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What Are The Best Lenses in 2025

"Unlocking the Art of Photography: A Passionate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Lens for Every Shot! Discover the transformative power of lenses that can elevate your photography game to new heights. Whether you're capturing stunning landscapes, intimate portraits, or fast-paced action, the right lens can make all the difference. From prime lenses that deliver exceptional sharpness to versatile zoom lenses that adapt to any situation, each option has its own unique strengths. Consider factors like aperture size, focal length, and compatibility with your camera body when making your choice. With my insider tips and firsthand experiences, you’ll gain the confidence to invest wisely in lenses that suit your style and vision. Join me on this exciting journey to explore the best lenses on the market and unleash your creativity behind the camera!"

1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
Buy Now $135.00

Why We Love It

Reviewers and users love the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens for its outstanding image quality and compact size. Many praise its sharpness, even at wide apertures, making it ideal for low-light photography. Users also value the quiet and smooth autofocus, particularly for video recording. Despite its plastic construction, reviewers note that the lens feels solid and well-made.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Excellent image quality

Cons

  • Plastic build
  • No image stabilization

Canon's compact 50mm prime lens with f/1.8 aperture.

This lens delivers stunning image quality and advanced performance. With an 80mm effective focal-length on APS-C cameras and 50mm on full-frame cameras, it's an excellent prime lens for portraits, action, and nighttime photography. The lens's stepping motor (STM) and refined focus mechanism support the Canon EOS Movie Servo AF function to provide smooth and quiet continuous AF during video recording, as well as when shooting photos.

2

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens
Buy Now $266.95

Why We Love It

Reviewers and experts love this lens for its exceptionally sharp images and outstanding low light performance. Its compact size is praised as it makes it easy to carry around. Many also mention its quiet and precise autofocus, which is a big plus for shooting videos and wildlife photography. The lens's ability to produce beautifully blurred backgrounds is another feature that users appreciate.

Pros

  • Excellent low light performance
  • Quiet and precise autofocus
  • High-quality image resolution

Cons

  • No vibration reduction
  • Can struggle with autofocus in low contrast situations

A compact prime lens ideal for portrait photography

This Nikon lens is a versatile prime lens that is perfect for various types of photography, including portraits, landscapes, and everyday snapshots. With its f/1.8 maximum aperture, it delivers beautifully blurred backgrounds and performs exceptionally well in low light conditions. It comes with a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for quiet and precise autofocus. The lens is designed with Super Integrated Coating to enhance light transmission and reduce flare.

3

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Buy Now $135.00

Why We Love It

Users and reviewers alike have praised this lens for its superb image quality and low-light performance. The compact size makes it ideal for travel, and the fast autofocus is a favorite among portrait photographers. Despite its plastic construction, many find it sturdy and well built. The wide aperture also allows for a pleasant bokeh effect in portraits.

Pros

  • Great low-light performance
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Fast and quiet autofocus

Cons

  • No image stabilization
  • Plastic construction

Canon STM Lens with 50mm focal length

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is a must-have for any serious photographer. This versatile lens offers a wide aperture of f/1.8, allowing for great low-light performance and beautiful background blur. With its compact and lightweight design, it’s perfect for on-the-go photography. It also features a robust metal mount and an optimized AF algorithm for fast, smooth, and quiet autofocus.

4

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens
Buy Now $229.95

Why We Love It

Photographers and reviewers commend the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens for its sharpness and speed. Many praise its performance in low light conditions and its silent autofocus. The lens is also favored for its natural image angle, making it versatile for various types of photography. Some users wish it had vibration reduction, but the lens's overall performance outweighs this drawback for most.

Pros

  • Sharp images
  • Fast and quiet autofocus
  • Great in low light

Cons

  • No vibration reduction
  • Not weather sealed

Nikon's fast and sharp 35mm prime lens with f/1.8 aperture.

