While mirrorless cameras are becoming increasingly popular, DSLRs maintain a significant following among hobbyists and professionals alike. Choosing one over the other mostly comes down to personal preference.

However, once you make that choice, you need to select the right lenses. Choosing lenses for a DSLR camera can be complicated because of the sheer amount available. Professionals will likely need a plethora of different lenses, while everyday users can make do with a Holy Trinity set of three that covers everything or a single one that fits their personal needs.

Here are the best DSLR camera lenses available today.

Our Favorite Lenses for DSLR cameras in 2023

You can use this Canon EF 100-400mm telephoto lens in a wide variety of situations. However, it is primarily a lens for wildlife and sports photography because its maximum 400mm focal length can get you close to your subjects.

Tracking animals on the move or a striker in a soccer game is a breeze, thanks to the fast USM-powered autofocus. You can shoot images instantaneously, and the motor allows manual override at any given time.

However, since its widest aperture is f/4.5, you may wish to experiment with higher ISO settings in low-light situations. The 3-mode, 4-stop image stabilizer ensures your shots are steady and sharp, enhancing your ability to capture perfect images in challenging lighting.

It’s also a good lens for portraiture, especially when taking candids where there will be a bit of distance between you and the subject. The nine diaphragm blades can isolate subjects with a beautifully smooth, rounded bokeh. Additionally, the lens combats color distortion well, regardless of the focal length, while the Air Sphere Coating reduces backlit flaring and ghosting.

This Canon lens is a medium-telephoto lens and one of the best for taking portraits. With its fast f/1.4 aperture, you get excellent low-light performance and, coupled with its 9-blade diaphragm, exceptional bokeh. It’s also the first 85mm in Canon’s Luxury L-series to feature image stabilization.

This stabilizer gives the photographer much more freedom than usual. Pesky tripods and cumbersome flashes are unnecessary, and you can capture expressions more naturally and informally. Handheld wedding photography, from outdoor ceremonies to indoor receptions, is especially a breeze.

The stabilizer element features an Air Sphere Coating to correct any spherical distortion and minimize backlit flare and ghosting. It also has a premium GMo aspherical element for precise sharpness and detailed contrast. Autofocus is also fast and accurate, and you can override it manually at any time.

You don't have to worry about your photography in inclement weather with its durable weather sealing. However, it is a little on the heavy side, so shoulders may start to ache after extensive use.

If you want a wide-angle prime lens with a fast aperture, the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens offers exceptional performance for your creative photography needs. It’s a finely crafted lens available at a much more agreeable price than leading manufacturers sell their own-brand versions for. It delivers excellent image quality for street, architectural, landscape, astro, and other types of photography.

Build quality is superb, and the optical design features three FLD, four SLD, and two aspherical elements with Super Multi-Layer Coatings for effectively reducing ghosting and flare. Additionally, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any chromatic aberrations or distortion.

Image quality is highly pleasing when you consider the edge-to-edge sharpness it delivers. Even with the aperture at its widest, the detail is optimal. This wide aperture also results in some stunning, well-rounded bokeh as a result of the lens’ 9-blade diaphragm.

The autofocus is swift, accurate, and silent and features a manual override that you can trigger at any time. As it’s a prime lens, focusing is entirely internal, which means the front element stays precisely where it is. This lens is for Canon EF mounts, but Nikon F and Sony E-Mount versions are also available.

Capturing moments from afar at events such as weddings, parties, or concerts is all the easier with a 70-200mm lens. You can capture natural expressions in the moment or take carefully composed portraits with beautiful background blur.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR features a robust polycarbonate barrel accentuated with golden trimmings for a tasteful look. It has a few buttons and switches on the barrel for ease of use, including four separate buttons for easy-access AF lock and an auto/manual switch. There’s also a focus limiter feature that gives you greater control over the autofocus. You can set it to operate across the entire range or within a specific area. This feature limits the search range and speeds up the autofocus.

As you alter the focal length, the physical size of the lens remains the same, thanks to its internal-zoom design. The minimum focus length is 3.6 feet, which adds a degree of versatility to the lens. While it doesn’t quite have the ability of a macro lens, this is quite impressive for one of this type.

Image quality is sharp, especially as you stop down to smaller apertures. At f/2.8, you’ll get images that are a little soft at the edges. This fast aperture is available throughout the zoom range. However, distortion does become a bit more apparent at longer focal lengths.

If you are searching for the perfect lens for macro photography, the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is the lens to go for. It is compatible with Canon EF mounts and shoots at a 1:1 magnification ratio. However, you can increase this by using a compatible APO teleconverter.

