The Canon 80D is one of the most popular DSLR cameras around.
This top quality blogging camera is capable of capturing great video footage as well as ultra clear photographs.
However, it’s important to note … any great camera is only as good as its lens.
So, how do you find the best lenses for a Canon 80D?
This guide takes you through all the best options, covering a broad price range as well as the ideal lenses for every subject - from wildlife to weddings.
Check out why you need a great lens, how to choose one and what to look for, as well as our top 15 recommendations for Canon 80D compatible lenses.
Let’s get stuck in ...
**Wherever possible I have included prices below. These are accurate at the time of publication but may change over time. Also, some links below may be affiliate links. This means that we receive a small commission if you click one of these links and make a purchase; but this comes at no additional cost to you. However it does help support our blog, so thank you! You can learn more about this here.
Having the right kind of lens to suit the subject matter is a must for any serious amateur - as well as the professional photographer.
An image is only as good as the lens that was used when capturing it!
Experts and keen photographers will often carry a range of lenses, switching them as required - according to what they are shooting. This is because different lenses are better for different types of photography.
It’s often the case that a great lens for one kind of photography will not be quite as well suited to other types.
The lenses listed here all have their high points. Some will be more versatile than others. The versatility of a lens may be reflected in its price tag.
Lenses that can be used for both close-up and distant photography will also cost more, so sometimes it makes sense to buy more than one lens for varying applications.
Don’t forget that you will have to carry your lenses with you. If you want to use more than one, then your load will increase accordingly. This might not matter so much for wedding photography, for example, but if you’re planning a trip to capture wildlife in remote locations, carrying more lenses could make life more difficult.
While good lenses vary, the best will all offer pin-sharp images, with minimal distortion, glare and ghosting. The best ones will also be effective even in conditions of low light.
In short, investing in the best lens for your Canon 80D - or even a series of lenses for your camera - will ensure you produce best possible images, every time.
Many are also great for creating crystal clear video footage. If you’re a budding videographer who likes capturing moving footage as well as stills, look out for a lens that’s also suited to that purpose.
If you're still a beginner, then there are some fantastic online photography courses out there that will help you up your game when it comes to using your camera!
So what should you look for when considering all the best lenses for a Canon 80D? The most important features to understand are the type of lens, focal length and aperture.
If you’re still not sure, simply check out which lenses we recommend according to the types of photography. You can also click on each link to find out more - such as further specifications, the latest price and user reviews.
This is usually the first factor to bear in mind. Do you want a wide angle lens, a standard lens or a telephoto lens? Each has its pluses and minuses, and you can check out the pros and cons for each product listing for more on this.
In short, a wide angle lens is just as it says - you can fit in a wider view than with a standard lens. Telephoto lenses allow users to capture precise detail, even in far-off objects.
In a nutshell, the focal length tells you how much you can capture of the scene before you. All the best lenses for Canon 80D are named according to their focal length - which gives you some indication of just how important this factor is.
There is a basic equation to use here - a longer focal length results in a narrower angle of view. A long length will make subjects seem smaller than they are in reality, as seen in the viewfinder of the camera.
Conversely, a shorter one can make objects or people seem smaller. If you want close ups of distant objects, for instance, then ideally you would need a long, telephoto lens.
The aperture of a lens works in much the same way as the human eye. It allows in more or less light according to the photographer’s requirements. In this way, it controls exposure levels.
Aperture can also determine the depth of field. This can, for example, create an image with the focus on an ultra sharp subject, as seen against a more blurred background.
In brief, the aperture determines how clear the images are - as well as how bright or dark they appear to the viewer.
As touched on earlier, how lightweight, portable and compact your lens needs to be depends on the sort of photography you’re into. Where will you be taking it? How will you carry it? If you want to use more than one lens each time, then don’t forget that this will increase the load.
Though it may sound complex, this simply means that the photographer can override the autofocus (AF) - precisely as and when they wish, because it can be altered manually all the time.
