Best Pick

Meike 23mm F1.4 Ultra Wide Angle APS-C Frame Auto Focus Fixed Prime Portrait Lenses

94.7 Macro Score
23mm f/1.4 Sony E IS
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 aperture and STM autofocus deliver sharp images with smooth bokeh, even in low light. The optical design with ED and aspherical elements effectively controls aberrations and flare. This lens is best for Sony APS-C shooters who need a fast, wide prime for street photography and detailed macro work.

Read Full Review

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Viltrox 25mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF

93.9 Macro Score
25mm f/1.7 Fujifilm X IS
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.7 aperture and STM motor excel in low light and provide quiet, reliable autofocus for portraits. The optical design, featuring ED and aspherical elements, ensures sharp images with pleasing bokeh from its nine-blade diaphragm. This lens is best for portrait photographers on Fujifilm X-mount who prioritize a fast, quiet prime for eye and face detection.

Read Full Review

Sirui Sniper 23mm APS-C Autofocus

92.4 Macro Score
23mm f/1.2 Fujifilm X IS
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.2 aperture and STM autofocus provide exceptional low-light performance and smooth, silent focusing for video. The carbon fiber body keeps weight down to around 380g, making it surprisingly portable for such a fast lens. This lens is best for portrait and macro photographers who prioritize a bright maximum aperture and cinematic rendering on a budget.

Read Full Review

Yongnuo 33MM F1.4 DA DSM WL Pro Prime Standard

90 Macro Score
33mm f/1.4 Sony E IS
Why we recommend this

Its bright f/1.4 aperture and 11-element optical design deliver sharp images with pleasing background blur, while its digital stepping motor (DSM) ensures quiet, responsive autofocus. The lens is built with a durable aviation aluminum body and includes a customizable Fn button for quick access to settings. This lens is best for Sony APS-C shooters prioritizing portrait, macro, or cinematic video work where a fast, versatile prime is essential.

Read Full Review

Viltrox Air 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF

92 Macro Score
35mm f/1.7 Fujifilm X IS
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.7 maximum aperture and 9-blade design provide excellent low-light performance and smooth, dreamy bokeh for subject separation. The lens is also notably lightweight and compact for its class, featuring a silent STM motor for reliable autofocus with face and eye detection. This lens is best for portrait and street photographers using Fujifilm X-mount cameras who prioritize a classic focal length and shallow depth of field.

Read Full Review
Viltrox Air 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF lens
Price CA$259

Meike 55mm F1.8 Full Frame AF STM Stepping Motor

90.9 Macro Score
55mm f/1.8 Nikon Z IS
Why we recommend this

With a bright f/1.8 aperture and STM autofocus motor, this 55mm prime lens excels at isolating subjects with smooth bokeh, even in low light. Its compact 201g build and optical design with extra-low dispersion elements effectively suppress chromatic aberration and flaring. This lens is best for street photographers and videographers who need a lightweight, fast-focusing portrait lens for Nikon Z mount cameras.

Read Full Review
Meike 55mm F1.8 Full Frame AF STM Stepping Motor lens
Price CA$319

Viltrox Fujinon XF 9mm F2.8 XF-Mount APS-C

89.8 Macro Score
9mm f/2.8 Fujifilm X IS
Why we recommend this

Its 9mm focal length and f/2.8 aperture provide an expansive 113.8° field of view and solid low-light performance for an APS-C lens. The lens also features a very close 0.13m minimum focusing distance, enabling unique wide-angle macro perspectives. This prime is best for Fujifilm shooters specializing in dramatic landscape, real estate, or creative close-up photography.

Read Full Review

Brightin Star 7.5mm F2.8 III Ultra Wide Angle Fisheye

89.2 Macro Score
60mm f/2.8 Canon EF-M IS
Why we recommend this

Its standout 2x magnification and 60mm focal length make it a specialized tool for extreme close-up photography on APS-C Canon EOS-M cameras. The lens's large f/2.8 aperture and long 160-degree focus travel provide excellent low-light capability and precise manual control. This lens is best for dedicated macro photographers who need high reproduction ratios for subjects like insects or intricate product details.

