Best Lenses under £400 for street photography

Best Pick

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

81.2 Street Score
55-250mmf/4Canon EF-SIS
Why we recommend this

A UD glass element and STM autofocus motor combine with optical image stabilization in a 55-250mm telephoto zoom, delivering sharp results for Canon APS-C DSLRs. Its lightweight, plastic build and EF-S mount make it an affordable, portable telephoto option, though it cannot be used on full-frame bodies. Budget-conscious hobbyists and portrait shooters get solid reach and steady handheld shots, but macro capabilities are notably limited.

View Details & Prices

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 50mm

57.8 Street Score
50mmf/22Canon EF
Why we recommend this ▼

The f/1.8 maximum aperture and optimized lens coatings deliver strong subject separation and a 60.5 portrait score, making it a classic full-frame portrait lens. Its STM stepping motor supports near-silent Movie Servo AF with manual focus override, paired with a durable metal lens mount. This lens is best for portrait photographers and video creators on Canon EF systems who prioritize shallow depth of field over travel portability.

View Details & Prices

Best Lenses under £800 for street photography

Best Pick

Canon Extender 4409B002 1mm

74.7 Street Score
1mmf/1.4Canon EFWeather Sealed
View Details & Prices

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

63.9 Street Score
16-35mmf/22Canon EFISWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

Combining L-series build quality with a constant f/4 aperture and a 4-stop image stabilizer, this 16-35mm zoom delivers sharp results from its 16-element optical design that includes three aspherical and two ED elements. The weather-sealed, 615g body accepts 77mm filters and offers a useful 0.23x maximum magnification for close-up wide-angle shots. This lens is best for landscape and architecture photographers who need a rugged, stabilized ultra-wide zoom for full-frame Canon EF bodies.

View Details & Prices

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

59.1 Street Score
10-22mm22-27Canon EF-S
Why we recommend this ▼

With an ultra-wide 10-22mm zoom (16-35mm equivalent) and a fast, quiet ring-type USM autofocus, this lens weighs just 385g, making it ideal for travel. Its 3 aspherical elements and 1 Super-UD element deliver sharp, detailed images across the frame, though the f/3.5-4.5 aperture limits low-light performance. Best for landscape and travel photographers seeking a compact, high-optics wide-angle zoom for Canon APS-C bodies.

View Details & Prices

No Lenses under £1,000 yet. See our top picks under £2,000

Best Lenses under £2,000 for street photography

Best Pick

Canon L 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

64.6 Street Score
24-70mmf/22Canon EFISWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this

A constant f/2.8 aperture across the 24-70mm zoom range, paired with one Super UD and two UD elements, delivers sharp, color-accurate images with minimal chromatic aberration. Its weather-sealed, 805g build and fluorine coating provide reliable durability for field use, while the 5-stop image stabilization enables sharper handheld shooting. This lens is best for landscape and travel photographers needing a rugged, versatile workhorse with a 92.5/100 landscape score.

View Details & Prices

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM 50mm

55.8 Street Score
50mmf/50Canon EFWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

The f/1.4 maximum aperture and ultrasonic autofocus motor provide bright viewfinding and fast, precise focusing in a compact 290g build. Its Super Spectra Coating and two high-refractive-index elements effectively suppress flare and ghosting for crisp image quality. This lens is best for photographers needing a lightweight, low-light prime for general shooting, though its minimum focus distance limits its utility for dedicated portrait work.

View Details & Prices

Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L 17mm

34.4 Street Score
17mmf/22Canon EFWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

The 17mm ultra-wide perspective combined with +/- 12mm shift and +/- 6.5° tilt movements provides precise control over converging lines and focal plane, aided by 4 UD elements and a Subwavelength Coating to suppress flare. The independent rotation of tilt and shift functions through +/- 90° allows for flexible orientation adjustments without re-mounting the lens. This manual-focus prime is best for architectural photographers requiring full-frame perspective correction on Canon EF bodies.

View Details & Prices

No Lenses found in this category. See our top picks under £2,000