OpenTube

Upgrading your Canon kit lens - lots of recommendations!

Christopher Frost

336,556 views

So, you want a better lens for your camera for everyday use? There are tonnes of options out there, but here are the lenses I most frequently recommend to people (these are my recommendations for APS-C cameras). Here are links to all the reviews:

Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (the kit lens): Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS ii Lens Review...How...

Canon 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens r...

Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens ...

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS HSM: Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS HSM lens review (wi...

Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS Lens Re-review...

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 HSM: Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens full revie...

Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM (pancake): Canon EF 40mm STM 'Pancake' lens review (w...

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM: Sigma 30mm f1.4 Lens Review (with samples)

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC 'Art': Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC 'Art' lens review (wit...

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 HSM: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM 'Art' Lens review ...

If you've found this or other videos I've made to be helpful, then support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/christopherfr...

All shots and video taken by me with my trusty Canon 60D.

Music: 'Shades of Spring' by Kevin Macleod (www.incompetech.com)

20 Comments

@videoGunZ 10 years ago

Love to see the face behind the voice that always talks about my favourite lenses :)

@eddy_creative 8 years ago

I dont trust anyone elses Camera reviews on Youtube, Chris is the only guy i check out when i need to purchase a new lens.

@cwwong4938 10 years ago

You know Chris, i thought the voiceover was a robot haha as your voice sound so flawless. Glad to see your finally appear here

@flyingratchet 6 years ago

Can't tell you how much I appreciate these thoughtful, un-biased reviews that move through the whole parameter space of a decision succinctly. Eleven minutes of my time instead of 8 hours of confusing research. Incredibly luxurious. Liked and subscribed!

@eier3252 7 years ago

Oh hi! Didn't see you come in.

(calls police)

@rich057 9 years ago

You look SO much like Josh Radnor/ Ted Mosby it's incredible haha

@jojocastillo6444 8 years ago

First time to see the person behind the cool voice.

@haquee25 7 years ago

some one just make a 18 to 75 1.4 lens with stablization and global fixed aperture.

@b991228 12 years ago

I struggled taking landscapes with the softness and purple aberrations of my Canon 18-135 kit lens till I was nearly driven mad and could take no more. I took your advice and got a Sigma 17-50. Boy is that lens a dream.

@mml3140 11 years ago

Just a reminder that you make superb quality videos. I trust your judgment because of your thorough nature and ability to be objective. This hobby is more enjoyable because of these videos.

@AnwarHaikalRuslan 9 years ago

My current lenses are:
1) Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM (Ultrawide, $210 refurbished)
2) Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (General purpose, $380 used)
3) Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II (Telephoto for travel, $40 used, craigslist)
4) Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM (Telephoto for events, $1200 used, minor scratches)
4) Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary (Telephoto for wildlife, $600 used, won eBay auction)
5) Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM (Low light lens, $120 new)

Redundant:
- Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM (Kit lens, will sell)
- Canon EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM (sold last month)
- Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM (general use, sold last week)

@ilidenstrmrege987 9 years ago

For me the 24-70mm/2.8L II works absolute wonders. I rarely used the <24mm of my kit lens and when, it still wasn't wide enough, so I got a cheap (but sharp) 10-18mm/4.5-5.6 STM to go with it.

@ShimonTzidkiahuYossef 7 years ago

Your voice is soooooo incredible relaxing. Listening you enables me to achieve inner peace, as well as better photos. Keep up the good work!

@bcendrars1 7 years ago

Come on the 18-55 IS STM is really great, you need to relplace it only if you want more zoom, or a wider angle. but in terms of image sharpness, it's really good

@michaelo2l 9 years ago

Before I buy I always come here to check your reviews first... keep up the good work...

@Randothol 9 years ago

Cheers Chris, as always a balanced and informative review.

@peteT269 4 years ago

Funny that I'm getting recommended a lot of your old videos at the moment. I didn't realise you used to appear on camera! Thought it was a very recent thing you introduced.

@borgdylan 4 years ago

I got an 18-150mm with an f/3.5-5.6 aperture as a kit lense. The autofocus was quite fast usign an STM motor. I first got a more wide-angle zoom (11-22mm f/4-5.6) then a more telephoto zoom 70-300mm f/4-5.6. At this point I am getting prime lenses for indoor and low light as well as close-ups.