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What Are The Best Photography Lenses in 2025

When it comes to elevating your photography game, the right lens can make all the difference. After testing dozens of photography lenses, I can confidently say that choosing the best one isn't just about brand name—it's about understanding your unique shooting style and needs. Whether you're a portrait enthusiast seeking stunning bokeh or a landscape photographer chasing that crisp detail, there’s a lens tailored just for you. Don’t overlook vital factors like focal length, aperture, and image stabilization; these can dramatically impact your results. For instance, a fast prime lens can transform your low-light photography, while a versatile zoom lens may be the key to capturing action shots without missing a beat. And let’s not forget about compatibility with your camera body—always check if the lens mounts perfectly to avoid any hassles. In this guide, we'll break down the top photography lenses across various categories, helping you find the perfect fit for your professional photography equipment arsenal. Ready to unlock your creative potential? Let's dive into the world of photography lenses that will elevate your craft!

1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Buy Now $140.00

Why We Love It

Users rave about the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens' compact size and light weight, making it easy to carry around for everyday use. Its wide f/1.8 aperture is a hit among portrait photographers, providing beautiful bokeh and excellent low-light performance. The quiet and smooth autofocus is a plus, allowing for discreet shooting in quiet environments.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Large aperture
  • Quiet and smooth autofocus

Cons

  • Lacks image stabilization
  • Not weather-sealed

Canon's EF 50mm f/1.8 STM prime lens for professional photography.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is a compact, lightweight fixed focal length lens ideal for everyday photos, and with a large f/1.8 aperture, perfect for portrait and low-light photography. The STM stepping motor means smooth and quiet AF, and a metal mount adds durability. The lens’s Gaussian optics provide sharp delineation from near to far focusing distances.

2

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Buy Now $135.00

Why We Love It

This lens is praised for its exceptional image quality and affordable price. Users love its compact size and lightweight, making it easy to carry around for everyday photography. The f/1.8 aperture allows for beautiful bokeh and excellent low-light performance. The near-silent motor is also a big plus for video shooting.

Pros

  • Excellent image quality
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Plastic construction
  • No image stabilization

Compact and lightweight fixed focal length lens from Canon.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is a fantastic go-to lens for any situation. The lens offers an 80mm effective focal-length on APS-C cameras and 50mm on full-frame cameras. It has a maximum aperture of f/1.8, perfect for creating beautiful background blur. Its stepping motor (STM) delivers near-silent, continuous Move Servo AF for movies, and fast, smooth AF for stills. It also has a rugged metal mount, plus an improved minimum focusing distance of 1.15 ft. (0.35m) and a maximum magnification of 0.21x.

3

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

Buy Now $247.00

Why We Love It

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens is a favorite among users for its wide aperture, which delivers superior performance in low-light conditions. The lens' Silent Wave Motor is praised for its quiet and smooth autofocus operation. Furthermore, photographers appreciate the rear focusing system that maintains the lens' compact size.

Pros

  • Wide aperture
  • Quiet AF operation
  • Rear focusing system

Cons

  • Not zoomable
  • May produce soft images at wide apertures

Nikon's AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G prime lens for professional DSLR cameras.

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens features a maximum aperture of f/1.8, which provides additional depth of field control for isolating subjects and excellent low light performance. Its integrated Silent Wave Motor allows for smooth, quiet AF operation, and its rear focusing system eliminates changes in the physical length of the lens while focusing.

4

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

Buy Now $247.00

Why We Love It

Users highly recommend this lens for its excellent image quality and versatility. The fast f/1.8 aperture is great for low light photography and portrait shots with a shallow depth of field. The silent autofocus is another feature loved by users, especially for video shooting.

Pros

  • Versatile focal length
  • Great low-light performance
  • Quiet autofocus

Cons

  • Lacks vibration reduction
  • Plastic build

Compact prime lens from Nikon with a fast aperture.

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens is a versatile and compact lens designed for DX-format Nikon DSLRs. With a fast f/1.8 aperture, it is excellent in low-light conditions and provides a soft background blur. The lens features a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for quiet autofocus, and the aspherical lens element effectively eliminates coma and other types of aberrations, even when shooting at the widest available aperture. The M/A mode allows you to switch from autofocus to manual operation with virtually no time lag.

5

Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto Fixed Prime Camera Lens

Buy Now $648.00

Why We Love It

Sony's SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 lens receives high praise for its stunning portrait capabilities, with users loving the sharp focus and beautiful bokeh it produces. The fast and quiet autofocus operation is greatly appreciated, especially in action and wildlife photography. The customizable focus hold button adds a level of convenience, making this lens a favorite among many photographers.

Pros

  • Wide aperture
  • Fast and quiet autofocus
  • Customizable focus hold button

Cons

  • Not weather-sealed
  • May struggle with chromatic aberration

Sony's SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 medium-telephoto prime lens for mirrorless cameras.

The Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto Fixed Prime Camera Lens is a versatile lens with a wide f/1.8 aperture that is perfect for portraits, action, and nighttime photography. Its Double Linear Motor system allows for fast, precise and quiet autofocus. The lens also features a customizable focus hold button for instantaneous operation.

