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When it comes to shopping for camera lenses, pursuing photography as a hobby can sometimes come with a hefty price tag. The allure of opting for the priciest choice may be tempting, but the great news is that you can find excellent camera lenses without shelling out a fortune. There exists a variety of Best Lenses Under $500, which not only won’t break the bank but are also incredibly user-friendly. Your lens plays a pivotal role in your photography equipment, capable of making a substantial impact on the overall quality of your images.
When making this list, we paid attention to things like design, build quality, and features, and we tried to keep the prices low. It’s important to remember that the right lens for you will depend on your camera, but this list is a great place to start if you want cheap lenses with good glass. Even though most cheap lenses might not have the fastest apertures or the most advanced features, the real question is whether or not they do their job well.
If the answer is “yes,” that’s the most important thing. After all, no one will ask what kind of lens you used if the photos or videos you take are beautiful. This category shows some good basic and entry-level lenses that cost less than $500. Even though this budget isn’t very big, these lenses should meet most of your needs and get you far in your photography journey.
Best Lenses Under $500 Comparison Table
| Product | Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 | Tokina 634455 ATX-i 100mm | Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens | NIKON 40MM F2 Z | Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM | Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 85mm | 100mm | 50mm | 40mm | 50mm | 28-60mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.8 | Not specified | f/1.8 | f/2 | f/1.4 | f/4-5.6 |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF | Canon EF | Nikon Z | Canon EF | Sony E |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.85m | 0.3m | 0.35m | 0.16m | 0.45m | 0.3m |
| Filter Size | 58mm | 55mm | 49mm | 52mm | 77mm | 40.5mm |
| Weight | 425g | 490g | 160g | 235g | 505g | 167g |
| Compatible Camera Brands | Canon | Canon | Canon | Nikon | Canon | Sony |
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 85mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 2.8 ft. (0.85m) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Weight | 15 oz (425g) |
For portraits, a lot of professional photographers like the 85mm focal length, especially for full-frame DSLR bodies. If you’ve ever used this focal length, it’s easy to understand why. It lets you stand far away from your subject and still get sharp details while blurring the background.
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 is well made and has a fast autofocus system that is almost silent. With internal autofocus, the barrel doesn’t have to move out of the way to focus on something close up. With its eight blades, the diaphragm can make smooth bokeh for creamy backgrounds. Through all of its apertures, the lens is sharp and has good contrast. You’ll be blown away by how good your pictures look all the way to the edges, even with finer details.
The Good
- With a maximum aperture of f/1.8, it works well even in low light.
- Autofocus that works well and smoothly.
- The design is small and light.
The Bad
- Image stabilization isn’t there.
- For some uses, some users may prefer a longer focal length.
Tokina 634455 ATX-i 100mm
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 100mm |
| Maximum Aperture | Not specified |
| Lens Mount | Tokina ATX-i |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.96 ft. (0.29m) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Weight | Not specified |
Even though the lens is “new and improved,” it is very similar to the first AT-X model, which came out in 2006. In fact, the optical path seems to be the same, with two aspherical glass elements and two Super-Low Dispersion glass elements. There are nine elements in eight groups that make up the optical path. The lens is quite small for a 100mm macro.
The Nikon mount version is 95mm long and the Canon mount version is 98mm long. But as you move from infinity to the closest focus distance, the inner barrel gets longer. At the closest focus distance, the lens is almost twice as long. In full macro mode, the distance between the front of the lens and the subject is 115mm, which is pretty good.
The Good
- Macro lens for taking close-up pictures.
- Precise autofocus for capturing fine details.
- The design is small and light.
The Bad
- There is no information about the maximum aperture.
- There is no image stabilization built in.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.35m |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Weight | 5.6 oz (159g) |
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is a must-have for almost every photographer because it is so cheap. The 50mm focal length is very useful, which is why 50mm lenses are sometimes called “nifty fifties.” When used wide open, this lens gives sharp results, focuses quickly, and gives nice bokeh…There’s not much about this lens that I don’t like. It is made of plastic and has a metal mount, but it feels solid, is well made, and only weighs 5.6 ounces.
The Good
- Widest maximum aperture gives a beautiful blur to the background.
- The design is small and light.
- Affordable price point.
The Bad
- Lack of stabilization of the image.
NIKON 40MM F2 Z
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 40mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2 |
| Lens Mount | Nikon Z |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.96 ft. (0.29m) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Weight | Not specified |
The Nikon 40mm f2 z doesn’t really do anything new or different. But they have the smallest 40mm f/2 autofocus lens on the market. Even though they didn’t say much about this in their own statements, they have added great weather sealing. Even better, they did all of this at low price. Finally, there has been a rise in the use of 40mm lenses. But the Nikon 40mm f2 z shows how it should be done.
The Good
- The design is small and light.
- Wide maximum aperture for good performance in low light.
- Fast and accurate autofocus.
The Bad
- Lack of information about the weight.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.4 |
| Lens Mount | Not specified |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 1.5 ft. (0.45m) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Weight | Not specified |
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 is bigger and heavier than the Canon and Nikon lenses that have the same focal length. But the weight isn’t too much, and the quality of the build is good. The autofocus system is just as good as the competing 85mm lenses from Canon and Nikon. At close focusing distances, the inner lens barrel gets longer, and the full-time manual focus override is smooth.
With the Canon and Nikon 85mm lenses, you’ll get the same well-rounded aperture and smooth bokeh. Around f/2.8, the sharpness is noticeably worse, but it stays the same for the rest of the range. This lens has a little more pincushion distortion than other 50mm prime lenses.
The Good
- With an f/1.4 maximum aperture, the camera works well in low light and has a shallow depth of field.
- High-quality optics make images clear and sharp.
The Bad
- There is no image stabilization built in.
Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 28-60mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/4-5.6 |
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.99 ft. (0.3m) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Weight | 5.9 oz (167g) |
This lens is great for shooting on the go, and the wide range of focal lengths makes it useful for a wide range of subjects. There are three aspherical elements in the design of the optics, which help to reduce distortion and spherical aberrations and make the image sharper and more accurate.
The optics are paired with a linear motor and an internal focusing design. This makes the autofocus quick and quiet for both photos and videos. The body of the lens is also sealed so that it can be used even in bad weather.
The Good
- The design is small and light, making it great for travel and everyday use.
- From wide-angle to short telephoto, the zoom range is flexible.
- Autofocus works well and quickly.
- Sony E-mount users have a low-cost option.
The Bad
- Variable maximum aperture limits low-light capabilities.
- There is no image stabilization built in.
FAQs
While telephoto lenses tend to be more expensive, there are some good options available under $500. One such lens is the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Lens, which offers a versatile telephoto zoom range and image stabilization.
Yes, all of the lenses listed above can be set to autofocus. Before making a purchase, you should always check the specs and make sure it will work with your camera.