Rankings
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a compact, fast prime lens offering excellent sharpness and silent autofocus, making it a great value for beginners and vloggers, though its plastic construction and lack of a hood limit its professional appeal.
The Lightdow EF 85mm f/1.8 MF is a budget-friendly manual-focus portrait prime offering a fast aperture, solid build, and UMC coating, making it a good entry point for enthusiasts seeking shallow depth-of-field on Canon EF-type mounts.
The JINTU 420-1600 mm f/8.3 manual telephoto zoom offers astonishing reach for a modest budget, but its lack of autofocus, stabilization and soft performance at the extreme end limit its usefulness to static, well-lit subjects.
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II is a lightweight, compact kit zoom that adds 4-stop image stabilization. It offers decent sharpness when stopped down and a versatile focal range, but its plastic build and variable aperture limit its appeal for advanced work.
The Meike 8mm f/3.5 rectangular fisheye offers a dramatic 200° view and solid metal build at a budget price, but its manual-focus only design and lack of electronic contacts limit its practicality for fast or automated shooting.
The Yongnuo YN50mm f/1.8 for Canon EF is an affordable, lightweight prime offering a fast aperture and decent optics. It excels in portability and price-to-performance but lacks weather sealing and has a noisy autofocus motor.
The Yongnuo 50 mm f/1.8 II offers a fast aperture and solid optical performance at a very low price, making it a popular choice for beginners and budget-conscious shooters. Its slower, noisier autofocus and plastic construction keep it from being a professional-grade lens.
The Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II is a budget-friendly full-frame portrait lens offering excellent center sharpness, fast f/1.8 aperture, and quiet STM autofocus. Its lightweight build and multi-layer nano coating add value, though corner performance and weather sealing are limited.
The Meike 85mm f/1.8 offers a fast aperture and solid center sharpness at an affordable price, but its autofocus is noisy and slow, and edge performance suffers from chromatic aberration. It is best suited for hobbyists who prioritize cost and portability over premium optics.
The Lensbaby Sol 45 for Canon EF is a compact 45 mm manual-focus prime that creates a sweet-spot of sharpness with adjustable bokeh blades, suited for creative photography and video.
The Lightdow 420-800mm F8.3 manual zoom provides budget-friendly super-telephoto reach for Canon DSLRs, but its lack of autofocus, stabilization and weather sealing limit its usefulness to static subjects.
The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM is a budget-friendly telephoto zoom that offers a long reach in a lightweight plastic body. It delivers decent sharpness in the mid-range and quiet autofocus, but lacks stabilization and suffers from softness at the long end.
The Lensbaby Sol 45 for Sony E is a 45 mm manual-focus creative prime with a fixed f/3.5 aperture and tilt mechanism, offering distinctive sweet-spot focus and adjustable bokeh blades in a solid metal body.
The Yongnuo YN35mm F2 is a budget-friendly, fast-aperture prime offering solid optics and a sturdy metal mount. It shines in portability and price but suffers from slower autofocus and a fragile filter thread.
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | Lensbaby Sol 45 Sony | | | | Lensbaby Sol 45 Canon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ lower better | 75 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 35 mm | 18 mm | 8 mmbest | 85 mm | 420 mm | 45 mm | 85 mm | 50 mm | 85 mm | 45 mm | 420 mm |
300 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 35 mm | 55 mm | 8 mm | 85 mm | 800 mm | 45 mm | 85 mm | 50 mm | 85 mm | 45 mm | 1,600 mmbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 4 f | 1.8 fbest | 1.8 fbest | 2 f | 3.5 f | 3.5 f | 1.8 fbest | 8.3 f | 3.5 f | 1.8 fbest | 1.8 fbest | 1.8 fbest | 3.5 f | 8.3 f |