If you like more control over the images you create, look for this function. If you want to simplify things, you can always rely on autofocus instead.
This feature does just as you might expect - reduces the impact of shaking or unsteadiness on the image created. A must for those taking handheld shots, especially if your hands don’t tend to stay completely still. Though professional videographers will typically pick up a good quality DSLR camera gimbal to help counteract this.
If you’re a beginner, reading up on the low light level performance of a lens can be a way of making its capabilities easier to understand than examining its aperture and focal length. This is especially important when you want to shoot indoors or in darkness.
Type of lens: Ultra wide zoom lens
Focal length: 10-18mm
Maximum aperture: 4.5- 5.6
Filter Thread Size: 67mm
Focus type: Stepper motor
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 2.83 x 2.95 x 2.95 inches
Weight: 0.53 lbs
The Canon EF-S 10-18mm, 4.5-5.6 IS STM is an ultra wide zoom lens from the Canon 80D manufacturer. This is a compact and highly portable lens for photographers and videographers.
The lens is ideal for EOS cameras - such as the 80D - that have an APS-C sensor. The Canon EF-S 10-18mm boasts aspherical lens, UD lens and large diameter elements as well as a four group optical zoom system that improves images captured in low light.
To ensure pin-sharp pictures with high contrast and resolution, it features an enhanced lens coating. This also has the desirable effect of minimising aberration and glare.
Background blur is finer thanks to the circular, seven-blade aperture, while shake correction is provided by the brand’s own Canon Optical Image Stabilizer system.
This high performance Canon lens is also fitted with a rear focusing system. The improved AF algorithm and high speed CPU enable high-speed AF, while the user can make speedy adjustments via the manual focus.
For video recording, this lens has a refined focus mechanism and a stepping motor STM to ensure the smooth, seamless capture of footage.
The EF-S 10-18mm, 4.5-5.6 IS STM ensures a quick, quiet and efficient performance for the wide angle photographer. This makes this a great choice for anyone who enjoys capturing everyday stills and video imagery - as well as for travel photography.
Type of lens: Wide angle zoom lens
Focal length: 10-22mm
Maximum aperture: 3.4-4.5
Filter Thread Size: 77mm
Focus type: Ring type ultrasonic
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 5 inches
Weight: 1.0 lbs
This Canon-branded ultra wide angle zoom lens is equivalent to a 16-35mm zoom. Image quality is excellent thanks to a Super-UD element and three Aspherical lens elements.
Auto focusing is quick and quiet due to the USM, which is simply controlled via the turn of a ring. It also features full-time manual focus. This can cope with subjects as close as 9.5 inches - or 24mm - away.
This lens is fully compatible with the Canon 80D as well as a range of other models, and will complement your DSLR to deliver pictures of incredible quality.
Natural highlights are transferred to the image thanks to the circular design of the aperture, resulting in photographs with real depth as well as clarity.
This Canon 10-22mm lens outperforms the 10-18mm lens, which is reflected in the price tag. In low light this model performs better, as well as giving 22mm of reach.
For a serious or professional landscape or travel photographer, this Canon lens is ideal as the additional zoom and wider maximum aperture will have real value.
The Canon 17-55mm detailed below is another great option. For an amateur photographer, the 10-18mm listed above should be sufficient.
Type of lens: Wide angle zoom lens
Focal length: 17-55mm
Maximum aperture: 2.8
Filter Thread Size: 77mm
Focus type: Ring type ultrasonic
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 4.37 x 3.31 x 3.31 inches
Weight: 1.42 lbs
For those seeking a fast EF-S zoom lens, the Canon 17-55mm model for DSLRs features a large aperture. This results in a shallow depth of field, resulting in the type of background blurring that draws the eye to the subject.
UD and aspherical elements present in this lens lead to ultra sharp image quality, and this applies over the whole range of the zoom.
Any camera movement is corrected via Image Stabilizer lens groups, which means images are crystal clear. This is the case even where lighting conditions are dim.
