Autumn is the best time of year because we all get to see the world in a different and beautiful way — with trees changing around the country in a fiery, stunning display. For photographers, these few weeks can be quite hectic. Many plan trips based on foliage reports and constant, fluctuating weather. But if there’s one thing you can control during this crazy exciting season, it’s bringing the right gear for the job — specifically camera lenses. If you’re a photographer who shoots with Canon and wants to capture fall foliage the right way, here are the best Canon lenses for fall foliage photography.
Important Lens Features
Focal Length
Focal length is an incredibly important lens feature for fall foliage photography. Typically, wide-angle and telephoto lenses are more commonly used in the fall. Although your focal length will always be determined by your photo objectives, style of photography, and the job you’re shooting.
Aperture
Since the fall season typically brings darker, shorter days and moody conditions, it’s important to look for lenses that have a wide, flat aperture that not only extends your ability to shoot throughout the day, but also provides greater control over your depth of field. An aperture of f/4 or lower is preferred.
Image Stabilization
Lenses with image stabilization — specifically those that go hand-in-hand with the image stabilization of your camera — will make a world of a difference. This is especially true when shooting hand-held in low-lighting conditions. Having that option to turn on when needed is a must during fall foliage season.
Prime vs Zoom
The age-old question stays the same in the fall: Do we shoot with prime lenses or zoom lenses? Like discussing focal length above, it all depends on what you’re shooting and the style and look of photography you prefer, specifically related to depth of field.
Durable Build Quality
A lens with a durable build quality and features like weather sealing and shock resistance is really important when shooting outdoors. The fall season can often bring inclement weather. You might be shooting in rain, sleet, and snow. Having that extra amount of protection and peace of mind is something you always want with you.
Lens Coating
Finally, look for a lens that has lens coatings that help improve the performance and durability of the lens, like a fluorine coating. This helps protect the front elements from dirt and dust, water build-up, and condensation, and Air Sphere Coating (ASC), which significantly reduces flare, ghosting, and chromatic aberrations.
Best Canon Lenses for Fall Foliage
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Why We Chose This Lens: It’s the classic, popular wide-angle zoom lens focal length, but with all the benefits of the Canon RF series
Features:
- Bright f/2.8 Aperture
- Optical image stabilization of up to 5 stops of shake correction
- High Speed, smooth, and quiet autofocus with Nano USM
- Minimum focusing distance of 0.92 ft. / 0.28m
- Control ring for direct communications settings
- 12-pin communication system
- Dust and weather-resistance, highly shock-resistant
- Fluorine and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) lens coatings
The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is Canon’s tried and true RF wide-angle zoom lens with a fantastic zoom range of 15-35mm. Its images are sharp and its 12-pin communication system means it’s fast, working seamlessly with an EOS R series camera’s autofocusing system. It’s easily one of the best wide-angle lenses you can buy.
Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM
Why We Chose This Lens: It’s a lens that can capture dramatic, ultra-wide images at 10mm — but not weigh you down.
Features:
- Incredible 10-20mm coverage for stills and video
- Bright f/4 aperture
- Excellent image quality with 1 super UD lens, 3 UD lenses, 3 aspheric lenses
- Minimum focus distance of approx. 9.8 in./0.25m with a maximum magnification of 0.12x
- Canon leadscrew-type STM (stepping motor) focus drive for smooth, quiet video AF operation
- Optical image stabilization up to 5.0 stops of shake correction and up to 6.0 stops of Coordinated IS when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS)
- Rear slot for pre-cut gel filters
- Petal-style hood integrated into the lens barrel
- Control ring for direct communications settings
- 12-pin communication system
- Dust and weather-resistance, highly shock-resistant
- Fluorine, Air Sphere Coating (ASC), and Subwavelength structure coating (SWC) lens coatings
The Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 lens provides the incredible ability to capture stunning images at 10mm, while doing so in a body lighter and smaller than the popular EF 11-24mm f/4 L USM. That in itself is quite the feat but still provides a ton of lens features on top of a durable, well-built lens design.
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Why We Chose This Lens: This is the classic, go-to telephoto lens for professionals. It will certainly be an incredibly versatile lens in your kit this fall.
Features:
- Bright f/2.8 aperture
- Optical image stabilization of up to 5 stops of shake correction
- High Speed, smooth, and quiet autofocus with Nano USM
- Minimum focusing distance of 2.3 ft. / 0.7m
- Control ring for direct communications settings
- 12-pin communication system
- Dust and weather-resistance, highly shock-resistant
- Fluorine and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) lens coatings
The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens is Canon’s lightest, smallest 70-200mm f/2.8 lens ever. It will perform anywhere, anyhow, with the built quality and features to last even the toughest fall days.
Canon RF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM Lens
Why We Chose This Lens: It might be the most versatile RF zoom lens you can buy, thanks to it’s incredible focal range.
Features:
- Incredibly versatile 24-105mm coverage
- Bright f/4 aperture
- First L Series Lens with NANO USM
- Optical Image Stabilization at up to 5 Stops* of Shake Correction.
- Control ring for direct communications settings
- 12-pin Communication System
- Dust and weather-resistance, highly shock-resistant
- Fluorine and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) lens coatings
If you’re looking for a lens to start with, the Canon RF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM is that lens. Its 24-105mm focal range is so versatile and its f/4 flat aperture means it can be usable throughout the day — even in darker conditions. It’s also fast, durable, and weather-resistant. Simply put, this lens is great and deserves all the hype.
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens
Why We Chose This Lens: This is a professional-level 50mm prime that provides incredible image quality. It is the perfect option for portrait, lifestyle, and product photography.
Features:
- Incredibly bright f/1.2 aperture
- High Speed, smooth, and quiet autofocus with Nano USM
- Minimum focusing distance of 1.31 ft. / 0.40m
- Control ring for direct communications settings
- 12-pin Communication System
- Dust and weather-resistance, highly shock-resistant
- Fluorine and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) lens coatings
- Three Aspherical Elements and One UD Element
The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens is one of Canon’s best professional prime lenses. It takes brilliant images and provides a usable, versatile 50mm focal length that’s built for most fall photoshoots. It’s also incredibly durable and well-made, making it a great choice for professional photographers, videographers, and content creators who prefer the highest level of quality and performance in a prime lens.
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM Lens
Why We Chose This Lens: This lens is like having three prime lenses in one.
Features:
- Bright, constant f/2 USM zoom lens
- High Speed, smooth, and quiet autofocus with Nano USM
- Minimum focusing distance of 1.31 ft. / 0.40m
- Control ring for direct communications settings
- 12-pin Communication System
- Dust and weather-resistance, highly shock-resistant
- Fluorine and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) lens coatings
- Two UD Elements and One Super UD Element
Yes, it’s big and bulky. Yes, it’s expensive. But if you’re a professional wanting to shoot with one of the sharpest, fastest lenses money can buy, you need to invest in the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM lens. It essentially combines three prime lens focal lengths into one lens, thanks to its bright flat f/2 aperture.
In my opinion, these six lenses are the best Canon lenses for fall foliage photography. I hope this article clears a path for you to pick the right lenses for the best time of the year — as the world becomes even more colorful in the next few weeks.
