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May 16, 2023

Best zoom lenses 2023: Top lenses for Canon, Sony and more

Our experts have tested the best zoom lenses available today to give you a list of lenses that are guaranteed to improve your long-distance photography. You'll definitely want to invest in one of the

Our experts have tested the best zoom lenses available today to give you a list of lenses that are guaranteed to improve your long-distance photography.

You'll definitely want to invest in one of the best zoom lenses if you're serious about astrophotography, or about photography in general. Our experts have tested a wide range of zoom lenses available on the market today to bring you a list of the front runners that we think are really worth the investment.

A high-quality zoom lens is an essential piece of kit for any photographer and will give you the ability to change the focal length, whether it be wide-angle, telephoto, or something in between. This often comes with a reduced aperture and longer exposure time, but the payoff is that the very top zoom lenses can even measure up to the best telescopes when it comes to viewing distant objects, enabling you to capture great images of stars in the night sky.

If this sounds right up your street, then consider pairing one of these zoom lenses with one of the best cameras for astrophotography and check out our guide to astrophotography for beginners. One small downside of zoom lenses is that they can be a tad heavy and cumbersome to carry around, so you may also wish to invest in a quality camera backpack and a sturdy tripod to mount your camera on.

Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master OSS: was $2456.61, now $1998 at Amazon

A decent 20% off, now is a great time to buy this Sony zoom lens, bringing it closer to the price of the 70-200mm Sigma competitor. You'll undoubtedly achieve spectacular image quality from this all-purpose, wide-aperture zoom.

Why you can trust Space.com Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test and review products.

Our expert review:

Topping our list of zoom lenses is a real titan of a lens from Sony. Catering to both astrophotographers and daytime photographers, this high-quality lens is perfect for capturing deep-sky images at night or for shooting wildlife, nature or sports during the day. This makes it a versatile bit of kit with a wide appeal.

This is a lens that stands up incredibly well to the torture test of being shot with the aperture wide open, which is a must-have if you're considering using it for astrophotography. The center of the image is almost absurdly sharp, even when fully zoomed in at 600mm.

The 600mm maximum zoom achieved by this lens is an impressive feature. Admittedly, using this does cost you a little light as the aperture can only be opened as wide as f/6.3 once you crank it in, which will cost you either shutter speed or ISO (or a bit of both).

When you consider the potential weight of a 600mm lens with a faster aperture and the image quality capabilities of modern sensors, the compromise is worth the cost, particularly if you have a recent, full-frame camera capable of decent image quality at high ISOs. The huge amount of magnification on offer allows for some spectacular photographic opportunities. And with the Sony you can get all this for under $2,000.

There are a couple of downsides to this lens. Coming in at 4.7 lbs in weight, it can be quite heavy to maneuver when attached to an already weighty camera. This means that you'd be well advised to purchase a powerful star tracker to get the professional results you're seeking, which will bump the cost up even further. In addition, you'll also need to invest in a quality tripod in order to carry this level of payload.

Our expert review:

Nikon makes some bold claims about its range of S-Line lenses. Designed to be the best zoom lenses for mirrorless Z-mounts, the S-Line lenses claim to offer edge-to-edge sharpness and superb optical quality when shot wide open, making them especially appealing to astrophotographers.

Currently hovering around the $2,400 mark (which is quite a bit cheaper than Canon's identically specified RF-mount lens), this lens is already well-known for its impressive sharpness, as we discovered ourselves in our Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S review. If you're already a keen user of Nikon's Z platform and optical quality is more important to you than budget, then this is the clear choice for a mid-telephoto lens. Other brands can offer some competition, with Sigma's 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM being a notably lower-priced option — but with this one, you'd need to fork out for the FTZ mount adapter in addition to the lens. The Sigma option also cannot boast the same reputation as Nikon’s high-quality glass.

Several features work to place the Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line as one of the best zoom lenses on the market. It has a large maximum aperture, optical image stabilization and customizable Fn buttons. Another fun feature is the top OLED panel, which takes the place of the conventional focus distance marking ring. This can be configured to show focus distance, or you can set it to show aperture size, focal length, ISO or even depth of field. We also like the lens's control ring, which allows for further flexibility.