A ring type USM, AF algorithms and inner focusing result in efficient, near-silent autofocusing. Even in AF mode, the full-time manual focus makes for the ultimate in user control.
The focal length range on this lens is almost the same as with the 18-55mm below, but the optics are far more impressive. This 17-55 offers incredible low light performance, minimal distortion and superlative sharpness.
While this is one of the more expensive options, this is a professional level zoom lens for anyone who wants the best possible image quality. It’s ideal for travel or portrait photography, although professional landscape photographers will probably require a wider option.
Type of lens: Standard lens
Focal length: 18-55mm
Maximum aperture: 3.5- 5.6
Filter Thread Size: 58mm
Focus type: Auto/Manual
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 2.8 x 2.7 x 2.7 inches
Weight: 7.05 ounces
Although it’s not in the same league as other lenses, this lens has been improved by Canon. It’s ideal for beginners in particular, who may not yet be ready to commit to a more pricey purchase.
To enable quiet video autofocus, it does feature Stepping Motor technology. This is a reliable lens from Canon that’s capable of shooting great video footage. If you are a vlogger this is an ideal lens you should consider buying to level up your vlogging experience.
The Canon EF 18-55mm is a standard zoom lens with the benefit of Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer technology. This creates clear shots, even at shutter speeds up to four stops slower.
It is also a compact, lightweight and portable lens. To improve image quality, it has a spherical lens element and a circular aperture that correct aberrations and render blurred backgrounds.
This lens doesn’t offer the pin-sharp images that other lenses can produce, and it also suffers from a comparatively limited focal length. However it does perform very well with slow shutter speeds.
The Canon EF 18-55mm is a good option for beginners or videography, or to use as back-up. While this isn’t a bad budget lens for the Canon 80D, its capabilities are limited in comparison to other options.
Type of lens: Standard lens
Focal length: 18-200mm
Maximum aperture: 3.5- 5.6
Filter Thread Size: 72mm
Focus type: Micromotor
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 4.02 x 3.11 x 3.11 inches
Weight: 1.31 lbs
This compact, lightweight Canon standard zoom lens offers wide magnification and great focal length ranges for normal and telephoto photography, and a circular aperture gives good scope for creating background blurring.
The Optical Image Stabilizer on the EF-S 18-200mm offers up to four correction stops, even when used at full zoom. Owners can see the stable, clear images that will be created via the viewfinder when in use.
This is a compact, lightweight telephoto zoom Lens with an impressive magnification range. It also features Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer. Like all Canon lenses, it comes with a one-year warranty back-up.
Another good all-in-one choice, the Canon 18-200mm offers good optics, although its autofocus is not the highlight. This lens can ably cope with focal lengths from wide angle and telephoto photography, and can be carried as an only lens.
This wide zoom lens delivers on overall performance, yet this product is available at a more affordable price than some.
Type of lens: Telephoto lens
Focal length: 55-250mm
Maximum aperture: 5.6
Filter Thread Size: 58mm
Focus type: Stepper motor
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 4.37 x 2.76 x 2.76 inches
Weight: 0.83 lbs
This is a sharp lens from Canon, and is also available at a reasonable price. Unlike many telephoto lenses, this one features a quick, efficient and virtually silent zoom.
Focusing is fast and simple thanks to the STM motor, while the image stabilization is effective, even when capturing shots taken in low light via handheld means. It offers the equivalent of 3.5 stops of shake correction.
This Canon DSLR lens features a six-group zoom, which results in a magnification of up to 0.29 at the telephoto end. The design, meanwhile, is as compact as possible.
A UD lens element helps to produce top quality images with high resolution and contrast, by lowering the incidence of chromatic aberration throughout.
As well as the STM motor, this all-purpose Canon lens also boasts a rear focus mechanism, high-speed CPU, and improved AF algorithm, which results in an impressive and speedy performance.
