The Best Lenses for a Canon 40D
The Canon 40D is a digital SLR camera with a 10.1-megapixel sensor, a Digic III image processor and the ability to take up to 6.5 shots per second. Since it's a DLSR, you can change the lens on the camera. According to Canon, it can use EF, EF-S, TS-E, and MP-E series lenses. When determining the best lens for you, you need to consider the focal length, aperture and image quality as well as the price range. Prices for the best lenses can be well over $1,000, which may be significantly more than some people are willing to spend.
Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
The Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is a general-purpose lens with a wide focal length range. The top aperture of f/3.5 at the wide-angle end is sufficient for daytime shooting. However you'll have a harder time capturing action shots and low-light shots when you zoom in because the maximum aperture is reduced to f/5.6 when the lens is set to 135mm. However, the lens does have image stabilization, which helps minimize the effect of your hand shaking while taking the picture. While this feature will not help freeze the action, it will help with low-light shots. For those looking for a lens with more zooming power, consider the Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS.
Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS
For those looking for a wide-angle lens that offers higher image quality and a wider aperture, the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS may be the best lens. The maximum f/2.8 aperture remains constant over the entire focal length range. A wider aperture lets in more light, thus helping you capture faster action shots as well as better low-light images.
Canon 70-200mm lenses
Canon makes several lenses with the focal range of 70-200mm with the difference being the maximum aperture of either f/2.8 or f4.0 and the addition of image stabilization. The best model, the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS has a wide aperture through the entire focal length and has image stabilization. If you don't always shoot fast-moving objects or low-light shots, you may not need the f/2.8 top aperture and can save money by purchasing the 70-200mm f/4.0 IS. If you always use a tripod, the image stabilization will not be of use to you and you should consider either the 70-200mm f/2.8 or the 70-200mm f/4.0.
Tags: focal length, image stabilization, low-light shots, maximum aperture, action shots, best lens, Best Lenses Canon