Astrophotographers may argue that extreme focal distances are the main priority for them and that this lens doesn't live up to that at only 200mm. However, the advantage of the 3.1 lbs weight of this lens is that it won't overwhelm the majority of star trackers and the images come out sharp enough to withstand all but the most aggressive of crops. In our books, it is still a worthy competitor.

Our expert review:

Is it too early in the reign of mirrorless cameras to start referring to DSLR lenses as 'classics'? If it isn't, then this beauty of a lens from Nikon is surely deserving of the title.

As we found in our Nikon Nikkor AF-S FX 70-200mm f/2.8 FL-ED VR review, this lens is optically outstanding and has been a mainstay of professional photojournalists for years. Now over five years old, and with fierce competition from Nikon's own mirrorless version (above), it's well worth scouring online auctions for well-cared-for examples of this excellent lens.

This lens doesn't miss the mark on apertures, with its largest f-stop of f/2.8 allowing in plenty of light. The FX in its name denotes that it was designed for full-frame cameras of the kind that many astrophotographers will own.

The level of light transmission is what really earns this lens its place in the list of best zoom lenses. Whilst some other lenses are longer, few telephoto lenses permit as much light in as this one does. Although it does not necessarily live up to the zooming capabilities of some others on this list, its 3.1 lbs weight makes it easy to maneuver and means that it doesn't need an overly high-performance motorized star tracker to work well.

One caveat is that if you're already a mirrorless Z-series camera owner (or if you have plans to buy one soon), then you may be better purchasing a sharper, more recent Z-mount S 70-200mm (above) since this is optically superior and comes in at a similar price.

Our expert review:

By any standards, the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR is a spectacular amount of lens for the money. You can find the lens for just under $1,400 and our Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens review showed us just how much you get for that price tag.

Wildlife photographers will love this lens and it performs well for astrophotography too. It can reach an impressive 500mm focal length and also comes with a constant aperture. This means that, unlike other superzoom lenses, the aperture doesn't close down to reduce the light reaching the sensor as you zoom in. It's far from the fastest super telephoto out there at only f/5.6, but that extra stop of light would put the price up dramatically and place it out of the range of many consumers.

The weight is an important consideration with this lens. Whilst the Sigma 150-600mm comes in at 4.2 lbs, this one is even heavier at 5.1 lbs. This could pose problems for lower-level tripods or star trackers, but most people using this sort of powerful focal length will be investing in a professional-grade tracker anyway.

Perhaps this lens's biggest competitor is the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM (below). This is an excellent lens and is marketed at a very similar price point. The Sigma is a little darker when zoomed in all the way (f/6.3 compared to the Nikon's f/5.6, which is a bit of a downer), but the trade-off is that you get a further 100mm on the focal length and it's nearly 1lb lighter than the Nikon, which might be enough to sway some users.

Our expert review:

When we reviewed the Canon RF 28-70mm f2 L USM lens, we were staggered by the quality of image created by this lens. The amount of glass it has is incredible and it also has an impressive 95mm filter thread, allowing it to let in an immense amount of light. This means that the Canon performs extremely well when shot wide open at f2 in low light conditions, despite not being the best focal length for astrophotography.

We were pleasantly surprised by how well it tracks moving objects, and it also has excellent eye tracking. Even more impressive is the fact that it gave no lens flare when shooting directly into the sun, which is almost unheard of. This Canon lens is fully weather sealed, but unfortunately has no image stabilization. That being said, it's such a big, bright lens that we wouldn't have noticed that it didn't have IS.

This lens only missed out on the five-star rating from us due to its size, weight and price. As well as being heavy and cumbersome, this lens is very expensive, putting it out of reach of many photographers. However, if you can handle the weight and you can afford to splash out, then this lens is a great option with some fantastic features.

Our expert review:

Canon's introduction of the RF-mount for its pro range of mirrorless cameras was greeted with cautious optimism by photographers until they got their hands on Canon's new pro-series lenses, at which point optimism gave way to unbridled joy. Their L-series lenses have already become a must-have for many photographers worldwide, and the L-series RF lenses manage to push the boundaries even further.