The full-time manual focus can be used even in autofocus mode, while a non-rotating front element is compatible with polarizing filters.
A seven blade circular aperture delivers soft, muted backgrounds and enhanced lens coatings improve color balance - while minimizing flare and ghosting.
The 70-300mm model, which you can find below, offers more reach, but this one is a more versatile choice for videography as well as shooting stills.
Type of lens: Telephoto lens
Focal length: 70-300mm
Maximum aperture: 4.5- 5.6
Filter Thread Size: 58mm
Focus type: Micro-type ultrasonic
Compatible mount: Canon EF
Dimensions: 5.63 x 3.03 x 3.03 inches
Weight: 1.39 lbs
With an impressive reach, the Canon EF 70-300mm is one of the best telephoto lenses there is. It is ideally suited to capturing close-ups or fast-moving subjects, such as wildlife, sports, portraits and products. So if you’re planning to go on a safari trip like the one on Sri Lanka, this lens would be one the best camera gear you should consider getting.
This lens has a long zoom range, features image stabilization and remains sharp throughout - as well as focusing rapidly and with a high degree of accuracy. The image stabilization is equal to three stops, meaning that slower shutter speeds can be used without any loss of image sharpness.
Even at larger apertures, an integral electro-magnetic diaphragm assists in creating an attractive background within shots, while a Super Spectra lens coating and element minimize flare and ghosting.
As this is a full-frame lens, it does cost more than the average APS-C lens. It does offer an impressive optical performance, however. A lot of 80D owners tend to switch to a full-frame lens later on anyway, so investing in this one can save you the cost of a later upgrade. Just be sure to pick up a decent sized camera backpack to store this, and all your other accessories.
Type of lens: Wide angle lens
Focal length: 11-16mm
Maximum aperture: 2.8
Filter Thread Size: 77mm
Focus type: Auto focus
Compatible mount: Canon EF
Dimensions: 3.31 x 3.31 x 3.61 inches
Weight: 1.22 lbs
You don’t necessarily have to buy a Canon branded lens just because you have a Canon camera. This Tokina one is an impressive wide angle lens that’s compatible with various models, including the 80D.
It ticks lots of boxes, offering high image quality, an ultra wide zoom and even an impressive build quality. This product also features an updated design and improved lens coating.
With an extra wide 11-16mm focal length, this is the perfect lens for capturing group pictures, landscapes, nightscapes and interiors. The latter are enabled by its superb performance in conditions of low light. This Canon lens would definitely be an awesome gear to capture exciting diversity in places like India.
As this lens features an internal focus system, users will have no issues with using polarized or graduated filters, nor with lens balancing.
This Tokina lens for the Canon 80D offers exceptional control over the depth of field and an excellent optical performance. Images feature good contrast and sharpness, as well as less flare and ghosting.
Type of lens: Wide angle lens
Focal length: 10-20mm
Maximum aperture: 3.5
Filter Thread Size: 82mm
Focus type: Ring type ultrasonic
Compatible mount: Canon EF
Dimensions: 3.46 x 3.43 x 3.43 inches
Weight: 1.15 lbs
A couple of the top picks among Canon 80D compatible lenses come courtesy of Sigma.This ultra wide angle lens is one of the very best lenses for capturing landscapes - or indeed the night sky. It is also great for indoor photography, where light may be limited.
A high level of control via a rotating zoom ring allows the photographer to place an emphasis on the subject, while the use of aspherical lenses and special glass allow aberrations to be easily corrected.
The incidence of flare and ghosting are reduced by the multi-layer coating on the lens, and this ensures top quality throughout the whole range of the zoom.
A Hyper Sonic Motor leads to quick, quiet autofocus, yet full-time manual override is also available at all times.
There is also a petal-like hood that blocks out unwanted light, while front lens rotation is removed by the effective inner focus system.
Whatever the zoom used, this lens allows the keen photographer to effectively capture both subject and background.
