We Use CookiesWe use cookies to enhance the security, performance, functionality and for analytical and promotional activities. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our privacy policy

10 Best Macro Lenses For Canons 2025 in the United States

How do we rank products for you?

Our technology thoroughly searches through the online shopping world, reviewing hundreds of sites. We then process and analyze this information, updating in real-time to bring you the latest top-rated products. This way, you always get the best and most current options available.

headphones-stars

Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe Lens with Canon EF Mount

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,444
Minimum Focusing Distance

Most important from
26 reviews

Minimum Focusing Distance
Expect stunning close-up images with the ability to get as close as half an inch to your subject.

The Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe Lens is a unique macro lens designed for Canon EF mount cameras. Its standout feature is the long tubular barrel, which allows you to get close to your subject without disturbing it, a significant advantage in both studio and wildlife photography. The lens covers both full-frame and Super35 image sensors, providing versatility in its use. The deep depth of field at close distances means more of your background will be in focus compared to traditional telephoto macro lenses, which can be particularly useful for detailed shots where context is important.

Additionally, the built-in LED ring light at the tip of the lens aids in focusing and lighting the subject, especially useful in low-light conditions or when smaller apertures are used for greater depth of field. Despite its long design, the lens is lightweight at just 1.04 pounds, making it relatively easy to handle and carry around. However, there are some drawbacks. The maximum aperture of f/14 is quite narrow, which means the lens might struggle in low-light conditions without additional lighting. The minimum focusing distance is impressive due to the long barrel, but the lens lacks image stabilization, which could make handheld shooting challenging.

This lens is excellent for those needing to capture detailed macro shots from a distance, but it may require additional lighting and careful handling due to the lack of image stabilization.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,444
Minimum Focusing Distance

Most important from
26 reviews

Minimum Focusing Distance
Expect stunning close-up images with the ability to get as close as half an inch to your subject.
#2

Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro is USM Lens, Medium Telephoto Lens, Macro Lens, Compatible with EOS R Series Mirrorless Cameras, Black

Rating
10.0
Maximum Aperture
Image Stabilization
Magnification Ratio

Most important from
310 reviews

Maximum Aperture
The lens offers excellent image quality with a sweet spot around f/8 to f/16, making it a great choice for macro photography.
Image Stabilization
Autofocus and sensor stabilization are fantastic, making handheld shooting a breeze.
Magnification Ratio
The 1.4:1 magnification is really nice for detailed shots, though achieving good shots at this magnification requires manual focus and patience.
Autofocus Performance
The lens is an improvement over the EF 100mm version, with faster autofocus and better image quality.
Build Quality and Weather Sealing
Many users find the lens worth every penny, praising its performance for both macro and portrait photography.

The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens is a robust option for macro photography, particularly for users with Canon EOS R series mirrorless cameras. With a short telephoto focal length of 100mm, it’s well-suited for capturing detailed close-ups. The standout feature is its 1.4x magnification, allowing it to shoot subjects at a greater level of detail compared to standard 1:1 macro lenses.

The fixed f/2.8 aperture ensures bright and high-quality images, even in lower light conditions. Image stabilization is a strong point, with up to 5 stops of shake correction, making handheld shooting more feasible. Additionally, its Hybrid IS system compensates for both angular and shift camera shake, which is beneficial during close-up shots where even the slightest movement can cause blur. The Spherical Aberration (SA) Control Ring is an interesting feature, allowing photographers to adjust the bokeh, enhancing creative control over the image's background and foreground blur.

In terms of build, it is solid and built to withstand various weather conditions, adding to its durability. However, it is relatively heavy at 1.61 pounds, which might make it cumbersome for prolonged handheld use. The autofocus performance is generally praised, though some users might find it slower in low light or extremely close-up situations. The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens is a powerful tool for serious macro photographers, offering excellent image quality, innovative features, and solid construction, though its weight and potentially slower autofocus in some conditions could be minor drawbacks for some users.

Rating
10.0
Maximum Aperture
Image Stabilization
Magnification Ratio

Most important from
310 reviews

Maximum Aperture
The lens offers excellent image quality with a sweet spot around f/8 to f/16, making it a great choice for macro photography.
Image Stabilization
Autofocus and sensor stabilization are fantastic, making handheld shooting a breeze.
Magnification Ratio
The 1.4:1 magnification is really nice for detailed shots, though achieving good shots at this magnification requires manual focus and patience.
Autofocus Performance
The lens is an improvement over the EF 100mm version, with faster autofocus and better image quality.
Build Quality and Weather Sealing
Many users find the lens worth every penny, praising its performance for both macro and portrait photography.
#3

Canon 180mm F3.5 L AF Macro Lens

Rating
9.9
Focal Length
Maximum Aperture
Image Stabilization

Most important from
70 reviews

Focal Length
The 180mm focal length helps avoid disturbing subjects like insects, making it great for capturing moving targets.
Maximum Aperture
The lens is unbelievably sharp and the shots are incredible, even at f32.
Image Stabilization
Without image stabilization, a tripod is essential for achieving steady shots, especially at 180mm.
Minimum Focusing Distance
This lens is perfect for full-frame cameras, allowing for macro shots without getting too close to the subject.
Magnification Ratio
Using a 2X extender with this lens creates a 360mm macro, which is amazing but challenging to focus.

