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Canon Lens Cost

We all want to keep our Canon lens cost down, so it's a good idea to be familiar with the different prices of Canon lenses.

Before you click on any one of those advertisements touting a low Canon lens cost, read this article on how you can save money on lenses for your Canon camera and why Canon lenses can be more expensive. 

$750 is the average cost of a Canon camera lens. The most common lenses are between $199 and $1,249. A top of the line Canon "L" lens is more expensive and they cost between $399 and $12,999. The smaller EF-S lenses are cheaper and range from $199 to $800.

First, consider the average price of the standard Canon zoom lens. These lenses are usually the first lenses new shooters get to use with their DSLR or full mirrorless cameras. Cost depends on whether you're buying new, used, refurbished, and Canon vs. another brand.

What Canon Zoom Lenses Cost

These lenses are the most widely used, general purpose lenses that are on your camera more than any other for a wide variety of typical situations. We'll take a look at costs of Canon specially lenses later. Here's a table of lens prices for various Canon zoom lenses.

Being able to zoom in and zoom out at a moving target, wide angle-to-telephoto range, is the strongest benefit of the lens, no matter what price range you select.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm zoomed to 93mm
Purchased used for only $221.

You'd also like to know what's the average cost of Canon Wildlife Lenses. In this situation the price is very dependent on how serious you are as a bird or wildlife photographer.

The most popular wildlife lenses are priced between $899 and $1,349. A professional Canon wildlife lens is extremely expensive and they cost between $10,999 and $21,000. The slower fixed aperture ER wildlife lenses are cheaper and range from $699 to $999.

The cheapest wildlife lenses fit the smaller crop sensor Canons and range in price from $199

What Canon Wildlife/Bird Lenses Cost

What about the prices of telephoto lenses for photographing wildlife and birds? Generally speaking, these longer lenses use more glass and have a higher cost than the standard Canon zoom lenses. There are a few exceptions with the older lenses that are geared toward hobbyist photographers.

Canon Prime Lens Prices

Most prime lenses are smaller, faster (large maximum aperture), and sharper than zooming lenses because of the less complicated optical design issues of zoom lenses. Let's look at the lens cost of prime lenses compare to zoom lenses and wildlife lenses.

Canon makes prime lenses for three different types of Canon bodies. There are EF lenses for full frame Canon DSLRs, EF-S for APS-C crop Canons, and the newest mount, the Canon RF lenses. Here's the complete post on the best Canon prime lenses.

The Canon "Nifty Fifty" 50mm f/1.4 lens.
A great lens for controlling creative background blur.

Why Canon Lenses Are More Expensive

Canon lenses are expensive for several reasons. They have complex and intricate designs, use precision machined optics, mounted in exacting locations using high standards.

Complicated lens design

Camera lenses have multiple moving parts, including individual lenses and grouped lenses within the lens barrel. That includes zooming lens elements, focusing motors, and image stabilization technology.

Canon, along with other lens makers must use the highest quality materials, including rare earth minerals. Additionally, high production costs and quality control measures contribute to the high cost

how to save on canon lens Costs

We all want to use great lenses along with our capable cameras to make great photos, but it can really add up if you're not careful. Here are 5 ways to save on your Canon lenses

1. Timing

Although this is a more effective technique to use with buying cameras, lens prices can go down slightly when a new upgrade version of a specific model of Canon lens comes to market. The demand for "older" lenses can go down slightly and deals with reduced prices may come to be offered.

Price decrease when new version is offered

Black Friday and similar yearly promotions will save you money on your lenses. Additionally, if you buy a kit or a packaged group of equipment you'll get a cheaper price on your Canon than buying a single à la carte lens.

2. Brand

You can save money on your next lens for your Canon camera buying a third party lens that is compatible with your Canon. Tamron and Sigma lenses are the main brands that come to mind. Tokina and Rokinon also make lenses for Canon cameras.

The selection of lenses made for Canon by alternative manufacturers is not as extensive, but if they have the focal length lens you're looking for, it's worth reading the Reviews On Amazon.

3. Refurbished Canon Lenses

Buying a factory refurbished through USA.Canon is a low risk avenue to take. Not as cheap as buying a traditional used lens, but is still less than a brand new canon lens. The lens has been fixed in some manner and tested by a trained, experienced Canon technician. Factory refurbished lenses come with a warrantee.

You can also by refurbished lenses on Amazon and other major retailers.

4.  Rent A Lens

Rather than buying a new Canon lens outright you can choose to try before you buy. Renting lenses appeals to Canon shooters who don't want to risk purchasing a lens and being unhappy with their lens choice.

It can be more costly to rent, rather than buy and return for a refund, but it avoids any hassle of getting a refund from the seller. More on Lens Rentals.

5.  Used Canon Lenses

You can receive a substantially discounted price if you buy a used Canon lens. The good news is that there are many choices. Canon has been making lenses for a long, long time and they continuously offer upgrades to older versions as well as designs new lens models.

Additionally, with the breadth and depth of the internet, you have many, many sources to choose from when buying a used lens. There is a ton of competition in the used lens market and that competition drives prices downward.

EBAY comes to mind, but there are more options. I like KEH because of the immaculate condition of the used lenses that they stock.

KEH
WHERE I BUY USED LENSES

I hope this post on Canon lens cost was helpful. See the complete line-up of all Canon lenses.  Have a blast. Shoot a Canon.

Bruce Lovelace is the publisher of Canon Camera Geek. Read more about him on the About Page. He also publishes how to articles and camera gear reviews at the Photography Tips website.

View some of Bruce's photos on Instagram  and Flickr.   Join the tribe of followers on YouTube. Bruce also runs photo workshops and provides 1 on 1 digital photography coaching.

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