Type of lens: Wide angle lens
Focal length: 18-35mm
Maximum aperture: 1.8
Filter Thread Size: 72mm
Focus type: Ring type ultrasonic
Compatible mount: Canon EF
Dimensions: 4.76 x 3.07 x 3.07 inches
Weight: 1.79 lbs
This is a highly recommended lens and one of the most versatile options out there. With a 1.8 aperture, it is equally suited to landscapes, still life, casual snaps, portraits and even close-up macro photography.
A Hyper Sonic Motor makes easy work of quick, seamless and accurate autofocusing, while there is full-time manual focus for complete control.
Among lenses for the Canon 80D the Sigma 18-35mm is an impressive, innovative product, incorporating a wide, aspherical, low dispersion glass. This has the effect of reducing curvature and aberrations.
The internal focusing and zoom system also enhances functionality and usability, while size and weight is minimized by the use of thermally composite material. This also prolongs lens life.
There is a rounded, nine bladed, diaphragm to create an appealing background blur behind subjects.
With its incredible quality and versatility, this is one of those must-have lenses for a serious photographer. It’s also among the most multi-purpose picks offered, as it can so ably cope with capturing such a wide range of subject matter.
Type of lens: Wide angle lens
Focal length: 24mm
Maximum aperture: 2.8
Filter Thread Size: 52mm
Focus type: Stepper motor
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 0.91 x 2.68 x 2.68 inches
Weight: 4.41 ounces
If you want the lightest, most compact Canon lens for the 80D, you might just have found it. It’s especially suitable for videography.
This is a very slimline and lightweight lens; by far the most portable listed in this guide. Its maximum aperture of 2.8 creates flawless backgrounds and is also reliable even in low light conditions.
Smooth video capture is enabled by the STM motor, while the 36mm equivalent focal length is very well suited to street photography. When used for video footage, micro-stepping drive enables near-silent capture.
The EF-S 24mm is a fast, reliable and versatile lens with impressive optics and advanced autofocus. It is also suited to a range of uses.
Flare and ghosting are reduced by the specialized lens coatings, while an aspheric element makes for a high quality image from edge to edge.
While this is not the best Canon lens for landscapes, this is a premium quality, highly portable and attractively priced product. It is also an extremely travel-friendly choice that you can definitely include in any travel packing list!
Type of lens: Standard zoom lens
Focal length: 50mm
Maximum aperture: 1.8
Filter Thread Size: 49mm
Focus type: Stepper motor
Compatible mount: Canon EF
Dimensions: 1.54 x 2.72 x 2.72 inches
Weight: 5.60 ounces
One of the most affordable lenses around, the Canon EF 50mm is a great budget buy - for capturing portraits, night skies or action shots in particular.
With a speedy aperture, this affordable lens can cope with low light levels, and it’s also a sharp, lightweight choice. The construction comprises 6 elements in 5 groups.
The near-silent operation of the stepping motor helps users to capture continuous moving footage via Servo AF, while good quality stills are enabled by smooth AF.
The focal length depends on the camera used - it has 80 millimetres focal length on APS C models or 50 millimetres on full frame cameras.
As compared to the standard lens supplied with an EOS, this lens lets in up to eight times more light. As a result, sharp pictures with lower levels of motion blur are produced.
Users may also find that they need to use the flash less often, which is especially helpful for reflecting the atmosphere of low light conditions.
This is an impressive everyday lens featuring quick focus, and that is also capable of creating top quality moving footage.
This best selling lens offers great value for money, and its autofocus function is perhaps surprisingly quick. The inexpensive price tag is achieved because it is made mostly from plastic - although the lens glass is of good quality.
Type of lens: Standard lens
Focal length: 15-85mm
Maximum aperture: 3.5- 5.6
Filter Thread Size: 72mm
Focus type: Ring type ultrasonic
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 3.46 x 3.23 x 3.23 inches
Weight: 1.27 lbs
While there are other contenders here as best travel zoom lens, this one covers more focal length. With a zoom range the equivalent of 24-136mm, the Canon EF-S 15-85mm can cope with both medium telephoto and wide angle shots.
