What are the top of the line, best lenses for the Canon R5?

The Canon EOS R5 is an absolute powerhouse of a camera. With its 45MP full-frame sensor, blazing-fast autofocus, and incredible video capabilities, it’s no surprise that it has become a favorite among professionals and enthusiasts alike. But here’s the thing- the camera is only as good as the lens you attach to it. Whether you’re a portrait photographer, an action shooter, or a landscape lover, choosing the right lens is one of the most important steps for getting the best results.

As a Canon R5 user myself, I’ve tested several lenses in real-world conditions—from riding my dirt bike up in the mountains for action shots to capturing golden-hour portraits with dreamy bokeh. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best lenses for the Canon R5, breaking them down by category to help you find the perfect fit for your photography style.

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1. Best Prime Lenses for the Canon R5
   1. Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
   2. Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM
   3. Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM
2. Best Zoom Lenses for the Canon R5
   1. Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM
   2. Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
3. Best Macro Lens for the Canon R5
   1. Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

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Things to Consider When Choosing a Lens for the Canon R5

When picking a lens for your Canon R5, here are some key things to consider:

1. Lens Mount Compatibility: The Canon R5 uses the RF lens mount, so make sure the lens is compatible with RF lenses, or you can use an EF to RF lens mount adapter for EF lenses.
2. Focal Length: Consider the type of photography you do. A 50mm or 85mm lens is ideal for portraits, while wider lenses like 24mm or 16-35mm are great for landscapes. Telephoto lenses (70-200mm) are perfect for wildlife and sports. An even longer telephoto lens, like something in the 300mm-800mm range, would be best for wildlife photography.
3. Aperture: Look for a wide aperture (f/1.2, f/1.4, or f/2.8) for low-light performance and better subject isolation with shallow depth of field. A smaller aperture (f/4 or higher) might be better for landscape or general use.
4. Autofocus Performance: The Canon R5 has an impressive autofocus system, so pairing it with a lens that supports fast, accurate autofocus (like RF lenses) will help you get the most out of your camera.
5. Image Stabilization: The Canon R5 has in-body stabilization, but if you’re shooting handheld or in low light, a lens with image stabilization (IS) can further improve your results.
6. Build Quality: Consider the weather sealing and durability of the lens if you shoot outdoors in tough conditions, like rain or snow. RF L-series lenses offer better build quality and weather resistance.
7. Size and Weight: While RF lenses are typically more compact, heavier lenses might impact your comfort during extended shoots. Think about whether you prefer a lightweight setup for portability or if you can manage a heavier lens for better performance.
8. Budget: Canon offers a wide range of lenses, so make sure to balance your budget with your needs. RF lenses tend to be more expensive, but EF lenses (via an adapter) may be more affordable options with similar performance. L-series lenses are top-tier but come at a cost.
9. Specialized Lenses: Think about your specific needs, such as macro lenses for close-up shots, tilt-shift lenses for architecture, or a prime lens for portraits or low light.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can select a lens that complements your shooting style and gets the best out of your Canon R5.

Want to dive deeper into understanding camera lenses? If you’re curious about what goes into choosing the perfect lens, the differences between focal lengths, and whether a prime or zoom lens is right for you, be sure to check out my full guide, Understanding Camera Lenses: A Beginner’s Guide to Focal Length, Prime vs. Zoom, and Finding the Right Lens here. It’s packed with everything you need to know to make informed decisions for your photography journey!

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Best Prime Lenses for the Canon R5

1. Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM – The Ultimate Portrait Lens

Buy the RF 50mm f/1.2L on Amazon

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—the RF 50mm f/1.2L is the king of portrait lenses for its unmatched balance of sharpness, stunning bokeh, and incredible low-light performance. The 50mm focal length is incredibly versatile, providing a natural perspective that feels familiar and flattering without distortion, perfect for headshots or environmental portraits. It excels at delivering razor-sharp detail, even wide open at f/1.2, while its ultra-smooth bokeh creates a softness around your subject that is perfect for a more intimate feel. The wide aperture ensures that even in low light, this lens shines, making it a must-have for photographers who work in weddings, portraits, or lifestyle shoots where light conditions may vary.

