It’s no surprise that the Canon EOS M50 is a favorite blogging camera for many, especially beginner photographers.
It can give you everything you would expect from an entry-level mirrorless camera: versatility, user-friendly interface, and incredible photos.
Plus, the Canon M50 is perfectly small, lightweight and well-built.
If you’re looking to improve your photography or vlogging even more, it may be time to consider upgrading your toolkit and buying other lenses.
Don’t worry, there’s a whole armada of Canon EF-M lenses and other third-party options to choose from.
If you are packing for your next trip, it might be time to find the perfect lens that can document your travel too.
We have compiled a list consisting of the best lenses for the Canon M50. Whether you want something to help you shoot portraits, landscapes, or videos, there's something for you.
And if this is your first time buying a camera lens, we’ve got some handy tips and tricks too!
Want a quick answer? Our top pick is the Canon 18-150mm F/3.5.
**Wherever possible I have included prices below. These are accurate at the time of publication but may change over time. Also, some links below may be affiliate links. This means that we receive a small commission if you click one of these links and make a purchase; but this comes at no additional cost to you. However it does help support our blog, so thank you! You can learn more about this here.
When choosing the perfect lens for your Canon M50, there are some things you need to consider...
Canon lenses are excellent, as they generally feature wide apertures and incredible optics to give you stunning results. For a Canon M50, it makes sense to choose a lens from them too. Yet it can be worth considering some non-Canon lenses. Who knows, you might find a more affordable or fitting option.
In addition to Canon, we’ll cover a range of lenses from other brands, namely Sigma and Tamron. There are also options from lesser-known brands like Handevision and Zhongyi.
If you want the best lens for Canon M50 for photography, think about what kind of photography you like. After all, the best portrait lens may not be able to give you the most wide-angle shot of a landscape. A vlogging lens is also different from a macro lens. Remember to think about how you’ll be using your camera!
Measured in millimeters, the focal length refers to how your lens can diverge and converge light. This just means the angle of view and how much of a scene it can capture.
A longer focal length allows you to magnify more (but with a narrower angle), making it great for shooting wildlife, sports, and events from afar. Meanwhile, a shorter focal length has a wider angle and is better suited for landscape and architectural photography.
The aperture number of a lens denotes the opening that can let light through. The lower the number, the more light the sensor can receive and the better its low-light performance.
While a high maximum aperture of f/1.4 (the number would be lower) means you can shoot in dark conditions, it shouldn’t be your only consideration. Sometimes, it’s better to choose a slightly smaller aperture (say, f/1.6 or even f/2.0) because these lenses are cheaper and lighter.
Most lenses nowadays come with a decent autofocus, but you may want to look for the fastest and most accurate AF system you can get. Plus, a silent autofocus can be useful for street or travel photography where the noise could be distracting.
Some lenses also feature a quick switch that lets you instantly change from autofocus to manual focus.
As a mirrorless camera weighing just 387 g, the Canon EOS M50 is both light and compact. when coupled with a range of M50 accessories, it can be the perfect camera for travelling or everyday photography. If you want to keep this portability, we recommend looking for a new lens that is just as lightweight.
Otherwise, the lens will make your camera too heavy and bulky, and you can no longer enjoy the portability aspect of a mirrorless.
Just like purchasing any other electronic or gadget, it’s important to know your budget beforehand. How much can you spare for a camera lens? Try sorting out your priorities and foregoing features that you know you won’t be using anyway.
For instance, if you’re mostly just shooting in bright environments, there’s no need to splurge on a f/1.4 lens. Maybe something from a third-party company can be better for you than a Canon lens. At the end of the day, it’s all about knowing what you need.
What do you need your camera for? This will determine the type of lens you should get. For instance, a lens for macrophotography won’t be the same as the one for landscape photography.
A prime lens means the lens has a fixed focal length that you can’t change. Because you can’t zoom in or out, prime lenses are usually good for particular types of photography. While it means they’re not the most versatile, they do take higher quality images.
Choose a longer focal length, like a 70mm lens, for portrait photography. For capturing landscapes and wider sceneries, go for a shorter one like a 24mm lens. Make sure to research well if you want to buy a prime lens.
Not ready to commit to a single focal length? A zoom lens might be for you. It’s the best option if you want something more versatile that lets you explore a range of focal lengths. This type of lens can also help you take gorgeous travel shots.
With a 55-200 mm lens, for example, you can zoom between 55 and 200 mm. This means you can reframe any scene without physically moving from your position. It’s a great option for beginners and travel photographers.