In comes Canon's RF 70-200mm f/2.8. It's undoubtedly a pricey option, but in our Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM review we found out exactly why that is — the image quality of this lens is absolutely out of this world. The sharpness and contrast are fantastic across the whole image and the build quality is also excellent, including its weatherproofing. For its focal range, this is one of the very best 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses available, but you may want to look for something with a greater focal range if you're serious about deep-sky photography.

In addition to excellent image quality and a fast maximum aperture that enables quicker shutter speeds and lower ISOs, there are some other great features. The control ring is slick and can be customized to adjust any number of camera settings. The front element of this Canon lens drives out when you zoom in, making it more compact than other 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses. When the lens is fully retracted it measures only 146mm in length, which you may be grateful for if your bag is already packed full of star-chasing gear, cameras, lenses, power banks and other accessories for astrophotography.

This quality comes at a premium, and for this price, you could easily get a lens with a considerably longer zoom range, which may be a better option for astrophotographers who are already using a good star tracker. However, for aspiring professional photographers, this lens offers some of the best image quality out there and it forms a classy bit of kit when attached to any Canon RF-mount camera.

Our expert review:

As we found in our Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens review, this new iteration from Sony adds some attractive upgrades to what was already a very impressive zoom lens. The 70-200mm focal length makes it a great all-rounder, and it particularly excels at wildlife and landscape photography, producing sharp and vibrant images. It may not be the first choice for astrophotography with this focal range unless paired with a star tracker with a suitable payload but we found that it still produced very respectable photos of the night sky.

Although this lens can seem a tad heavy, that is not unexpected for a zoom lens of this quality and this new version of the lens is around 29% lighter than its predecessor. We found it much easier to shoot with this model throughout the day without significant arm ache. While the lens only reaches 200mm at its maximum zoom, the images ooze sharpness and quality at this level, allowing for a decent amount of cropping in post-processing without creating any blur. We also loved how well the autofocus functioned and the lens produces beautiful bokeh even at narrower apertures, which will appeal to those looking for more artsy shots.

All this comes at a price, and this lens is a serious investment. But if your budget allows and you're looking for a lens that can produce stunning images in this focal range, then you won't regret adding this one to your camera bag. If you're looking to save, then you might be able to grab a great deal on the original Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master OSS lens, which still offers the same fantastic optical quality.

Our expert review:

It may not have escaped your notice that all the lenses on this list are full-frame compatible lenses, but we couldn't help but include this APS-C lens from Sony. Whilst there isn't a lot of competition at this level and this lens won't win any prizes for focal length, we'd still class it as one of the best zoom lenses for APS-C Sony cameras.

Despite not offering longer focal lengths, our Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G Lens review found this lens to be an absolute workhorse that can handle almost anything you throw at it. It gives extremely sharp results and the constant aperture of f/2.8 means that it allows a lot of light in even when at its fullest zoom of 55mm. Its ability to zoom out to 16mm on the lower end makes it a great lens for use in astrophotography too. This lens is likely to appeal to people using a range of different photography styles. The lens itself is versatile and the build is also compact and lightweight, making it very travel-friendly.

The price of this Sony lens may be off-putting considering that it does not have any image stabilization. This could be a particular issue for some given that there are only two APS-C cameras from Sony that have in-body image stabilization (the Sony A6600 and A6500). However, you can't deny that this lens is a beauty and creates stunning shots.

Our expert review:

Sigma has previously been well-known as the manufacturer people turned to when they couldn't afford to stay on-brand and purchase a lens from the same manufacturer as their camera. But the 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM is a striking example of how Sigma has begun to make its own name in the world of high-end lenses, since it easily earns its place on our list of best zoom lenses.

This lens offers a great option for those on a lower budget, coming in at just under $1500 (and occasionally less during sale periods), and it can hold its own against legacy DSLR lenses of the same focal length and aperture combination. It also compares well to Canon and Nikon's (quite brilliant, it must be said) Z and RF mount lenses.

In our Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM review we found that this lens sports a number of appealing features, including a sensible but not overwhelming focal length and a large maximum aperture that enables you to keep your ISO or shutter speed under control.

