Best Zoom Camera Lenses of 2026

Alan Eaton Avatar
Alan Eaton
Last Updated: Jan 8, 2026

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Zoom camera lenses are a popular choice for photographers who want the flexibility to capture a range of focal lengths without having to switch lenses. These lenses allow you to zoom in and out, adjusting the image size and composition with ease. Some zoom lenses have a variable aperture, meaning that the maximum aperture changes as you zoom in or out. This can affect the overall image quality, so it's important to choose a high-quality zoom lens if you want to get the best results. Zoom lenses are available for a wide range of camera types and brands, so there's sure to be one that fits your needs.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L is USM Lens Cover #TOP 1
Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L is USM Lens
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens Cover #TOP 2
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Canon Telephoto Zoom Lens with 75-300mm Focal Length Cover #TOP 3
Canon Telephoto Zoom Lens with 75-300mm Focal Length
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 8 Zoom Camera Lenses

#TOP 1

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L is USM Lens

3680C005
Black
70mm
Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L is USM Lens Cover
Canon RF24-70mm F2.8 L is USM Lens, Standard Zoom Lens, Compatible with EOS R Series Mirrorless Cameras, Black

The Canon RF Zoom Lens is a high-quality camera lens suitable for Canon Mirrorless Cameras. With a bright f/2.8 aperture zoom RF L lens, it delivers high image quality that is perfect for photographers who want to capture sharp and clear images. The lens also features optical image stabilization of up to 5 Stops of shake correction, which ensures that your images are always stable and blur-free. Its high-speed, smooth, and quiet autofocus with Nano USM makes it easy to capture your shots quickly and accurately. The Canon RF Zoom Lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.69 ft by 0.21M (wide), 1.25 ft. by 0.38M (tele), which allows you to get up close and personal with your subjects. Finally, the lens has a control ring for direct setting changes, allowing users to easily adjust their settings on the fly.

What We Like
High-quality images
Optical image stabilization
Fast and quiet autofocus

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens

6473A003AA
Black
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens Cover
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras, 6473A003 (Renewed)

The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens is a great choice for amateur photographers looking for a budget-friendly telephoto lens. It features a DC Autofocus Motor, 4.9' Minimum Focus Distance, and 58mm Filter Thread Diameter. It has a 32- to 8-degree diagonal angle of view and improved mechanism for smoother zooming. Customers have praised its sharpness and color, as well as its auto focus capabilities. It is an excellent value for the price.

What We Like
Affordable
Versatile zoom range
Well-built and balanced

Canon Telephoto Zoom Lens with 75-300mm Focal Length

75-300mm
Black
300mm
Canon Telephoto Zoom Lens with 75-300mm Focal Length Cover
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens (Black)

This Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens is made up of 13 elements in 9 groups with a focal length of 75-300mm 1:4-5.6. It has a front group rotating extension system with Micromotor for focus adjustment, the lens construction provides 32° 11' - 8° 15' diagonal angle of view and closest focusing distance of 1.5m/ 4.9 ft. It is a great choice for SLR camera lenses.

What We Like
Offers a wide range of focal length for telephoto zoom shots
Great lens construction with high-quality materials
Easy focus adjustment for better control over the shot
#TOP 4

Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 Lens Kit

7155C002_EDIP_1
Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 Lens Kit Cover
Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 Lens | Compact Telephoto Zoom with Versatile Focal Range & Smooth Autofocus | Great for Sports, Wildlife, Travel & Everyday Photography (7155C002) + Shoulder Bag + 64GB Card

The Canon RF 75-300mm Lens offers a versatile zoom range perfect for capturing sports, wildlife, and distant subjects, making it a great choice for everyday photography. Its lightweight and compact design means you can easily carry it on trips without feeling weighed down. The variable f/4-5.6 aperture balances good light intake with portability, so you get clear images without a bulky lens. Plus, Canon’s special coating reduces glare and enhances colors, helping you take sharp, vibrant photos even in bright or backlit conditions. This lens kit also includes a handy shoulder bag and a 64GB memory card for added convenience.

What We Like
Versatile 75-300mm zoom range
Lightweight and compact design
Variable f/4-5.6 aperture
Anti-glare Super Spectra Coating
Includes bag and 64GB card
#TOP 5

Canon RF28-70mm F2.8 STM Lens

6535C002
Black
Canon RF28-70mm F2.8 STM Lens Cover
Canon RF28-70mm F2.8 is STM

The Canon RF28-70mm Lens offers a versatile zoom range with a consistent f/2.8 aperture, making it perfect for capturing sharp images even in low light. Its light and compact design means you can easily carry it around daily without feeling weighed down. The lens features a newly designed Image Stabilization system, helping you take steady shots and reducing blur, especially when shooting handheld. Additionally, the lens delivers exceptional image quality across the entire frame, thanks to special lens elements that reduce color fringing and distortions. This makes it a great choice for photographers looking for reliable performance and convenience in one lens.