A wide-angle lens is essentially any lens with a shorter focal length of around 16 to 35 mm. It’s because they have a wider field of view that lets you capture more of a scene. You can use these lenses for low-light photography and astrophotography.
For taking the close-up photos of macro photography, you will need a macro lens. We’re talking about super close range and vivid details, like small insects, drops of water, flowers, etc.
A macro lens can focus on tiny objects that are close to (and sometimes exactly in front of) your camera lens. The result? Ultra-sharp and detailed images.
Strictly speaking, you can use any of the lenses we’ve mentioned to take photos of people. However, some focal lengths can reproduce facial features more accurately for a flattering result.
Any 35-55 mm lens can capture the entirety of your subject and the background. If you want to focus just on the person, any 85-135 mm lens would be good. A wider aperture can also blur out any distracting backdrop.
Minimum focus distance: 0.25 m
Focal length: 18-150 mm
Aperture range: f/3.5 max aperture
Filter diameter: 55 mm
Weight: 300 g
Size (length x diameter): 86.5 mm x 60.9 mm
The Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 is easily one of the best overall lenses for the Canon M50. It’s a great two-in-one option that gives you both a wide-angle and zoom functionality in one lens.
You can use this as your everyday or go-to lens in a wide range of conditions. Whether you are shooting portraits in the streets, landscapes of mountains and city lines, or close-up images of a subject, you can enjoy extremely sharp images.
This lens also uses Canon’s signature STM motor to deliver the quietest autofocus capability. In fact, it is so silent that a lot of people have used it for vlogging too. It means you can take this lens travelling and all your photography and videography needs will be sorted.
Yes, it is small and lightweight. But the drawback is that you only get a limited aperture range, which means you can’t get an excellent background blur when capturing portraits. The aperture is also quite slow when used in telephoto mode.
Minimum focus distance: 0.23 m
Focal length: 32 mm
Aperture range: f/16-f/1.4
Filter diameter: 43 mm
Weight: 235 g
Size (length x diameter): 56.5 mm x 60.9 mm
In terms of the best portrait lens for the Canon M50, you can’t go wrong with the Canon 32mm f/1.4 STM. Its larger aperture means you can create beautiful blurring when shooting portraits, thus focusing the image only on the subject.
Its greatest strength is probably the fast aperture, which is the perfect choice for low-light use. Featuring a field of view that mimics the human eye, this versatile lens can produce accurate representations of the face.
Plus the 0.25x magnification lets you capture detailed close-up shots of the subject too! It is even great for street scenes, making this a great lens to accompany your travels.
If you’re not planning to undertake serious wide-angle photography like landscape and architecture, the Canon 32mm f/1.4 STM may be the only lens you need!
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the most silent autofocus and operation. This can be a slight inconvenience if you need to work in total silence for images and videos.
Minimum focus distance: 0.1 m
Focal length: 55-200 mm
Aperture range: f/32-f/4.5
Filter diameter: 52 mm
Weight: 260 g
Size (length x diameter): 86.5 mm x 60.9 mm
The Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 is not only the best zoom lens for your M50, it is also our top pick as the best telephoto lens. Especially considering the weight, size, and overall portability, you can use this lens for a marvelous range of uses
Compared to other EF-M lenses, it has the longest telephoto zoom which lets you capture subjects from a distance.
What’s most appealing is that it is still very small and lightweight, which is not something most telephoto lenses can say. This makes the lens an ideal companion for your foray into diverse countries like India.
It has a great build, impeccable centre sharpness, and advanced technology to minimize flare and ghosting.
Overall, this Canon lens can shoot beautiful portraits as its reproduced tones and colors will match the real-life subject. When shooting street scenes, outdoor or even sports, and zoomed-in images when travelling, this lens won’t disappoint.
The autofocus is quite fast, reliable, and silent. It also features a built-in optical image stabilization. This will prove extremely useful when you are capturing in long zooms!
Minimum focus distance: 0.15 m
Focal length: 11-22 mm
Aperture range: f/32-f/4
Filter diameter: 55 mm
Weight: 220 g
Size (length x diameter): 58.2 mm x 60.9 mm
The Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM is hands-down the best landscape lens for the Canon M50. With this, you can get epic shots of any natural landscape, city view, and impressive architecture.
What is nice about the 11-22 mm focal length is the ability to go ultra-wide and capture as much of a scene as you can. Not to worry about sharpness, as images stay crisp at any length.
Yet unlike most ultra-wide lenses, this one is incredibly light and compact without compromising image quality. It lets you embrace the portability aspect of a mirrorless camera.
Best of all, this lens comes with image stabilization (IS) and an excellent minimum focusing distance of only 0.15 m. These two are rarities in any wide-angle lens! Coupled with a good travel drone, you can capture all the best sceneries you come across.
