5 Best Camera Lens Under $200 | Read Before Buy

Are you looking to buy a camera lens under $200? And also looking for answers why would you buy so? Well, Google couldn’t have taken you to a much better website.

Most people nowadays are more into photography because of the new technologies that are being introduced every now and then. And when technology helps you to capture a beautiful scene, then why not give it a try. People do photography either it is their hobby, or it is their profession or it is something they find their inner peace at. Whatever the reason is, it’s always best that you are properly equipped with the right gear to satisfy the reason.

I, mainly am a sports photographer whose profession is sports photography. Before I reached a professional level of photography, I was an amateur. And therefore my equipment was pretty basic and easy to use. Once I mastered them, I moved on to some professional gadgets and began to get success in my career.

So my purpose for this review of camera lenses under $200 is just to help out those who are confused and want to know if buying a camera lens under 200 dollars would be a good choice. This article is a bit long as reviews contain a lot of information. So I would request you to bear with me till the end.

In this article, you will find a buying guide that focuses mostly on the factors you have to look at while choosing a camera lens under $200. I also added my own opinion about which lenses I think would be the best in terms of usage and price.

So hang on tight and let’s begin the review.

1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens would be a good choice for any photographer who is looking to buy a camera lens under $200. A lot of reasons and features of this camera lens. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is one of the most popular lenses during its time of release. The reason for its popularity was because of the prime wide aperture feature that it introduced to the market along with the stopped down image quality. All of these at a very low price.

During the time of its release, there was a huge demand by the photographers out there for a 50mm lens from canon. A good thing about this camera lens is that it is ultra-small in size and weight making portability very easy. The focal length of any camera is an important factor to look at. The focal length of the EF 50mm happens to come out to be very natural. This makes the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens the best choice for multipurpose photography like weddings, fashion, portraiture, sports, and many more. This also works well on panorama images.

With its ultra-wide aperture, the EF 50mm allows more light to come in making the image more stable and clear. You can get the actual scene in a photograph with this feature. You will also be able to create a strong background blur with lenses that have a wide aperture such as this lens. Another benefit is that you can get action-stopping shutter speed under low light conditions that also give you a high-quality image.

The focusing of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens has a steeping motor-driven AF system. When you are working with lenses that have manual focusing, you will see that the motors turn on when the focus ring is turned. Overall, under $200, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens would be a great choice if you are looking for a lens with which you can serve multiple purposes.

Features of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

• Focal length of 50mm
• Maximum aperture is of f/1.8
• The diagonal angle of the lens is 460
• Auto Focusing with full time manual
• The closest focusing range is 0.35m / 1.15ft
• Size of the filter- 49mm
• The stepping motor is noise free
• Great for multiple types of photography

Pros and cons of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Pros

• The sharpness is great at f/1.8
• Very light weight
• Easy to carry
• Noise free motor
• The video focus is smooth
• Very much affordable price

Cons

• Slower focus
• Can flare at times

2. Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens

The Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 is introduced for the Nikon SLR system cameras. There is a motor that is built within the lens itself. This gives the lens the ability to do autofocus with all the Nikon DSLR cameras. The built-in motor makes focusing much more noise-free and more responsive.

The Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 is a quality compact tele zoom lens that can cover a range from 70mm to 300mm. The maximum magnification of ratio 1:2. This tele zoom lens promises the best handling experience with the ease of portability anywhere in the real life because of its lightweight, size, and mechanical operation of the lens.

This lens is best suited for doing outdoor photography like sports. By doing outdoor photography you are being able to get the full use of the 300mm as well as provide the diversity that you always look for in portraiture.

Digitally Integrated is the position that the Tamron puts on lenses that are featuring optical systems designed to give you the performance as well as the characteristics of digital SLR cameras. The internal surface coating along with the multiple-layer coating technology on ordinary elements helps you get the minimum reflection when the light enters. The LD glass elements reduce various aberrations while minimizing the fall-off of light at the corners.

You can get the maximum magnification ratio of 1:2 at a minimum focus distance with the 70-300mm flipping a macro switch. With this transformation, you can now take close-up shots of let’s say insects, flowers, and other objects that require a lens with a specially designed macro lens.

The Tamron is fairly soft in terms of sharpness when you are using it wide open. When you go towards its 300mm end range, it gets softer. You get the respectable sharpness when you close the aperture to one-stop.