The Canon 180mm F3.5 L AF Macro Lens is a solid choice for macro photography, particularly if you're using a Canon SLR camera. Its focal length of 180mm allows for life-size close-ups from a greater distance, which is excellent for capturing subjects like insects without disturbing them. The maximum aperture of f/3.5 is decent, though not as fast as some other lenses on the market, which might be a consideration if you're shooting in lower light conditions.

The lens features three UD glass elements and an internal floating system to minimize aberrations, ensuring high image quality from up close to infinity. The advanced ultra-sonic monitor (USM) provides high-speed, quiet autofocusing, which is beneficial for quick and discreet shooting. The minimum focusing distance of 1.57 feet allows for excellent close-up shots. The lens supports EF Extender 1.4x and 2x, which can further enhance its versatility.

One potential drawback is the lack of image stabilization, which could be an issue if you're shooting handheld. Additionally, the lens is relatively heavy at 2.4 pounds and has a considerable length of 7.3 inches, making it less portable. Build quality is robust, but there is no mention of weather sealing, which might be a concern for outdoor photographers. In summary, this lens is best suited for dedicated macro photographers who prioritize image quality and autofocus performance over portability and low-light shooting.

Rating
9.9
Focal Length
Maximum Aperture
Image Stabilization

Most important from
70 reviews

Focal Length
The 180mm focal length helps avoid disturbing subjects like insects, making it great for capturing moving targets.
Maximum Aperture
The lens is unbelievably sharp and the shots are incredible, even at f32.
Image Stabilization
Without image stabilization, a tripod is essential for achieving steady shots, especially at 180mm.
Minimum Focusing Distance
This lens is perfect for full-frame cameras, allowing for macro shots without getting too close to the subject.
Magnification Ratio
Using a 2X extender with this lens creates a 360mm macro, which is amazing but challenging to focus.

Buying Guide for the Best Macro Lenses For Canons

Choosing the right macro lens for your Canon camera can significantly enhance your photography, especially if you are interested in capturing close-up details of small subjects like insects, flowers, or textures. Macro lenses are designed to provide high magnification and sharpness, allowing you to see fine details that are not visible to the naked eye. When selecting a macro lens, it's important to consider several key specifications to ensure you get the best fit for your needs and photography style.
Focal LengthFocal length determines how close you can get to your subject and still achieve focus. Macro lenses typically range from 50mm to 200mm. Shorter focal lengths (50mm-100mm) are great for general close-up photography and are more affordable, but you need to get closer to your subject, which might disturb it. Longer focal lengths (100mm-200mm) allow you to shoot from a distance, which is ideal for photographing skittish subjects like insects. Choose a focal length based on the type of subjects you plan to photograph and how close you can get to them.
Maximum ApertureThe maximum aperture of a lens indicates how much light it can gather, which affects your ability to shoot in low light and control depth of field. A larger maximum aperture (e.g., f/2.8) allows more light in, making it easier to shoot in dim conditions and achieve a shallow depth of field, which can beautifully blur the background. If you often shoot in low light or want to create a strong background blur, look for a lens with a larger maximum aperture. For general macro photography in good light, a smaller maximum aperture (e.g., f/3.5 or f/4) may suffice.
Image StabilizationImage stabilization helps reduce camera shake, which is especially useful in macro photography where even slight movements can cause blur. Some macro lenses come with built-in image stabilization, which can be a significant advantage when shooting handheld or in low light. If you plan to shoot without a tripod or in conditions where stability is a concern, consider a lens with image stabilization. However, if you always use a tripod, this feature might be less critical.
Minimum Focusing DistanceThe minimum focusing distance is the closest distance at which a lens can focus on a subject. A shorter minimum focusing distance allows you to get closer to your subject, which can be beneficial for capturing extreme close-ups. This spec is particularly important in macro photography because it directly affects how much detail you can capture. If you want to photograph very small subjects or achieve high magnification, look for a lens with a short minimum focusing distance.
Magnification RatioThe magnification ratio indicates how much the subject is enlarged on the camera sensor. A 1:1 ratio means the subject is captured at life-size, which is ideal for true macro photography. Some lenses offer higher magnification ratios (e.g., 1.5:1 or 2:1), allowing for even greater detail. If you need to capture very fine details or want to enlarge small subjects significantly, choose a lens with a higher magnification ratio. For general close-up photography, a 1:1 ratio is usually sufficient.
Autofocus PerformanceAutofocus performance is crucial for quickly and accurately focusing on your subject, especially when dealing with moving subjects like insects. Some macro lenses have faster and more precise autofocus systems than others. If you often photograph moving subjects or need to capture shots quickly, look for a lens with good autofocus performance. For static subjects or if you prefer manual focus, this spec might be less important.
Build Quality and Weather SealingBuild quality and weather sealing are important for durability and protection against the elements. A well-built lens with weather sealing can withstand harsh conditions, making it suitable for outdoor photography. If you plan to shoot in various environments, including dusty or wet conditions, consider a lens with robust build quality and weather sealing. For indoor or controlled environments, this may be less of a concern.

FAQ

Most Popular Categories Right Now