I know that Canon still only produces half a dozen RF-S lenses tailor-made for the EOS R10, but this needn't be a deal-breaker. That's because the camera can also be fitted with regular full-frame RF lenses, of which there are dozens to choose from. While full-frame lenses are usually a heavy and expensive option for APS-C cameras like the EOS R10, I’ve found some perfectly affordable lenses that are ideal – both for size and for price.
Most people think of the full-frame DSLR and mirrorless models as being the best Canon cameras, but APS-C models like the EOS R10 and the R50 are a lot cheaper, and pretty powerful in their own right.
There’s one more option to mention – the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R! This handy gadget doesn’t cost a whole lot (you may even have got one with your 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 Canon EF lenses on the used market to keep you going until the Canon RF-S lens line-up fills out properly.
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews Editor. He has used practically every interchangeable-lens camera launched in the past 20 years, so he has the expertise to select the best Canon lenses for you.
The best lenses for the Canon EOS R10
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Best starter lens for the R10
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 more: Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | Smart features include stepping motor-based autofocus and effective optical stabilization but long-end aperture is pretty narrow. |
Design ★★★★★ | The retractable design makes the stowage size of the lens absolutely tiny, and it’s really lightweight as well. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Performance and image quality are mostly very pleasing but edge/corner-sharpness is disappointing. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s very good value on in its own right and pretty much a no-brainer when bought as a kit lens with an EOS R system camera. |
Best wide-angle lens for the R10
I waited a long time for Canon to release an RF-S wide-angle zoom, which was a big hole in the RF-S range. But at last the EOS R10 launched as an affordable wide-angle lens, ideal for shooting interiors, landscapes and buildings. If you like to film vlogs for streaming, you’ll find this a compelling option.
The lens delivers sharp, punchy photos, although it does exhibit some distortion, especially at the 10mm setting. Fortunately, this is easily addressed via in-camera corrections or some quick post-processing. The lens' narrow aperture also means you’ll have to be careful with your exposure settings as it gets dark.
Read more: Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM review
Features ★★★★★ | The big feature of this lens is its big maximum viewing angle on APS-C cameras, but there’s also fast STM autofocus and optical stabilization. |
Design ★★★★☆ | The lens packs its generous viewing angles into a really compact and lightweight package, but it lacks weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality is impressive but as with many modern lenses, it relies heavily on automatic in-camera corrections. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s good value for an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens but you’ll need to buy the hood separately. |
Best telephoto lens for the R10
This was the third RF-S launched by Canon, and offers plenty of telephoto reach for a small, portable lens. The 3.8x zoom range is equivalent to using a 88-336mm lens on a full-frame camera, the viewing angle ranging from 27.8 to 7.4 degrees as you extend through the zoom range. Given that the EOS R10 lacks in-body image stabilization, optical stabilization is a key feature, and this gives a 4.5-stop advantage in beating camera shake. The build beyond this is basic, but in our tests we were impressed by the performance, noting snappy autofocus and with good center sharpness throughout the full range.
Read more: Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | Generous telephoto reach is the main feature of this zoom lens, backed up by fast autofocus and 4.5-stop optical stabilization. |
Design ★★★★☆ | It’s refreshingly compact and lightweight for a telephoto zoom although the long-end aperture is quite small and there are no control switches. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality is very pleasing, the autofocus system is able to track moving subjects and the stabilization ensures a good hit rate. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s typically keenly priced for a Canon RF-S lens but, as usual, the hood is sold separately. |
Best travel photography lens for the R10
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 more: Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | It has an epic zoom range, equivalent to 28.8-240mm, plus highly effective stabilization and even a 0.59x macro ability. |
Design ★★★★☆ | Befitting a ‘travel lens’, it’s quite compact and lightweight but isn’t retractable and lacks weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Edge/corner-sharpness could be better but overall image quality and performance are very pleasing. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s good value, considering that it can effectively replace both standard and telephoto zoom lenses in a single package. |
Best standard prime
As close as you can get to a ‘nifty fifty’ on an APS-C Canon camera, 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 R10, 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 focal length while fitted to the R10 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 more: Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens review
Features ★★★★★ | Useful features include optical stabilization, a fast f/1.8 aperture rating and even a 0.5x macro facility. |
Design ★★★★☆ | Compact but sturdily built, the design is perfect for walkabout photography, although the lens lacks weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Image quality is lovely, while autofocus is fast and assured and stabilization works well. |