So, you can get ultra-wide landscapes as well as detailed shots of flowers and leaves with the same lens. Pretty handy, if we should say.
On the downside, this lens doesn’t come with a lens hood so you’ll have to buy it separately if you want. A lens hood essentially protects your lens, blocks unwanted light, and improves contrast.
Minimum focus distance: 0.093 m
Focal length: 28 mm
Aperture range: f/22-f/3.5
Filter diameter: 43 mm
Weight: 130 g
Size (length x diameter): 45.5 mm x 60.9 mm
The Canon 28mm f/3.5 can be the perfect choice if you want a macro lens for your Canon M50. Despite specializing in macro shots, you can still capture stunning portraits and landscape images.
For its macro capacity, you can easily focus on objects just 9.3 cm away. That is extremely close! So, capturing crisp and tiny details won’t be a problem. Meanwhile, the wide aperture lets you create decent background blurs too.
This Canon lens is the lightest macro lens featuring an autofocus system and the first one to include built-in LED. No more struggling with dark shots when you focus too close to an object.
The integrated LED lights means you don’t have to worry too much with the light source when shooting. This includes flash or other continuous lighting.
In terms of cost, it retails at a fairly reasonable price for such a well-built lens. Unfortunately, the 28mm focal length means it may not be the most versatile. You will have to get extremely close to your subject, so it’s not ideal for shooting insects.
We also love the Canon 28mm f/3.5 because it’s very lightweight, at only 130 g, which means it doesn’t add much to your camera’s original weight.
Minimum focus distance: 0.25 m
Focal length: 16 mm
Aperture range: f/16-f/1.4
Filter diameter: 67 mm
Weight: 405 g
Size (length x diameter): 92.3 mm x 72.2 mm
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN is both the best vlogging lens for the Canon M50 and the best wide-angle prime lens you can get.
Its aperture can open extremely wide at f/1.4, which is uncommon for a wide-angle lens. Whether you’re in a bright or low-light situation, you can be assured that this lens will give you sharp and crisp images with accurate colors.
As the best Sigma lens for the Canon M50, it features a multi-coating layer that can reduce flaring while maximizing contrast and color neutrality.
Generally, we’d recommend this lens for any nature enthusiast who wants to take superb landscape shots, or anyone looking to get into astrophotography.
It’s also a brilliant tool for the vloggers out there. You can even pair with a high-quality microphone to ensure the best video and audio results.
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN offers smooth and silent autofocus for the best video results, while the face recognition feature can follow moving faces.
Minimum focus distance: 0.15 m
Focal length: 22 mm
Aperture range: f/22-f/2
Filter diameter: 43 mm
Weight: 105 g
Size (length x diameter): 24 mm x 61 mm
If you’re looking for the best everyday lens that can handle general photography, you’ll love the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM. It’s also inexpensive, making it the go-to lens for most beginner and casual photographers.
In other words, this is the perfect pancake lens (a thin, normal lens with a short barrel) you can use in a variety of settings. From portraits, group photos, interior, landscapes, and even street scenes.
At only 24mm long, this is also the smallest lens from Canon. Yet this ultra-compact build doesn’t mean you will get bad results. In fact, the STM motor ensures smooth and silent AF that can be useful for vlogging. It’s a portable and high-quality option for content creators too.
Its f/2 max aperture is great for shooting in a dark environment and creating some blurred backgrounds. While it doesn’t offer the best bokeh, the Canon 22mm f/2 is truly the best general lens you can get.
Overall, it is perfect for documenting your travels and shooting everyday photos. When going to an exciting, adventure-filled country like Thailand, you can be sure that this lens won’t let you down.
Minimum focus distance: 0.25 m
Focal length: 15-45 mm
Aperture range: f/3.5 max
Filter diameter: 49 mm
Weight: 130 g
Size (length x diameter): 44.5 mm x 60.9 mm
The Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM is one of our top picks for a starter lens, and it features a surprisingly wide coverage compared to other starter lenses. It is also the standard kit lens for a Canon M50 camera.
What we love the most about this lens is its compact design. There is a locking feature that makes the lens collapsible. While some people may feel that this feature is a little awkward, it does help for travelling and packing purposes.
The 15-45mm focal range is suitable for various photography types: wide-angle landscapes, food shots, real estate, and other general use. This is ideal for anyone travelling or hiking and wants to capture their moments with a sturdy and high-performing lens.
In terms of the max aperture, it is not high enough to provide impeccable low-light results, but is still very decent. You’ll get excellent images with crisp centres at most zoom levels.
