It’s true that Canon’s latest APS-C mirrorless cameras, the EOS R10 and EOS R7, have only two ‘native’ RF-S lenses to their name right now, but there are plenty of other options out there, and they needn’t cost the earth.
The point is that Canon’s new RF-S lens mount will also take regular full-frame RF lenses, and while full-frame lenses are usually a heavy and expensive option for APS-C cameras like the EOS R10 (opens in new tab), we’ve found four perfectly affordable lenses that match it perfectly – both for size and for price.
Most people think of the full-frame DSLR (opens in new tab) and mirrorless models as being the best Canon cameras (opens in new tab), but APS-C models like the lower-end EOS D-SLRs and the new EOS R10 and R7 are a lot cheaper and pretty powerful in their own right. The only question is about the lenses available for the smaller EOS R models right now.
The one glaring gap in the EOS R10 lens line-up right now is for ultra-wide-angle lenses. There are a couple of heavyweight full-frame RF-mount options, but we’re leaving these out for now until something lighter, more affordable, and more suitable comes along.
There’s one more option to mention – the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R (opens in new tab)! This handy gadget doesn’t cost a whole lot (you may have got one with the camera, depending on your dealer), and it opens up a whole world of Canon EF and EF lenses.
So if you’re upgrading to the EOS R10 from an older EOS DSLR system, don’t get rid of your old lenses! And if you’re starting from scratch, (we rate the EOS R10 as one of the best cameras for beginners) there are plenty of used Canon EF lenses on the used market to keep you going until the Canon RF-S lens line-up fills out properly – EF-S lenses will be both cheaper and better because they match the EOS R10’s APS-C sensor size.
Best lenses for the Canon R10 in 2023
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If you're looking at the EOS R10 and wondering whether you should go for this 18-45mm kit lens or the longer range 18-150mm (normally sold with the more advanced EOS R7), we'd suggest you don't write off this smaller lens too quickly. Small is the word.
Fitted to the EOS R10 it makes a light, compact combination that's easy to carry and use, and the image quality is actually rather good. It's obviously not going to give the same performance as L-series or even mid-range glass, but it still delivers solid image quality (providing you leave in-camera optical corrections enabled!), and fine for a camera like the EOS R10.
Read our full Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens review (opens in new tab) for more details
As close as you can currently get to a true nifty fifty, this 35mm lens offers a 56mm focal length on the EOS R10. If you’re only going to buy one own-brand prime lens for your Canon R-series camera, this is the one to go for.
It’s wonderfully compact and lightweight, as well as only costing about a fifth of the price of Canon’s bulky f/1.2 lenses. Indeed, the relatively small and inexpensive build enabled by the more modest aperture rating makes you wonder why Canon hasn’t made more f/1.8 RF primes yet.
The 35mm focal length is perfect for street photography and gives an entirely natural viewing perspective that works well for landscape and architectural photography, as well as for environmental portraits where you want to include a person’s surroundings.
The versatility doesn’t end there, as the lens has a short 0.17m minimum focus distance that enables 0.5x macro shooting, complete with a hybrid 5-stop stabilizer that corrects for an x-y shift in addition to the more usual angular vibrations.
Read our full Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens review (opens in new tab) for more details
The Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM is typically sold as the kit lens for the Canon EOS R7, but it's worth considering as an option for the EOS R10 too. Its 18-150mm focal range equates to about 29-240mm in full frame camera terms, so although this lens is pretty compact and light, it actually qualifies as a do-it-all 'superzoom'.
It's the ideal travel companion for APS-C cameras like the Canon EOS R7 and R10. It offers a much greater range and a slightly faster aperture than the RF-S 18-45mm lens, and also boasts light macro capability. It performs above expectations for a kit lens and is an excellent choice with either of Canon's new APS-C bodies.
Read our full Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM review (opens in new tab) for more details
The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a 'standard' lens on a full frame Canon but fitted to the EOS R10 it has an effective focal length of 80mm, which is pretty much perfect for portrait photography.
It has an f/1.8 maximum aperture, which will give you nice background blur, and it's cheap, compact, and capable, delivering great image quality (on par in some areas with the RF 50mm f/1.2L (opens in new tab), which costs over ten times as much!) in a truly pocket-sized lens. The smallest optic for the EOS R system, it's a fantastic everyday lens that pairs well with any RF body, including the EOS R10.
Read our full Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review (opens in new tab) for more details
This is a full frame Canon RF lens, but at a size and price that makes it a great buy for the Canon EOS R10 too. In fact, the R10's smaller sensor works in its favor and gives this lens an effective focal range of 160-640mm.
That's HUGE, especially at this price. The autofocus is super-fast, the image stabilization is highly effective and the image quality is highly impressive in all respects, with the caveat that sharpness drops off noticeably when combining close focusing distances with the longest zoom setting.
The aperture rating of f/8 at the long end of the zoom range might be a bit slow, but that’s the price you pay for this downsized design and affordable price tag.
Read our full Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM review (opens in new tab) for more details
Until Canon brings out an ultra-wide RF-S lens, this is the next best thing without spending a fortune.
This little 16mm f/2.8 is actually an ultra-wide full-frame lens, but it still gives a handy 26mm equivalent wide-angle view on the EOS R10. Canon's 16mm wide prime is just as affordable and packs the added bonus of autofocus. It's just 40mm long and 165g light, and very portable.
In fact, like the RF 35mm and primes also in this guide, this 16mm makes a convincing case for leaving a standard zoom lens out of the shooting equation and sticking to prime numbers. And even if you do generally shoot with a standard zoom, the RF 16mm is an excellent addition, delivering convincing image quality and all-around performance.
If ever a lens was a no-brainer, it’s this one. And if you do later upgrade to a full frame EOS R camera, this lens will work on that too!
Read our full Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM review (opens in new tab) for more details
Read more:
Best Canon RF lenses (opens in new tab)
Best Canon cameras (opens in new tab)
Best lenses for travel (opens in new tab)
