The best cheap lenses prove that you don't have to spend mega-bucks in order to create fantastic images. After all, not everyone has a huge budget to spend on their photography, and manufacturers know it. So, whatever camera system you're using, you can be confident that there will be a good cheap lens out there for you – it's just a matter of finding it. And that's where I come in.
Some cheap lenses are pretty underwhelming whereas others offer great value, and there are real hidden gems to be discovered. Although inexpensive, they can still have neat features and impressive performance, as well as being relatively compact and lightweight, making them ideal for walkabout and travel photography.
I've focused on prime lenses for this guide, as they tend to offer the best value. So here's a choice selection of the best cheap lenses that add creative value to your camera outfit. I've picked out lenses for all the major camera systems, so whatever model you use, there should be a cheap lens or two here to tempt you.
Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! In this guide, he has selected the most affordable lenses for a variety of different camera systems.
The best cheap lenses
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Best cheap Canon lens
Most Canon RF-mount lenses are far from cheap, but the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a rare exception. It costs a fraction of the price of Canon's stunning RF 50mm f/1.2L USM, and while it is a little slower, an f/1.8 aperture will still deliver nicely defocused backgrounds.
The first thing that strikes you about the lens is its size. It is incredibly small and weighs just 160g, making it truly pocket-sized. This is a lens you can take anywhere without a second thought, transforming even a larger R-series body into a much more compact and discreet setup. For its price, you might not expect world-beating performance, but this is where the RF 50mm f/1.8 truly surprised me. The image quality is impressive. The sharpness is excellent, and it delivers beautiful results that, in some situations, can honestly stand up against lenses costing ten times as much.
The f/1.8 aperture is fantastic for shooting in low light, allowing the ISO to be kept down while still getting clean shots. It also creates that lovely background blur that makes subjects pop. What's more, the stepping motor (STM) is a game-changer for a lens at this price point. It’s quick to lock focus for stills and operates smoothly and silently, which is a massive advantage when shooting video. For its combination of price, portability, and performance, this lens isn't just a bargain; it's a necessity.
Read more: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review
Best cheap NIkon lens
The Nikon Z 40mm f/2 is primarily designed for full-frame Nikon Z cameras, but it also works well on DX (APS-C) bodies due to its small size, where the lens has an equivalent focal length of 60mm. This equates to a slightly 'long' but still perfectly practical standard lens, or perhaps a ‘short’ portrait lens.
The fast f/2 aperture ensures good sharpness and smooth bokeh, while the autofocus is swift and nearly silent, making it suitable for both stills and video. It features a simple optical construction with six elements, including two aspherical elements, and Nikon's Super Integrated Coating to reduce ghosting and flare. Despite its remarkably affordable price, it delivers strong performance. The build quality is solid and includes weather seals for durability. The manual focus ring can be customized for other camera functions, such as aperture control.
There are a few minor drawbacks: the absence of a dedicated lens hood (even as an optional accessory), the lack of an auto/manual focus mode switch (requiring menu adjustments), and the omission of optical image stabilization, which could be a concern for DX-format bodies without in-body stabilization. Nevertheless, the lens punches above its weight with rapid and accurate autofocus, excellent corner-to-corner sharpness even at its widest aperture, and good resistance to ghosting and flare. It's great value for its price.
Read more: Nikon Z 40mm f/2 review
Best cheap Sony lens
Every brand should have its own affordable nifty-fifty, and Sony is no exception, although the FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens was a little more expensive out of the gate than Canon or Nikon's offerings. Prices have come down over the years, and these days it can be picked up quite reasonably. Compatible with Sony's full-frame and APS-C mirrorless cameras, the lens is a good all-purpose prime, with an f/1.8 maximum aperture that means it acquits itself well in low light.
The autofocus is a little disappointing. It's a little slow for one, and noticeably noisy for two. Neither of these issues is bad enough to be ruinous, but they are worth being aware of before you plunge, especially since the lens is still generally a touch more expensive than comparable lenses from other systems.