Why The RF 50mm f/1.2L is So Special:

1. Breathtaking Bokeh: If you’re a fan of creamy, dreamlike backgrounds that keep the focus on your subject while softening the environment, the RF 50mm f/1.2L is your perfect companion. The f/1.2 aperture allows for an impossibly shallow depth of field, rendering out-of-focus elements with an ethereal, circular bokeh that adds a unique touch to every image. The way this lens isolates the subject from the background is simply mesmerizing.
2. Flattering Perspective for Portraits: The 50mm focal length is considered one of the most flattering for portraits, especially for headshots and upper-body portraits. It provides a natural perspective without distortion, ensuring that your subjects look their best.
3. Incredible Low-Light Performance: Thanks to the f/1.2 aperture, this lens thrives in low-light situations. Whether you’re shooting indoors, at sunset, or during the evening hours, the RF 50mm f/1.2L lets in a tremendous amount of light, enabling you to capture sharp, detailed portraits without raising your ISO too high. This makes it perfect for weddings, events, or any situation where you’re working in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
4. Weather-Sealed L-Series Build: As part of Canon’s L-series, the RF 50mm f/1.2L is built to withstand tough conditions. The weather-sealing ensures it can handle the elements, whether you’re shooting in the rain or dusty environments.

Who The RF 50mm f/1.2L is For: This lens is a must-have for anyone who wants the absolute best in terms of portrait photography while also still needing versatility–Portrait photographers, wedding photographers, and anyone who loves creamy bokeh. If you’re a professional who needs to create portraits with sharp detail, beautiful bokeh, and excellent low-light performance, the RF 50mm f/1.2L is an investment that will pay off time and time again. Its versatility also makes it a great choice for wedding, event, and lifestyle photographers who want to produce high-quality images in any environment.

Buy the RF 50mm f/1.2L on Amazon

2. Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM – The Bokeh Beast

Buy the RF 85mm f/1.2L on Amazon

If you want to take your portraiture to cinematic heights, the RF 85mm f/1.2L is the ultimate choice. The 85mm focal length offers stunning compression, which results in a beautifully flattering perspective for portraiture. When combined with the ultra-wide f/1.2 aperture, it creates an unreal level of subject isolation, allowing your subject to pop against a creamy, blurred background. Known as the “Bokeh Beast,” this lens is known for its cinematic quality, turning simple portraits into works of art.

Why The RF 85mm f/1.2L is So Special:

1. Unbelievable Subject Isolation: The combination of the 85mm focal length and the ultra-wide f/1.2 aperture allows you to create incredible subject isolation, making the subject pop against a soft, dreamy background. It’s perfect for portraits where you want to capture a model’s personality while minimizing distractions from the surroundings.
2. Incredible Bokeh: The bokeh produced by this lens is nothing short of magical. With the wide aperture, you get round, smooth, and beautifully diffused background elements that don’t compete with the subject. This lens can turn a simple portrait into something extraordinary by transforming the background into an elegant blur.
3. Impressive Low-Light Performance: With a wide f/1.2 aperture, this lens lets in a lot of light and excels in low-lighting conditions.
4. L-Series Build Quality: As an L-series lens, the RF 85mm f/1.2L is built to last, with weather sealing that provides protection against dust and moisture.

Who the RF 85mm f/1.2L is For: This lens is primarily aimed at portrait photographers who demand the highest possible quality and want to achieve that beautifully soft and creamy, compressed background perspective that’s ideal for isolating your subject.

Buy the RF 85mm f/1.2L on Amazon

3. Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM –

Buy the RF 35mm f/1.4 VCM on Amazon

With its versatile 35mm focal length, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM offers a natural, wide-angle perspective that’s perfect for capturing everything from environmental portraits and street photography to lifestyle and action shots. This professional-grade lens combines Canon’s signature L-series build quality with a fast f/1.4 aperture, delivers stunning sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and incredible performance even in low-lighting conditions.

Why The RF 35mm f/1.4 VCM on Amazon is So Special:

1. Professional Versatility: The 35mm focal length provides that sweet spot between wide and standard, giving you flexibility to shoot portraits, landscapes, events, or everyday life.
2. Incredible Sharpness & Beautiful Bokeh: With its bright f/1.4 aperture, this lens delivers creamy background blur and excellent subject separation, while maintaining remarkable sharpness across the frame. It’s perfect for photographers who want that cinematic, professional look straight out of camera.
3. VCM Focusing System: The new Voice Coil Motor (VCM) provides lightning-fast, precise autofocus performance—ideal for both stills and video. Combined with a separate Nano USM unit, it’s one of Canon’s fastest and quietest focusing systems yet, ensuring smooth and reliable results in dynamic environments.
4. L-Series Build Quality: As part of Canon’s premium L-series lineup, this lens is built to withstand tough conditions. It features weather sealing and a robust construction, making it an excellent choice for outdoor and travel photographers who need reliability in every environment.

Who It’s For: The RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM is perfect for photographers who want a professional-level prime lens that can do it all—street, travel, portrait, or documentary work—with uncompromising image quality and fast performance.

