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Best Autofocus Lenses – Overview
Getting sharp focus on your subject is one of the most important parts of photography. An autofocus lens handles this for you, making it much easier to nail your shots every time.
The best autofocus lens systems rely on sensors to lock onto your subject with precision. Whether you’re shooting wildlife or portraits, autofocus lenses are a solid choice for consistent results.
With the growing popularity of interchangeable-lens cameras, more photographers are swapping lenses to match different shooting situations.
For convenience and accuracy, autofocus lenses are hard to beat. They lock focus quickly and work well for both video and still images.
That said, picking the right autofocus lens can be tricky. There are a lot of options out there.
To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of seven top autofocus lenses. Let’s start with the comparison table.
7 Best Autofocus Lenses
| Product name | Maximum Aperture | Focus | Focal Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EF 100mm, F/2.8L lens | F2.8 | Ring-type ultrasonic motor | 100 mm |
| Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM | F4.0 | Hypesonic motor | 70 mm |
| Panasonic LUMIX G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 ASPH | F1.7 | Stepping motor | 25 mm |
| Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens | F2.8 | Silent wave motor | 105 mm |
| Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens | F1.8 | Stepping ring motor | 30 mm |
| Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 Lens | F1.8 | Ring ultrasonic motor | 45 mm |
| Sigma 258306 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens | F2.8 | Hypersonic motor | 105 mm |
Now that you’ve got the basics, let’s dig into each lens and what makes it stand out.
Top 7 Best Autofocus Lenses
1. Canon EF 100mm, F/2.8L lens
Best Autofocus Lenses – Canon EF 100mm F:2.8 L Lens
Canon’s 100mm lens packs macro capability along with hybrid optical image stabilization. Built with L-series quality, this lens delivers impressive results right out of the box.
It features a three-position autofocus limiter switch and ring-type ultrasonic autofocus for fast, quiet operation.
The optical design uses 15 elements arranged in 12 groups. You also get a 23.4-degree diagonal viewing angle.
This lens is a great pick for portrait, food, and macro photography. The internal focusing motor is both silent and responsive.
It lets you capture sharp images without any distracting motor noise.
As a 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, it provides excellent optical quality with fine detail rendering.
The hybrid image stabilization also helps you take clear shots even when shooting handheld.
Features:
#1. L-series build quality
#2. 100 mm focal length
#3. Ultra-Low Dispersion lens element
#4. 9-blade circular aperture
2. Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM
Best Autofocus Lenses – Sigma 17-70mm f:2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM
The Sigma 17-70mm is another excellent autofocus lens worth considering.
It comes with some real advantages: a faster stop at the long end, 2/3 stop faster at the wide end, and more reach in both directions.
The close focus distance is just 22cm at every focal length. At 70mm, it gives you a maximum magnification of 1:2.8.
Its hypersonic motor autofocus gives you a wide-range lens with great performance and image quality across the board.
The construction uses thermally stable composite materials, and it has 7 diaphragm blades.
The HSM autofocus system is accurate, quiet, and fast. The built-in OS also compensates for camera shake when you’re shooting handheld.
It’s a strong all-purpose lens with solid durability to match.
Features:
#1. Hypersonic Motor Autofocus
#2. 72 mm photo filter thread size
For related tips, check out our full guide on Nikon landscape lens.
#3. Compact yet large aperture lens
3. Panasonic LUMIX G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 ASPH
Panasonic LUMIX G Lens
The Lumix 25mm by Panasonic is one of the best prime autofocus lenses you can get. It’s a micro four-thirds lens equivalent to 35mm, which means it’s versatile enough for just about any shooting situation, day or night.
The f/1.7 aperture gives you great results even in low-light conditions.
That wide aperture also produces beautiful background blur. The lens is super lightweight, with 8 elements of optical construction arranged in 7 groups. It includes 2 aspherical lenses and 1 UHR lens, plus a 47-degree viewing angle.
It’s built for both photo and video work, with a quiet, smooth stepping motor for fast autofocus. No annoying motor noise during video recording.
Features:
#1. 47 degrees of view of angle
#2. 35 mm camera equivalent
#3. Lens construction with 8 elements in 7 groups
4. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens
Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR
This is one of Nikon’s best lenses, built in the FX-format. The vibration reduction technology helps you get sharper photos and smoother video.
It offers a 23-degree viewing angle and a 105mm focal length. This is a solid everyday lens.