6

Sony - FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F)

Buy Now $228.00

Why We Love It

Photographers love the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 lens for its sharpness and beautiful bokeh. Despite its compact size, it delivers excellent optical performance that matches well with full-frame E-mount cameras. Users also appreciate its solid build quality and refined finish that gives it a professional feel.

Pros

  • Sharp images
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Solid build

Cons

  • Slow autofocus
  • No image stabilization

Sony's full-frame prime lens with a fast aperture.

The Sony - FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens (SEL50F18F) is a compact, lightweight, and high-performance lens designed for full-frame E-mount cameras. It offers a large F1.8 maximum aperture that enables beautiful defocusing effects and is also advantageous for handheld shooting under low-light conditions. The lens also features a solid metal mount that ensures durability and a refined aluminum finish that adds a sophisticated feel.

7

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

Buy Now $829.00

Why We Love It

Photographers love the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for its unique offering of a wide f/1.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. They appreciate the sharp and high contrast images it produces, even in backlit conditions. Its ability to compensate for aberrations and curvature at the widest angle also adds to its high ratings.

Pros

  • Wide aperture
  • High contrast images
  • Compensates for aberrations

Cons

  • Slightly heavy
  • Not weather-sealed

Sigma's 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM zoom lens for Nikon DSLR cameras.

The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Nikon is designed specifically for APS-C sized sensors and translates to 27mm-52.5mm on 35mm camera. It incorporates a wide glass molded aspherical lens with Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass to compensate for aberrations and curvature at the widest angle. The lens’ Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides sharp and high contrast images even in backlit conditions.

8

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

Buy Now $799.00

Why We Love It

This lens is a favorite among photographers for its unique feature of a large aperture throughout the zoom range. It's versatile and perfect for various shooting situations, from landscapes to portraits. Users praise the lens's sharpness and the quality of the images it produces. The solid build quality is also highly appreciated.

Pros

  • Large constant aperture
  • High-quality build
  • Sharp images

Cons

  • Heavy
  • No image stabilization

Sigma's wide-angle to standard zoom lens with a constant large aperture.

The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon is a revolution in lens technology. It's the first lens to offer a large F1.8 aperture throughout the entire zoom range, making it ideal for a wide range of photography styles. The lens also features Sigma's Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for fast, quiet, and accurate autofocusing. The lens is constructed with Thermally Composite Material (TSC) which contributes to the durability and lightness of the lens.

9

Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR - Black

Buy Now $449.00

Why We Love It

Photographers appreciate the sharp images and rich bokeh produced by this lens. Its weather-resistant feature is a big plus for those who shoot outdoors in various conditions. Despite its compact size, it delivers excellent performance, making it a favorite for everyday shooting.

Pros

  • Sharp images
  • Weather-resistant
  • Compact and lightweight

Cons

  • Slow autofocus in low light
  • No image stabilization

Fujifilm's prime lens with a weather-resistant structure.

The Fujifilm XF 35mm F2 R WR is a standard focal length prime lens which delivers sharp images with rich bokeh. The lens construction includes 9 elements in 6 groups, including two aspherical elements for high image quality from the center to the edges of the frame. The lens is weather and dust-resistant and can work in temperatures as low as -10°C. The compact and lightweight design of this lens offers all-day portability and comfort for any shooting scenario.

Product Comparison

Compare features across all products in this category

6 Features 5 Products Updated Oct 11, 2025
Product Fixed Focal Length Maximum Aperture Autofocus System Image Quality Features Weather Resistance Special Features
1 Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
Yes f/1.8 STM Stepping Motor Gaussian optics for sharp images No Lightweight and compact design
2 Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens
Yes f/1.8 Silent Wave Motor Excellent low light performance No Rear focusing system
3 Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto Fixed Prime Camera Lens
Yes f/1.8 Double Linear Motor Sharp focus and beautiful bokeh No Customizable focus hold button
4 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Nikon
No f/1.8 throughout zoom range HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) High contrast images, aberration compensation No Wide glass molded aspherical lens
5 Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame E Mount
No f/2.8 throughout zoom range Fast Hybrid AF Superior image steadiness Yes Moisture-resistant construction
1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Fixed Focal Length
Yes
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Autofocus System
STM Stepping Motor
Image Quality Features
Gaussian optics for sharp images
Weather Resistance
No
Special Features
Lightweight and compact design
2

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

Fixed Focal Length
Yes
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Autofocus System
Silent Wave Motor
Image Quality Features
Excellent low light performance
Weather Resistance
No
Special Features
Rear focusing system
3

Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto Fixed Prime Camera Lens

Fixed Focal Length
Yes
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Autofocus System
Double Linear Motor
Image Quality Features
Sharp focus and beautiful bokeh
Weather Resistance
No
Special Features
Customizable focus hold button
4

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

Fixed Focal Length
No
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8 throughout zoom range
Autofocus System
HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor)
Image Quality Features
High contrast images, aberration compensation
Weather Resistance
No
Special Features
Wide glass molded aspherical lens
5

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

Fixed Focal Length
No
Maximum Aperture
f/2.8 throughout zoom range
Autofocus System
Fast Hybrid AF
Image Quality Features
Superior image steadiness
Weather Resistance
Yes
Special Features
Moisture-resistant construction

Frequently Asked Questions About Photography Lenses

What makes a photography 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 photography 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 photography 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.