Buy the RF 35mm f/1.4 VCM on Amazon

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Best Zoom Lenses for the Canon R5

4. Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM – The Workhorse Lens

Buy the RF 28-70mm f/2L on Amazon

If you’re looking for the perfect all-in-one lens that is fast, sharp, and versatile and can handle everything from wide-angle shots to tight portraits, the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L is the lens you’ve been searching for. This lens is an absolute beast and is a staple for wedding, event, and travel photographers. With an f/2 constant aperture, it performs like a prime lens across the entire zoom range. If you want the best low-light and portrait performance in a zoom lens and you can only carry one lens, this is the one.

Why The RF 28-70mm f/2L is So Special:

1. Fast f/2 Aperture Across the Zoom Range: The RF 28-70mm f/2 offers a constant f/2 aperture, which is a game-changer for zoom lenses. It provides a large aperture for excellent subject isolation, buttery background blur, and more flexibility in low-light situations.
2. Versatility: With its 28-70mm focal length, this lens is versatile enough to handle a wide range of photography genres. The wide 28mm side is perfect for sweeping landscapes and group shots, while the 70mm side is great for tight portraits and even more intimate moments. It can handle everything from wide environmental shots to close-up headshots with ease, making it a perfect one-lens solution for wedding, event, and travel photographers.
3. Fast, Silent Autofocus: The RF 28-70mm f/2L uses Canon’s ultra-fast and quiet Nano USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) autofocus system, ensuring quick and precise focus. This is especially important when working in fast-paced environments, like weddings or events.
4. L-Series Build Quality: As an L-series lens, the RF 28-70mm f/2L is built to endure the rigors of professional photography. It’s constructed with weather-sealing, making it resistant to dust and moisture.

Who The RF 28-70mm f/2L is For: This lens is perfect for photographers who need one lens that can do it all without sacrificing on image quality. It’s especially ideal for wedding, portrait, and event photographers who need fast, sharp, and versatile gear to handle a variety of shooting scenarios while also needing top-tier quality.

Buy the RF 28-70mm f/2L on Amazon

5. Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM – Best for Sports & Action

Buy the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L on Amazon

If you’re a sports or wildlife photographer looking for the ultimate telephoto lens that excels in both fast-moving action and stunning portraiture, the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is a must-have. Known for its incredible sharpness, versatility, and fast autofocus, this lens is built for action. With its constant f/2.8 aperture, you can shoot in a wide variety of lighting conditions, from bright daylight to low-light indoor sports arenas.

Why The RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is So Special:

1. Fast f/2.8 Aperture: The constant f/2.8 aperture ensures excellent subject isolation, allowing you to separate your subject from the background, even in fast-paced, low-light situations.
2. Image Stabilization for Sharp Shots: One of the standout features of the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L is its 5-stop image stabilization (IS). This helps eliminate camera shake and ensures razor-sharp images, even at slower shutter speeds.
3. Fast and Accurate Autofocus: Canon’s RF 70-200mm f/2.8L is equipped with an ultra-fast autofocus system that’s critical for capturing fast-moving subjects. With its dual nano USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) technology, autofocus is smooth, precise, and quick, allowing you to capture that perfect moment. This makes it ideal for sports and action photographers who need to respond quickly to changes in their subject’s movement.
4. L-Series Build Quality: As a member of Canon’s prestigious L-series, this lens boasts superior build quality and weather-sealing to ensure it can stand up to the elements.

Who The RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is For: This lens is perfect for sports photographers, action shooters, wildlife photographers, and even portrait photographers who love the compressed look and subject isolation provided by a telephoto lens. If you need to track fast-moving subjects, capture distant action, or create striking portraits with smooth background blur, the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L will help you get the shot, all while maintaining impressive image quality and stability.

Buy the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L on Amazon

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Best Macro Lens for the Canon R5

6. Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM – Best for Macro Photography

Buy the RF 100mm Macro on Amazon

For those who want to take their macro photography to the next level, the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is a game-changer. Offering an impressive 1.4x magnification, this lens allows you to capture stunning, detailed close-ups with clarity and sharpness like never before. It’s the perfect choice for photographers who specialize in capturing the intricate beauty of small subjects, whether it’s the delicate wings of a butterfly, the fine textures of a flower petal, or the tiniest details in product photography.

