The best Canon superzoom lenses in 2023: for Canon DSLR and mirrorless

Best Canon Superzoom Lenses
(Image credit: Future)

With the best Canon superzoom lenses, you have a companion for every shooting situation. Offering incredible versatility, these lenses tend to go from a wide perspective, through standard focal lengths and right to a telephoto perspective, and generally do so in a fairly compact body that's ideal for travel.

Let's get this out of the way though – superzooms are not the sharpest lenses on the block. A big zoom in a small body comes with trade-offs; there are a lot of optical elements at work inside the lens in order to allow them to achieve their enormous focal range. The good ones are sharp enough – you'll get great-looking images – but if you need the ultimate in sharpness, you're best off looking at prime lenses, or at least shorter zooms. 

If you want a superzoom's versatility though, the good news is that you can get it no matter which Canon system you're using. There are fantastic superzooms available for Canon's full-frame mirrorless RF mount and the APS-C mirrorless EF-M mount, as well as, of course, the EF DSLR range. Both full-frame and APS-C Canon DSLRs are catered for – indeed, it's probably APS-C DSLR users looking for EF-S lenses who have the most choice. We've divided our guide into sections so you can easily find the lenses relevant to you. 

Canon makes a few of its own superzooms, but there are plenty of other good ones from third-party manufacturers, principally Sigma and Tamron. These companies often step in to fill gaps that have been left by the camera-makers themselves, and as such, they have pretty sizeable superzoom portfolios. 

If you're still unsure what type of lens is right for you, check out our guide to the best Canon lenses where we've put together a broad overview of what's on offer. And for more versatile optics that aren't too heavy, check out our guide to the best lenses for travel.

For now, let's get started with the best superzoom lenses for Canon. 

Best Canon superzoom lenses

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Canon RF

Best superzoom lenses: Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM

(Image credit: Future/Digital Camera World)
Boasts remarkable image quality for a superzoom lens

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 24-240mm
Lens construction: 21 elements in 15 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.5m
Filter size: 72mm
Dimensions: 80.4x 122.5mm
Weight: 750g

Reasons to buy

+
Well-balanced
+
Great results for a superzoom

Reasons to avoid

-
Modest maximum aperture
-
Digital image correction

Users of Canon EOS R cameras demand the best when it comes to quality, which makes sense given the full-frame, high-resolution sensors they're using. With that in mind, you might think that a superzoom simply wouldn't be a suitable lens for these cameras, however the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM delivers truly outstanding results for a lens of its type, with impressive sharpness right through its 10x zoom range. We discovered this for ourselves when we put the lens through its paces in a full review, and ended up giving it our highest rating. 

You might want to be aware that some of the correction at the tele end is digital, not optical, a fact that's noticeable when you boot up Adobe Camera Raw. It's very good though, and ultimately it's results that count. And the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM produces very good results indeed.

Read more: Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM review

(Image credit: James Artaius)
This is Canon's longer range kit lens option and gives you some telephoto reach too

Specifications

Mount: Canon RF-S
Stabilizer: Yes
Min focus distance: 0.17m
Max magnification: 0.59x
Filter thread: 55mm
Dimensions (WxL): 84 x 60mm
Weight: 305g

Reasons to buy

+
29-240mm equivalent range
+
0.59x near-macro capability

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow-ish maximum aperture
-
Average corner sharpness

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. 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 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 for APS-C Canon EOS R cameras.

Canon EF-S

Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5- 6.3 DC Macro OS HSM C

(Image credit: Sigma)
This Sigma superzoom offers extended reach for Canon APS-C DSLRs

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 28.8-480mm
Lens construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.39m
Filter size: 72mm
Dimensions: 79x102mm
Weight: 585g

Reasons to buy

+
FLD elements boost sharpness
+
Focal length up to 480mm
+
Dock for firmware updates

Reasons to avoid

-
Focus motor sluggish and audible

This Sigma goes all out for telephoto reach, equivalent to a mighty focal length of 480mm on a full-frame camera. The trade-off is that it’s noticeably bigger and heavier than some comparable lenses, at 79x102mm and 585g. The motor-based rather than ring-type ultrasonic system helps with downsizing but is a little sluggish and audible in operation. As well as aspherical and SLD elements, the addition of FLD elements really does help to boost sharpness, which only drops at the longest extremity of the zoom range.

