Our Favorite Canon Lens for Macro Photography

Canon has some wonderful cameras and lenses in its portfolio. The company has its L-series range, which has gained an impressive reputation over the years. However, when it comes to macro photography, there are only a few Canon options that one can choose from. Today, we take a look at one such macro lens that we adore.

Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro is a lens that does not cost much, but provides you with some wonderful results. The lens, which is made with 11 elements in 9 groups, has a close focusing distance of 0.56ft. It is small, has 9 aperture blades and weighs just 309 grams.

For the most part, the 35mm has good autofocus. We used it on the Canon RP, and we were surprised at how well the lens worked together. It works well for street photography and product photography, but when you are shooting truly macro subjects, you will have to rely on manual focus. One of the reasons is that a macro subject can move a lot and the next being that light can be a huge concern.

Another reason to choose the lens is the image quality. While it is not an L-series lens, it delivered impressive images. Designed for amateurs and enthusiasts, get 35mm delivers nice bokeh and some fantastic colors. You also get some sharpness, but you need a flash to get more sharpness. As we added in our review:

Arguably one of my favorite things about the Canon RF 35mm f1.8 USM IS is the bokeh. It’s smooth and creamy–this is all assisted by the fact that it can focus so darned close. Want that little bit of Korean BBQ or your Dumpling to really shine? Get close and let the background be blown out into a Monet painting. Photographers of all types will appreciate the bokeh of the Canon RF 35mm f1.8 USM IS. In fact, I barely ever wanted to stop it down but knew that I had to for the review. If I feel that way, I’m sure others won’t want to stop down either.

The Canon 35mm is also very easy to use, and its other plus point is the image stabilization. This is helpful when you are shooting at 1/40th seconds in low-light situations. While it is not weather-sealed like the L series lens, it is built well. The focus rings move smoothly, while there is an extra ring that can help to change ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.

Priced under $500, the Canon 35mm is a steal. It can do a lot for anyone who knows what they want. What must be remembered though is that it is a cheap lens, and for its price, it is doing everything it can.