The best lenses for the Canon Rebel SL1 DSLR camera are listed below. Here is a list of the best Canon EOS Rebel SL1 DSLR lenses that you should consider purchasing.
A compact and lightweight DSLR, the Canon Rebel SL1 is one of the tiniest and lightest cameras ever created. With a weight of 14.4 ounces, you get a lot of the performance of the famous Rebel line of DSLRs without the added weight of bulky extras like a flip-out LCD screen.
Best Lenses for Canon Rebel SL1
The 18-megapixel Canon SL1, on the other hand, provides mirrorless cameras a significant run for their money for people who seek high image quality without the weight of a traditional camera.
Here we’ll go through the best lenses for the Canon EOS Rebel SL1, starting with the STM kit lenses that come bundled with the camera and working our way up to particular prime and zoom lenses for wide-angle shooting, portraiture, and telephoto photography.
1. Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 STM
For video applications, Canon’s STM (Stepping Motor Technology) lenses were developed expressly for use with video cameras; they focus more quietly and smoothly than Canon’s USM lenses. The overall takeaway is that STM is less likely to stand in the way of capturing high-quality video, while USM is somewhat better at capturing still images in low light.
Because video is essential to many people, this 18-55mm STM lens and the bundle listed below are excellent choices for pairing with the SL1. Having a focal length equivalent to 29-88mm on a 35mm camera, this lens is too wide for landscape and architecture photography but is excellent for people and portrait photography. It’s also small and lightweight, weighing little over 7 ounces, and it has image stabilization (IS) technology, which is helpful in taking hand-held images in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
2. Canon 18-55mm STM and 55-250mm STM
If you’re planning on shooting video with your new Canon SL1 and are contemplating the 18-55mm STM lens mentioned above, it makes a lot of sense to purchase the 55-250mm STM lens as a package deal. For only a few hundred dollars extra, you may cover the whole focal length range, from wide-angle to telephoto, with ease.
It’s true that when your photography skills improve, you may wish to invest in prime lenses, but this package provides a beautiful head start at a terrific price. We want the maximum aperture range on both lenses to be a little wider, but they are still usable in the majority of situations (you can supplement your low-light needs with an inexpensive portrait lens like the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II).
3. Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Macro OS
While the Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Macro OS is a better price all-in-one lens, the Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Macro OS is an excellent all-around lens to match with the Canon SL1. It has a zoom range similar to 28-400mm and weighs only 16.6 oz. Therefore, it offers more extraordinary focal lengths for almost half the price. It also has a more extended zoom range. Why is it so much less expensive? First and foremost, you’ll note the difference in the maximum aperture at the wide end: f/6.3 on the Canon against f/5.6 on the Nikon.
The lens does have Sigma’s OS (Optical Stabilization) technology, which is similar to Canon’s IS (Image Stabilization) technology and is useful for taking hand-held shots in low-light conditions. First and foremost, the Thermally Stable Composite material that is employed in the lens barrel is not as robust as a more rigid plastic or metal substance.
In addition, with distortion and some softness in the corners, the optical performance isn’t quite as stunning as it could have been. Nonetheless, for roughly $350, it represents an excellent deal. Keep in mind to utilize the lens lock while using a long barrel because the barrel has the propensity to creep.
4. Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Among amateur photographers, all-in-one lenses that can replace a whole bag full of primes and zooms are trendy. Canon developed the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS in order to fulfill consumer demand and compete with Nikon’s famous 18-200mm lens. With a zoom range comparable to a massive 29-320mm on a 35mm camera, there’s no doubt that this all-in-one lens will handle all of your photographic needs with ease.
It does not perform well at the wide end, with substantial distortion at 18mm, therefore, landscape photographers should consider using a different lens that performs better in that area rather than this. However, it maintains a reasonable level of sharpness throughout its zoom range and has generally good optics. One thing to keep in mind is that the manual focus ring spins when autofocus is on, which might make it difficult to hold the lens in one hand.
5. Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
This new 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens from Canon has knocked it out of the park, putting an end to the clamoring of wide-angle APS-C shooters who didn’t want to shell out more than $600 for the 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 lens described below. This lens, which was released in 2014, has a focal length equivalent to 16-28.8mm on a 35mm camera, making it an excellent choice for landscape photography as well as wide-angle urban photography.