What We Like
Constant f/2.8 aperture
Lightweight and compact design
Advanced image stabilization
High edge-to-edge image quality

Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 USM

5050C002
Black
Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 USM Cover
Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 is USM Black

The Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 USM is a compact, lightweight and high-image quality telephoto zoom lens with a versatile zoom range of 100-400mm. It features Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5.5 Stops of shake correction, minimum focusing distance of 2.89 feet at 200mm and maximum magnification of 0.41x at 400mm. It also has high speed, smooth and quiet autofocus with Canon's Nano USM. Customers have praised its sharp images, fast autofocus, and lightweight design.

What We Like
Compact and lightweight design
High-image quality
Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5.5 Stops of shake correction
High speed, smooth and quiet autofocus with Canon's Nano USM
Sharp images
#TOP 7

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L is USM Lens

3792C002
Silver
5.8"
Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L is USM Lens Cover
Canon RF70-200mm F2.8 L is USM Lens, Mirrorless Telephoto Zoom Lens, Compatible with EOS R Series APS-C and Full-Frame Cameras, Image Stabilization, Landscape and Sports Photography, White

The Canon Telephoto Zoom Lens is a high-quality RF L lens, designed for Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras. It has a bright f/2.8 aperture and offers impressive image quality. The lens is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. It also features optical image stabilization with up to 5 Stops of shake correction, which is useful for capturing sharp images in low-light conditions or when shooting handheld. The high speed, smooth and quiet autofocus with dual Nano USM is great for capturing fast-moving subjects. The minimum focusing distance of 2.3 ft. by 0.7 M is helpful for close-up shots. Overall, the Canon Telephoto Zoom Lens is a versatile lens that can be used for a variety of photography genres, including portraits, events, and landscapes.

What We Like
High-quality image
Compact and lightweight
Optical image stabilization
Fast and quiet autofocus
Minimum focusing distance

Tamron 28-200 F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame/APS-C E-Mount

AFA071S700
Black
Sony FE Mount
Tamron 28-200 F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame/APS-C E-Mount Cover
Tamron 28-200 F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame/APS-C E-Mount, Model Number: AFA071S700, Black

The Tamron 28-200 F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD is a versatile all-in-one zoom lens designed specifically for full-frame mirrorless cameras. With its lightweight and compact size, weighing only 20.3 oz. and measuring 4.6" in length, this lens offers superior mobility for photographers on the go. It also delivers impressive up-close shooting performance with a minimum focusing distance of 7.5" at the wide end and 31.5" at the telephoto end. The lens features an RXD stepping motor unit that ensures exceptionally quiet autofocus operation. Whether you're capturing wide-angle landscapes or zooming in for telephoto shots, the Tamron 28-200 F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD provides convenience and flexibility for all your photography needs.

What We Like
F2.8 all-in-one zoom
Lightweight and compact
Superior up-close shooting performance
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a zoom lens good for?

A zoom lens is a type of camera lens that offers the photographer a useful range of different focal lengths in a single lens. This is in comparison to a prime lens, which only offers a single focal length. A zoom lens allows for quick and easy re-framing of a scene while staying in the same physical position.

2. What is a zoom camera lens?

A zoom lens is an SLR or DSLR lens that offers a different focal length for the photographer to select from. A zoom lens can be manually adjusted by a user to create focused images throughout a wide range of distances from one's photographic subject, from very close-up to very far away.

3. Is a zoom lens worth it?

Zooms are highly versatile The biggest advantage of a zoom lens is that it allows you to change focal lengths without changing your lens. That way, you can use dozens of focal lengths without needing to swap lenses, which will save time and may ensure you get shots you'd have otherwise missed.

Editor's Notes

During our zoom camera lense research, we found 16 zoom camera lense products and shortlisted 8 quality products. We collected and analyzed 26,376 customer reviews through our big data system to write the zoom camera lenses list. We found that most customers choose zoom camera lenses with an average price of $377.49.

The zoom camera lenses are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of zoom camera lenses, including Canon, Tamron. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 3,087 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.

Written by
Alan Eaton Avatar

Alan Eaton is a seasoned writer whose expertise is in anything related to electronics, such as headphones, monitoring equipment, computer, and so on, built over a 15-year career in the technology industry. Working in the trade during his youth, he accumulated a great deal of knowledge about machinery.