Read Full Review

Viltrox AF 14mm f4.0 FE

87.4 Macro Score
14mm f/4.0 Sony FE IS
Why we recommend this

Its 14mm focal length with a 112° field of view and a remarkably close 0.13m minimum focus distance allows for expansive landscapes and creative close-ups. The optical design, featuring multiple ED and aspherical elements, ensures sharp image quality, while its lightweight 380g build enhances portability. This lens is best for landscape and architectural photographers who also want the versatility for detailed foreground shots in a single, compact lens.

Read Full Review

Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO

85.3 Macro Score
65mm f/2.8 Canon RF
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is a true 2:1 maximum magnification, allowing for extreme close-up photography that doubles the subject size on the sensor. The lens incorporates three extra-low dispersion elements for high sharpness and color accuracy, minimizing chromatic aberration even at its widest f/2.8 aperture. This lens is best for dedicated macro photographers and product detail specialists who require greater than life-size reproduction without using extension tubes.

Read Full Review

Panasonic Meike MK-8mm f2.8 Ultra Wide Circular Prime Manual Focus Fisheye

84.7 Macro Score
8mm f/2.8 Micro Four Thirds IS
Why we recommend this

Its 8mm focal length and f/2.8 aperture deliver a dramatic 109-degree diagonal field of view for immersive fisheye shots. The lens is notably compact and features a multi-layer nano-coating to effectively control flare. This is best for Micro Four Thirds photographers seeking an affordable, manual fisheye lens for creative landscapes or unique architectural perspectives.

Read Full Review

Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Macro

83.7 Macro Score
35mm f/1.8 Canon RF IS
Why we recommend this

Its standout 0.5x macro magnification and 5-stop optical image stabilization make it a versatile prime lens for a 35mm focal length. The inclusion of a control ring and compact 306g design adds direct manual control and excellent portability. This lens is best for photographers who need a lightweight, stabilized option for close-up product or nature photography, not for dedicated portrait work.

Read Full Review
Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Macro lens
Price CA$600

7Artisans 60mm F2.8 Mark II Macro Manual Focus Camera

83 Macro Score
60mm f/2.8 Sony E IS
Why we recommend this

Its 0.175m minimum focusing distance and internal focusing design make it a compact, 342g tool for extreme close-ups. The inclusion of an ED element helps control aberrations for high-resolution detail in macro work. This lens is best for photographers specializing in still life, insect, or botanical macro photography where precise manual focus is preferred.

Read Full Review

Mitakon Zhongyi 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro

82.7 Macro Score
55mm f/2.8 Canon EF
Why we recommend this

Its standout 5:1 maximum magnification allows for extreme close-up detail, supported by a versatile working distance range of 2.6 to 5.9 inches. The lens is a fast, normal-length prime offering a useful f/2.8 to f/22 aperture range on a full-frame sensor. This lens is best for macro photographers and scientists who require extreme magnification for documenting tiny subjects like insect anatomy or intricate textures.

Read Full Review

Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO

82.6 Macro Score
65mm f/2.8 Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

Its standout 2:1 magnification ratio allows for extreme close-up photography, surpassing the typical 1:1 macro lens. The inclusion of three extra-low dispersion elements ensures high sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration for its specialized purpose. This lens is best for macro photographers and product detail specialists who require extreme magnification and optical correction for their work.

Read Full Review

TTArtisan APS-C 56mm F1.8 AF Auto Focus AF Prime Fixed Focus Large Aperture

82.5 Macro Score
50mm f/1.8 Sony E IS
Why we recommend this

Its STM autofocus motor provides quiet and fast focusing, while its f/1.8 aperture is beneficial for low-light photography and achieving a shallow depth of field. The lens offers a perfect 84mm full-frame equivalent focal length for portrait work, with accurate eye detection to capture sharp subjects. This lens is best for APS-C Sony shooters prioritizing portrait photography and low-light performance on a budget.

Read Full Review