The fast f/2.8 aperture produces images that really pop against the background.
Nano-crystal coating and ED glass elements improve overall image quality while reducing flare and chromatic aberrations.
Nikon backs this lens with a 5-year warranty.
It’s not a zoom lens, but the background blur it produces is perfect for close-up shots. Expect sharp, detailed images every time you press the shutter.
Features:
#1. A silent wave motor for high-speed autofocusing shows accurate results.
#2. Manual to autofocus shifting mode
#3. Aspherical lens
#4. Super integration coating
5. Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens
Best Autofocus Lenses – Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens
Sigma’s Contemporary line includes some of the best autofocus lenses around.
The f/1.4 aperture lets you create a very shallow depth of field, which is ideal for close-up shots and portraits.
The optical design features a micro four-thirds format with aspherical elements. This prevents spherical aberrations and lets you capture sharper images overall.
The super multi-layer coating ensures great contrast and accurate color reproduction in your shots.
It also has nine rounded aperture blades packed into a compact body.
Features:
#1. Micro four-thirds format size
#2. 9 rounded aperture blades
Our article on Nikon portrait lens covers related ground and is worth a look.
#3. Accurate autofocus
#4. A large aperture of f1.4
6. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 Lens
Best Autofocus Lenses – Olympus M Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 Lens
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm is a top choice for portrait photography.
It has a short telephoto focal length and an f/1.8 max aperture. That means you can shoot in low light without any hassle.
The M.Zuiko lens comes with a movie and still compatible (MSC) autofocus system.
It captures moments quietly and quickly. There’s also an optional LH-40b lens hood for shooting in bright conditions.
The optical image stabilizer allows up to 4 stops of shutter speed correction.
Add in ring USM, optimized AF algorithms, and a high-speed CPU, and you get fast autofocus with a minimum focusing distance of just 0.20 meters.
Features:
#1. Optical image stabilizer
#2. Circular diaphragm with 7 blades
#3. Aspherical lens
#4. Silent and smooth autofocus mode
7. Sigma 258306 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens
Best Autofocus Lenses – Sigma 258306 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens
The Sigma 258306 105mm is another strong autofocus lens. It delivers fast, accurate, and quiet ring-type ultrasonic autofocus performance.
It has a three-position limiter switch along with optical stabilization.
The optical stabilization includes both static and panning modes. The glass quality is excellent, featuring two SLD (special low dispersion) optical elements.
Sharpness is impressive, and the stabilization is effective enough for about four stops in general shooting.
In the box, you’ll also find a hood adapter, front and rear lens caps, a lens hood, and a case. It’s a telephoto lens with solid autofocusing performance built for the 35mm full-frame format.
Features:
#1. Optical stabilization
#2. 2 Special Low Dispersion optical elements
#3. Ring-type ultrasonic autofocus
#4. Three-position limiter switch
How to Choose the Best Autofocus Lens?
Autofocus lenses are in high demand these days. They help you lock focus automatically, giving you accurate results without manual adjustment.
Different types of autofocus lenses serve different purposes.
So choosing the right one can take some thought. Here are a few tips to help you find the best autofocus lens for your photography needs.
#1. Silent focus system:
Whether you’re shooting video or stills, a quiet lens motor makes a real difference.
Many modern lenses use near-silent motors so you can capture your shots without any distracting noise.
If the autofocus motor is loud, it can be a problem, especially during video recording.
#2. Fast-focusing mode:
Some lenses are quiet but slow. That’s a problem if you’re trying to photograph moving subjects.
Look for lenses that focus quickly and respond well to fast action.
#3. Physical aperture rings:
Physical aperture rings aren’t a must-have, but they offer some nice advantages. Some come with de-clicked options for smooth, stepless exposure changes during video recording.
If you want to take your photography or videography to the next level, pick an autofocus lens based on these tips.
Editor’s choice
The Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L stands out as one of the best autofocus lenses available right now. It has hybrid stabilization with L-series build quality.
The ring-type autofocus works alongside a three-position autofocus limiter switch. On top of that, the nine-blade circular aperture produces smooth, pleasing results in any shooting condition.
Conclusion
Choosing the right autofocus lens doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This list covers seven strong options across different brands and price points.
Take a look at the lenses above and keep the buying tips in mind. That should help you narrow things down based on your camera and the kind of photography you enjoy most.