Why The RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is So Special:

1. 1.4x Magnification for Extreme Close-Ups: This lens offers a higher-than-normal magnification for a macro lens. With 1.4x magnification, it allows you to get even closer to your subjects, bringing out fine details that would otherwise go unnoticed. Whether you’re photographing insects, jewelry, or small objects, this lens delivers stunningly sharp, high-resolution images that reveal intricate textures and patterns in a way that is both beautiful and captivating.
2. Superb Image Stabilization (IS): The lens is equipped with Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization (IS) system, which compensates for camera shake and allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds while still maintaining sharpness. This is incredibly useful when shooting in macro photography, where even the slightest movement can result in blurry images. The IS system makes handheld shooting easier, even when working in low-light conditions or when you need to get as close as possible to your subject.
3. Fast, Accurate Autofocus: The RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro features a fast, precise autofocus system, which is crucial when shooting tiny subjects that can move quickly or unpredictably. The autofocus system ensures that you can lock onto your subject and maintain sharp focus, even when working with subjects as small as insects or water droplets. The smooth and quiet focusing also makes it an excellent choice for video work, where you want the focus transitions to be subtle and undetectable.
4. Durable and Weather-Sealed Build: As part of Canon’s L-series, the RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro is built with a rugged, weather-sealed construction, ensuring that it can withstand harsh environments. Whether you’re shooting outdoors in the rain or dust, or working in a studio with various lighting setups, this lens is made to last and perform reliably in a variety of conditions.

Who It’s For: This lens is perfect for photographers who specialize in macro photography, product photography, or anyone who loves capturing extreme detail in small subjects.

Buy the RF 100mm Macro on Amazon

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Best Lenses for Different Needs

• Best All-Around Lens: Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L
• Best Portrait Lens: Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L
• Best Prime Lens: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L
• Best Zoom Lens: Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L
• Best Macro Lens: Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L
• Best Wide Angle Lens: Canon RF 35mm f/1.8

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Final Thoughts: What’s the Best Lens for You?

Choosing the best lens for the Canon R5 depends on your style and budget. If you’re a portrait photographer, the RF 50mm f/1.2L or 85mm f/1.2L are unbeatable. If you need an all-around workhorse, the 28-70mm f/2L is your best bet. For wildlife and action, you can’t go wrong with the 100-500mm or 70-200mm f/2.8L.

But If I Had to Just Pick One…

If I had to choose just one lens, it would be a tough call between the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L and the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L. These two lenses represent some of the absolute best Canon has to offer for the RF system, and they excel in different ways.

The RF 28-70mm f/2L is the ultimate all-around lens, offering incredible versatility and prime-like image quality in a zoom. The RF 50mm f/1.2L, on the other hand, is the king of portrait photography. The creamy bokeh, stunning sharpness, and overall image quality make it a must-have for any portrait photographer. If you’re only adding one lens to your collection, either of these would be a phenomenal choice.

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Ready to Upgrade Your Lens Game?

Whether you’re a portrait pro or an adventure photographer, choosing the right lens is key to unlocking the full potential of your Canon R5. Click the links to check out the lenses mentioned in this post and find the perfect fit for your photography style. If you found this guide helpful, leave a comment below or share it with fellow photographers who are looking to take their gear to the next level! Do you have any of these lenses? Which would you want?!

Anyways, thanks for reading :) I hope I taught you something new today! Have anything you want to know more about in the photography world? Drop a comment below!!! I’d love to teach ya :)

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Related Reads

• Understanding Camera Lenses: A Beginner’s Guide to Focal Length, Prime vs. Zoom, and Finding the Right Lens – Learn how to choose the perfect camera lens for your photography style by understanding focal lengths, prime vs. zoom lenses, and key features like aperture.
• Canon R5 vs. Canon R5 Mark II: An In-Depth Comparison – The Canon R5 Mark II builds on the R5’s impressive capabilities with faster burst rates, improved autofocus, and enhanced video performance, making it the ideal choice for hybrid shooters seeking speed and reliability.
• Is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 Worth It? – The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L lens delivers stunning image quality, versatile performance, and beautiful bokeh, making it a must-have for serious photographers, despite its hefty price tag and occasional autofocus challenges.
• Meet Kenedy Rae – Colorado Adventure Photographer & Storyteller – Hi, I’m Kenedy Rae, a photographer passionate about capturing real moments, from dirt bike races to golden hour portraits, with a love for storytelling through every shot. Learn more about me here!

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If you enjoyed this guide on the best Canon RF lenses for the Canon R5, you’ll love exploring more photography tips and gear reviews on KRx Media. I’m Kenedy Rae, a Colorado-based photographer sharing real-world experiences, honest gear insights, and practical advice to help you capture your best photos.

Stay inspired and keep learning with more in-depth articles designed for both beginners and passionate creators alike.

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