We also love the built-in optical stabilization, which can be useful when photographing moving objects, while the near-silent AF is also fast and accurate.
Minimum focus distance: 0.5 m
Focal length: 56 mm
Aperture range: f/16-f/1.4
Filter diameter: 55 mm
Weight: 280 g
Size (length x diameter): 59.5 mm x 66.5 mm
If you want something from Sigma, the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary can be an equally great choice. This ultra-compact lens is ideal for taking incredible portraits because of its angle of view.
We’d also consider this a short telephoto portrait lens, which considering its weight and compact size, is truly excellent.
It features a near-silent stepping motor for one of the fastest and most accurate autofocus systems in a lens.
Unfortunately, this Sigma lens may produce some pincushion distortion, which means the center of the image may appear slightly pinched. This is more noticeable when shooting in RAW mode, though it’s nothing a little post-production can’t fix.If you travel with this lens, a decent travel laptop will do the job.
This Sigma lens may not exactly be a budget option, we still think it’s reasonably priced for the quality and performance it offers. Overall, you can get a balance of price, performance, and size.
Though the lack of stabilization means you may want to also pick up a DSLR camera gimbal.
Minimum focus distance: 0.35 m
Focal length: 35 mm
Aperture range: f/16-f/0.95
Filter diameter: 55 mm
Weight: 460 g
Size (length x diameter): 60 mm x 63 mm
A f/1.4 aperture is great for most portrait lenses. But if you’re wanting to go a step further, the Mitakon Zhongyi 35mm f/0.95 with its f/0.95 max aperture won’t disappoint.
Paired with the 35mm focal length, you can enjoy more control on the depth of field of your shots.
On the other hand, this lens uses a manual focus design and has no autofocus. This can be good in terms of low-light performance, but it’s not the right lens if you like quick results. Of course, this means the lens is perfect for versatility and offering full control.
In terms of build, this lens features an all-metal body which might remind you of old SLR models. We think it can be another plus point if you like charming designs like these!
Minimum focus distance: 0.75 m
Focal length: 40 mm
Aperture range: f/22-f/0.85
Filter diameter: 67 mm
Weight: 1200 g
Size (length x diameter): 128 mm x 73.91 mm
If you want a lens to help you capture wildlife from a safe distance, the Handevision 40mm f/0.85 would be the perfect choice.
HandeVision itself is a collaboration between the German IB/E Optics and the Chinese Shanghai Transvision Photographic Equipment Co, which also owns Kipon.
The all-metal barrel is made from anodized aluminum brass and stainless steel, while the built-in lens hood can protect the lens from weather elements. It can also minimize flaring and ghosting. As such, this lens is perfect for outdoor photography.
With an incredible f/0.85 aperture, you can get stunning bokeh and low-light performance. Capture wild animals in their natural habitat without worrying about disturbing them.
However, this Handevision lens can be quite expensive, so only professionals may consider getting it. It’s also incredibly bulky and at 1.2kg in weight, offsets the size benefits of a mirrorless camera.
Minimum focus distance: 0.49 m
Focal length: 18-200 mm
Aperture range: f/40-f/3.5
Filter diameter: 67 mm
Weight: 400 g
Size (length x diameter): 94.1 mm x 75 mm
For an entry-level zoom lens which you can use in a wide range of situations, the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5 can be an excellent choice. It’s ideal for shooting landscapes, objects from a distance, and also portraits.
While it may not be the fastest lens for indoor photos, it’s still pretty solid for general usage. We love the fact that you can use the same lens for all your photography needs, from close-ups to group photos and distant shots.
If you’re planning to visit exotic countries like Sri Lanka, this could be a great lens that can help commemorate your special moments.
This Tamron lens is made from high-quality plastics that are durable and lightweight. Meanwhile, the included lens hood can be quite helpful to prevent glares and flares. It can also withstand light rain.
The high-performance AF lets you take precise shots, while the innovative vibration compensation (VC) can ensure minimal camera shaking for crisp and steady results.
Minimum focus distance: 0.35 m
Focal length: 35 mm
Aperture range: f/16-f/1.2
Filter diameter: 43 mm
Weight: 150 g
Size (length): 36 mm
The 7artisans 35mm F1.2 Canon EF-M is a fully manual lens that is perfect for those who want to shoot exclusively in low-light conditions. Also, if you have no need for the quick results of AF. This manual focus gives you full control for the depth of field and selective focusing.
This 7artisans lens contains zero electronics, which means it’s extremely durable as there are fewer components that can break. It can give you excellent sharpness with beautiful blurring behind your subject.