The biggest downside of this Sigma lens is its weight. At 4 lbs it's not far off the weight of some far longer lenses like the Nikon 200-500mm or Sigma's own 150-600mm. Of course, even though the long end in both cases is substantially longer, you still lose more than a stop of aperture there. This Sigma lens is certainly worth a look if you're after a decent lens that can do the job without making your bank account suffer too much.

Our expert review:

This lens has a nearly endless list of practical applications thanks to its excellent 10x zoom range, making it appealing to a wide range of different photographers. When zoomed in, 240mm is a true telephoto focal length, allowing you to shoot everything but the most ambitious wildlife or sports photography. Zoomed out, 24mm is a legitimate wide-angle, making it suitable for a variety of general-purpose travel photography.

When we reviewed the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM we were pleased by its impressive image quality, but it does have some drawbacks. For the same money, a keen astrophotographer could get Sigma’s 150-600mm f/5-6.3 (below), which compares favorably in terms of image quality, has the same largest aperture when zoomed in, but is 3.5 times longer in terms of maximum focal length. This means that although the Canon 24-240mm can hold its own when it comes to astrophotography, there are certainly better options out there in this budget range. However, the smaller size and weight of this Canon lens make it a brilliant choice for those looking to take a lens traveling with them to explore foreign cities, landscapes or architecture.

Our expert review:

For this price point, the Sigma 150-600mm packs an almighty punch. With a maximum focal length of 600mm, it's the got the biggest focal range on our best zoom lenses list and is plenty long enough to handle deep sky astrophotography. In fact, it's at the long end of what's possible in a DSLR or mirrorless lens, period. Lenses that can offer some competition are Sigma's own 300-800mm, Nikon's 200-500mm and Canon's RF 100-500mm. But this Sigma zoom lens is a hard lens to beat, especially for the price.

On the downside, the heavy 4.2 lbs weight of this lens is something that we immediately noticed in our Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM review. Another drawback is that the maximum zoomed-in aperture of f/6.3 can feel quite limiting, especially if you're transitioning from the world of ultra-wide, ultra-large aperture photography. It means that you'll always need either higher ISOs, longer shutter speeds, or both, and this lens will also require a high-end star tracker to achieve steady results at the long end. The investment needed if you don't already have one of these could negate the savings made on the lens's original price.

On the plus side, this is an extremely portable lens and the large zoom range allows you plenty of compositional options in many different photography styles. It performs well enough at the 600mm focal length if you want to use it for astrophotography. Although some lens models can achieve a higher quality of image at this extremely long focal length, the cost of such a lens can be eye-watering. Canon's 200-400mm L-series can offer better optical results but will set you back around $11,000 and Nikon's equally excellent 200-400mm lens comes in at around $7,000. Given the price of these alternative offerings, the Sigma 150-600mm stands as a fantastic buy for astrophotographers who aren't working with that size of budget and it's compatible with multiple lens mounts.

The best zoom lens overall is the Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S which is also the best Nikon zoom lens, according to our testing.

However, the best Sony zoom lens is the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Master OSS, best Canon zoom lens is Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM Lens and the best third-party zoom lens is Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM. But whether you opt for a telephoto or wide-angle zoom will depend on what subjects you're hoping to shoot.

Wide-angle zoom lenses are best for wide-field astrophotography like capturing all the stars in the night sky plus some foreground. However, telephoto zoom lenses will work better for deep-sky objects and should be combined with the best star trackers.

Yes, image stabilization adds additional support for handheld shooting whether taking stills photos or video, to help steady the frame and reduce camera shake blur.

However, pure astrophotographers will always be shooting on a tripod so image stabilization for these purposes only are not important and photographers can save some money opting for a lens without this (most image stabilized lenses are pricier).

Other names for image stabilization (IS) are Nikon's VR (Vibration Reduction), Sony's OS (Optical Stabilizer), and OSS (Optical SteadyShot) and Canon's use of IS (image stabilization).

It depends on what you are hoping to photograph. Telephoto lenses are great for deep-sky object photography when combined with a star tracker and produce incredible images of far-away galaxies and star clusters.

