The Canon EOS R7 is a crop sensor camera that is built with many professional features. This combination of compact size, affordability, and pro specs is why it made my list of the Best Canon Cameras for Sports.
If you couple this camera with the right lens, you can get some very good performance in a small package that is perfect for a wide variety of photographers from beginners to pros.
My favorite lens for this camera would be the 28mm f/2.8 because the compact size and wide maximum aperture make it a versatile lens that will give you high quality images.
But depending on what you shoot most, you may want a different option. So keep reading to see my complete breakdown of the best lenses for the Canon R7 based on what might be right for you.
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1. Canon 28mm f/2.8
This compact 28mm lens has a nice wide f/2.8 max aperture and its size pairs nicely with the compact R7 for a great walk-around combo.
This might be my personal favorite lens to carry around on a crop sensor camera. This full-frame lens weighs a mere 4.2 oz (120g) so pairing it with the R7 makes for a very small kit that is perfect for everyday shooting.
Despite its tiny size, the 20mm f/2.8 delivers sharpness and resolution that will allow you take full advantage of the 32.5 megapixels in the Canon R7.
This lens probably gives you more bang for your buck than any other Canon RF lens you can buy. It illustrates that prime lenses can outperform zoom lenses in image quality even at much lower price points.
In addition to that, the 28mm focal length (45mm full-frame equivalent on the R7) is wide enough to capture scenery but not so wide that pictures of people are distorted. Combine this with the f/2.8 aperture and it’s about as versatile a prime lens as you can get.
On the R7, a 28mm lens gives you the equivalent focal length of about 45mm on a full frame, so you’re getting what is essentially a “standard” field of view. That, plus the f/2.8 max aperture makes it a great lens for someone that’s still working on improving their skills and one I would recommend to replace any kit lens that came with your camera.
This is a great focal length to carry around while traveling, shooting street photography, or just going out with friends.
2. Canon 24-105 f/4
This lens covers a wide focal range with a fixed f/4 max aperture which makes it a great lens to keep on your camera in a variety of situations.
The 24-105mm f/4 lens gives you a decent f/4 maximum aperture with a very wide focal range and still delivers very good image quality. On the crop sensor R7 the effective focal range is 38mm to 168mm.
I like this lens for the R7 because its compact size coupled with a big focal range.
You can shoot everyday shots and even some landscapes at 24mm and still have the reach for far away objects at the 105mm end. This makes it the kind of lens that you can put on your R7 and leave it there.
I like this option as an everyday lens for this camera a lot better than the RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM that is often sold as a kit lens with it. You’ll get sharper images and better colors as well as the consistent f/4 max aperture across the entire focal length.
The f/4 aperture isn’t the fastest lens in the lineup but it is decent for getting shots in low light. Of course, for very low light situations, you may want to have the 28mm f/2.8 above or the 35mm f/1.8 below, but this lens will work in most circumstances.
One of the main reasons this lens didn’t make it as the top pick is because it is more expensive than the 28mm above. But its a solid investment as you can use it on full frame Canon RF mount cameras as well where it serves the same purpose as an all-around performer.
If you travel a lot and don’t want to bring multiple lenses or are just looking for one lens that can handle the widest variety of shooting situations then this is a great option.
3. Canon 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
With an equivalent focal length of 56mm on the crop sensor camera, this is the lens that every R7 owner should buy once they realize the kit lens isn’t getting it done.
The 35mm f/1.8 is the lens I recommend for almost anyone with a crop sensor camera as the next one to get after they get frustrated with their kit lens. The f/1.8 aperture opens up an entire world of possibilities compared to most kit lenses.
The 35mm focal length on the R7 will be equivalent to 56mm on a full frame camera.
The f/1.8 aperture is often a massive difference for anyone that’s never used a lens with a wide maximum aperture like that before. It will allow you to experiment with shallow depth of field as well as shoot in low light.
The R7 is a great option to get started shooting things like events and portraits and this lens will definitely help you do both.
If you’re shooting indoors, you’ll be happy to have the f/1.8 aperture, especially in darker indoor settings. If you’re not used to shooting indoors, you’ll find that indoor lighting is often far darker than you realize. This lens will help you avoid having to use excessively high ISOs.
Another added benefit of this lens is that you can use it as a macro lens. It has a 1:2 reproduction ration and a close focusing distance of 0.17m (0.56ft / 6.7in). On a crop sensor camera this will give you the ability to get real close to your macro subject and fill the frame.
So if you want a little more low light capability than the two options above, then I highly recommend checking out this 35mm lens.
4. Canon 70-200 f/4
Closer to a pro lens (but more affordable) the 70-200 f/4 will work great on the R7 for those of you that want some extra reach to shoot things like your kid’s sports.
If you want to use your R7 and its 30 frames per second shooting speed for sports and action, then you’ll need a good quality telephoto lens. This 70-200 /4 is perfect for that.
It’s very sharp and focuses fast enough to take full advantage of the exceptional focusing system in the R7.
When you shoot a longer focal lengths, you need a faster shutter speed to avoid blur from handholding the camera and a consistent f/4 aperture can make really help for shooting action when you’re not in bright sunlight.
You’re going to get exceptional image quality in terms of both sharpness and color rendition. This pairs nicely with the 24-105 above to give you a huge focal length range with just two lenses.
Upgrade Option: The Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM is a professional quality lens and one you’ll find in the bags of most sports and wildlife shooters. The wider max aperture gives you more low light shooting and the lens itself is a bit sharper.
5. Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM
This lens is an 80mm equivalent on the R7 crop sensor which makes it perfect for shooting portraits.
The Canon 50mm f/1.8 has all of the same benefits as the 35mm version, but if you are shooting a lot of portrait photography, then the 50mm will be a 80mm equivalent on the R7 which is a perfect focal length for portraits.
By using a longer focal length, you’ll be able to stand farther away from your subject while still filling the frame. This adds something called compression in photography, which typically helps to give a more flattering look to people.
Of course, the longer focal length also can be somewhat limiting for everyday use. So keep that in mind. This lens is great as a second or third option for the R7 while the ones at the top of this list are more versatile and good for everyday use.
The best part of this “nifty fifty” lens is that its one of the cheapest options out there for your R7 despite being incredibly sharp. In fact, this was my “budget pick” on my list of the best Canon lenses for portraits.
6. Canon 16mm f/2.8
This 16mm f/1.8 gives you a wide angle and a fast aperture for shooting almost any kind of landscape from mountains to astrophotography.
You might be surprised that I didn’t choose one of the wide angle zoom lenses for this pick. To show you why, let’s take a look at some of those options…
Upgrade Options: The 10-20mm f/4 comes in at $2,299 MSRP, the 15-35mm f/2.8 comes in at $2,099 MSRP, and the most affordable wide angle zoom is the 14-35mm f/4 at $1,199 MSRP. Compare this to the 16mm f/2.8 at $299 MSRP and you can see why it’s such an attractive option for most R7 owners.
That being said both of those zooms are excellent landscape lenses and if they’re within your budget then I would recommend either of them as they give you more versatility with the focal range and are exceptionally sharp so you’ll be able to take full advantage of the 32.5 megapixel sensor on your R7.
I like the 16mm because you’re getting a lot for a low cost and a small lightweight lens.
If you’re shooting landscapes in remote places where you need to carry your camera kit, then the weight savings can make a big difference.
You’re also getting exceptional sharpness with this 16mm lens, so your images will look every bit as detailed as any shot on the wide angle zooms.
In addition, the f/2.8 max aperture makes it a great option even for astrophotography.
Lenses To Avoid For Your R7
The truth is that there really aren’t many bad lenses in the Canon RF system. Canon hasn’t opened up the specs to third-party manufacturers to create their own lenses and they’ve done a great job at making high-quality lenses.
With the adapter you can use Canon’s DSLR lenses too, so you have a massive selection.
That being said, some lenses really aren’t worth getting for this particular camera.
These aren’t necessarily bad lenses. I just don’t think they’re worth the investment given the other options above.
Canon 55-210mm f/5-7.1
This lens is available as a kit lens with a few of the Canon crop sensor cameras. It’s not bad but you can get a lot better performance with a carefully chosen prime lens like the 28mm f/2.8 or the 35mm f/1.8 above.
Also, mainly because this is designed as an affordable lens, the image quality is a bit less than the primes so you’re really not taking advantage of the 32.5 megapixel sensor in the R7.
Canon 24-105 f/4-7.1
The thing that makes me not want to recommend this lens is the f/7.1 maximum aperture at the longer (105mm) end. When you shoot at longer focal lengths, you need a faster shutter speed. Plus this is a focal length you may want to use for shooting sports or wildlife as well, which also tend to require faster shutter speeds.
So being limited to a maximum of f/7.1 means you’ll be using some very high ISO settings to get the right exposure. While the R7 is decent at higher ISOs, it has its limits.
So if you want that extra reach for things like action, then its worth investing in the f/4 version above.
But if you are constrained by budget, then you may also be better off using this Canon RF to EF adapter and finding a used EF mount lens with a faster aperture for a better price.
Canon 24-50 f/4.5-6.3
This is really just a case of there being better options available. If you’re looking at this focal length, I think you would be better off just going for the 35mm f/1.8 prime lens above.
You’ll get better image quality and a faster aperture for shooting in low light.
Canon 15-30 f/4.5-6.3
Similar to the 24-30 above, you can get much better image quality and a better max aperture with a prime lens in this focal range such as the 16mm f/2.8 above.
What To Look For When Choosing A Lens For Your Canon R7
In addition to the usual things you look for in a lens like image quality, sharpness, and a large maximum aperture, there are a few things specific to the Nikon Zfc that you may want to think about.
Usefulness
Choosing a lens is much more than just finding the “best” lens for the R7.
It’s important to consider what you’ll be using it for and how useful that particular lens would be for a variety of different things.
For example a 50mm prime lens is great for shooting portraits and closer up shots on a crop sensor camera, but it might not be wide enough to get a great landscape shot on that same camera.
So you would have to decide whether you want a lens that does a decent job for both or two lenses that are excellent for each specific type of shot.
Future Upgrades
The R7 is a crop sensor camera. That means that the sensor is smaller than full frame Canon cameras.
There are some lenses that are specifically made for crop sensor cameras. They are often smaller, lighter, and less expensive than full frame lenses. However, you can’t use those crop sensor lenses on a full frame camera.
Full frame lenses work equally well on crop sensor and full frame cameras. So while you might spend a little more but you’ll be investing in a lens that you can continue to use even if you upgrade your camera to full frame in the future.
Size and Weight
The R7 is a relatively small and compact camera compared to DSLRs and full frame mirrorless cameras. So larger lenses will be a bit cumbersome on this body.
All of the lenses I recommended above will feel comfortable and well balanced on your R7.
