The 7 Best Canon Digital Rebel XT Lenses for Photography

Here is a list of the best lenses for the Canon EOS Rebel XT. A variety of focal lengths for several kinds of photography are covered. In addition to the recommended lenses, each section will have other alternatives for higher or lower prices.

There are plenty of Canon Rebel XT lenses available that virtually every photographer should be able to discover something they’d want in their camera bag.

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  1. Best All-Around Zoom: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
  2. Best Telephoto Zoom: Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS
  3. Best Prime Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
  4. Best Lens for Portraits: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
  5. Best Lens for Sports & Wildlife: Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
  6. Best Lens for Landscapes: Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
  7. Best Lens for Macro: Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
best all-in-one lens for the Canon Rebel XT DSLR
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: The build quality of this lens is what you would expect from Canon’s full-frame L-series, but it is built for Cameras that have APS-C sensors that use the EF-S mount. It is a major step up from the standard zoom lens bundled with with the EOS Rebel XT.

A shallow depth of field with a spectacular background blur is available through the full zoom range because of the constant large maximum aperture. Camera shake is reduced due to the built-in image stabilization.

If out of all Canon lenses that are available, you could only pick one, this would be the best choice.

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Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD: Optical image stabilization allows for the ability to take tack sharp images up to 4 stops slower than with no optical stabilization. With the large aperture and great zoom range, the lens is appropriate for everything from portraits to landscapes.

Judging by the enthusiastic reviews, people highly recommend this lens. It could end up permanently mounted to your camera.

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Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM: With an equivalent zoom of 24-136mm in FX format, it is a fantastic choice for everyday use. Additionally it is cited as one of the most useful choices for a travel lens.

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Best Telephoto Zoom Lens Rebel XT
Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS

Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS: This is just like having three zooms combined into one. Having a 16.6x zoom ratio means all focal ranges from wide angle to telephoto are available. Designed with 13 groups containing 17 elements, four of which are FLD and 1 SLD element, means it is possible to get high-quality, sharp crisp shots, without having to be concerned with distortion.

The enormous zoom span does come at the cost of being large and heavy. There are many choices that may be better to spend all day walking around with the Canon EOS Rebel XT.

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Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS: Here’s a lightweight and portable lens that still includes a good zoom range. This is a good solution that supplies great overall performance, 4 stops of stabilization, all at an affordable price. This will likely be the one to get to avoid increased weight and size.

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Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III: Lighter weight and smaller than the other lenses mentioned earlier, which can be an advantage if you do not want to haul around a hefty camera. The focal length is equivalent to 120-480mm on every EOS Rebel camera as they use Canon APS-C sensors.

Created without built-in stabilization, it is more low-priced. This Canon Rebel XT lens works best outside with lots of sunlight.

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Best prime lens for canon eos rebel XT
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM: Outstanding photo level of quality in a small and lightweight package that’s one of the very best lenses manufactured by Canon. The large f/1.8 aperture makes this classic focal length a good choice for low light shooting. An absolute must have lens for all photographers that can find a role in any camera kit.

Be careful to avoid the old version seeing as the focusing motor is noisy and laggy. If you try to save a little bit of money, you might not be happy with the result.

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Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM: The thinnest and most compact lens designed for Canon’s EF-S mount. The overall size can’t be beat as it is a “pancake” wide angle that means it is the best pick for travel photography. The smallest focusing distance pictures can be taken at is 6 inches (16cm).

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Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art DG HSM: An outstanding creation displaying what modern day optical engineering is able to produce. It captures razor sharp pictures from corner to corner, even when shot wide open. The Hyper-Sonic Motor allows accurate, quite, and fast autofocus.

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best lenses for portrait photography
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM: It may be the most desired lens for portraits offered by Canon. The large f/1.8 aperture is a good choice for shooting in low light and is able to create a shallow depth of field, with beautiful bokeh, to separate the photo subject. This is a must have for wedding photographers.

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Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM: An excellent lens that is a great pick for portrait photography along with studio work, street, and landscape, with a professional construction quality. Exceptionally sharp from corner to corner wide open with very little distortion or vignetting.

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Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM: Comparable to the Canon 85mm f/1.8, but offers a slightly longer focal length. Similar to the other two lenses mentioned, it’s great for low-light shooting in a small package that’s easy to manage.

This is a discontinued lens, so obtaining one may be hard. Many used copies are still readily available. Make sure to check a variety of sites to obtain the most competitive price.

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best lenses for sports and wildlife
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2

Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2: This 2nd gen lens represents a great advancement by Tamron. Photo quality has gotten much better throughout the entire zoom range and at the same time having an outstanding construction quality. An ultrasonic silent drive motor controls the autofocus that’s extremely accurate and fast. With this on your camera, you’ll find you experience no trouble taking terrific action or wildlife shots.

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Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM: The Sigma has a compact and light build for a hyper-telephoto lens. Also, the optical stabilizer and hyper sonic motor, it has a an accelerometer in order to improve images when panning. As a added perka , there is often a promo package that contains additional items as well as free shipping if you purchase the lens. That’s nice seeing as free camera gear is tough to refuse.

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Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II USM: Undoubtedly, the lens has superior photo quality than the other 2. With that in mind, performance goes along with a big cost that is much larger than that of the camera. One of many fantastic features this lens has is a rotation-type zoom ring which has adjustable torque adjustments allowing the lens to be set up to your personal preference.

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best lens for landscape photography
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM

Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM: Weighing only 14.3oz (405g), this lens is a wide focal length that remains lightweight and compact. There is a manual focus override, even when the lens is set to autofocus, which makes it easier to obtain focus. If you plan on hiking this is one of the best Canon Rebel XT lenses for the job.

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Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC: Here is a lower priced ultra-wide-angle lens with a built-in petal-type hood. A fantastic pick for not solely landscapes but additionally for astrophotography and real estate. It can focus as close as 14 cm (10.8 inches), but that will result in exaggerated distortion effects.

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Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art: With a professional build, the 20mm f/1.4 is the widest angle lens Sigma sells in the Art series. Built with 11 groups having 15 elements with a Low Dispersion and 5 Special Low Dispersion glass elements, field curvature, axial chromatic aberration, and spherical aberration are almost non-existant.

It is a noticeably large and heavy hunk of glass. Do not expect it to be well balanced on the camera.

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best canon rebel XT macro lens
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM: A true macro lens, that can reach 1:1 magnification, and the first to be specifically designed for the EF-S mount. The front element does not turn during focusing, as it was created with an internal focusing system. You’re going to like the razor sharp shots taken by this lens. It is a great pick to use on the EOS Rebel XT because of the compact size and reasonable price being hard to outdo.

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Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM: With image stabilization and internal focusing, it’s obvious why this is a top of the line pro L-series lens. It is weather sealed, and that means it is a great option to have out into the field in difficult conditions. Purchase this lens and you’ll not need to go searching for another solution.

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Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M 1:1 Macro: With a recessed front element and an excellent working distance, you’ll probably never need to attach the hood. However, it doesn’t have an internal focusing system, therefore the lens will extend when focusing on close subjects.

One other potential drawback if you want to use it as a portrait lens is that it does not have integrated image stabilization. Working with flash will stop that from being a major problem.

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