This lens is optimized to produce stunning images with our DX-format DSLRs, delivering a level of clarity and detail you’d expect from a prime lens. The lens is designed for a natural image angle (approximating the angle of view of the human eye) and is ideal for portrait, street, or travel photography. It features Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for smooth, fast and quiet autofocus.

5

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens

Buy Now $138.00

Why We Love It

Photographers have been impressed by the NIKKOR 35mm's sharpness and clarity, as well as its ability to handle low-light situations. The quiet autofocus is a hit among videographers. Despite the lack of vibration reduction, users note that the lens's wide aperture helps to compensate by allowing faster shutter speeds. The lens's compact size also makes it a favored travel companion.

Pros

  • Excellent in low light
  • Quiet autofocus
  • Sharp image quality

Cons

  • No vibration reduction
  • Not suitable for full-frame cameras

Nikon NIKKOR Lens with 35mm focal length

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens is a versatile piece of kit for any photographer. Its fast f/1.8 aperture enables smooth, natural background blur (Bokeh) and superior low light performance. The lens is equipped with Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for quiet, fast, and accurate autofocus. Made with a hybrid aspherical lens element, it reduces aberrations and enhances clarity and contrast.

6

Sony - E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens

Sony - E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens
Buy Now $448.00

Why We Love It

Reviewers rave about the sharp image quality and beautiful bokeh that this lens produces. Its Optical SteadyShot image stabilization is frequently praised for its effectiveness in reducing camera shake, making it ideal for handheld shooting. Users also love its performance in low light conditions, capturing stunning images with minimal noise. Despite its higher price point, many believe that the lens offers good value for its quality and features.

Pros

  • Excellent in low light conditions
  • Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
  • Sharp image quality

Cons

  • Limited to APS-C format
  • Higher price point compared to similar lenses

A versatile prime lens with Optical SteadyShot image stabilization

Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS is a prime lens designed for Sony's APS-C format mirrorless cameras. It features a bright F1.8 maximum aperture, which is very effective in low light conditions and allows for shallow depth-of-field focus. The lens also includes Optical SteadyShot image stabilization to help achieve crisp, stable images and video in low-light situations. The lens construction includes 9 elements in 8 groups, with one aspherical element to control spherical aberration.

7

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon

Buy Now $829.00

Why We Love It

Reviewers love the Sigma 18-35mm for its constant f/1.8 aperture, which is a standout feature among zoom lenses. The lens's build quality and design have also been praised. Despite its weight, many users find the lens well-balanced and comfortable to use. The high-speed autofocus is a bonus for both photographers and videographers.

Pros

  • Constant f/1.8 aperture
  • High-speed autofocus
  • Quality build and design

Cons

  • Heavier than comparable lenses
  • No image stabilization

Sigma Art Lens with 18-35mm focal length

The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon is a groundbreaking lens offering a constant f/1.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. It features Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass to minimize aberrations and maximize clarity. The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures quiet and high-speed autofocus, while the Thermally Composite Material (TSC) reduces weight and enhances lens performance and longevity.

8

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon
Buy Now $789.95

Why We Love It

Photographers and experts commend this lens for its constant f/1.8 aperture throughout the zoom range which is a unique feature. Many users appreciate its high speed and accurate autofocusing, which is ideal for action and wildlife photography. The lens is praised for its solid build quality, with many noting it feels durable and well-constructed. Despite its size and weight, users agree that the image quality and features it offers make it worth the sacrifice.

Pros

  • Constant f/1.8 maximum aperture
  • High speed and accurate autofocusing
  • Durable construction

Cons

  • Heavy and large
  • No image stabilization

A wide-angle to normal-length zoom lens with a constant f/1.8 maximum aperture

The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon is designed specifically for APS-C sized sensors. It's the first lens to deliver a large aperture of f/1.8 throughout its entire zoom range, providing a focal length from wide-angle to standard. This lens features Sigma’s Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensuring a quiet, high speed and accurate autofocusing. It is built with Thermally Composite Material (TSC) enhancing its durability.

