If you were to ask any cinematographer “what’s that most important part of a camera?”. Their response would almost always be the lens. Used correctly and in the right settings, a good lens can give amazing video results that both are sharp and look beautiful. Today, we’re going to be looking at the best vlogging lenses available in 2021 for all types of cameras.
A “vlog”, a combination of the words video and blog, is meant to capture our daily routines and events in the form of a short video. Nowadays, vlogs are extremely popular with travel enthusiasts because it allows them to document everything around them and helps give their viewers an authentic, comprehensive idea of what to expect from a particular travel destination.
Since lenses are such important pieces of equipment for a YouTuber Vloggers. I have decided to make this guide on the best Vlogging lenses, so you too can take full advantage of their glassy goodness!
| Brand Name | Aperture | Image Stabilization | Auto-Focus | Rating | More Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EF-S 10-18mm | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | Yes | 4.5 | Find Out More |
| Canon EF-S 10-22mm | f/3.5-4.5 | Yes | Yes | 4.5 | Find Out More |
| Canon EF-S 17-55mm | f/2.8 | Yes | Yes | 4.6 | Find Out More |
| Sony 10-18mm | f/4 | Yes | Yes | 4.7 | Find Out More |
| Sony 16-35mm | f/4 | Yes | Yes | 4.8 | Find Out More |
| Sony 12-24mm | f/4 | Yes | Yes | 4.8 | Find Out More |
| Nikon 10-20mm | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | Yes | 4.4 | Find Out More |
| Nikon 10-24mm | f/3.5-4.5 | Yes | Yes | 4.5 | Find Out More |
| Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 | f/2.8 | Yes | Yes | 4.9 | Find Out More |
| Panasonic Lumix G 14-140mm | f/3.5-5.6 | Yes | Yes | 4.8 | Find Out More |
What types of lenses are best for YouTubers & Vloggers?
As I touched on briefly above, Vloggers require certain features from their lenses which traditionally wouldn’t be used. Also with the unique way in which Vlogs are recorded, there also has to be a certain focal length/wide angle aspect.
This is mainly due to the fact that most Vloggers hold their cameras out in from of them via their arms, or attached to a mini tripod. Because of this, a wide angle lens is best suited for Vloggers, ideally in the 10-25mm range.
Having that wide angle view allows Vloggers to capture themselves, others and the background in frame. Combining all these subjects together helps one tell a story which their audience will love! The wide frame gives vloggers the ability to show their viewers a better, more realistic view of what they can expect.
How I found the best Vlogging lenses
After Vlogging self for close to 3 years and speaker to dozens of other Vloggers. I have come up with a list of features which I always looks for when picking a good lens for my camera. While a lens doesn’t have to have all of these features, its preferred if you can find one with at least 3 of the below 5 features.
- Wide angle: As I touched on above, having a lens with a wide angle focal length is a must. Also its preferred to get a variable lens which means your not locked into one focal length. 10-18mm, 10-22mm & 18-55mm are good choices.
- Large Aperture: The aperture of a lens is how wide is can open which allows more light to the sensor and is great for shallow depth of field videos. A minimum aperture of f/5 is great for Vlogging. Anything below is a bonus.
- Optical Image Stabilization: As Vloggers, we tend to record in a wide range of environments. So having a lens that can deliver smooth buttery footage is very import. IOS also sometimes depends on the camera that you are using.
- Continuous Auto Focus: Being able to track yourself within a video and keep in focus is critical. There is nothing worse than out of focus video. Even if you lose focus for a second, that gives the viewer time to get pulled out from the video and makes the experience less immersive than if it had stayed in focus. So, investing in a lens that stays focused is definitely worth it!
- Compatibility: Unfortunately not all lenses are born equal. Finding a lens that is compatible with many different cameras will allow you to upgrade the camera body and not have to reinvest into new lenses.
Below I have segmented the different types of lenses into brand category. I have included lenses for Canon, Nikon, Sony & Lumix cameras.
In order for you to better navigate my list, I have color coded the cameras brands so you can quickly scroll down to your desired camera brand.
- Canon
- Sony
- Nikon
- Panasonic
Ok, lets get into it!
Top 10 Best Vlogging Lenses For All Cameras & Budgets
1. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Specifications
Brand: Canon
Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length: 10-18mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Review
First up on my list of best Vlogging lenses is my number one pick for those who are using Canon cropped sensor cameras. In a nutshell, this is my favourite pick as it ticks all of the essentials features that I mentioned above.
To add a cherry on top of that, it is also quite affordable when compared to many other lenses on the market.
I have been using this Canon 10-18mm lens on my Canon EOS 70D for the past 2 years. During that time I have been thrilled with its performance for my video content. This lens has consistently given me crystal clear video that is both smooth and sharp.