However, wide-angle zooms are best for photographing the night sky and also including some foreground landscapes. Wide-angle zooms also don't require a star tracker and are easier to focus and get sharp images from because the stars are so much smaller on the sensor.

Undoubtedly, a zoom lens gives better flexibility for composition because a photographer will not have to move to remove or add more space around a subject. This is great for landscapes and astrophotography where photographers would otherwise have to 'compose with their feet' by physically moving the camera long distances.

A prime lens, while not as versatile, is usually lighter because zoom lenses require more glass to account for the change in focal length. There's not a lot of difference in optical quality, at least in the best lenses, but often they can open to a wider aperture of f/1.4 or even f/0.9. This is helpful for low light situations like weddings and indoor photography where maximizing light onto the sensor is key. It's also desirable for astrophotography, but only to a limit. Too wide an aperture can cause diffraction, blurring or vignetting around the edges of the frame from the extremely shallow depth of field, which looks nice on a portrait but not so much on a star-studded sky you're trying to get pin-sharp.

The aperture is the adjustable hole in the lens that light passes through, and the bigger it is, the more light can get through at once, with a relational effect on shutter speed (how sharp your image is, in simple terms) and ISO (how sensitive your sensor is and how noisy your image is).

Aperture sizes are described as f-stops, with an f/2.8 aperture being much bigger than an f/5.6 aperture. For night photography we recommend going for a lens with the biggest aperture you can afford, especially if you're planning to shoot long-exposure tracked shots. For simple pictures of the moon, you can get away with cheaper lenses with smaller apertures as the moon reflects so much light.

When looking for the best zoom lens with a long focal length (i.e. more magnification), you need to know a few things before you start. Focal length is measured in millimeters; the more you have, the longer your lens is — the closer to the action you can get.

Telephoto lengths start at around 70mm, and super-telephoto is generally regarded as anything longer than 400mm. So, if a lens has a focal length of 70-300mm, it starts with a reasonable amount of magnification (a little more than the normal human field of view) and can zoom in to 300mm, which is a significant amount of magnification.

There are a few other factors to consider as well when shopping for the best zoom lenses. Aperture size is a really important one — the aperture is the adjustable hole in the lens that light passes through, and the bigger it is, the more light can get through at once, with a relational effect on shutter speed (how sharp your image is, in simple terms) and ISO (how sensitive your sensor is and how noisy your image is).

Aperture sizes are described as f-stops, with an f/2.8 aperture being much bigger than an f/5.6 aperture. For night photography we recommend going for a lens with the biggest aperture you can afford, especially if you're planning to shoot long-exposure tracked shots. For simple pictures of the moon, you can get away with cheaper lenses with smaller apertures as the moon reflects so much light.

When looking at the best zoom lenses, you also need to consider image stabilization, also known as IS, VR (Vibration Reduction), OS (Optical Stabilizer), and OSS (Optical SteadyShot). This can be worth its weight in gold if you’re planning to shoot images at night without a tripod, as the lens will detect tiny amounts of movement and move its glass elements within to keep your image steady.

Finally, those looking for equipment that will travel long distances in a camera backpack — or be used on a star tracker system — should be wary of weight. There's the obvious — a big, heavy, long focal length lens with image stabilization and a big aperture will be more exhausting to carry — but if you want to use your lens for deep-space photography on a motorized star tracking system, you'll need to be watchful of how much your lens and camera weigh together, and consider if your star tracker can handle the extra baggage.

To guarantee you're getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best lenses to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every camera lens through a rigorous review to fully test each product. Each lens is reviewed based on a multitude of aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions as an optical instrument and its performance in the field.

Each lens is carefully tested by either our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing is backed by personal, hands-on experience with each lens and is judged based on its price point, class and destined use. For example, comparing a 150-600mm superzoom telephoto lens suitable for a full-frame camera to a sleek little wide-angle prime destined for a crop sensor wouldn’t be appropriate, though each lens might be the best-performing product in its own class.

We take a look at how easy each lens is to operate, how up-to-date the technology is and also the weight of the model. Where appropriate, we'll also include suggestions for additional kit that a particular lens may benefit from, to give the best viewing experience possible.

With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on camera lenses, whether you should purchase one or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.

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