9

Sony - E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens (SEL50F18/B)

Buy Now $448.00

Why We Love It

The Sony 50mm is praised for its Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization which users note significantly reduces camera shake. Its low light performance is also a standout feature, with many photographers enjoying the beautiful bokeh produced by the lens. While the autofocus may be slow for some, many find it accurate and reliable.

Pros

  • Excellent image stabilization
  • Great for low light
  • Beautiful bokeh

Cons

  • Autofocus can be slow
  • Plastic build may feel cheap

Sony OSS Lens with 50mm focal length

The Sony - E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens (SEL50F18/B) is designed to deliver beautiful, crisp images with superbly defocused backgrounds. The bright f/1.8 aperture allows for excellent low light performance and depth-of-field control. It comes with Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization for capturing sharp, blur-free photos and videos. The lens's seven-blade circular aperture helps achieve a more circular bokeh for beautiful defocus effects.

More Specific Lists

Looking for something more specific? Check out these specialized lists:

Macro Lenses

7 products

→

Telephoto Lenses

8 products

→

Wide-Angle Lenses

8 products

→

Product Comparison

Compare features across all products in this category

6 Features 6 Products Updated Oct 03, 2025
Product Prime Lens Maximum Aperture Autofocus Type Image Stabilization Focal Length Range Build Quality
1 Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
Yes f/1.8 Stepping Motor (STM) None 50mm (full-frame equivalent) Plastic construction
1 Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens
Yes f/1.8 Silent Wave Motor (SWM) None 50mm (full-frame) Compact and lightweight
2 Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens
Yes f/1.8 Silent Wave Motor (SWM) None 35mm (DX format) Plastic construction
3 Sony - E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens
Yes f/1.8 DC Motor Optical SteadyShot 50mm (APS-C format) Compact and lightweight
4 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon
No f/1.8 Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) None 18-35mm Durable construction
5 Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame E Mount
No f/2.8 RXD Stepping Motor None 28-75mm Moisture-resistant construction
1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Prime Lens
Yes
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Autofocus Type
Stepping Motor (STM)
Image Stabilization
None
Focal Length Range
50mm (full-frame equivalent)
Build Quality
Plastic construction
1

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens

Prime Lens
Yes
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Autofocus Type
Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
Image Stabilization
None
Focal Length Range
50mm (full-frame)
Build Quality
Compact and lightweight
2

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens

Prime Lens
Yes
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Autofocus Type
Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
Image Stabilization
None
Focal Length Range
35mm (DX format)
Build Quality
Plastic construction
3

Sony - E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens

Prime Lens
Yes
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Autofocus Type
DC Motor
Image Stabilization
Optical SteadyShot
Focal Length Range
50mm (APS-C format)
Build Quality
Compact and lightweight
4

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon

Prime Lens
No
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Autofocus Type
Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM)
Image Stabilization
None
Focal Length Range
18-35mm
Build Quality
Durable construction
5

Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame E Mount

Prime Lens
No
Maximum Aperture
f/2.8
Autofocus Type
RXD Stepping Motor
Image Stabilization
None
Focal Length Range
28-75mm
Build Quality
Moisture-resistant construction

Frequently Asked Questions About Lenses

What makes a lenses the "best"?

We evaluate products based on quality, performance, value for money, user reviews, durability, and ease of use. Our rankings are updated regularly to reflect the latest market offerings and user feedback.

How often do you update your lenses recommendations?

Our team continuously monitors the market for new products and updates our recommendations quarterly. We also adjust rankings based on user feedback and new testing results.

Do you test all the products you recommend?

Yes, whenever possible, we physically test products in our labs. For products we can't test directly, we rely on verified user reviews, expert opinions, and detailed specifications to make informed recommendations.

What if I'm looking for a specific type of lenses?

Our top 10 list covers the most popular and highly-rated options. If you have specific requirements, check our detailed product descriptions and pros/cons to find the best match for your needs.

Explore More Lenses Categories

Macro Lenses (7 products) Telephoto Lenses (8 products) Wide-Angle Lenses (8 products)