It’s best used at 17mm rather than 15mm, as there is a little distortion at the widest end. Its performance in low light conditions is also not quite up to the standard of other lenses.
This is a solid all-purpose lens for everyday photography, offering good image stabilization, a decent focal length range and high-precision optics. It also offers a consistently high performance when used for wide angle or telephoto shots.
Ultrasonic Motortechnology also ensures effective, quick and near-silent focus control, and there is the benefit of a manual override for use in AF mode.
Type of lens: Telephoto lens
Focal length: 18-135mm
Maximum aperture: 3.5- 5.6
Filter Thread Size: 67mm
Focus type: Micromotor
Compatible mount: Canon EF-S
Dimensions: 3.98 x 2.95 x 2.95 inches
Weight: 1.00 lbs
This lens represents a leap forward in technology - as compared with Canon’s 18-135mm IS STM lenses. This relatively new Nano USM lens was released alongside the Canon 80D, and it's a considerable improvement on earlier versions.
The focusing motor on the EF-S 18-135mm offers both that quick autofocus for stills that you get with a USM motor as well as the seamless, near-silent capture typically enabled by STM. This makes it a great all-round, all-purpose choice.
A practical and portable option, this is a versatile, affordable lens for anyone who doesn’t want to carry more than one lens around with them.
This is a good travel lens that complements the Canon 80D well, and its best features include high-quality optics and the Canon image stabilization system.
Type of lens: Zoom lens
Focal length: 24-70mm
Maximum aperture: 2.8
Filter Thread Size: 82mm
Focus type: Ultrasonic
Compatible mount: Canon EF
Dimensions: 4.61 x 3.46 x 3.46 inches
Weight: 1.82 lbs
This highly versatile lens from Tamron is a great all-round option. It’s just as suited to portraiture as it is to capturing landscape shots. With this lens, you can have great shots of the coast and country-side like the one in Ireland.
The Tamron SP 24-70mm lens boasts fast standard zoom for a full frame camera. While it’s not cheap, its price tag becomes more favorable when compared to models with a similar spec from Canon or other big brands like Sony or Nikon.
The quick and effective autofocus, superb optics and impressive image stabilization system add to the appeal of this lens. With a range covering both distant and nearby subjects, this is great for those who want to carry just one high performance lens.
With full-time manual focusing, this superior quality lens is compatible with other brands including Sony and Nikon, so it’s no problem if you do end up changing your camera in the future. Or own more than one.
An Ultrasonic Silent Drive motor also makes this an attractive option for those who are bothered by noise - or don’t want it disturbing their subjects.
As mentioned earlier, the best lens depends on you and the type of photography you do. It may also depend on its portability and weight - as well as your budget. Also consider if you want to invest in one good all-rounder, or would prefer a collection of lenses. Investing in a better lens now might even help you save money in the long term, as you develop as a photographer or videographer.
All the above lenses are compatible with this camera - at the time of writing. Do always double check before you order, though, as things can change. You don’t have to buy a Canon branded lens - there are some other great options too.
Check out our product listings above to find the ideal wide angle lens for your needs. The type of lens is listed directly underneath the name of each product, so you can quickly see which are wide angle lenses. You can also click the links to read more reviews and product information.
A more expensive lens will often be sharper, although this isn’t always the case. Image clarity is largely dependent on the aperture, but other factors will also come into play. Certain lens coatings, for example, can help to create a crystal clear image.
Which of the best Canon 80D lenses is ideal for you really is your call, but we hope this guide has helped by narrowing it down to the top options.
As well as your budget, we suggest you consider the type and frequency of use the lens is likely to have in the long term - as well as how much you’ll have to carry it around.
What are your thoughts? Have you used any of these lenses?
What sort of lens will you be looking for?
How much would you be prepared to spend on the perfect lens?
Do let us know in the comments below!
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