This is a guide covering the best lenses for the Canon Rebel T5.
Announced in 2015, the Canon Rebel T5 is a great entry-level DSLR camera. It can shoot 18 MP pictures and has excellent clarity. It can also record HD at 1080p.
Being a great camera, there is also a lot of strong lens choices.
I know how exciting, yet difficult it can be to find the perfect lens for your camera especially since it can be an investment.
So make sure to review all the lens options for the Canon Rebel T5. That way you can make the best decision for you! If you choose a lens outside this list, make sure it has an EF/EF-S lens mount as that is the lens mount compatible with the Canon Rebel T5.
Also, it’s important to note that the Canon Rebel T5 has an EF-S lens mount, which is specifically designed for use with APS-C format sensors. If you use an EF lens mount, which is designed for use with full-frame sensors, on the Rebel T5, it will physically fit but it will be “zoomed in.” For example, a 50mm lens will look like a 75mm lens. Not a big problem, just something to be aware of.
In a hurry? Here’s the quick overview:
- ⭐ Best Overall Lens for the Canon Rebel T5
- 👩 Best Portrait Photography Lenses for the Canon Rebel T5
- ⛰️ Best Landscape Photography Lenses for the Canon Rebel T5
- ⚾ Best Sports & Wildlife Photography Lenses for the Canon Rebel T5
- 💸 Best Budget Lens for the Canon Rebel T5
How to Choose the Best Lens for the Canon Rebel T5?
Focal length: Consider the type of photography you will be doing and choose a lens with the appropriate focal length. For example, a wide-angle lens is ideal for landscapes and architecture, while a telephoto lens is ideal for portraits and wildlife.
Aperture: A lens with a wide aperture (low f-stop number) is ideal for low light and shallow depth-of-field photography.
Image stabilization: Image stabilization can help to reduce camera shake and blur in low light conditions, which can be particularly useful for telephoto lenses.
Autofocus: Look for a lens with fast and accurate autofocus, which will make it easier to capture sharp images.
Build quality: Consider the build quality of the lens, as this will affect its durability and ability to withstand heavy use.
Compatibility: The Canon Rebel T5 uses EF-S and EF mount lenses, so ensure that the lens you choose is compatible with the camera.
Budget: Consider your budget and select the lens that fits your budget and has most of the features you need.
Brand and model: Look for a lens from a reputable brand that has a good reputation for producing high-quality lenses and has a track record of producing good results for your specific type of photography.
Table of Contents
12 Best Lenses for Canon Rebel T5
1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 50 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Maximum aperture: F1.4
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 290 g (0.64 lb)
- Diameter: 74 mm (2.91″)
- Length: 51 mm (1.99″)
- Sealing: No
The best lens for the Canon Rebel T5 is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM.
It offers sharp images and superior bokeh given the wide aperture.
It is even better than your average 50mm F1.8 lens in this department.
On top of that, you also won’t have a difficult time in case you start using the lens in low-light conditions or indoors.
The only thing that you might have to watch out for is that it hits and misses on its autofocus.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Sharp images
- Great for indoor photography
- Great bokeh
My Cons With This Lens:
- Some complaints of construction issues
2. Canon EF 50mm F/1.8
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 50 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Maximum aperture: F1.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 159 g (0.35 lb)
- Diameter: 69 mm (2.72″)
- Length: 39 mm (1.54″)
- Sealing: No
The best portrait lens for the Canon Rebel T5 is the Canon EF 50mm F/1.8.
The Canon Standard EF 50mm F1.8 lens is a good option for those who are looking for superior-quality portraits when they shoot using their Rebel T5.
This lens offers sharp images as well as lively colors thanks to its Gaussian optics.
It even has a switch on the side if you want to do MF or AF mode.
You can also use it on most occasions, though this lens is made of plastic which is something that turns off a lot of pros.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Superior image quality
- Great for indoors and low light conditions
- Has MF and AF switch by the side
My Cons With This Lens:
- Made of plastic
3. Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 85 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes (4 stops)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Maximum aperture: F1.4
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 950 g (2.09 lb)
- Diameter: 87 mm (3.43″)
- Length: 105 mm (4.13″)
- Sealing: Yes
The best macro lens for the Canon Rebel T5 is the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM.
If you are looking for the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 and you are not happy with an 85mm F1.8 lens but don’t have the budget to go for the F1.2 version, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Lens makes a perfect choice.