If you plan on recording a Vlog in a Casey Neistat style manner, then having the above features are a must in my opinion. With recording on the go, having the OIS and continuous AF are absolute lifesavers. Without them, you run the risk of having shaky and out of focus video.
Many times I have received positive comments on video footage within my Vlogs. While I do take some credit, I also put it down to this lens. Overall I have had a great experience with this lens and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone!
2. Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens Specifications
Brand: Canon
Aperture: f/3.5-4.5
Focal Length: 10-22mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens Review
Next up on my list is another great wide angle lens from Canon that has been around for close to 10 years. You know what they say, if it aint broke, don’t fix it! This definitely applies to this lens as it is much loved amongst the video and Vlogging community.
While the above 10-18mm lens is considered and entry level wide angle lens. This Canon EF-S 10-22mm is more of a intermediate level lens as it boasts some added benefits. For me, what made this lens stand out was the wider aperture and faster auto focus capabilities.
When comparing the aperture of the lenses, this one has an extra stop which may not seem like much. But after you record in low light settings, you really can start to tell. While its not a major, it sure comes in handy when you need it.
If you want to learn more about Canon Vlogging lenses, you can check out my guide here!
3. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens Specifications
Brand: Canon
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 17-55mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens Review
Coming in next on my list of best Vlogging lenses is the uber sharp and ultra quick Canon EF-S 17-55mm lens. I will come out right away and say that this lens is very hefty! It comes in at 22.8 ounces which makes it a heavy weight. But it sure does pack a punch!
Also as you might have guessed, this lens does not come cheap! In actual fact, it costs more than many entry level cameras with lenses! But do I regret purchasing this lens? Definitely not! It has given me outstanding shared videos day after day.
4. Sony SEL1018 10-18mm Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
Sony SEL1018 10-18mm Wide-Angle Zoom Lens Specifications
Brand: Sony E (NEX) Mount Cameras
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 10-18mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Sony SEL1018 10-18mm Wide-Angle Zoom Lens Review
Moving on to the Sony lineup of lenses in this list! Sony has become an absolute powerhouse in the camera scene in the past 5 years. With their introduction of a stellar lineup of mirrorless cameras, people have started to migrate to this amazing new format.
One lens in particular that has also attracted new users to Sony is this 10-18mm wide angle lens with an aperture of f/4. One major difference between this lens and the above Canon lenses is the footprint which is almost half the size. This comes in incredibly handy for keeping the overall weight of the camera setup down.
I was using this lens with my Sony NEX 6 which I took on a recent trip to Thailand for a travel Vlog. Having the smaller and light weight lens/camera comb was a huge bonus. I would also recommend picking up some 62mm filters for some extra creativity.
As for the sharpness and quality of the lens, I was thoroughly surprised with the pin point sharpness and image stabilization. Overall a great lens!
5. Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS E-Mount Lens
Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS E-Mount Lens Specifications
Brand: Sony E (NEX) Mount Cameras
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 16-35mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS E-Mount Lens Review
Next up is another incredible offering by Sony for E mount cameras which gave me stunningly rich video footage that was razor sharp at all focal lengths! Seriously, this lens is unbelievably sharp for being a variable lens. I usually find this in prime lenses, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Built with a metal construction, it feels very sturdy in the hand and has some heft to it. While it is a smaller lens, it weighs around 18 ounces. But I was happy having the extra weight as I knew I could be a bit more demanding of the lens.
In use, I got great results when used with my Sony A7ii which made this lens an ultra wide angle on a full frame body. Mostly I was using this for recording Vlogs on the go where I needed a wide angle view to get myself and the surroundings in frame. As for the price, its not ideal, but if you have the budget, this is a great pick for one of the best vlogging lenses!
6. Sony SEL1224G 12-24mm f/4-22 Fixed Zoom Camera Lens
Sony SEL1224G 12-24mm f/4 Fixed Zoom Camera Lens Specifications
Brand: Sony E Mount Cameras
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 12-24mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Sony SEL1224G 12-24mm f/4 Fixed Zoom Camera Lens Review
Last but not least in my roundup of the best Vlogging lenses from Sony is the 12-24mm F4 G lens which is made for Sony’s full frame mirrorless cameras. (It is also compatible with E mount cameras).
When it came to the downsides, I found that there were in fact a few. Not major, but worth mentioning. First was the inability to add any filters due the bulbous lens. Second was the fixed lens hood. Looking more closely, these design features are needed for such a wide angle lens.
7. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G
Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G Specifications
Brand: Nikon DX Cropped Sensor
Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length: 10-20mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G Review
Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about all you Nikon fans out there! While Nikon isn’t widely known for their video capabilities in their cameras, there are still many great offerings out there. And in my opinion, are greatly under appreciated.
