the image is sharp and clear. Here are some of the best uses of these:

Street Photography

This is a blooming art nowadays with more and more people indulging in it. Using a wide lens for street photography brings a lot of benefits. It allows you to capture the larger scene in a single frame and capture more of the little details. Moreover, its auto focus and manual focus option allows you to move around as much as you like.

black canon lens on the rock surface
Canon EF-S 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5 USM wide angle lens, session for Digital Camera Magazine taken on July 18, 2011. (Photo by Jesse Wild/Digital Camera Magazine)

source

Interior Photography

This is a broad area where a wide lens really come in handy. The category also includes real estate images. The most important quality of such an image is the story it tells and the distinct characteristics of the place that it highlights.

A wide-angle lens allows you to capture all the minute details of the subject without compromising on any of its features. So if you are an interior photographer, you will love the results it produces.

Portrait Photography

The best use of a wide lens is definitely portraiting photography. The scenic beauty, as well as the aesthetic sense of the subject and the background, can only be achieved if you use a lens with a small focal length.

This is because such a lens will not only enable you to capture a nice and smooth background blur but will also allow you to highlight the subject in close up photography. Moreover, using a wide-angle lens produces a Bokeh effect that is essential for portrait photography.

Can Any Wide Angle Lens Work With a Canon Camera?

Modern lenses that are used these days come in 2 kinds, EF and EF-S. The lenses in the EF category can mount on any camera, whether it is a frame body Canon camera or a crop body Canon camera. However, the other kind does not fit on both types.

Moreover, the lens that is designed specifically for crop bodies can not fit on a Canon frame body camera. The lower compatibility is an issue that you might face with the EF-S type much more than you would with an EF type.

Another thing to keep in mind is how old the camera lens is. Most old lenses do not fit on newer models; hence need replacement. This is because those do not come with inbuilt internal electronics.

What to Look For When Buying a Wide Angle Lens

There is a lot of different wide-angle lenses available on the market, so make sure you look out for these features before buying a wide-angle lens for your camera.

Type of Wide-Angle Lens

Contrary to what people think, there are a lot of different types of wide-angle lenses on the market. Although these are similar in their properties, their different focal lengths mean that each one can be used for a different purpose only. Shorter focal lengths allow you to get closer to the subject, and hence they should be preferred.

Zoom vs. Prime

People often find it hard to choose between a prime and a zoom lens. The latter comes with a focal length between 28mm and 55mm, whereas the former can only shoot at the predefined focal length set for the brand/model. A zoom lens is often preferred because it comes with more flexibility, whereas a prime lens is loved by people who want to get creative with the art and like to be challenged.

Large Maximum Aperture

In this list, you will find a range of products, each with different aperture size, but to get the best results, you should try getting one with a wide maximum aperture. This is because it would allow you to get more light in your images and will thus help you create a higher Bokeh effect.

Benefits of Investing in a Quality Wide Angle Lens

Investing in any quality product is worth doing; however, investing in the right wide lens is absolutely essential. If you want to ace your photography skills and excel in the art, then opt for the right lens from our list. These are some of the benefits of buying the right one, including:

Allows You to Tell a Story

While taking a picture, we want our best to capture as many details as possible. These details allow us to envision a story when we reminisce over the past. The best part of having a wide-angle lens is that you can tell a story with it. These angles allow you to focus on your subject and capture the essence of it in its whole. 

Allows You to Exaggerate and Emphasize

Contrary to what people think, a wide-angle lens is not only for simple photography. It also helps you to exaggerate and emphasize the beauty of the subject before you. Moreover, it ensures that the distance between the background and your object is well maintained. The background blur also helps achieve a good contrast between the two.

Smaller Focal Lengths

The small focal lengths allow you to focus more on your subject and less on your background. These small lengths also come with wide apertures that allow you to capture images even in situations where there isn’t much light. Moreover, a wide lens also allows you to play with the subject scale and location and get more creative than usual. 

People Also Ask

People love Canon’s wide lenses, and therefore they love asking questions about them. Here are some of the most common questions asked. Our answers might also help you clear up some confusion. 

What Size is a Wide Angle Lens?

A wide-angle lens is any lens that comes with a focal length below 35mm. This comes with a wide aperture that allows for the perfect portrait and close-up photography. Any lens that has a focal length below 35mm is often considered to be an ultra-wide-angle lens.

Do I Need a Wide Angle Lens For Landscapes?

Capturing landscapes often requires you to capture as much of the scene as possible, so it is imperative that you get the right lens for landscape. Any lens that is wider than 35mm is said to be a wide-angle lens and can be used for landscapes. 

Is 18mm a Wide Angle Lens?

Lenses that have a focal length below 35mm are considered to be ultra-wide lenses, and any model with a greater focal length comes under the category of wide-angle lenses. With this definition, an 18mm lens would be an ultra-wide-angle lens and not a wide-angle lens.

Is a Wide Angle Lens Bigger Than a Normal Lens?

A wide-angle lens comes with a field of view that is relatively larger and wider than the field of view of a human eye. In other words, a wide-angle lens is definitely bigger than a normal lens. A wide-angle lens has a focal length of about 35mm, whereas a normal lens has a focal length of around 58mm.

Conclusion

There is a common myth circulating these days. It discourages people that they can never become a good photographer unless they invest in the most expensive lens. But one look at this article will assure them that the myth is just that: a myth.

The only thing needed to excel in the art is your determination and your passion, a good wide lens counts too, of course. So get yourself a good lens with a small focal length and a wide aperture, and you are good to go.