Features of the Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens

• Focal Length is of 70–300mm
• The Maximum Aperture you can get is f/4–5.6
• Lens is Constructed in 17 elements in 12 groups
• 34°–8°15′ is the Diagonal Angle View of this lens
• Focus Adjustment type is AF with full-time manual
• A Closest Focusing Distance of 3.94 ft. / 1.2m
• The Filter Size of this lens is 2.6 in. / 77mm diameter

Pros and cons of the Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens

Pros

• Auto focus is built-in
• Full frame sensor is covered
• Hood supplied
• Very cheap in terms of price

Cons

• Softer images on the 300mm end

3. Meike 85mm F1.8

The brand Meike is a new company manufacturing independent camera lens that fits both Nikon and Cannon branded cameras. This company has got its recognition by manufacturing camera lenses that are very low costing and creative in the design along with some unique specifications that are sure to grab the eye of a photographer. The Meike 85mm F1.8 is one of those lenses of Meike that has some unique features that make it one of the choices to buy a camera lens under $200.

The unique feature that it has is that this lens focuses down to 1.5x life-size. Generally, most macro lenses would stop at life-size or even half the life-size, but the Meike 85mm F1.8 goes beyond that, making the photographers capture the magic. The performance of this lens maintains its standards for which it can compete with experienced brands.

The front of the lens is very well engineered with a lens hood with a locking catch. If you take a look in the front element you will see a 12 bladed diaphragm. This ensures an effective round aperture which is perfect for bokeh. The lens is fully based on manual focus, giving you the perfect chance to focus just as you like it. Nanotechnology is used to give the lens its multi-coating.

You will find the lens to come with two focus rings. The first one is located to the front that is used for internal focusing and can be operated to 0.25m giving you a magnification of 1:1. The second ring is used to give you a better magnification up to 1.5:1 which means that a 1cm object will appear to be 1.5cm. This is a very unique feature of this lens that you will not find in other lenses.

Features of the Meike 85mm F1.8

• Has a standard 85mm full frame range.
• Can be used for subject photography such as architecture, landscape, portrait, and many more.
• Has a very wide aperture of f1.8.
• Has 9 diaphragm blades that gives you a higher quality round blur effect for your image
• The compatibility is very high.
• Only manual focus for your desired focusing
• Has an angle view of 28.5o

Pros and cons of the Meike 85mm F1.8

Pros

• Unique feature
• The price is cheap
• Can be used for different photography
• Has a wide aperture
• Good sharpness
• Give a good blurry effect for better bookeh

Cons

• Has only one type of focus which is manual focus

4. Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens

If you are an amateur photographer and are just beginning your career in photography then you should definitely go for the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens. This would be a good camera lens under $200 if you are budget conscious. This camera lens is best suited for sports, wildlife, and travel photography.

One of the major features that sigma has been working on is the fact to correct the distortion and aberrations while taking pictures. You will find Sigma using two sensors inside their lens that are used to detect horizontal and vertical movements and thus use a dedicated stabilizing lens group to give you a stable image.

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens can be used on bodies like the Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma, and Sony. If you are talking about the focal length, just know that it has a fairly compact and lightweight lens. This helps you to carry it around freely enhancing the portability. The optical design of the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens has 16 elements in 11 groups. If you dive into the lens you’ll see that the lens uses a super multi-layer coating to reduce the flare and ghosting just to provide a very high contrast image. It has 9 bladed diaphragms and a circular aperture that gives you high-quality bokeh.

The price you are getting this lens at, you will be amazed by seeing its build quality, which is above average. The finishing of the lens is very smooth. Some of the barrels of the lens have a matte black finish which makes it more attractive. The stainless steel mounting plate used in this lens helps in providing a secure connection to the body.

Features of the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens

• Has a high focal range of 70-300mm
• The maximum aperture is found to be f4.0-f5.6
• Corrects the distortion and aberrations
• Two sensors to provide you a stable image
• 9 bladed diaphragm
• Best for travel and wildlife photography.
• The circular aperture gives a blurry effect which is best for taking bokeh

Pros and Cons of the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens

Pros

• Built in Auto focus
• Covers Full Frame sensor
• Hood is supplied
• Auto focus

Cons

• Slow aperture

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

When going with Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Lens, you have to think about the features that it has and where you can use this lens. To begin with, Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III is a mediocre lens. To be more precise, if you are new to photography and are looking to start your career in sports photography, most professionals would recommend this version of the Canon lens. When I decided to start my career in the sports photography field, I began with this lens.