Value ★★★★☆ | This lens is reasonably priced but, as usual, you’ll have to buy the hood as an ‘optional extra’. |
Best portrait photography lens for the R10
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, 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 more: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | The feature set is pretty basic but includes STM autofocus and a switchable focus/control ring. |
Design ★★★★☆ | I love the compact and lightweight yet robust build of this lens but it lacks any weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | It’s not up to the standard of Canon’s top L-series lenses but punches well above its weight for image quality. |
Value ★★★★★ | The bargain basement price of this lens makes it a no-brainer for both full-frame and APS-C format EOS R-system cameras. |
Best super-telephoto lens for the R10
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 more: Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM review
Features ★★★★☆ | Powerful telephoto reach with 5.5-stop stabilization and fast Nano USM autofocus are key features. |
Design ★★★★☆ | This telephoto zoom is certainly lightweight and manageable but doesn’t feature weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Image quality, autofocus and stabilization are all highly impressive, making this lens a great performer. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s good value at the price but the ‘optional’ lens hood is a pricey extra. |
Best wide-angle prime for the R10
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 more: Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | Ultra-wide on full-frame bodies and still usefully wide for APS-C, complete with stepping motor autofocus and switchable focus/control ring. |
Design ★★★★★ | I’m amazed that Canon has packed such ultra-wide-angle potential and swift f/2.8 aperture into such a compact and lightweight lens. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality is very good indeed, although there’s a massive reliance on auto-correction for barrel distortion. |
Value ★★★★★ | The price of this lens makes it standout value for any EOS R-system camera. |
Best for the streets
This is another in the selection of full-frame Canon RF lenses that go brilliantly with the R10 because of their size and weight. This is a ‘pancake’ design, so it’s even more compact than its RF stablemates. Add one to the R10 and you’ve got a convenient combo you can slip in a coat pocket.
The effective focal length on the R10 is 45mm, which makes it suitable for lots of everyday shooting situations. It checks the boxes for portability, price and performance, so it fully deserves its place in this list.
Read more: Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM hands-on review
Lab data and comparisons
The graphs below show the comparative performance of the lenses in this guide, based on our in-house lab tests. Levels of sharpness are generally very good, although the RF-S 55-210mm is little less impressive. The RF-S 18-45mm doesn’t perform so well for color fringing and distortion, and the RF-S 10-18mm is the worst for distortion, but these issues are taken care of by automatic in-camera correction, as with many lenses designed for mirrorless cameras.
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 zoom lenses, the scores are also averaged from data measured at all marked focal lengths, and the same applies to distortion. Bear in mind that these average values don't fully reflect specific areas of performance. For example, a zoom lens might have noticeable barrel and pincushion distortion at its shortest and longest focal lengths respectively, which tends to average out when looking at the data overall. 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 to choose the best lens for the Canon EOS R10
Do all Canon lenses fit the EOS R10?
The R10 uses the Canon RF mount, which means it works with all RF and RF-S lenses. RF-S lenses are tailored for use with APS-C Canon cameras such as the R10, while RF lenses are more geared towards full-frame cameras, but still work on the R10. RF lenses tend to be larger and heavier than RF-S lenses, which are a better physical match for the R10, although there are several compact RF primes that are terrific options.
The R10 can also use Canon's older EF and EF-S lenses for DLSRs, but you have to buy an EF-EOS R adapter to fit the lenses.
The R10 can’t use EF-M lenses, which are made for the Canon EOS M series of cameras. No adaptor has been released for EF-M lenses.
How do I know which lens to get for my R10?
The reason there are so many types of lens in the first place is that different scenes demand different lens designs, particularly when it comes to focal length and aperture rating.
Usually, you will decide what you want to photograph, then get a lens with the focal length that suits the situation. For example, to shoot landscapes you will need a wide-angle lens, while for sports and wildlife you will need a telephoto.
You can watch this video that explains focal length: it helps you work out what kind of lenses you need for different genres of photography.
How we test lenses
The lens experts in our testing lab run a range of tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.
We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the centre of the image frame, corners and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths.
There's more to it than just the technical side, though! Beyond the lab, our reviewers test lenses in real-world environments – and sometimes on professional shoots! We work with lenses both indoors and outdoors, in studio conditions and in natural light, with as many different subjects as is possible (or appropriate – there's no point testing a landscape lens' ability to shoot a portrait!).
We take into account everything from handling and ease of use to speed of autofocus and the overall quality of the images produced.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World