The lens restricts light dispersion inside by using LD glass elements, which stop chromatic distortion. With a rounded 9-blade circular diaphragm, you also get a smooth bokeh behind your subject, which could be a ladybug or a blooming flower.

Thanks to a comfortable minimum shooting distance of just over five and a half inches and a quiet yet fast internal focussing system, you won't disturb those subjects either. Coupled with its excellent stabilization technology, handheld shots from very short distances produce outstanding results.

Additionally, it’s a good lens for action photography, and you can create sharp, in-the-moment images in vivid detail. The Hyper-Sonic Motor is silent and swift and will help your autofocus track and capture fast-moving trains, jumping pets, or stampeding wild animals.

If you want a classic 35mm with a wider aperture than usual, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G is a good choice. It is a little on the heavy side for this type of lens, but it does feature a robust aluminum barrel, and the aperture is an ultra-wide f/1.4.

It’s a great choice if you travel and need a Jack-of-all-trades lens. It will capture excellent-quality landscapes and close-up portraits while it excels in street photography. You can take photos in all situations, be it day or night, indoors or outdoors, because this lens takes excellent dim-light images. You can capture all the neon lights and evening ambiance of any city you visit, including interior shots at restaurants or museums.

There is no LD element in this lens. Instead, it fights chromatic aberration using a single aspherical element, and the Nano-Crystal Coating, the mark of a serious Nikon lens, combats ghosting and flare. Furthermore, the internal-focusing system is hushed and has a swift Silent Wave Motor autofocus with full-time manual override.

With many camera companies pricing their lenses out of the reach of hobbyists, third-party manufacturers like Tamron offer fantastic alternatives at lower prices.

If you are looking to buy a set of holy trinity lenses, this 70-200mm from Tamron is a great choice to include and is compatible with Nikon FX mounts. The 5-stop Vibration Compensation (image stabilization to most people) is superb, and the rapid autofocus is one you can trust. This lens will give you sharp and detailed portraiture, landscape, architecture, and action images that you can be proud of. However, if you need to zoom even further, for example, when bird-watching, you can get a compatible teleconverter.

It’s a durable, well-built lens that still manages to remain lightweight and transportable. It will undoubtedly prove to be a bit of a bargain for amateurs and professionals alike.

Sigma’s reputation has grown in recent years, and they are no longer just a third-party lens manufacturer. Their Art range lenses have created a buzz in the photography world, and the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art lens is no different. It’s a lens designed for full-frame DSLRs, and this one is compatible with Canon EFs, but it is also available for Nikon F and Sigma SA mounts.

For those with a keen interest in capturing the stars, a 14-24mm ultra-wide angle lens is perfect for astrophotography. It’s also an excellent choice for landscapes and architecture. It shoots dramatic mountain ranges and abstract buildings in vivid detail. In fact, it’s difficult to find any problems with the optical quality of this lens. Images are sharp, and there is no evidence of chromatic aberration or other distortion. This quality is apparent even at full zoom, with picture edges having enough detail to compete with most premium-priced lenses.

Although a little heavy, it is still comfortable to hold and use and is robust and weather-sealed. It’s an excellent addition to any lens set and will prove to be a lot of fun to use.

Which DSLR Lens Is the Best Choice for You?

It largely depends on the type of photography you do, your budget, and, of course, the camera you use. Quality lenses for DSLR cameras generally don’t come cheap, but if you opt for third-party lenses from the likes of Tamron or Sigma, you can find some excellent deals that often match the performance of the leading company’s proprietary lenses.

One of the best value wide-angle lenses available today is the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens. Sigma’s Art lens range has been catching the attention of amateur and professional photographers alike for some time now, and this wide-angle prime lens has a fast aperture and delivers some well-detailed images even when the aperture is fully open.

With portrait photography among the most popular genres, a quality 85mm is one that will serve you well. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM offers superb low-light performance with its fast aperture and excellent image stabilization. It’s the perfect choice for photographing people at events from weddings to music concerts, and you can leave that tripod at home.

If you like to shoot street photography, a 35mm is the popular pick, and the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G will provide you with high-quality urban stories to share.

But if you want an all-around lens, it’s best to get a telephoto one with an extensive focal range. These lenses can cover multiple genres and are suitable for travel. Tamron and Nikon have versatile 70-200mm lenses that produce excellent results. However, our overall top pick is the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. It’s a versatile lens you can use in various situations, from sports and action to wildlife photography. It also has a powerful autofocus and excellent image stabilization.