One thing I think that deters new video creators to Nikon is the lack of lenses and the large price ranges. However Nikon is slowly starting to change this which is great sign! Take this Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 wide angle lens for cropped sensor cameras which came out in 2017.
Nikons widest range lens before this was close to $1,000, as opposed to this model which is about the third of the price! So how does this particular lens stack up? Attached to my Nikon D500, I got great results and it helped to deliver great crispy 4K video.
Nonetheless one of the best Vlogging lenses that Nikon has to offer!
8. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Specifications
Brand: Nikon DX Cropped Sensor
Aperture: f/3.5-4.5
Focal Length: 10-24mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Review
Remember that lens I was mentioning above that was close to $1,000? Well as you might have guessed… this is it! If budget is of no concern to you, then this might be the lens for you if you are sporting a Nikon cropped sensor DX camera.
Also with an ultra wide lens of this calibre, I noticed almost no distortion on the corners of the video which I usually find in wide angle lenses. As far as sharpness and low light performance is concerned, this lens really stood out when compared to many of my other Canon lenses.
Wide-angle lenses usually distort the picture quality near the edges, which you can see especially in photos taken on your phone’s wide-angle camera. However, you can quickly solve this problem by using this lens, as the picture quality is guaranteed to remain crisp throughout the width of the footage.
9. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens Specifications
Brand: Nikon DX Cropped Sensor
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 11-16mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continious Auto Focus: ✅
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens Review
Ok, so from you can obviously tell from the title, this is not a Nikon branded lens. But don’t let that deter you! There are many great third party lenses out there such as Tokina and Sigma that offer up some great features on the cheap.
While I would typically try and stay within the Nikon ecosystem, there unfortunately aren’t many other wide angle lenses available. But thats okay as Tokina picks up the slack! So how did this third party lens perform in a Vlogging situation?
When it came to the downsides, I noticed one major flaw which was the loud auto focusing mechanism which was on the loud side. When it came to editing, I did notice these sounds which were subtle, but still noticeable. So it would be good to keep that in mind if you plan on recording in a quiet studio or room.
10. Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Specifications
Brand: Lumix Cameras
Aperture: f/3.5-5.6
Focal Length: 14-140mm
Optical Image Stabilization: ✅
Continuous Auto Focus: ✅
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Review
Last but not least on my review of the best Vlogging lenses is the mighty Panasonic Lumix 14-140mm lens! Lumix cameras are starting to gain momentum in the Vlogging community with creators like Casey Neistat and David Dobrik using them in recent videos.
This can mainly be out down to the light weight footprints of the cameras and the suburb video quality along with great audio as well. When it comes to the Lumix 14-140mm lens, it stacks up really well for a compact lens. While I was mainly using it for wide angle, it also has some great telephoto capabilities. But I didn’t use the telephoto that often.
The only real gripe I had with this lens was the average optical image stabilization. I noticed it gave me quite inconsistent results when using on the go. I also had to do some post processing image stabilization in Final Cut Pro. Nonetheless a good option for Lumix camera users!
The Bottom Line
Vlogging has become extremely popular in recent years, especially since most people turn to YouTube vlogs before they make any big decisions, such as when it comes to travel destinations. If you’re planning to travel anytime soon, you should definitely check out some vlogs on YouTube before you go, that way you have a much better idea of what to expect once you get there!
To hold the viewers’ interest, creators can’t upload choppy footage or have low quality resolution. So, you need lenses that will accurately capture the essence of whatever it is you’re talking about. We hope you found this article about the top 10 best vlogging lenses available in the market today helpful! If you’re interested in similar topics, please feel free to check out our other articles!
Hopefully this article gave you some information on the best vlogging lenses. I have also written a guide on how to pick the right Vlogging camera for your needs and budget here.
Learn more about Vlogging cameras and gear
Alex says
So many typos in your write-ups, it’s really shocking. You don’t even have the decency to check your writing before wasting our time? How is anything you share trustworthy with such low level of professionalism? Don’t want to sound harsh, but it’s really disappointing and needs to be improved.
Ginger says
Good grief! Get a life! This is an excellent review of lenses … saving me tons of time trying to figure it out as a newbie! Not everyone can be a master of EVERYTHING like stupid spelling … who cares?!
Ginger says
Thanks for this wonderful review! Am a newbie with a a6000 in the mail I got off ebay new for $460 w/kit, so very excited! It’s not easy trying to figure out what accessories to get on a small budget, especially the lenses. I live in Hawai’i and will vlogging outdoors interviews … that will also include the need for zoom, when those whales show up … or of Mauna Kea with snow from the ocean … or who knows what!