(Image credit: Tamron)
A lightweight choice for Canon APS-C DSLRs with a price tag to match

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 28.8-320mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 14 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.49-0.77m
Filter size: 62mm
Dimensions: 75x97mm
Weight: 400g

Reasons to buy

+
Lightweight at just 400g
+
Weather-sealed protection

Reasons to avoid

-
Corner-sharpness suffers
-
Autofocus a bit pedestrian

This Tamron lens wins points for lightness at a slender weight of just 400g, i though the autofocus speed is a little pedestrian. Sharpness is pleasingly solid considering the type of lens and price, at all equivalent zoom settings, although corner-sharpness suffers noticeably when using the widest aperture in the middle sector of the zoom range. On the plus side, colour fringing at mid-zoom settings is very negligible. Overall, the lightweight Tamron is unbeatable value at the price.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | C

(Image credit: Sigma)

5. Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | C

A good balance between size and reach for Canon APS-C DSLRs

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 28.8-320mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.39m
Filter size: 62mm
Dimensions: 71x86mm
Weight: 430g

Reasons to buy

+
Travel-friendly dimensions
+
Good sharpness through the zoom range

Reasons to avoid

-
Focus ring rotates during autofocus
-
Autofocus motor is clearly audible

It’s easy to get carried away with zoom range and to go for a superzoom lens that really bumps up the maximum telephoto reach. However, they inevitably end up being quite big and heavy. For a really portable lens, this Sigma 18-200mm for APS-C format DSLRs offers a more modest 200mm maximum focal length, equivalent to 320mm in full-frame terms. That still gives you powerful reach, but from a comparatively compact and lightweight lens. Image quality is nice and sharp throughout the entire zoom range, and it’s good for close-ups as well as general shooting, with a 0.33x macro magnification factor at its shortest focus distance. The autofocus system itself feels rather outdated. Driven by a basic electric motor, it’s clearly audible and the focus ring rotates during autofocus, which impairs handling.

Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD

(Image credit: Tamron)
Superzoom meets supertelephoto in this long-range APS-C DSLR lens

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 28.8-640mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.45m
Filter size: 72mm
Dimensions: 79x124mm
Weight: 710g

Reasons to buy

+
Monster 640mm ‘effective’ telephoto reach
+
Fairly compact given the zoom range

Reasons to avoid

-
Mediocre sharpness at longer zoom
-
Optical stabilizer only 2.5 stops

Not everybody wants a superzoom lens for travel. They’re also great when you need to react quickly to different shooting scenarios. For example, you might be shooting an expansive wide-angle landscape image, then want to zoom right in after spotting some wildlife in the distance. This Tamron covers the distance more effectively than any competing superzoom lens on the market, thanks to its unprecedented telephoto reach. 

On a Canon APS-C format camera, it works out to an effective 640mm at the long end, putting it firmly into super-telephoto territory. Autofocus is driven by an HLD (High/Low toque-modulated Drive) motor. When we reviewed the Tamron 18-400mm lens, we found it to be quick and very quiet in operation. Being able to adjust focusing speed accordingly for speedy stills performance and smooth transitions in movie capture is hugely useful, though the VC (Vibration Compensation) system is comparatively mediocre for a Tamron lens, with just 2.5-stop effectiveness. Image quality is good overall but sharpness could be better at medium to long zoom settings.

Read more: Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD superzoom review

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

(Image credit: Canon)

7. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

The latest EF-S 18-135mm has upgraded autofocus but isn't that sharp

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 28.8-216 mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 39m
Filter size: 67mm
Dimensions: 77x96mm
Weight: 515g

Reasons to buy

+
Nano USM autofocus speed
+
Movie-friendly power zoom

Reasons to avoid

-
Unimpressive edge sharpness
-
No focus distance scale

This Canon lens has distinctive styling, with a metal mounting plate and pleasing ergonomics that make it satisfying to use. While the previous STM edition of this lens is no slouch when it comes to autofocus speed this newer Nano USM version is incredibly fast for stills, while still maintaining smooth transitions when shooting movies. The image stabilizer is equally effective in very effective and image quality is of generally high quality. However, sharpness at the centre of the image frame proved slightly less than impressive from the new lens, at both ends of the zoom range.

Canon EF

Canon EF 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 L IS USM

(Image credit: Canon)
The pro's choice of Canon full frame DSLR superzoom, but pricey

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 28-300mm
Lens construction: 23 elements in 16 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 8
Minimum focus distance: 0.7m
Filter size: 77mm
Dimensions: 92x184mm
Weight: 1670g

Reasons to buy

+
Pretty sharp throughout range
+
Solid construction

Reasons to avoid

-
Still expensive
-
Due for an update

This lens is getting a little long in the tooth now, having first launched back in 2004, but is still one of the only native superzooms for full-frame Canon bodies. It's an unusual design of lens, with a zoom mechanism that operates with a push/pull action that's not unlike a trombone, and it features an ultrasonic motor driving its autofocus, ensuring the focusing action is fast and accurate. It's still generally pretty expensive, and much heavier than the Tamron alternative, but does offer some advantages in terms of sharpness throughout its zoom range.

We recently dug this lens out and took it out for a full review to see how it performs in 2022. Despite the time-jump, it acquits itself rather well, still impressing with decent optical performance, especially for a superzoom. Okay, it's outclassed in every department by the Canon RF 24-240mm for the full-frame mirrorless system, but that's what eighteen years of imaging tech development will do for you.

Read more: Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM review

Canon EF-M

(Image credit: Tamron)

9. Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC

The only real superzoom choice for Canon EOS M-mount cameras

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 27-300mm
Lens construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.5m
Filter size: 62mm
Dimensions: 96.7x102mm
Weight: 460g

Reasons to buy

+
Useful Vibration Compensation
+
Few comparable options for this mount

Reasons to avoid

-
Some sharpness issues

One of the justifiable criticisms of the EOS M system of mirrorless APS-C cameras is that the lens choice is adequate, but hardly exceptional. Accordingly, this Tamron superzoom is pretty much uncontested in its category, and if you're shopping for an EF-M lens of this type you won't exactly be swimming in choices. Happily, it's a very good lens, with a sophisticated Vibration Compensation system, a lightweight construction and decent optics that produce sharp images throughout the range; it's only at the telephoto end where things start to suffer a little. The build ergonomically complements the lightweight EOS M cameras, meaning you won't have to compromise on your travel-friendly setup.

(Image credit: Canon)

10. Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

Not quite the same reach as the Tamron, but a solid option

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 29-240mm
Lens construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.25m
Filter size: 55mm
Dimensions: 60.9x86.5mm
Weight: 300g

Reasons to buy

+
4-stop image stabilisation system
+
Compact and lightweight
+
Balances nicely on an EOS M camera

Reasons to avoid

-
Zoom range might not be enough

Marketed as the ideal all-in-one lens by Canon, this 8.3x superzoom doesn't quite pack the same range as the Tamron above, but it is a touch cheaper (though only just). With a full-frame focal length equivalent to 29-240mm, it's not quite as wide as we'd like, but you'll still be able to get a decent amount in the frame. Extended to 240mm and it should be handy for those occasions when you want to tightly crop in on something, but it's not going to fill the frame for those action shots. Available in black or silver, it's a compact lens that's no bigger than Canon's 55-200mm, making it a neat little travel lens. 

How we test lenses

We test lenses using a mix of both real world sample images and lab tests. Our lab tests 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. 

Read more
The best Canon lenses
The best 150-600mm lenses
The best 100-400mm lenses
The best 50mm lenses
The best 70-200mm lenses
The best lenses for travel
The best lenses for bird photography

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Jon Stapley

Jon spent years at IPC Media writing features, news, reviews and other photography content for publications such as Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera in both print and digital form. With his additional experience for outlets like Photomonitor, this makes Jon one of our go-to specialists when it comes to all aspects of photography, from cameras and action cameras to lenses and memory cards, flash diffusers and triggers, batteries and memory cards, selfie sticks and gimbals, and much more besides.  


An NCTJ-qualified journalist, he has also contributed to Shortlist, The Skinny, ThreeWeeks Edinburgh, The Guardian, Trusted Reviews, CreativeBLOQ, and probably quite a few others I’ve forgotten.