Canon 200D: MOST COMPACT SLR

The best lens for a Canon 200D after 75 lenses reviews with a Canon APS-C SLR

Because the 200D is the smallest SLR that Canon makes, you might think that it is also Canon’s entry-level model, a simplified, stripped-down version for starters. The Canon 200D is certainly not that. The camera has the excellent 24-megapixel sensor of the much more expensive Canon 77D. The turning and tilting screen has the same specifications as that on the full-frame EOS 6D Mark II, and the 200D also features Canon’s exclusive Dual Pixel AF, so that you can focus outstandingly in live view and video mode with the touch-sensitive screen. The 200D even has a separate button to quickly make a Wi-Fi connection, which makes photo sharing easy with the 200D. It is thus a very mature camera in a very small jacket. It is a camera that you can buy as a starter because it is so compact, but also a camera that you can enjoy as a hobbyist, certainly because you can almost always have it with you. Of course, all lenses with an EF or EF-S mount fit on the 200D. With all the off-brand lens, the choice is enormous. We have now reviewed more than 70. Because of the excellent sensor and the good video capabilities, the 200D needs lenses that are particularly suitable for this. These are our favorites for the 200D.

GOOD, AFFORDABLE AND ABOVE ALL COMPACT/LIGHT LENSES FOr Canon 200D:

The first thing you notice when you pick up the Canon EOS 200D is how small the camera is. The 200D is an ideal camera for photographers who do not want to stand out too much or who do not like lugging around big camera bags. But that beautiful 24-megapixel sensor does require good-quality lenses. Fortunately, for the 200D, there is ample selection of good, compact lenses. Where possible, we have given preference especially to STM versions. These have a stepper motor that works perfectly with the Dual Pixel AF system. With STM lenses, you can focus very nicely in the video mode, and you achieve the highest speed and accuracy in live view. Of course we also paid attention to the price, but given the extensive capabilities of the 200D, we have not always chosen the cheapest lenses, because they do not always get the best out of the 200D.

HOW ARE THE BEST LENSES FOR THE CANON EOS 200D SELECTED?

Click here for lens recommendations for other Canon SLR cameras.

For the recommendation, we only look at lenses we have tested thoroughly ourselves. Canon makes SLR cameras with two different sensors: full-frame and APS-C. For the smaller APS-C sensors, Canon makes a separate series of lenses with an EF-S mount. These are generally smaller, lighter and less expensive than lenses with an EF mount. Lenses with an EF mount are namely also suitable for larger full-frame cameras like the EOS 5D series and the EOS 1DX. The EF-S lenses do not fit on those. In general, we opted for lenses with a Canon EF-S mount because of their size and price. There are, however, a few exceptions among our favorites.

For choosing the best lenses for the 200D, we mainly looked at the results you get with the lenses in RAW. Many novice photographers primarily use jpg files, and in jpg, multiple lens corrections often take place in the camera. The results in jpeg can therefore differ from the results in RAW. For more information, see the comprehensive reviews we’ve done with each lens and compare them as needed with one of the more than 300 other lenses we have reviewed.

Standard zoom: EF-S 18-55 STM

The Canon kit lenses have gotten really good in recent years and nothing to turn your nose up at. In combination with a camera, you get them almost for free, and the price-to-quality ratio is therefore unbeatable. If you do not have 18-55mm yet, then it is certainly worth it to buy one. They are compact and versatile. For the 200D, choose the latest version with STM, again because it works best with the Dual Pixel AF system and you will thus get the best autofocus in live view and video.

Macro: Canon EF-S 60 mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Macro lenses are specialized lenses that have to deliver high image quality at very short setting distances. That makes them by definition more expensive than ordinary standard lenses. The Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro is one of Canon’s more affordable options. The lens offers great image quality over the entire range, from infinity to macro, and the working distance from the lens to the subject is still quite reasonable even at 1:1. This is a lens with which you can get the maximum quality from your sensor. And thanks to the 60mm focal point, you can also use it very well for portraits.

WIDE-ANGLE LENSES

Fisheye For Canon 200D: Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 AT-X 107 AF DX Fisheye

With fisheye lenses, you can achieve very unique effects. And there are also people who use them as an alternative to a wide-angle lens, by ‘de-fishing’ the shots in special software. They then remove the convex distortion and make a proper straight-angle shot from it. That makes it a versatile lens. The Tokina 10-17mm is not only good, but also one of the least expensive.

Telezoom: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS II

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm is the logical addition to an 18-55mm. The lens is light, inexpensive and has IS. The image quality is quite reasonable, and the telephoto is nice and long. Thanks to the image stabilization, you can still work with this lens by hand even in the extreme telephoto mode. With a 200D, you obviously do not want to drag along a tripod.

VACATION ZOOM: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

There are all-in-one zooms with a larger range and a lower price tag than the Canon EF-S 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM. But the higher image quality you get with this lens in combination with the 24-megapixel sensor makes it worthwhile to sacrifice a little range. Another factor is that this objective is not only better but also more compact than the 18-200mm. And that is certainly important for the 200D. Due to the STM autofocus, it is also suitable for video.

2 LENSES WITH A FIXED FOCAL LENGTH?

As explained above, we mainly choose EF-S lenses for the Canon EOS 200D. The Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM is one of those exceptions to the rule. This lens is actually designed as a pancake for the full-frame cameras. The image quality is extraordinarily good for such a compact lens, and on the 200D you only use the best part of the image, namely the middle. Put this lens on the light and compact 200D body, and you get a very compact camera that you can always take with you. All you need to keep in mind is the slightly smaller field of view you get on a 200D and the slightly lower brightness due to its compact design. If you want a lens that is just as small but with a little more wide angle, there is also an EF-S 24mm f/2.8 pancake for the 200D. Its image quality is not quite as good as that of the 40mm.

Low Light & Bokeh: Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM is the successor to the legendary “plastic fantastic” 50mm f/1.8. The image quality of this lens is ridiculously good for such an inexpensive lens. With the addition of the STM stepper motor, this 50mm is all set for the future. And that future is Dual Pixel AF. With the 50mm f/1.8 STM, you can quickly and accurately focus in Liveview and in video mode.

ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE: Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/45-5.6 IS STM!

This lens is almost laughingly good and inexpensive. Canon already had a good wide-angle zoom with the EF-S 10-22mm. The EF-S 10-18mm is pretty much just as good, but a good bit lighter, smaller and less expensive than the 10-22mm. And that makes it is the ideal choice for the 200D. The four millimeters you lose in range relative to the 10-22mm are more than worth it. The STM stepper motor provides almost silent autofocus that works very well with video recordings and in live view.