DSLR Lens Recommendations

24 April 2015

We understand that there can seem to be a bewildering array of lenses available when you first enter the world of DSLR's, so we've put together a quick chart to help you narrow down your next lens depending on your DSLR brand and the type of photography you want to shoot; landscape, portrait, macro, action, travel and nature photography.

Select your camera's manufacturer or mount below to get started:

• Canon
• Nikon
• Sony
• Olympus
• Pentax

Lens Recommendations for Canon

	Customer Fave Rated above 4 stars	Staff Choice Our pick for top quality	Top Value Too good to miss!
Landscape Wide angle, high quality at small apertures for DOF.	Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM	Canon EF 17-40mm f4 L USM	Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC HSM
Portrait Mid telephoto, wide aperture for smooth backgrounds.	Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM	Canon EF 85mm f1.2 L II USM	Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II
Macro Close minimum focus distance for 1:1 ratio magnification.	Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM	Canon EF 180mm f3.5 L USM Macro	Tamron 90mm f2.8 SP Di Macro
Action Quick USM / HSM autofocus & wide aperture to freeze action.	Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L USM	Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 DG OS HSM	Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 Di LD SP AF (IF) Macro
Travel Flexible one lens solution to cover most scenarios.	Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD SP Lens - Canon Fit	Canon EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS	Tamron 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 XR DI II
Nature Long telephoto for reach, shake reduction with IS / OS.	Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM	Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS II USM Lens	Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM

Lens Recommendations for Nikon

	Customer Fave Rated above 4 stars	Staff Choice Our pick for top quality	Top Value Too good to miss!
Landscape Wide angle, high quality at small apertures for DOF.	Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC HSM	Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 G AF-S ED	Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 Di II LD AF SP Aspherical
Portrait Mid telephoto, wide aperture for smooth backgrounds.	Nikon 85mm f1.8 G AF-S	Nikon 70-200mm AF-S Nikkor f2.8G ED VR II	Nikon 50mm f1.8 D AF
Macro Close minimum focus distance for 1:1 ratio magnification.	Nikon 105mm f2.8 G AF-S VR IF ED Micro Nikkor	Nikon 60mm f2.8 G AF-S ED Micro	Tamron 90mm f2.8 SP Di Macro
Action Quick AF-S / HSM autofocus & wide aperture to freeze action.	Nikon 70-200mm AF-S Nikkor f2.8G ED VR II	Nikon 300mm f4 D AF-S IF ED	Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 SP Di
Travel Flexible one lens solution to cover most scenarios.	Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 G AF-S DX ED VR II	Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 G AF-S ED	Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 II DC OS HSM
Nature Long telephoto for reach, shake reduction with VR / OS.	Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM	Nikon 200-400mm f4 G VR II AF-S ED	Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G AF-S VR IF-ED

Lens Recommendations for Sony

	Customer Fave Rated above 4 stars	Staff Choice Our pick for top quality	Top Value Too good to miss!
Landscape Wide angle, high quality at small apertures for DOF.	Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC	Sony 11-18mm f4.5-5.6 DT AF	Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 Di II LD AF SP Aspherical (IF)
Portrait Mid telephoto, wide aperture for smooth backgrounds.	Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 SP AF	Sony 85mm f1.4 ZA Planar T*	Sony 50mm f1.4 AF
Macro Close minimum focus distance for 1:1 ratio magnification.	Sony 100mm f2.8 D Macro	Sony 50mm f2.8 D Macro AF	Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM
Action Quick autofocus (SSM) & wide aperture to freeze action.	Sony 70-200mm f2.8 G SSM II	Sony 300mm f2.8 G SSM II	Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 SP AF
Travel Flexible one lens solution to cover most scenarios.	Tamron 18-270mm f3.5-6.3 Di II PZD	Sony 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 DT AF	Tamron 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 XR DI II
Nature Long telephoto for reach and composition options.	Sony 70-400mm f4-5.6 G SSM II	Sony 500mm f4 G SSM	Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro DG

Lens Recommendations for Olympus

	Customer Fave Rated above 4 stars	Staff Choice Our pick for top quality	Top Value Too good to miss!
Landscape Wide angle, high quality at small apertures for DOF.	Olympus 9-18mm f4-5.6 ZUIKO Digital ED	Olympus 7-14mm f4 ZUIKO Digital ED	Samyang 16mm f2 ED AS UMC CS
Portrait Mid telephoto, wide aperture for smooth backgrounds.	Olympus 50mm f2 Macro ZUIKO Digital ED	Olympus 35-100mm f2.0 ZUIKO Digital ED	Olympus 35mm f3.5 Macro
Macro Close minimum focus distance for 1:1 ratio magnification.	Olympus 35mm f3.5 Macro	Olympus 35mm f3.5 Macro	Olympus 35mm f3.5 Macro
Action Quick SWD autofocus & wide aperture to freeze action.	Olympus 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD ZUIKO Digital ED Four Thirds lens	Olympus 90-250mm f2.8 ZUIKO Digital ED	Olympus 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 ZUIKO Digital ED
Travel Flexible one lens solution to cover most scenarios.	Olympus 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD ZUIKO Digital ED	Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6 ED M.ZUIKO Digital II Lens	Olympus 18-180mm f3.5-6.3 ZUIKO Digital ED
Nature Long telephoto for reach and composition options.	Olympus 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD ZUIKO Digital ED	Olympus 90-250mm f2.8 ZUIKO Digital ED	Olympus 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 ZUIKO Digital ED

Lens Recommendations for Pentax

	Customer Fave Rated above 4 stars	Staff Choice Our pick for top quality	Top Value Too good to miss!
Landscape Wide angle, high quality at small apertures for DOF.	Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC	Pentax 12-24mm f4 DA ED AL IF	Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 Di II LD AF SP Aspherical (IF)
Portrait Mid telephoto, wide aperture for smooth backgrounds.	Pentax 50-135mm f2.8 DA* ED SDM	Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 SP AF Pentax Fit Zoom	Pentax 50mm f1.4 SMC FA Lens
Macro Close minimum focus distance for 1:1 ratio magnification.	Tamron 90mm f2.8 SP Di Macro	Pentax 50mm f2.8 SMC D FA Macro	Tamron 90mm f2.8 SP Di Macro
Action Quick SDM autofocus & wide aperture to freeze action.	Pentax 50-135mm f2.8 DA* ED SDM	Sigma 300mm f2.8 EX DG	Pentax 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR
Travel Flexible one lens solution to cover most scenarios.	Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR Di-II LD ASP IF	Pentax 40mm f2.8 XS DA	Tamron 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 AF XR DI II
Nature Long telephoto for reach and composition options.	Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM	Pentax 300mm F4 DA*	Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens

We have also put together a glossary of lens abreviations and published a lens buying guide to help you decide what sort of lens best suites your style of photography