Aside from that, this lens is crisp, has no distortion (unless when used wide open at 10mm), and is quite reasonably priced for a wide-angle zoom. Although the lens’s maximum aperture of f/4-5.6 isn’t ideal, it does include four stops of image stabilization to make up for this shortcoming.
6. Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6
The Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 used to be the top budget wide-angle lens to pair with the Canon SL1, but that distinction has been lost with the advent of the Canon 10-18mm f/3.5-5.6, which is discussed above in more detail. There is little benefit in terms of length (this lens is comparable to 16-32mm on a 35mm camera), but it is also more costly and has the same aperture range as the previous lens.
Aside from the fact that they are both made of plastic, the Sigma weighs more than twice as much, at more than 18 ounces. Even if we exclude the cost, we tend to prefer Canon over Sigma, which makes the decision even more apparent. If you currently possess a Sigma, there is no compelling reason to upgrade. However, the Canon 10-18mm is a good choice for first-time wide-angle lens consumers.
7. Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM
Although a large variety of pancake lenses are available for mirrorless cameras, Canon also produced a 40mm f/2.8 STM lens that is compatible with their DSLRs, notably the Canon SL1. The Canon 40mm lens has a low profile and is extremely lightweight, resulting in high-quality photographs with little to no distortion.
It also has an STM motor, which provides smooth and silent focusing, which is excellent for video. One thing to keep in mind is that the focal equivalent on the SL1 is 64mm, which isn’t as common as focal lengths like 50mm or 85mm, which are more prevalent. However, this does not rule out the possibility of or the necessity of using this field of vision, and you may be pleasantly surprised by its usefulness.
8. Canon 50mm f/1.8 II
The 50mm f/1.8 II has a focal length equal to 80mm, making it a great daily lens for portraiture and vacation photography. This lens is one of our favorites since it is lightweight, crisp, and works well in low light. It is also one of the most incredible bargains on this list. So, what are some of the disadvantages of the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II lens?
The lens is totally made of plastic, with the exception of real glass, so don’t expect it to survive indefinitely. However, because of its optical excellence, we believe that this lens should be in the bag of just about everyone, from beginners to experts. The Canon 50mm f/1.4 is an excellent lens for pros and people who desire even more outstanding low-light performance.
9. Canon 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
It is a high-end lens with a focal length range of 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. Instead of having to carry about and switch out different lenses, the 15-85mm covers a wide range of focal lengths from wide-angle to medium telephoto (equivalent to 24-136mm on a 35mm camera), making it a convenient alternative.
With this lens, you receive a significant increase in wide-angle capability (24mm compared to 29mm) as well as manual focus override, which is triggered by simply rotating the focus ring with your finger around the lens barrel. Like many zoom lenses of this sort, there will be some distortion at the wide end, therefore it is advisable to shoot your wide-angle images at 17mm rather than 15mm to avoid this problem. The USM motor is not relatively as quiet or smooth as an STM lens when used for video recording.
10. Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
If you want to use your SL1 to capture close-up macro photos, the Canon 60mm f/2.8 USM is the undisputed leader in this category.. Despite having an equivalent focal length of 96mm, this EF-S format lens is crisp, somewhat light (weighing less than 12 ounces), and takes excellent photos.
One drawback is that the focusing isn’t always as quick as we’d want it to be, but you can quickly switch to manual mode if that is necessary. Alternatively, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, which has a focal length of 161mm on the SL1, may be used for even closer focusing.
11. Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II
If you already have the 18-55mm kit lens or a combination of other wide-angle and portrait lenses, the Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II is an excellent way to round out your lens collection and make your camera bag more complete. In exchange for $299, you will receive a fully adequate telephoto zoom lens that can cover a wide variety of focal lengths similar to 88-400mm on a 35mm camera.
Even though the lens’s maximum aperture range of f/4-5.6 isn’t ideal when shooting in low light, it does come equipped with Canon’s image stabilization technology, which helps to reduce camera shake. Furthermore, considering its focal length range, the Canon 25-250mm is a reasonably lightweight lens, weighing less than 14 ounces. Despite the fact that it is not a telephoto zoom designed for extremely picky pros, it is a great and flexible telephoto zoom with a fair price tag.