I love that the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is so refreshingly compact and lightweight for a DSLR. It's an APS-C format camera (sold as the EOS 250D outside North America) that comes packed with features and connectivity. I reckon it's perfect for beginners and even for more advanced photographers who want to max out on flexibility without having to spend big bucks. It's definitely a real travel buddy of a camera and I feel that it gives the opportunity of keeping some cash in reserve, so I can pick extra lenses to suit a wide choice of subjects and shooting scenarios.
With entry-level DSLR cameras, most of us are looking for flexibility and hence zoom lenses. Zoom lenses offer two real advantages: the ability to recompose without having to move the camera, and the reduction of any need to swap over lenses while shooting, meaning photographers can travel lighter with fewer lenses.
Whether zoom or prime, each lens has its own set of unique characteristics in terms of optical quality and features. I’ve rounded up some of the best-quality lenses suitable for the Rebel SL3 (aka the EOS 250D), to suit wide-ranging shooting scenarios while offering good value for money.
Matthew Richards is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and he's not easy to impress. A photographer and journalist with many years' experience using and reviewing photo gear, he is ideally placed to recommend the best Canon EF lenses for your EOS DSLR.
Best lenses for Canon EOS SL3 / 250D
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Here are my top choices from Canon's remaining (although dwindling) selection of EF and EF-S mount lenses for APS-C format EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D DSLRs, starting off with the best zoom for everyday shooting.
Best everyday lens for the EOS SL3 / 250D
Some impressive Canon APS-C format standard zooms have come and gone, including the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. They’re all now obsolete, thanks to the mirrorless march of progress, making the relatively humble and compact EF-S 18-55mm one of the last lenses standing.
Predominantly sold as a kit lens with some of Canon’s entry-level APS-C format DSLRs, various versions of the lens were available over many years, with and without image stabilization and with stepping motor or more basic autofocus actuators. The EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is the last in the line, and definitely the one to go for.
Read more: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | Useful features include smooth and near-silent stepping motor autofocus, and optical image stabilization. |
Design ★★★★☆ | Switches are on hand for AF/MF focus modes and stabilization on/off, and the design is conveniently compact. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality and overall performance are good but sharpness drops off at the long end of the zoom range. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s good value on its own, even better as part of a DSLR kit, but the hood isn’t included. |
Best telephoto lens for the EOS SL3 / 250D
About half the price of Canon’s now obsolete full-frame EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM telephoto zoom, this EF-S optic for APS-C format bodies is smaller, lighter, and more affordable. It gives a powerful, effective reach of 400mm (in 35mm equivalent terms) at the long end of its zoom range, while at the short end, it picks up neatly where Canon's 18-55mm standard kit lens leaves off. An upgrade over the previous IS II model, the STM lens features redesigned optics and a stepping motor for powering autofocus, instead of a basic electric motor.
I like how the stepping motor enables smooth and virtually silent autofocus transitions that are well-suited to video as well as stills capture. The optical image stabilizer also performs well, with an effectiveness of about 3.5 stops. Handling is an improvement over previous generations of the lens, in that the focus ring no longer rotates during autofocus.
See our full Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | A stepping motor-based autofocus system and optical image stabilization are the leading features. |
Design ★★★★☆ | It’s quite a basic design but does at least include focus mode and stabilization switches. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality and overall performance are good but short-zoom edge-sharpness could be better. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s good value if not entirely great and as usual with non L-series Canon lenses, you have to buy the hood separately. |
Best wide-angle lens for the EOS SL3 / 250D
Optically impressive without breaking the bank, this ultra-wide APS-C lens is a bit of killer kit for landscapes, architecture, environmental portraiture and more besides. Ultra-wides like this tend to suffer less from camera shake blur when shooting at slower shutter speeds, so image stabilization is often omitted. Howevber, this lens adds 4-stop optical stabilization for good measure.
With its compact and lightweight build, the lens will tuck away neatly in a small bag. The zoom allows for quick recomposition when traveling, where you can’t physically reposition yourself to get the shot. STM focusing provides quiet autofocusing – great when video recording.
Read more: Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | Optical image stabilization and stepping motor-driven autofocus are strong features but the lens hood is sold separately. |
Design ★★★★☆ | The lens lacks any weather-seals but is incredibly compact and lightweight for an ultra-wide-angle zoom. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Sharpness and clarity are good, and Super Spectra coatings are on hand to combat ghosting and flare. |
Value ★★★★☆ | The lens gives you a lot of bang for your buck, even adding the ‘optional’ hood into the financial equation. |
Best street photography lens for the EOS SL3 / 250D
As a pancake lens, this 24mm prime is absolutely tiny, less than an inch thick. One way in which Canon has achieved the downsized design is to fit a slower type of Stepping Motor (STM) autofocus system. Autofocus is also more audible in operation, but works well enough when shooting.