Some of its features are very much helpful for beginners. For example, Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Lens is very light, cheap, and small. This makes this lens very much affordable for almost all photographers. The small size makes the lens more durable to be carried around easily. The lightweight makes it a burden-free lens. However, this isn’t the lens that will be able to withstand weather abuse. So I highly suggest that you always do a weather check before taking it out for some shots.

The quality of the image is also of a mediocre level. Canon EF 75-300mm III is a lens that is soft wide open at all focal lengths. You will see the sharpness decrease as you towards 300mm from 70mm. The softness of the corner gets better as you move towards 300mm. Another good feature is to have a 7-blade aperture at this price. The vignette is controlled well, and the focus speed is quite good, but not fast. If you want to catch some beautiful memories at a low price, Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 is the one for you.

Features of Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Lens

Here are some of the features that a beginner should take a look into before buying this. I am sure these features will help you understand more about this lens and give you reasons to buy it.

• The Focal length is of 75-300mm
• 1:4-5.6 is the Maximum aperture of this lens
• construction of this lens is of 13 elements in 9 groups
• 32 (at 11 feet) to 8 degrees (at 15 feet) is the Diagonal angle of view of EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6
• 4.9 feet is the Closest focusing distance
• Zoom system is the Rotating type
• 58mm is its Filter size
• Lens has a Dimensions of 2.8 inches in diameter, 4.8 inches long
• Weight: 16.8 ounces

Pros and Cons of Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Lens

Take a look at both the good and bad sides of this lens to get more ideas about it.

Pros

• Very cheap
• Light-weighted
• Small and flexible
• Stabilized
• Sharp at the wide end
• Easy to use. Best for beginners
• The range is good
• Makes less noise
• Autofocus is quick

Cons

• Not weather sealed
• While focusing, lens extend
• Slow aperture at wide end

Things to consider while buying camera lens under $200

Choosing the best camera lens under $200 can be a tricky job. There are so many things that you need to keep an eye out for. Also, each type of lens has its own specialty. Although the final purpose of using them is to just take images, when it comes to clicking images like a pro, you cannot use a single type of lens for all sorts of photography. Each lens has its own special features that ensure that you can be subjected to a single type of photography. So when buying your camera lens for under $200, you need to look at the following features to get the best one.

Focal Length

When choosing a lens for your photography mission, the choice basically depends on the beholder’s eye. Generally, it has been seen that you will choose the one that you like most. But, that is not the right thing to do when the case is about getting the perfect lens for your fashion photography projects.

The first thing you need to focus on is the focal length of the lens. In the case of focal length, you will find 2 different types – fixed focal length and variable focal length.

The focal length of a camera lens is represented in millimeters. Based on the type of sports photography you are willing to do, you will need a lens of that focal length that best suits that particular photography. The focal length is important in understanding the distance of the object and the depth of the field.

Maximum Aperture

The aperture of a lens is considered to be the most crucial factor while buying. The clarity depends mostly on how much light you can add to your image. You should always buy a lens that has a maximum aperture. A high aperture means that more light can enter, and the image, therefore, will be much clearer. This helps in taking images in low-light environments. This is mostly used for indoor sports, where there is a lack of natural and powerful light. It is also quite important to give a higher level of focus to the aperture of the lens that you are thinking to buy.

Aperture mainly controls the depth of field of your lens. There is a strong relationship between the aperture of the lens and the amount of light that will hit the sensor. Always keep in mind that if your lens has a wider aperture, then it will allow more lights to hit the sensor.

Image Stabilization

Whichever lens you buy, you must try to get the one that has image stabilization. Image stabilization helps in enhancing the image quality and taking you closer and closer to your desired image. Image stabilization also enhances shake reduction and thus reduces any sort of noise on the image, making it sharp. This feature also reduces the need for a tripod. If your lens has image stabilization, you will be able to take steady images and the clarity of your images will be high.

My top 3 picks for best camera lens under $200

Well after reviewing all of the camera lenses, I would like to narrow it down to the top 3 camera lenses under $200. This pick is totally based on my personal experience with the lens and I have used them in my practical photography life. I am sure this will help you pick one for yourself and get started right away rather than spending so much time researching. Here are my top 3 picks for a camera lens under 200 dollars.

Choice 1- Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens

This lens is for those who just started their career in sports photography and are looking to do a lot of experiments to understand the factors that capture a high-quality image.

Why choose this?

