Here are 10 excellent prime lenses from Canon, spanning different focal lengths and price points:

Canon’s prime lenses range from budget-friendly workhorses like the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM to optical masterpieces like the RF 85mm f/1.2L.

• RF lenses offer superior image quality and modern features (like IS, fast AF), especially for Canon mirrorless users.
• EF lenses remain excellent choices for DSLR users or those adapting lenses to RF bodies.
• Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, macro, or video, Canon has a prime lens tailored to your needs and budget.

Professional/L-Series

1. Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

Price Range: $1,900-2,200
Weight: 1,025g

Pros:

• Legendary bokeh quality – creamy, smooth background separation
• Exceptional build quality with weather sealing
• Outstanding color rendition and contrast
• Perfect focal length for portraits
• Ultra-wide f/1.2 aperture for extreme shallow depth of field

Cons:

• Extremely slow autofocus, especially in low light
• Very heavy and bulky for an 85mm lens
• Expensive price point
• Can hunt for focus in challenging conditions
• Not ideal for moving subjects

Best For: Studio portraits, headshots, fashion photography where precise focus and ultimate image quality matter more than speed.

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2. Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM

Price Range: $1,800-2,000
Weight: 760g

Pros:

• Exceptional sharpness even wide open at f/1.4
• Minimal distortion for a wide-angle lens
• Beautiful bokeh quality for a 35mm
• Weather sealed construction
• Relatively fast and accurate autofocus
• Great for environmental portraits and landscapes

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Large and heavy for a 35mm lens
• Some chromatic aberration in high contrast situations
• Vignetting at f/1.4 (easily corrected in post)

Best For: Wedding photography, environmental portraits, architecture, street photography where you need both wide coverage and shallow depth of field.

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3. Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Price Range: $1,400-1,600
Weight: 580g

Pros:

• Classic 50mm “natural” field of view
• Ultra-wide f/1.2 aperture
• Beautiful color rendition typical of L-series
• Good build quality with weather sealing
• Decent close focusing distance

Cons:

• Soft when shot wide open at f/1.2
• Slow autofocus performance
• Noticeable chromatic aberration
• Expensive for what you get compared to alternatives
• Focus breathing can be problematic for video

Best For: Portrait photography, low-light situations, artistic work where the f/1.2 look is specifically desired.

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4. Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM

Price Range: $1,000-1,200
Weight: 750g

Pros:

• Incredibly sharp even wide open
• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Excellent for isolating subjects
• Great contrast and color
• Relatively compact for a 135mm f/2 lens
• Popular among sports and wildlife photographers

Cons:

• No image stabilization
• Can be challenging to handhold in low light
• Limited versatility due to narrow field of view
• Price has remained high due to popularity

Best For: Sports photography, wildlife, portraits, any situation where you need to isolate subjects from a distance.

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5. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Price Range: $900-1,100
Weight: 625g

Pros:

• True 1:1 macro capabilities
• Image stabilization helps with macro work
• Excellent sharpness throughout the frame
• Good portrait lens when not doing macro
• Weather sealed construction
• Hybrid IS system (both angular and shift stabilization)

Cons:

• More expensive than non-L macro alternatives
• Heavier than the non-IS version
• Focus hunting in extreme macro situations
• Limited working distance at 1:1 magnification

Best For: Macro photography, product photography, portraits, any detail work requiring high magnification.

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6. Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

Price Range: $1,600-1,800
Weight: 650g

Pros:

• Excellent wide-angle performance
• Fast f/1.4 aperture unusual for ultra-wide lenses
• Good control of distortion for 24mm
• Weather sealed construction
• Sharp across the frame when stopped down

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Heavy for a 24mm lens
• Some corner softness wide open
• Noticeable vignetting at f/1.4
• Can be prone to flare in bright conditions

Best For: Architecture, landscape photography, environmental portraits, astrophotography where you need both wide coverage and light gathering.

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7. Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM

Price Range: $750-900
Weight: 765g

Pros:

• Relatively compact and lightweight for 200mm f/2.8
• Sharp and contrasty images
• Fast autofocus
• Good value in the L-series lineup
• Compatible with Canon’s teleconverters
• Great for sports and wildlife on a budget

Cons:

• No image stabilization
• Can be difficult to handhold in low light
• Shows its age compared to newer designs
• Limited close focusing ability

Best For: Sports photography, wildlife, portraits where you need to maintain distance from subjects.

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Budget-Friendly Options

8. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Price Range: $120-150
Weight: 160g

Pros:

• Incredible value for money
• Very sharp when stopped down to f/2.8-f/4
• Extremely lightweight and compact
• STM motor provides smooth, quiet autofocus
• Great for beginners learning about prime lenses
• Metal mount (unlike older plastic versions)

Cons:

• Build quality feels cheap (lots of plastic)
• No weather sealing
• Soft wide open at f/1.8
• No distance scale or manual focus override
• Prone to flare and ghosting

Best For: Beginners, travel photography, everyday shooting, anyone wanting to try a fast prime without major investment.

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9. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Price Range: $350-420
Weight: 425g

Pros:

• Excellent sharpness and contrast
• Fast, accurate USM autofocus
• Good build quality for the price
• Lightweight compared to the f/1.2L version
• Beautiful bokeh quality
• Great color rendition

Cons:

• No weather sealing
• Some chromatic aberration in high contrast areas
• Build quality not quite L-series level
• Focus ring feels loose
• Limited close focusing distance

Best For: Portrait photography, events, anyone wanting 85mm performance without the L-series price tag.

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10. Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM

Price Range: $150-200
Weight: 130g

Pros:

• Ultra-compact “pancake” design
• Very sharp across the frame
• Silent STM focusing motor
• Great for travel and street photography
• Excellent build quality for the price
• Good close focusing ability

Cons:

• Relatively slow f/2.8 maximum aperture
• 40mm focal length can feel awkward (not quite 35mm or 50mm)
• Limited background blur capability
• No image stabilization
• Manual focus ring is tiny and hard to grip

Best For: Travel photography, street photography, situations where discretion and portability are key.

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Summary Recommendations

Best Overall Value: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM – unbeatable performance per dollar Best for Portraits: Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM (pro) or EF 85mm f/1.8 USM (budget) Best for Travel: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM – compact and versatile Best Professional Lens: Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM – perfect balance of speed, sharpness, and reliability Best Macro Option: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM – industry standard

Note: Canon’s RF-mount versions of these focal lengths often offer improved optics, faster autofocus, and better video features for mirrorless camera users.