The 7 Best Canon Digital Rebel XSi Lenses
This is a list of the best lenses for the Canon EOS Rebel XSi. A wide variety of focal lengths for several types of photography are mentioned. In addition to the recommended lenses, each section will have other alternatives for higher or lower price ranges.
There are plenty of options available that every photographer should be able to discover something they’d want in their camera bag.
Best Canon Rebel XSi Lenses:
Affiliate Advertising Disclosure
Outside the Shot is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase. I also participate in affiliate advertising programs with KEH and Adorama. More can be found on the Affiliate Discolsure page.
- Best All-Around Zoom: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Best Telephoto Zoom: Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS
- Best Prime Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
- Best Lens for Portraits: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
- Best Lens for Sports & Wildlife: Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
- Best Lens for Landscapes: Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
- Best Lens for Macro: Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Best All-Around Zoom Lenses
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: The lens was designed for APS-C sensors which use the EF-S mount and has the build quality close to Canon’s full-frame L-series. It is a big improvement from the standard zoom lens included with the EOS Rebel XSi.
A shallow depth of field with a spectacular background blur is available through the full zoom range because of a large constant maximum aperture. Camera shake is counteracted thanks to built-in image stabilization.
If out of all the Canon lenses available, you could only choose just one, this would be the best option.
See current price and more information on:
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD: Built-in optical image stabilization makes it possible to shoot razor sharp images at up to 4 stops slower than if there was no stabilization. With the fast aperture and excellent zoom range, the lens is great for all types of photography from portraits to landscapes.
Judging by the outstanding reviews, owners highly recommend this lens. It could become your go to pick.
See current price and more information on:
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM: With an equivalent zoom of 24-136mm in FX format, it makes a great selection for everyday use. Additionally it is one of the ideal selections for a single travel lens.
See current price and more information on:
Best Telephoto Zooms
Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS: This is similar to having many zoom lenses combined together. Having a 16.6x zoom ratio means that all focal lengths from telephoto to wide angle are available. Built with 17 elements in 13 groups, four of which are FLD and 1 SLD element, results in a lens that is able to get high-quality, sharp crisp shots, without having to worry about aberrations.
The huge focal length range does come at the price of being large and heavy. There are many choices that can be a better option to spend all day carrying around in combination with the Canon EOS Rebel XSi.
See current price and more information on:
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS: Here’s a lightweight and small lens that is still equipped with a large zoom range. With Four stops of stabilization it is a product that has great overall performance at a budget friendly price. This is going to be the one to get to avoid unnecessary weight and size.
See current price and more information on:
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III: More compact and lighter weight than the other recommendations mentioned earlier, which can be an important consideration if you don’t want to carry a hefty camera. The focal length is equal to 120-to-480mm on a Canon APS-C sized sensor.
Also, it’s actually quite budget friendly, because it does not have built-in stabilization. This is one of the lenses that is best to use outdoors with ample amounts of light.
See current price and more information on:
Best Primes
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM: This is one of the top lenses produced by Canon as it provides excellent picture quality, but still comes in a lightweight and very compact build. The large f/1.8 aperture makes this standard focal length a great choice for photography in low light. The lens has a role in any camera kit and is essential for every photographers.
Avoid the previous version because the focusing motor is slow and noisy. You will in all probability not care for the result of seeking to save a marginal amount of money.
See current price and more information on:
Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM: The smallest and thinnest lens manufactured for Canon’s EF-S mount. A true “pancake” wide angle lens that makes it an exceptional solution for travel photography as the overall size cannot be matched. It can capture images as close as 6 inches (16 cm).
See current price and more information on:
Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art DG HSM: A great example of what modern day optical engineering is able to produce. It takes sharp pictures across the entire image, while shot wide open. The HSM (hyper-sonic motor) enables quiet, accurate, and fast autofocus.