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens has the most basic features of a lens that is needed to begin one’s career in sports photography. The image quality is of an intermediate level. The lens is light and small in size, making it easy to use and carry. The best part is the price, which is very cheap, to begin with. This is the best Canon sports lens, to begin with at the best price. One can do a lot of practice with it before moving on to a higher and better version. I personally started off with this lens before moving towards Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens.

Well, there you have my opinion on which lenses I think would be best for a sports photographer of different levels. Go through the products and carefully read the specifications, and then give it a shot.

Choice 2- Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens

Why choose this?

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens has the most basic features of a lens that is needed to begin one’s career in sports photography. The image quality is of an intermediate level. The lens is light and small in size, making it easy to use and carry. The best part is the price, which is very cheap, to begin with. This is the best Canon sports lens, to begin with at the best price. One can do a lot of practice with it before moving on to a higher and better version. I personally started off with this lens before moving towards Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens.

Well, there you have my opinion on which lenses I think would be best for a sports photographer of different levels. Go through the products and carefully read the specifications, and then give it a shot.

Choice 2- Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens

Why choose this?

The Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens has a good focal length of 70-300mm that enables you to take images at a higher range. You also can get a maximum magnification of ratio 1:2 which is insane. This tele zoom lens promises the best handling experience with the ease of portability anywhere in real life because of its lightweight, size, and mechanical operation of the lens, making your photography life easier. I personally have a very good experience using this lens as well. This lens is best suited for doing outdoor photography like sports if you are into sports photography like me. By doing outdoor photography you are being able to get the full use of the 300mm as well as provide the diversity that you always look for in portraiture.

Choice 3- My final choice would be the Meike 85mm F1.8

Why choose this?

The reason is very simple. I chose this because of the unique feature that this new brand Meike has to offer to us photographers. I honestly didn’t realize it before I bought it for myself and experience it with my own hands and eyes. The unique feature that made me so crazy to buy this lens is that it has is that this lens focuses down to 1.5x life-size. To be honest, most macro lenses that I have seen would stop at life-size or even half the life-size, but the Meike 85mm F1.8 goes beyond that.

The performance of this lens maintains its standards and thus I find it to be worth competing in the market with other popular brands. You will see that the front of the lens is very well engineered with a lens hood with a locking catch. If you take a look in the front element you will see a 12 bladed diaphragm. This ensures an effective round aperture which is perfect for bokeh. With its manual focus, I can focus the way I want to while taking my pictures.

FAQs

• Which is better for portraits 50mm or 85mm?

I think with a bit of help, you will be able to make the right decision. When you use an 85mm lens, you will be able to capture images that will be closely framed with your targeted subject. On the other hand, when you will use a 50mm lens, you will get an image where it will cover more elements and sections of the background.

• Can I use a flash instead of high aperture lens?

Flash is good equipment for taking pictures and adding light to it. However, at times, flash changes the color of the object by adding its own light. Flashes are used in poor lighting conditions. But if you use a high aperture lens in such conditions instead of a flash, you’ll get the image the way you wanted it in the original color will be captured.

• Is it wise to buy a camera lens under $200?

Yes, from my experience I can guarantee you that you should buy a camera lens for under $200 because these lenses are mostly for beginners and they will help you learn photography. Once you get the hang of photography and have more ideas about what lenses are you will be able to choose your own lens according to the type of photography that you do. Once you master your lens handling skills you can buy a more expensive lens for your profession.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it. I have now shown you the different types of camera lenses for under $200. I have spent months of research on the lens before buying them. Without the proper research, you could end up buying a lens that can be overpriced and doesn’t come in handy on the field that you choose to work at.

Everything you are reading is coming from a guy who has used all of these lenses. If you are new to photography then all lenses mentioned above, especially the top 3 picks that I have mentioned would be helpful for you. I highly recommend that you buy one of the lenses I mentioned above rather than looking for more options. The buying guide that I have added will help you the most in buying the camera lens for under 200 dollars.

Professionalism is an essential thing when it comes to being a photographer. You must try and make all your shots count. So this is why a photographer should always be ready with the right gear and equipment to make this happen. And so, if this is all I got for now. Feel free to share your opinions with me as well.

We will meet again on some different topics. If you have any questions feel free to comment or reach out to me and I’ll surely try to help you with your concern. If you want me to review any other type of lens that you want to know about then don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’ll use my experience to give you the best and most honest review that will help you.

Until next time, Click Click, and Click!!!