Read more: Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 review
Best cheap Micro Four Thirds lens
The Olympus Fisheye Body Cap 9mm f/8 is one of the most unusual pieces of gear I've ever used, and it's a whole lot of fun. The concept is brilliant – a lens that’s so slim, at just half an inch thick, that it effectively replaces your camera’s body cap, so you have a creative fisheye option with you at all times, without taking up any real space in the camera bag. It's a "lens" in the most playful sense of the word.
Shooting with it is a super-simple affair. There are no complex settings to worry about; it has a fixed f/8 aperture and a tiny lever for manual focusing. It’s all about embracing the unique, distorted perspective. The 140-degree viewing angle gives you that extravagant fisheye look, perfect for creating funky, eye-catching images. It’s not quite the 180-degree view of a dedicated fisheye, so the effect is slightly more restrained, but it definitely provides a genuinely different perspective that can reignite your creativity.
Now, to be clear: this isn't a substitute for a high-end fisheye lens like Olympus's 8mm f/1.8 PRO. Sharpness is pretty reasonable in the center of the frame, but it does get quite soft towards the edges, and I noticed some significant color fringing in high-contrast areas near the corners. For its incredibly low price, this body cap lens is a fantastic and fun accessory. It’s a wonderful "toy lens" that encourages you to play with photography and capture the world in a wonderfully distorted way.
Read more: Olympus Fisheye Body Cap 9mm f/8 review
Best cheap portrait lens
Fast primes can be notoriously big, heavy, and expensive. This Viltrox sets its sights a little lower, with an f/2 aperture rating, but don’t be fooled. It’s still more than capable of delivering a tight depth of field for portraiture, along with dreamy bokeh for defocused backgrounds. Not only for Sony E-mount cameras, but it's also available in a Nikon Z option.
The first of an ‘Evo’ line from Viltrox, the lens succeeds in its aims of shoehorning excelling handling performance into a compact, lightweight package, and at a very affordable price. As such, you get a dedicated aperture control ring with a click/de-click switch, a customizable function button, and an AF/MF focus mode switch. And despite the downmarket price tag, you also get a metal rather than plastic lens mount, which features a weather-seal gasket and a USB-C port for applying firmware upgrades. A hood is also supplied with the lens.
The optical design is based on 10 elements arranged in 8 groups, featuring two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and two HR (High Refractive index) elements, aiming to boost sharpness and clarity while minimizing chromatic aberrations. Ideal for portraiture, the Viltrox delivers excellent wide-open sharpness with beautiful bokeh, in equal measure.
Read more: Viltrox AF 85mm f/2 Evo review
Best cheap standard full-frame lens
The Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air is a standard 50mm prime for Nikon Z and Sony E-mount full-frame cameras that hits the sweet spot of functionality and affordability. It's a joy to handle, with a compact and lightweight build. The metal mounting plate and gold-plated electronic contacts give it a reassuringly solid feel, and there's a USB-C port for firmware updates.
In terms of performance, the Viltrox 50mm f/2 Air truly shines. I was consistently impressed by the excellent sharpness across the entire frame, even when shooting wide open at f/2. The stepping motor autofocus system is another highlight – it's quick, accurate, and virtually silent, which is perfect for discreet street photography or quiet event settings. I also found that chromatic aberration was a non-issue, with very little color fringing detectable throughout the aperture range. If I were to nitpick, I'd say the bokeh, while pleasant, could be a little smoother.
The design is intentionally simple, so you won't find an AF/MF switch or an aperture control ring on the barrel. But the combination of excellent image quality, reliable performance, and a refreshingly compact design makes this lens exceptional value for the price. Whether you're using it as a standard prime on a full-frame camera or as a portrait lens on an APS-C body, it delivers impressive results and is a lens I can heartily recommend to photographers of all levels who are looking for a high-performing yet affordable prime.
Read more: Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air review
Best cheap standard APS-C lens
The Viltrox AF 25mm f/1.7 Air lens is a cheap and cheerful prime lens designed for APS-C format mirrorless cameras, on which it has a 37.5mm effective focal length, making it a good choice for street and general wide-angle photography. Its compact size and lightweight build make it convenient to carry around. Despite its unassuming exterior, the image quality it delivers is anything but. I found the Viltrox 25mm to be super sharp, producing images with excellent detail and clarity. It has been constructed with 12 optical elements, including ED (Extra-low Dispersion) and aspherical elements, which really help in minimizing optical issues like color fringing and distortion.