See current price and more information on:
Best Portrait Photography Lenses
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM: Quite possibly the most desirable lens for portraits produced by Canon. The fast f/1.8 aperture is an excellent option for photography in low light and can be used to create a shallow depth of field, with appealing bokeh, to isolate the subject of the photo. For wedding photographers, this is a invaluable lens to own.
See current price and more information on:
Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM: An outstanding lens that is an excellent choice for portrait photography as well as street, studio work, and landscape, with a pro level build quality. Incredibly sharp from corner to corner wide open with very little distortion or vignetting.
See current price and more information on:
Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM: Close to the Canon 85mm f/1.8, but provides a "" longer focal length. Compared to the other two lenses, it’s very good for low-light photography in a small package that’s easy to use.
This lens is not currently being made, so finding a copy in stock could be hard. Many pre-owned copies are still readily available. Make sure to check a variety of sites to find the lowest price.
See current price and more information on:
Best Sports & Wildlife Lenses
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2: Tamron made a big advancement with the production of this 2nd gen lens. Photo quality has gotten much better throughout the entire zoom range while still offering a very good construction quality. The autofocus uses an ultrasonic silent drive motor that’s very fast and precise. With this on your camera, you will find you experience no difficulties capturing awesome wildlife or action shots.
See current price and more information on:
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM: The Sigma offers a compact and lightweight construction for a hyper-telephoto zoom lens. On top of the optical stabilizer and hyper sonic motor, there’s a built-in accelerometer that helps to improve images when panning. As a bonus, there is almost always a promo package that is a bundle of additional items including free shipping when you get the lens. That’s nice as free camera gear is difficult to pass up.
See current price and more information on:
Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II USM: This is no doubt, this lens has superior photo performance than the other 2. However, that level of performance goes hand and hand with a substantial price that is significantly larger than that of the camera. One of many notable features of this lens is a rotation-type zoom ring which includes adjustable torque adjustments allowing the lens to be set up to your personal preference.
See current price and more information on:
Best Lenses for Landscape Photography
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM: This is a wide focal length lens that is surprisingly still light and compact, only weighing 405g (14.3 oz). There is a full-time manual focus override, even when set to autofocus, which makes it easier to nail focus. If you plan to go hiking with your Rebel XSi, this is an excellent choice as it is likely to fit into practically every camera bag.
See current price and more information on:
Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC: Having a integrated petal-type lens hood, this ultra-wide-angle lens is a cost effective option. A very good solution for not just purely landscapes but as well as for real estate and astrophotography. Images can be captured as close as 10.8 inches (14 cm), but the results will have exaggerated distortion effects.
See current price and more information on:
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art: The widest lens in the Sigma Art series, the 20mm f/1.4 offers a truly pro construction. Having 11 groups having 15 elements with a 5 Special Low Disperson and a Low Dispersion glass element, axial chromatic aberration, field curvature, and spherical aberration are nearly entirely gone.
It is a rather heavy and big hunk of glass. Do not expect the lens being nicely balanced when on the camera.
See current price and more information on:
Best Canon Lenses for Macro
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM: The first to be specifically built for the EF-S mount, this is a real macro lens, with the capability to obtain 1x magnification. The front element does not rotate during focusing, as it was built with internal focusing. You’ll appreciate the sharp images made by this lens. It’s an excellent choice to use with the EOS Rebel XSi on account of the value and small size being tough to beat.
See current price and more information on:
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM: A professional L-series lens with image stabilization and internal focusing. It is a great choice to take out into the field because it is weather sealed. Get this lens and you’ll not need to go searching for an alternative.
See current price and more information on:
Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M 1:1 Macro: With recessed front element and an outstanding working distance, you will likely never need to attach the hood. Take into account that it does not have an internal focusing system, so the lens will extend when focusing on close subjects.
One other possible disadvantage if you want to use it as a portrait lens is that it does not have built-in stabilization. Working with flash will stop that from being a major problem.
See current price and more information on:
Related Posts
Below are posts related to the Canon Rebel XSi camera: