This is a guide covering the best lenses for the Canon Rebel T5.
In this all-new guide you’ll learn about:
- Best overall lens for the Canon Rebel T5
- Best portrait lens for the Canon Rebel T5
- Best macro lens for the Canon Rebel T5
- Best telephoto lens for the Canon Rebel T5
- Best street photography lens for the Canon Rebel T5
- Pros and cons
- Price
- Important features
- And more
Let’s dive in.
12 Best Lenses for Canon Rebel T5
Click/tap on each lens name to jump to that section. At the end of each section, there is also a link to jump back to this table to make it easy for you!
In a hurry? Check out our top pick!
1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM | – Sharp images – Great for indoor photography – Great bokeh  |
I know how exciting, yet difficult it can be to find the perfect lens for your camera especially since it can be an investment.
So make sure to review all the lens options for the Canon Rebel T5.
That way you can make the best decision for you!
| 1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM BEST ALL-AROUND  | – Sharp images – Great for indoor photography – Great bokeh  |
| 2. Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 BEST PORTRAIT LENS  | – Superior image quality – Great for indoors and low light conditions – Has MF and AF switch by the side  |
| 3. Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM BEST MACRO LENS  | – With image stabilization perfect for handheld photography – Great quality image  |
| 4. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary BEST TELEPHOTO LENS  | – Lightweight and compact design – High-quality images – Good AF for slow to non-moving subjects  |
| 5. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 BEST STREET PHOTOGRAPHY LENS  | – Captures wide shots well – No need for a tripod – Quiet autofocus  |
6. YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8 | – Gold plating contact – Great for indoor photography – Wide aperture with great bokeh  |
7. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM  | – Great bokeh – Motor focuses quietly – Has the ability to focus on small details  |
8. Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM | – Quiet motor performance – Beautiful bokeh – Wide aperture  |
9. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM  | – Reduced backlit flaring and ghosting – Easier to compose – High-quality image  |
10. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM  | – With image stabilizer – Discreet AF – Lively colors and sharp image  |
11. Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8  | – Get to capture the entire scene – Sharp images – Low flare and ghosting  |
12. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD  | – Lightweight and compact – Has a quiet autofocus – Offers sharp images  |
What is the Overall Best Lens for Canon Rebel T5?
1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
The best overall lens for the Rebel T5 will have to be the Canon Standard EF 50mm F1.4 USM lens.
It offers sharp images and superior bokeh given the wide aperture.
It is even better than your average 50mm F1.8 lens in this department.
On top of that, you also won’t have a difficult time in case you start using the lens in low-light conditions or indoors.
The only thing that you might have to watch out for is that it hits and misses on its autofocus.
What is the Best Portrait Lens for Canon Rebel T5?
2. Canon EF 50mm F/1.8
The Canon Standard EF 50mm F1.8 lens is a good option for those who are looking for superior quality portraits when they shoot using their Rebel T5.
This lens offers sharp images as well as lively colors thanks to its Gaussian optics.
It even has a switch on the side if you want to do MF or AF mode.
You can also use it on most occasions, though this lens is made of plastic which is something that turns off a lot of pros.
What is the Best Macro Lens for Canon Rebel T5?
3. Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
If you are looking for the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 and you are not happy with an 85mm F1.8 lens but don’t have the budget to go for the F1.2 version, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Lens makes a perfect choice.
You get great image quality on top of its superior image stability feature.
It is best for both handheld and tripod functions.
However, the only complaint is that it tends to focus on the wrong subject.
Also, check out the list of best Canon macro lenses.
What is the Best Telephoto Lens for Canon Rebel T5?
4. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary
If you want a third party brand for a telephoto lens on your Rebel T5, we’d suggest that you consider the Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens.
It’s the type of lens that covers a great distance.
It is lightweight and compact, making it a favorite by different users from those private investigators who do stakeout to sports photographers.
It is known for its high-quality photos and a decent motor for AF mode.
What is the Best Street Photography Lens for Canon Rebel T5?
5. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens is a wide-angle zoom lens perfect for street photography because you can get to compose a large scene and not miss anything.
This includes an optical image stabilizer that gives you the ability to shoot even without a tripod.
Plus, it has a stepping motor that functions quietly during autofocus.
The only thing that you might not like is the fact that you get deformed faces if you shoot around 14mma and below.
6. YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8
A lot of photographers are looking for third party brands included in our best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 list.
The Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8 prime lens is a tough contender for the best portrait lens for Rebel T5 for many reasons.
First, you get gold plating metal contacts that keep the contacts free of corrosion.
Next, it offers a superior quality image as well as lively colors that can compete with Canon lenses.
Plus, you also get to blur the background thanks to its wide aperture.
And lastly, it works well whenever you are shooting indoors.
The only concern is the autofocus tends to be a bit noisy.
7. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens is among the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 if you plan on doing macro photography.
It can accentuate the small details in your subject, and with a wide F1.8 aperture, you can even blur the background.
It also made use of image stabilization that helps deal with shakes.
The USM motor, on the other hand, functions quietly.
You also don’t have to spend a lot of money on this lens.
However, USM motor is known for being sensitive to bumps.
8. Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
Rarely do you get to see a prime lens that can go wider than F1.4.
With the Canon EF 85mm F1.2L II USM Lens, you get a wide aperture that is known for its beautiful bokeh.
But what made us consider this in our list of best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 is its ability to help photographers to shoot with ease regardless of the light conditions.
It even has a USM motor that’s known for its quiet and discreet performance in case you want to also use it for other things.
The downside is that it has mediocre image stabilization.
9. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
The Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens is one of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 if you are someone who uses the Rebel T5 for weddings (check out list of best canon lenses for wedding photography), wildlife photography (check out list of best lenses for wildlife photography), and even sports photography.
This lens is known for its New Air Sphere Coating (ASC) that can help reduce backlit flaring and ghosting.
It even has a rotational ring that allows easier composition.
As for its construction, it is highly resistant to dust and water, things that you get to encounter when you shoot outdoors.
Plus, there were reports from other users who complained of dust still getting in their lens.
10. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
The Canon EF 70-300mm F/4.5 IS II USM Lens offers a wide range for users.
It also offers superior quality images and lively colors.
With its built-in stabilization and USM motor for discreet AF, you can shoot without worries even if you don’t have any tripod with you.
Though it’s one of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5, it has some drawbacks such as autofocus overwrites the manual focus.
You will have to go to the camera to set it to manual focus.
11. Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8
If you are looking for a lens that can capture the beauty of the city, the Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8 Wide Angle Lens can do the job for you.
It has different mount versions including micro four thirds and Canon EF lenses.
It’s one of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 if you don’t have plans of shooting portraits.
It has low flare and ghosting with its UMC Multi-Coating.
It also captures sharp images plus it’s easy to focus using its focus ring.
However, if you are into AF wide-angle lenses, this isn’t the option for you.
12. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD
The Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Lens is a standard zoom lens perfect for wide-angle shots and for portraits.
The only problem that you might encounter is if you want to blur the background.
Unfortunately, the widest aperture is at f2.8.
However, it offers fast and quiet autofocus plus it has a superior peripheral brightness that offers high contrast images.
It is also one of the best lenses for Canon Rebel T5 because it’s handy and lightweight.
Concluding Remarks
Thanks for reading through, hope you enjoyed the list!
If you are looking for the best lens for the Rebel T5, it is a good idea to take a closer look at these options.
You will be able to find the best one that fits your budget and needs depending on how you want to use the Rebel T5.
Be sure to compare each lens before you make up your mind and weigh the pros and cons.
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John is a photography enthusiast by heart. He shoots both film and digital with a preference leaning towards his 1960s Canon QL19 and the robust Nikon F2. As for digital, he loves to take handy mirrorless cameras on his trips. Over the last 12 years, he’s had experience using different brands of lenses and cameras making it handy in giving unbiased reviews on anything that is photography gear related.