Oddly, this is the only EF-S prime lens that Canon still produces, which is a shame if prime is your thing. To gather a set of prime lenses, you’ll have to either go for second-hand discontinued lenses, opt for third-party alternatives, or go the EOS R series mirrorless route. However, at 24mm (equivalent focal length of 38mm on this crop-sensor body) this lens is very versatile, lending itself well to travel photography due to its size, street photography thanks to its fast aperture, and environmental portraiture with its natural perspective.
Read more: Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | Compactness is arguably the key feature but there’s STM autofocus, although no image stabilization. |
Design ★★★★☆ | As a ‘pancake lens’, it’s super-small and lightweight but there are no weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Autofocus is relatively slow and audible for an STM system but image quality is pleasing. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s very good value for an own-brand Canon EF-S lens. |
Best portrait lens for the EOS SL3 / 250D
This is an EF rather than EF-S lens, signifying that it's actually designed predominantly for full-frame Canon DLSRs. Even so, it works a treat on APS-C format cameras, where its 80mm 'effective' focal length and fast f/1.8 aperture make it great for portraiture, so I couldn’t omit it from this list. Fast focusing is powered by quiet Stepper Motor (STM) technology, also making it suitable for video as well as stills capture. Another bonus is that unlike in the previous edition of the lens, the focus ring doesn't rotate during autofocus, which improves handling.
The minimum focusing distance of approximately 35cm makes this 'nifty fifty' useful for close-up subjects and detail shots, as well as for portraiture. Further updates include a better-rounded aperture diaphragm and a metal rather than plastic mounting plate. The lens is also a steal at the price, for an own-brand Canon prime.
Read more: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM review
Features ★★★★☆ | The f/1.8 aperture should prove fast enough for most and the stepping motor autofocus is an upgrade over previous versions. |
Design ★★★★☆ | Unlike some older versions, this one has a metal rather than plastic mounting plate, better-rounded aperture diaphragm and the focus ring no longer rotates during autofocus. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality and other facets of performance are impressive for such a budget-friendly lens. |
Value ★★★★★ | This Canon prime lens is standout value for money although, as usual with non-L-series lenses, the hood is sold separately. |
Best macro lens for the EOS SL3 / 250D
This is a favorite choice for any Canon DSLR, regardless of whether it's full-frame or APS-C format. It's also the only 'true' Canon EF or EF-S macro lens left standing, with the ascendency of the EOS R mirrorless system. There's L-series build quality with weather-sealing, and this was Canon's first lens to feature 'hybrid' optical stabilization which works particularly well for extreme close-ups. You also get ring-type ultrasonic autofocus and an autofocus limiter switch. Importantly for macro shooting, the focus ring is smooth and precise.
The images the lens produces are the equal of its outstanding build and handling, with impressive detail throughout the aperture range.
Read more: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM review
Features ★★★★★ | Great features include ‘hybrid’ optical stabilization, which was a world first when this lens was launched. |
Design ★★★★★ | Solid and dependable, the lens is typical of Canon’s exalted L-series line-up and includes extensive weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality and all-round performance are very good overall but lose out to the newer equivalent Canon RF lens. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s comparatively pricey to buy for a macro optic, which is no surprise for one of Canon’s top-end lenses. |
Lab data and comparisons
The graphs below show the comparative performance of the lenses in this guide, based on our in-house lab tests. The Canon EF-S 24mm and EF 100mm Macro primes are winners for sharpness, while the EF-S zoom lenses bring up the rear. The same goes for color fringing. The EF-S 24mm and EF 50mm also show some 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 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 Rebel SL3
Do all Canon lenses fit the Rebel SL3?
The Rebel SL3 uses the Canon EF-S mount, which accepts two types of lens: EF-S and EF.
EF-S lenses are tailor-made for the EF-S mount, and are the best choices for most Rebel SL3 owners in most shooting situations.
EF lenses are designed for use with full-frame Canon DSLRs rather than APS-C DSLRs like the Rebel SL3. They operate perfectly well, but are usually heavier and more expensive than their EF-S equivalents.
The Rebel SL3 can’t use Canon RF or EF-M lenses, which are designed for mirrorless Canon cameras.
If you later upgrade to a Canon R-series mirrorless camera, you can continue to use your EF and EF-S lenses on your new camera if you buy a Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. An EF-S lens on a full-frame R-series camera with adapter produces a cropped image, so this isn’t a combination we’d recommend.
How do I know which lens to get for my Rebel SL3?
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
