10 Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Canon in 2024

One of the major advantages that cameras still have over smartphone cameras is the availability of telephoto lenses, so we have put together this guide to the best telephoto zoom lenses for Canon cameras. These lenses offer the flexibility to capture distant subjects with clarity and detail, making them perfect for a wide range of photography genres, from sports to wildlife.

Our top pick, the Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM, stands out for its exceptional image quality and versatility. It’s the best for its reliable performance in various conditions. We have selected lenses for both DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, so there should be something for everyone.

What Is the Best Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon?

Selecting the best telephoto zoom lens for Canon involves considering image quality, versatility, and portability. Our list includes top picks like the Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L for its low-light performance and the Sigma 100-400mm for value. We prioritized lenses that offer sharp images, effective stabilization, and quick autofocus, ensuring they meet the needs of various photography styles, from wildlife to sports.

Our Favorite Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Canon

Let’s take a closer look at our favorite telephoto zoom lenses for Canon. From capturing distant wildlife to detailed sports action, there’s a lens here for every scenario. Explore these options to find the perfect addition to your photography bag.

The Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM lens is a top choice for photographers who need versatility and high-quality images. Its 70-200mm focal length is perfect for capturing everything from portraits to wildlife, offering a flattering compression effect and the ability to isolate subjects. The constant F/2.8 aperture allows for excellent performance in low light and creates beautiful bokeh, making it a favorite for portrait photographers.

This lens stands out with its advanced image stabilization, rated for up to 5 stops of compensation. This feature is important for shooting in challenging light or at longer focal lengths without a tripod. The dual Nano USM motors ensure quick and accurate autofocus, which is key for capturing fast-moving subjects.

However, the lens’s minimum focusing distance of 0.7m (about 2.3 feet) might limit its use for extreme close-up shots. Despite this, the Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM remains a very useful tool, offering a blend of flexibility, image quality, and performance that is hard to beat.

The Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM lens offers a broad telephoto range, making it a practical choice for capturing distant subjects. Its focal length is ideal for wildlife and sports photography, allowing for detailed shots from afar. However, its narrower aperture at longer focal lengths means it’s less suited for low-light situations. This lens is lightweight and compact, enhancing its appeal for photographers who value ease of carrying and maneuverability during long shooting sessions.

Optically, the lens includes elements that reduce chromatic aberrations, ensuring images are clear and crisp. The autofocus is quick and silent, crucial for not startling wildlife or interrupting quiet moments at events. The built-in image stabilization is a big advantage, helping to keep shots sharp at slower shutter speeds or when handholding the camera.

While the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM may not be the best for indoor or low-light photography, its versatility in well-lit conditions and the quality of the images it produces make it a good option for enthusiasts looking to explore telephoto photography without the bulk or expense of larger lenses.

The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM lens is a versatile choice for photographers who need a wide range of focal lengths without the hassle of changing lenses. Its 10x zoom covers everything from wide landscapes at 24mm to close-up shots at 240mm. This makes it ideal for travel photography, where carrying multiple lenses can be cumbersome. However, its variable aperture from f/4 to f/6.3 means it gathers less light at the telephoto end, which could be a drawback in dim conditions.

Optically, the lens manages chromatic aberrations well, thanks to its UD elements, ensuring images are clear. The Nano USM motor provides quick and silent autofocus, crucial for capturing fleeting moments. While the lens offers pleasing bokeh and good stabilization, enabling handheld shooting in various situations, it might not deliver the edge-to-edge sharpness of a prime lens.

Despite lacking weather sealing, its build is solid for everyday use. The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM strikes a balance between versatility and image quality, making it a useful option for those who prioritize convenience and range in their photography. Its limitations in low light are worth considering, but for well-lit outdoor and travel scenes, it performs admirably.

The Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens is a standout for its blend of portability and optical excellence. Weighing just 1.5 lbs (695 g), it’s notably lighter and more compact than many telephoto zooms, making it a favorite for photographers on the move. Its constant f/4 aperture across the zoom range strikes a good balance between size and performance, offering decent low-light capabilities and beautiful background blur without the bulk typically associated with faster lenses.

Optically, this lens impresses with sharp, clear images, thanks to its advanced design that includes four UD elements to minimize aberrations. The dual Nano USM motors ensure autofocus is both quick and quiet, a boon for both wildlife photographers and videographers who need to maintain stealth. Furthermore, the lens’s image stabilization system effectively compensates for camera shake, providing up to five stops of shake correction, which is incredibly useful in handheld shooting scenarios.

Designed for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, the RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM is a solid choice for those seeking a high-quality zoom lens that won’t weigh them down. Its weather-sealed construction adds confidence when shooting in less-than-ideal conditions, making it very useful for outdoor photographers. While it may not gather as much light as its f/2.8 sibling, its lighter weight, and smaller form factor make it an attractive option for travel, sports, and wildlife photography, where versatility and mobility are key.

The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens is a game-changer for photographers who need versatility without sacrificing image quality. Its broad focal range makes it perfect for capturing distant wildlife or fast-paced sports action, offering clear, detailed shots even from afar. While the variable aperture might limit its use in very low light, the lens shines in well-lit conditions, delivering sharp images across its zoom range.