| ↓ lower better | 480 g | 119 gbest | 159 g | 179.9 g | 200 g | 590 g | 430 g | 758 g | 272 g | 369 g | 162 g | 420 g | 150 g | 1,000 g |
| ↓ lower better | 122 mm | 83 mm | 111.3 mm | 59 mm | 70 mm | 154 mm | 110 mm | 240 mm | 65 mm | 74.7 mm | — | 154 mm | 39 mmbest | 289.6 mm |
| ↓ lower better | 150 cm | 45 cm | 35 cm | 25 cm | 25 cm | 10 cmbest | 85 cm | 160 cm | 35.5 cm | 65 cm | 35 cm | 85 cm | 35.5 cm | — |
0.25 x | 0.15 x | 0.21 x | 0.23 x | 0.34 xbest | — | 0.13 x | — | 0.17 x | 0.17 x | — | 0.11 x | 0.17 x | — | |
12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 0 months | — | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | — | 12 monthsbest | — | — | — | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | Lensbaby Sol 45 Sony | | | | Lensbaby Sol 45 Canon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Performance(1) | ||||||||||||||
Image Stabilization | false | false | false | — | true | false | — | false | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Mount & Compatibility(2) | ||||||||||||||
Mount Type | Canon EF | Canon EF | EF | Canon EF | Canon EF-S | Multiple (Canon EF, Nikon F, Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Sony E, Olympus, Panasonic) | Canon EF / EF‑S | Canon EF/EF-S | Sony E | Canon EF | Canon EF | Canon EF | Canon EF | Canon EF |
Autofocus Motor Type | Micro USM | DC motor | STM | DC motor | Micro Motor | — | Manual | none | none | STM | — | STM | none | — |
Optical(6) | ||||||||||||||
Focal Length (Min) (mm) | 75 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 35 mm | 18 mm | 8 mm | 85 mm | 420 mm | 45 mm | 85 mm | 50 mm | 85 mm | 45 mm | 420 mm |
Focal Length (Max) (mm) | 300 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 35 mm | 55 mm | 8 mm | 85 mm | 800 mm | 45 mm | 85 mm | 50 mm | 85 mm | 45 mm | 1600 mm |
Maximum Aperture (f-number) (f) | 4.0 f | 1.8 f | 1.8 f | 2 f | 3.5 f | 3.5 f | 1.8 f | 8.3 f | 3.5 f | 1.8 f | 1.8 f | 1.8 f | 3.5 f | 8.3 f |
Minimum Focus Distance (cm) | 150 cm | 45 cm | 35 cm | 25 cm | 25 cm | 10 cm | 85 cm | 160 cm | 35.5 cm | 65 cm | 35 cm | 85 cm | 35.5 cm | — |
Maximum Magnification Ratio (x) | 0.25 x | 0.15 x | 0.21 x | 0.23 x | 0.34 x | — | 0.13 x | — | 0.17 x | 0.17 x | — | 0.11 x | 0.17 x | — |
Coating Type | — | Multi-coated | — | Multi-coated | Super Spectra | Multi-layer nano coating | Ultra Multi Coating | UMC | Broadband multi-coated anti-reflective | Multi-layer nano coating | — | Multi-layer anti-reflective coating | Broadband multi-coated anti-reflective | Ultra Multi-Coating |
Build & Durability(1) | ||||||||||||||
Warranty Period (months) | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 0 months | — | 12 months | 12 months | — | 12 months | — | — | — | — |
Physical(3) | ||||||||||||||
Weight (g) | 480 g | 119 g | 159 g | 179.9 g | 200 g | 590 g | 430 g | 758 g | 272 g | 369 g | 162 g | 420 g | 150 g | 1000 g |
Length (mm) | 122 mm | 83 mm | 111.3 mm | 59 mm | 70 mm | 154 mm | 110 mm | 240 mm | 65 mm | 74.7 mm | — | 154 mm | 39 mm | 289.6 mm |
Filter Thread Diameter (mm) | 58 mm | 52 mm | 49 mm | 52 mm | 58 mm | — | 72 mm | 62 mm | 46 mm | 62 mm | 58 mm | 67 mm | 46 mm | — |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers label the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III as a solid budget consumer lens that excels in size, weight, and smooth zoom, delivering acceptable sharpness in the mid-range but note soft corners, distortion, and the absence of image stabilization as drawbacks.
Everyday users appreciate the low price, lightweight feel, and quiet autofocus, while complaining about softness at 300mm, lack of stabilization, and the cheap-feeling plastic construction.
“Great for beginners”
“Good value for the reach”
“Blurry at 300mm”
Professional reviewers praise the Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8 for its fast aperture, solid bokeh, and surprisingly good autofocus on mirrorless mounts, noting minor distortion and the absence of weather sealing.
Everyday users highlight sharpness and value, calling it a perfect entry-level prime, with complaints about loud AF and plastic build.