The autofocus performance is quick and responsive, especially considering that the lens is so affordably priced. It’s designed to be straightforward to use, making it a great option for both beginners looking to explore prime lenses and more experienced photographers who appreciate simplicity and efficiency.
The Viltrox AF 25mm f/1.7 Air punches well above its weight. It’s a testament that you don’t always need to break the bank to get quality optics. If you’re a Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, or Sony E APS-C shooter looking for a versatile, sharp, and budget-friendly prime lens, this is a standout performer and offers incredible value for money.
Read more: Viltrox AF 25mm f/1.7 Air review
Best cheap wide-angle full-frame lens
Launching in late summer 2025, this is a notable addition to Viltrox’s line-up of compact, lightweight and inexpensive ‘Air’ series lenses. Available for Nikon Z and Sony E mount mirrorless cameras, it’s full-frame compatible and shoehorns a mighty 112-degree viewing angle into its relatively tiny build. I love the way that at just 65x56mm / 2.6x2.2" in size and 170g / 6oz in weight, it’s just about small enough to pop into a coat pocket, which I can’t say about many ultra-wide-angle lenses.
The expansive viewing angle takes landscapes, cityscapes and architecture (both interiors and exteriors) in its stride, although the modest f/4 aperture is less ideal for astrophotography. Autofocus is driven by the usual linear stepping motor and despite the extremely competitive asking price, the optical path comprises 12 elements in total, including two aspherical elements, four ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and two HR (High Refractive index) elements.
I’ve been very impressed by the performance of this lens, which delivers very good edge-to-edge sharpness, clarity and contrast, with pleasing color rendition and minimal aberrations. It’s an absolute steal at the price.
Read more: Viltrox AF 14mm f/4 Air review
Best cheap wide-angle APS-C lens
When I think of ultra-wide-angle lenses with a relatively fast f/2.8 aperture, two things spring to mind – size and weight. They tend to be big and heavy, which is the last thing I want if I’m trekking off across tricky terrain, in search of great landscape photo opportunities. The same thing goes for pounding city streets, looking for great architectural shots. This lens fits the bill perfectly, and really redresses the balance, so to speak. It’s so small and light for an ultra-wide-angle lens that it almost seems to defy the laws of physics. Indeed, it weighs in at a mere 175g or 6.2oz.
Typical of Viltrox ‘Air’ series lenses, it has a very streamlined build that doesn’t include an AF/MF focus mode switch, nor an aperture control ring. The upside is that it really couldn’t be any simpler to use and feels like a perfect fit for Sony’s slimline APS-C format mirrorless cameras. I also like that it has a separate rather than integral hood, enabling the easy fitment of landscape-friendly filters.
It’s only natural to think that if a lens is this small, there’s going to be a compromise in terms of image quality and all-round performance. I was pleasantly surprised that the Viltrox autofocuses with speed and consistent accuracy, and that in real-world shooting it maintains impressive levels of sharpness right out to the edges and corners of the image frame. Even the asking price is super-small, making it standout value for money.
Read more: Viltrox AF 9mm f/2.8 E Air review
Lab data and comparisons
The graph below shows the comparative performance of the lenses in this guide, based on our in-house lab tests. The humble Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air full-frame lens achieves the best score in the entire group for sharpness whereas, unsurprisingly, the Olympus 9mm fisheye lens comes last. As also expected, the ‘fisheye’ nature of the lens results in huge barrel distortion.
Scores for sharpness and color fringing are averaged from data taken across the entire image frame, from the center to the edges and corners, throughout the aperture range. For prime lenses, there’s only one single distortion figure.
Bear in mind that these average values don't fully reflect specific areas of performance. For example, a lens might have virtually no color fringing at the center of the image frame, but much more towards the edges and corners. The results look more flattering when everything’s averaged out, based on the overall data. For more detailed graphs of each lens's performance, which give the full picture, check out the graphs in our full standalone lens reviews.
How we test lenses
We use a mix of both real world sample images and lab tests. When we're able to call lenses in for full-one lab tests, these are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the Imatest testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/picture height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. We find the combination of lab and real-word testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics.
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