Built to Canon’s L-Series standards, this lens combines robust construction with lightweight design, making it a reliable companion for outdoor shoots. The inclusion of image stabilization is a big advantage, effectively reducing camera shake and allowing for sharper images at slower shutter speeds. This feature, along with quick autofocus, makes the lens useful for both still photography and video recording.

Designed for Canon’s mirrorless system, the RF 100-500mm lens benefits from the RF mount’s high-speed communication, enhancing its overall performance. Its versatility and high-quality optics make it a valuable tool for professionals and serious enthusiasts alike, especially those focusing on wildlife, sports, or detailed landscape photography. Despite its narrower aperture at the telephoto end, the lens’s performance in well-lit environments and its portability make it a strong option for photographers looking to expand their shooting capabilities.

The Canon EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 III USM offers a broad telephoto zoom range at an unbeatable price. Aimed firmly at the consumer end of the market, it does not stand up to comparisons with the more expensive lenses in this review. But if you want an introduction to telephotos, or want a simple lens to take with you, this might be the solution.

If you keep the lens stopped down to f/8 you will find perfectly acceptable shots, and the 300mm focal length is excellent for pulling in distant subjects.

This is a budget lens that is worth considering for casual amateur use, but won’t be making its way into a professional’s kit.

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens is a versatile tool, perfect for photographers looking to capture everything from sports to wildlife without the bulk of heavier lenses. Its broad focal range, combined with an Image Stabilization system that compensates for up to four stops of shake, makes it ideal for handheld shooting in a variety of lighting conditions. The Nano USM motor ensures autofocus is both fast and quiet, a critical feature when capturing fleeting moments in nature or action on the field.

Constructed with a mix of durable materials, this lens is designed for reliability without sacrificing comfort during long shooting sessions. Its optical performance is bolstered by a UD element that reduces chromatic aberration, delivering sharp, clear images across the zoom range. While it may not offer the low-light capabilities of lenses with wider apertures, its performance in well-lit conditions and the quality of the bokeh it produces make it a valuable addition to any photographer’s bag. Lightweight and budget-friendly, it stands as a good option for those looking to explore telephoto photography without a hefty investment.

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens is a powerhouse for photographers who demand versatility and quality. Its broad focal range makes it perfect for capturing distant wildlife or fast-paced sports action, ensuring sharp, detailed shots from afar. The lens’s robust build, part of Canon’s ‘L’ series, guarantees durability and reliability in various shooting conditions, from dusty trails to misty mornings.

Optically, this lens impresses with its ability to minimize chromatic aberrations and deliver crisp images across its zoom range, thanks to specialized elements like fluorite and Super UD glass. The Image Stabilization system is a game-changer, effectively reducing camera shake and allowing for clearer images at slower shutter speeds. While its variable aperture might not be ideal for extremely low light, the lens excels in well-lit environments, producing beautiful bokeh that enhances portraits and close-up shots.

Weighing in at 3.4 lbs (1.6 kg), it’s a solid choice for those willing to carry a bit more weight for the sake of image quality and focal length flexibility. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM stands as a valuable tool for professionals and serious enthusiasts alike, offering a blend of performance and durability that’s hard to beat.

The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X lens is a marvel in the world of telephoto zoom lenses, offering unmatched versatility and optical excellence. Its built-in 1.4x extender is a standout feature, transforming it from a powerful 200-400mm lens to an even more impressive 280-560mm lens with a simple switch. This capability makes it an invaluable tool for wildlife and sports photographers who often need to adapt quickly to changing scenes without changing their position or lens.

Constructed to meet the rigorous standards of Canon’s L series, this lens boasts superior build quality, including weather sealing for shooting in challenging conditions. Its optical performance is exceptional, delivering sharp, clear images across the zoom range, with minimal chromatic aberration and beautiful bokeh, thanks to its advanced lens elements and coatings. While its weight and size may require the use of a tripod or monopod for extended shooting, the image quality and flexibility it offers make it a very useful asset for professional photographers.

The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C for Canon EF stands as a testament to the versatility and quality that modern zoom lenses can offer. Its broad focal range makes it an excellent choice for photographers who find themselves capturing everything from wildlife in distant landscapes to athletes in action, without the need to switch lenses. Despite its variable aperture, which might seem limiting in low light, the lens compensates with an effective optical stabilization system, allowing for sharper images even at slower shutter speeds.

Constructed with durability in mind, yet mindful of the photographer’s need for manageable weight, this Sigma lens balances robustness with portability. Its optical performance is noteworthy, delivering sharp images with minimal chromatic aberration, thanks to the inclusion of low-dispersion elements. While it may not boast the widest aperture or the unique features of higher-end models, its solid build, reliable autofocus, and pleasing bokeh make it a valuable option for enthusiasts and professionals alike seeking a good telephoto zoom lens without an exorbitant price tag.

Conclusion: The Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Canon

There’s plenty of choice out there if you’re looking for the best telephoto zoom lenses for Canon. From capturing distant wildlife to detailed sports action, these lenses are designed to improve photography skills and image quality.

The Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM is our top choice for its balance of versatility, image quality, and performance. It stands out for its quick autofocus and advanced image stabilization. If it’s not quite right fo ryou, then there are nine other lenses to consider, each with unique features.