You get great image quality on top of its superior image stability feature.
It is best for both handheld and tripod functions.
However, the only complaint is that it tends to focus on the wrong subject.
Also, check out the list of best Canon macro lenses.
My Pros With This Lens:
- With image stabilization perfect for handheld photography
- Great quality image
My Cons With This Lens:
- Complaints that it takes a while to focus
4. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 150–600 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes
- Lens mount: Canon EF, Nikon F (FX), Sigma SA Bayonet, Sony/Minolta Alpha
- Maximum aperture: F5–6.3
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Diameter: 105 mm (4.13″)
- Length: 260 mm (10.24″)
- Sealing: No
The best telephoto lens for the Canon Rebel T5 is the Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary.
If you want a third-party brand for a telephoto lens on your Rebel T5, we’d suggest that you consider the Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens.
It’s the type of lens that covers a great distance.
It is lightweight and compact, making it a favorite of different users from those private investigators who do stakeouts to sports photographers.
It is known for its high-quality photos and a decent motor for AF mode.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Lightweight and compact design
- High-quality images
- Good AF for slow to non-moving subjects
My Cons With This Lens:
- The motor could focus faster
5. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: APS-C / DX
- Focal length: 10–18 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes
- Lens mount: Canon EF-S
- Maximum aperture: F4.5–5.6
- Minimum aperture: F22–29
- Weight: 240 g (0.53 lb)
- Diameter: 75 mm (2.94″)
- Length: 72 mm (2.83″)
- Sealing: No
The best street photography lens for the Canon Rebel T5 is the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6.
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens is a wide-angle zoom lens perfect for street photography because you can get to compose a large scene and not miss anything.
This includes an optical image stabilizer that gives you the ability to shoot even without a tripod.
Plus, it has a stepping motor that functions quietly during autofocus.
The only thing that you might not like is the fact that you get deformed faces if you shoot around 14mma and below.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Captures wide shots well
- No need for a tripod
- Quiet autofocus
My Cons With This Lens:
- Can show some distortion when shooting 14mm and below
6. YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8
Lens specifications:
- Canon EF Mount/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
- Multi-Coated Lens Elements
- AF/MF Switch
- Seven-Blade Diaphragm
- Gold-Plated Contacts
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 1.5′
- Filter Diameter: 52mm
A lot of photographers are looking for third-party brands included in our best lenses for the Canon Rebel T5 list.
The Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8 prime lens is a tough contender for the best portrait lens for Rebel T5 for many reasons.
First, you get gold-plating metal contacts that keep the contacts free of corrosion.
Next, it offers a superior quality image as well as lively colors that can compete with Canon lenses.
Plus, you also get to blur the background thanks to its wide aperture.
And lastly, it works well whenever you are shooting indoors.
The only concern is the autofocus tends to be a bit noisy.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Gold plating contact
- Great for indoor photography
- Wide aperture with great bokeh
My Cons With This Lens:
- Noisy lens
7. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 85 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Maximum aperture: F1.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 425 g (0.94 lb)
- Diameter: 75 mm (2.95″)
- Length: 72 mm (2.81″)
- Sealing: No
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens is among the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 if you plan on doing macro photography.
It can accentuate the small details in your subject, and with a wide F1.8 aperture, you can even blur the background.
It also made use of image stabilization that helps deal with shakes.
The USM motor, on the other hand, functions quietly.
You also don’t have to spend a lot of money on this lens.
However, the USM motor is known for being sensitive to bumps.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Great bokeh
- Motor focuses quietly
- Has the ability to focus on small details
My Cons With This Lens:
- The USM motor can be a bit sensitive to bumps
8. Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 85 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Maximum aperture: F1.2
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Weight: 1025 g (2.26 lb)
- Diameter: 92 mm (3.6″)
- Length: 84 mm (3.31″)
- Sealing: No
Rarely do you get to see a prime lens that can go wider than F1.4.
With the Canon EF 85mm F1.2L II USM Lens, you get a wide aperture that is known for its beautiful bokeh.
But what made us consider this in our list of best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 is its ability to help photographers to shoot with ease regardless of the light conditions.
It even has a USM motor that’s known for its quiet and discreet performance in case you want to also use it for other things.