It’s a marvellous lens for portraiture as it produces accurate tones, colors and textures, which can be crucial when photographing people. The results are truly stunning.
Yes, there will still be some color fringing and vignetting, but it’s nothing major that can’t be easily fixed in post-processing.
Moreover, this lens is sleek and extremely lightweight, making it perfect to complement your Canon EOS M50. You can use it for everyday, light photography.
Once you’ve found the perfect lens for your Canon M50 camera, it’s time to know the best way to take care of it.
Don’t use your hands
Your instinct when a grain of sand sticks on your camera lens might be to remove it with your hand. But there’s no worse idea than cleaning your lens using your bare fingers! Instead of removing the sand, you might end up scratching the glass front. So, never try to use your hands to remove anything from the lens.
Have a lens cleaning kit
One of the best accessories for the Canon M50 is a proper lens cleaning kit. This should include an air blower to remove any dust and debris and a special cleaning brush. Sometimes, a lens cleaning pen can be useful too as it contains a brush on one end and a cleaning tip on the other.
These tools are designed to help keep your lenses as clean and clear as possible without damaging them.
Use a UV lens filter
Another tip is to use a UV filter for your lens, which will keep it away from dust, dirt, and fingerprint smudges. In case you bump your camera, the lens will also be protected. Not to mention shielding it against light rain, mud splatters, and other elements.
Choose the right camera bag
Your ideal camera backpack should have compartments that let you store all your lenses properly. Try to choose a hard case that will protect your camera and lens from bumps and crashes.
If you’re planning to travel with your camera, especially on rough backpacking trips, there are special backpacks with multiple partitions and padding too.If you’re planning to travel with your camera, especially on rough , there are special backpacks with multiple partitions and padding too.
Be careful when changing lenses
Our final tip is obvious, but shouldn’t be overlooked. Be careful when you change your lenses, as dust particles may get inside the inner mechanism. If it happens, it may affect the picture quality.
We recommend changing lenses at home instead of on-location, which is why planning your shoot beforehand can go a long way.
The best lens you can get for your Canon M50 really depends on the type of photography you enjoy. For an all-round recommendation, you can’t go wrong with the Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3. Its wide-angle and zoom capacities let you capture stunning photos in any situation.
With fast and silent autofocus, compact size and portability, it can be your choice of go-to lens. Use it to shoot portraits, wide sceneries, or even close-ups of various objects.
The Canon M50, as well as other EOS M models, currently use the Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM as their kit lens. It’s a lightweight and compact lens that can serve a wide variety of uses. Plus, it comes with a handy locking feature so you can collapse the lens for easy travelling.
There are tons of lenses you can use on the Canon M50, depending on your budget and needs. Generally, the M50 is compatible with all EF-M lenses, which is a fairly new type of lens mount that you can also use with Canon’s other APS-C mirrorless.
Yes. The Canon EOS M50 is compatible with EF lenses, as long as you have the right adaptor. Among their many mirrorless cameras, the two mounts include the EF-M and EF-S, but you should look for EF-M lenses for your M50.
Canon EF-S lenses are made for APS-C DSLR cameras, while the Canon EF lenses can work both on a full-frame and APS-C DSLRs.
Canon Ef-S lenses come with a small image circle, which will cause severe vignetting when used with a full-frame DSLR. Meanwhile, EF lenses have a wider image circle that can cover sensors from a full-frame or APS-C camera.
Yes, Canon EF-M lenses are good and worth having, especially if you are looking to step up your photography game and upgrade the standard kit lens that comes with your Canon M50. It’s a great camera for anything, from general photography to documenting your fun-filled road trips.
There are different lenses with various focal lengths and aperture numbers, so make sure to choose the right one depending on how you’ll be using the camera. This will ensure the most optimal images.
Yes, the Canon EOS M50 is a brilliant camera that is excellent for photography. Whether you are a beginner or avid photographer, you cannot go wrong with this camera.
Paired with the right lens, you can produce stunning images, from wildlife and landscape to portraits and macros. Additionally, it is incredibly small and lightweight, making it a great choice for those who want to travel light.
If you're interested in learning how to use your canon camera then there are some awesome online photography courses out there!
So, that’s all for our version of the best Canon M50 lenses!
From the sharpest Canon lenses, to alternatives from Sigma and Tamron, as well as some more affordable options, there is something to suit any budget.
You can also find the right lens for any photography type, including portrait, landscape, macro, and even vlogging.
Hopefully, this post can be a useful guide to help you choose what lens to buy for your Canon M50 camera.
Which of these Canon M50 lenses do you think you’ll buy?
Did we miss any other great lens for the Canon M50?
Let us know in the comment section below!
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