Professional reviewers rate the lens highly for its performance-to-price ratio, praising its sharpness, compactness, quiet STM autofocus and smooth bokeh, while noting the plasticky feel and lack of a hood as drawbacks.
Everyday users love the affordability, sharpness and video-friendly autofocus, but complain about the cheap plastic build, missing hood and the quirky focus-by-wire behavior.
Professional reviewers acknowledge the YN35mm F2 as a surprisingly capable lens for its price, praising its optical performance, fast aperture, and sturdy metal mount, while noting that its autofocus speed and overall build fall short of native premium lenses and that it lacks stabilization.
Everyday users love the lens for its portability, low-light capability, and affordability, but complain about slow or hunting autofocus in dim conditions and a fragile filter thread.
Professional reviewers consider the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II a solid, no-frills upgrade over its non-IS predecessors, noting effective stabilization but only acceptable optical quality.
Everyday users rate the lens highly for its portability, low price, and helpful image stabilization, while criticizing the noisy, slower autofocus and plastic construction.
Professional reviewers at B&H praise the Meike 8 mm as a creative, low-cost fisheye that delivers a distinct rectangular look, thanks to its durable all-metal build and effective nano coating, while noting manual focus and lack of electronic contacts as the main drawbacks.
Everyday users love the solid metal feel, sharp central performance and fun extreme perspective, but complain about manual focus difficulty, edge softness and the absence of a filter thread or electronic contacts.
Professional reviewers note that the Lightdow 85mm f/1.8 delivers impressive bokeh and contrast thanks to its UMC coating, and its price makes it an attractive entry-level portrait lens, but the lack of autofocus and limited editorial coverage keep it a niche choice.
Everyday users appreciate the lens's sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and low price, often citing it as a solid learning tool for manual photography, while recurring complaints focus on the stiff focus ring and absence of autofocus.
Professional reviewers acknowledge decent optical performance and manual focus control for the price, but caution that it cannot replace Canon's L-series telephotos and suffers noticeable softness at the longest focal length.
Everyday users appreciate the affordable extreme reach and solid build, especially for moon and static bird photography, while many criticize the difficulty of manual focusing and softness at 800 mm.
Professional reviewers view the Sol 45 as a novelty creative accessory rather than a technical workhorse, praising its tilt-based focus and build but noting the fixed aperture and lack of autofocus or weather sealing.
Everyday users rate it highly for dreamy, soft-blurred images and solid construction, though they complain about the gimmicky bokeh blades and manual-only operation.
Professional reviewers laud the Meike 85mm f/1.8 Mark II for delivering center sharpness and transmission that rival much more expensive lenses, highlighting its lightweight build, quiet STM motor, and effective anti-chromatic aberration design.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the lens for its value, light weight, and beautiful bokeh, while noting soft corners at wide apertures, slow manual focus, and lack of weather sealing.
Professional reviewers praise the YN50mm F1.8 II for delivering sharp, affordable optics that rival more expensive lenses, especially when stopped down, while noting the slower, noisier AF and mild softness at the widest aperture.
Everyday users overwhelmingly commend the lens for its price-to-performance ratio, lightweight feel, and pleasing bokeh, though they note the noisy, slower autofocus and occasional softness at f/1.8.
Professional reviewers acknowledge the Meike 85mm f/1.8 delivers surprisingly good center sharpness and pleasing bokeh for its sub-$200 price, but criticize the noisy, sluggish autofocus and severe axial chromatic aberration.
Everyday users rate the lens around 4.8-4.9/5, praising its low cost, sharpness at f/4-f/5.6, and smooth bokeh, while complaining about loud AF, purple fringing, and cheap-feel plastic.
Professional reviewers highlight the Sol 45's creative potential, intuitive tilt, and texture-adding bokeh blades, while noting the fixed aperture and lack of autofocus as limitations.
Everyday users love the dreamy blur and portability, but complain about the narrow focus ring and limited filter use.
Professional reviewers view the JINTU as a curiosity for hobbyists: its ultra-long reach is impressive for the price, but the lack of autofocus, stabilization, and the noticeable softness at the extreme end keep it out of the professional arena.
Everyday users are split; many praise the lens for delivering moon and bird capability on a shoestring budget, while a large portion complain about manual focusing difficulty and soft images at 1600 mm.