The downside is that it has mediocre image stabilization.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Quiet motor performance
- Beautiful bokeh
- Wide aperture
My Cons With This Lens:
- n/a
9. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 100–400 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes (4 stops)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Maximum aperture: F4.5–5.6
- Minimum aperture: F32–40
- Weight: 1570 g (3.46 lb)
- Diameter: 94 mm (3.7″)
- Length: 193 mm (7.6″)
- Sealing: Yes
The Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens is one of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 if you are someone who uses the Rebel T5 for weddings (check out list of best canon lenses for wedding photography), wildlife photography (check out list of best lenses for wildlife photography), and even sports photography.
This lens is known for its New Air Sphere Coating (ASC) which can help reduce backlit flaring and ghosting.
It even has a rotational ring that allows easier composition.
As for its construction, it is highly resistant to dust and water, things that you get to encounter when you shoot outdoors.
Plus, there were reports from other users who complained of dust still getting in their lenses.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Reduced backlit flaring and ghosting
- Easier to compose
- High-quality image
My Cons With This Lens:
- Some users complained of dust inside their lens
10. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 70–300 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes (3 stops claimed)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Maximum aperture: F4–5.6
- Minimum aperture: F32–45
- Weight: 630 g (1.39 lb)
- Diameter: 77 mm (3.01″)
- Length: 143 mm (5.62″)
- Sealing: No
The Canon EF 70-300mm F/4.5 IS II USM Lens offers a wide range for users.
It also offers superior-quality images and lively colors.
With its built-in stabilization and USM motor for discreet AF, you can shoot without worries even if you don’t have a tripod with you.
Though it’s one of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5, it has some drawbacks such as autofocus overwriting the manual focus.
You will have to go to the camera to set it to manual focus.
My Pros With This Lens:
- With image stabilizer
- Discreet AF
- Lively colors and sharp image
My Cons With This Lens:
- Hard to use the manual focus
11. Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 14 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Canon RF
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 810 g (1.79 lb)
- Diameter: 87 mm (3.43″)
- Length: 120 mm (4.72″)
- Sealing: Yes
If you are looking for a lens that can capture the beauty of the city, the Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8 Wide Angle Lens can do the job for you.
It has different mount versions including micro four-thirds and Canon EF lenses.
It’s one of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 if you don’t have plans of shooting portraits.
It has low flare and ghosting with its UMC Multi-Coating.
It also captures sharp images plus it’s easy to focus using its focus ring.
However, if you are into AF wide-angle lenses, this isn’t the option for you.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Get to capture the entire scene
- Sharp images
- Low flare and ghosting
My Cons With This Lens:
- No autofocus mode
12. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: APS-C / DX
- Focal length: 17–50 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes (4 stops claimed)
- Lens mount: Canon EF-S, Nikon F (DX), Pentax KAF3, Sigma SA Bayonet, Sony/Minolta Alpha DT
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 565 g (1.25 lb)
- Diameter: 84 mm (3.29″)
- Length: 92 mm (3.62″)
- Sealing: No
The Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Lens is a standard zoom lens perfect for wide-angle shots and for portraits.
The only problem that you might encounter is if you want to blur the background.
Unfortunately, the widest aperture is at f2.8.
However, it offers fast and quiet autofocus plus it has a superior peripheral brightness that offers high contrast images.
It is also one of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 because it’s handy and lightweight.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Lightweight and compact
- Has a quiet autofocus
- Offers sharp images
My Cons With This Lens:
- Can have a better bokeh
FAQ
Who is the Canon Rebel T5 For?
The Canon Rebel T5 (also known as the EOS 1200D) is an entry-level digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera that is aimed at amateur photographers who are looking to upgrade from a point-and-shoot camera or a smartphone.
What Lens Mount is the Canon Rebel T5?
The Canon Rebel T5 is compatible with EF/EF-S lens mounts. But if you use an EF lens mount with the Canon Rebel T5, it will be more zoomed in because it is an APS-C camera. For example, a 50mm lens will have the focal length of a 75mm lens.
Concluding Remarks
Thanks for reading through, hope you enjoyed the list!
If you are looking for the best lens for the Rebel T5, it is a good idea to take a closer look at these options.
You will be able to find the best one that fits your budget and needs depending on how you want to use the Rebel T5.
Be sure to compare each lens before you make up your mind and weigh the pros and cons.
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Nate Torres is a portrait photographer based in Southern California. Outside of photography, Nate specializes in SEO, content marketing, and entrepreneurship. He is also the founder of Imaginated.com, a platform for creator education.
