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The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART Credit: Reviewed.com / Brendan Nystedt

The Best Lenses Under $1,000 of 2024

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The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART Credit: Reviewed.com / Brendan Nystedt

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Product image of Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR

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Fujifilm’s lens produces sharp images and renders beautiful colors, making it a great lens for everyday use. Read More

Pros

  • High-quality build
  • Excellent optical performance
  • Fast aperture

Cons

  • A little pricey
Product image of Canon RF 50mm f/1.8

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8

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This prime lens from Canon is affordable, compact, and produces fantastic images, making it ideal for casual everyday use. Read More

Pros

  • Extra affordable
  • Fast aperture
  • Compact size

Cons

  • Not weather-sealed
Product image of Sony FE 35mm f/1.8

Sony FE 35mm f/1.8

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The Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is a well-balanced and affordable prime lens, perfect for everyday use. Read More

Pros

  • Bright f/1.8 aperture
  • Outstanding optical quality
  • Compact size

Cons

  • Heavy vignetting
Product image of Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S

Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S

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Once you’ve invested in Nikon’s Z system of cameras, the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S is a must-own. Read More

Pros

  • Produces sharp images
  • Bright f/1.8 aperture
  • Dust- and splash-resistant

Cons

  • Prone to fingerprint smudges
Product image of Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM

Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM

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This prime lens from Canon features impressive macro capabilities and fantastic stabilization. Read More

Pros

  • Programmable control ring
  • Excellent stabilization
  • Sharp macro images

Cons

  • No weather sealing
  • Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR
  • Canon RF 50mm f/1.8
  • Sony FE 35mm f/1.8
  • Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S
  • Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Once you find the camera system that works for you, the next step is to build a lens collection. Dozens of modern lenses are available that range in quality and price, and while it would be nice to buy the best lenses on the market, they can be expensive. The good news is there are currently several excellent lenses under $1,000 worth checking out if you’re on a budget.

Replacing the kit lens that came with your camera is a good way to improve the overall quality of your images. All the camera lenses in our guide offer impressive optics, durable builds, and features that enhance the shooting experience. While finding the right lens for your needs depends on the camera you own, this is a good starting point for anyone looking to pick up high-quality glass without breaking the bank.

Editor's Note:

The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

Product image of Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR
Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR

Fujifilm lenses are known for producing softer, more film-like colors, and the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is one of the best in its lineup. Outside of its optical quality and color rendering, we love that this lens features a 27mm equivalent focal length, which is ideal for street photography and landscapes. It also offers a bright maximum aperture and fast autofocus thanks to its linear AF drive. These features combine well to make Fujifilm’s lens a pleasure to use.

The Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is also lightweight and features a high-quality metal build, giving it a sturdy feel. Indeed, the lens includes eight weather-resistant seals on the barrel to protect against dirt, moisture, and extreme temperatures. That makes this lens an excellent choice for hikes and other outdoor adventures.

If you’re looking for a lens that performs well in low light, offers a high-quality build, and produces sharp still images even when wide open, the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is the lens to buy.

Pros

  • High-quality build

  • Excellent optical performance

  • Fast aperture

Cons

  • A little pricey

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Canon RF 50mm f/1.8
Canon RF 50mm f/1.8

The Canon RF 50 f/1.8 STM is everything you want from a “nifty fifty” lens with a versatile field of view. It’s affordable, lightweight, and delivers excellent image quality in a pocketable size. It’s easy to maneuver and transport, and features a bright f/1.8 aperture, making it an ideal option in low-light situations.

Canon also includes helpful features that make it more enjoyable, including a control ring that you can configure to adjust everything from f-stops to ISO and exposure compensation.

Though the Canon RF 50 f/1.8 STM produces great images, it isn’t perfect. The lens isn’t weather-sealed, for example, and some reviewers have noted the autofocus can be noisy. However, if you can overlook these minor issues, you won’t find a better option for the price.

Pros

  • Extra affordable

  • Fast aperture

  • Compact size

Cons

  • Not weather-sealed

Buy now at Amazon

$199.99 from Best Buy

$199.99 from Abt

$194.00 from Walmart
Product image of Sony FE 35mm f/1.8
Sony FE 35mm f/1.8

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is an ideal prime lens for everyday use because it offers superb optics, excellent build quality, and a lightweight design for easy handling. It has a classic focal length that’s wide but not too wide, along with a fast f/1.8 aperture, which is great for portraits and low-light situations.

The lens also features a more simplistic design than expensive alternatives, making it easy to use for beginners. For those who like more control, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 includes a function button that you can customize to perform specific features quickly. As good as this camera lens is, reviewers have noted it produces heavy vignetting, though some people love that look.

Overall, this small lens is well balanced, offers quick and accurate autofocus, and produces sharp images.

Pros

  • Bright f/1.8 aperture

  • Outstanding optical quality

  • Compact size

Cons

  • Heavy vignetting

$648.00 from Amazon

$649.99 from Best Buy

$648.00 from Abt

$648.00 from Walmart
Product image of Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S
Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S

There are dozens of 50mm prime lenses available, but reviewers often point to Nikon’s Nikon Z 50mm F/1.8 S as a standout. Available at a mid-range price point, this lens offers a nice balance of build quality, image sharpness, and size—and its f/1.8 makes it an excellent choice for low-light photography and wide-aperture portraits so that you can get a nice depth of field.

The lens also features a programmable control ring that you can set to make quick adjustments to camera settings. This makes the Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S intuitive for beginners and pros alike. Not every aspect of this lens is a win; it doesn’t include a protective fluorine coat on the glass, so it’s more prone to fingerprints.

Pros

  • Produces sharp images

  • Bright f/1.8 aperture

  • Dust- and splash-resistant

Cons

  • Prone to fingerprint smudges

$526.95 from Amazon

$529.99 from Best Buy

$526.95 from Abt

$509.95 from Walmart
Product image of Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM
Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM

The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM is great for portraits, thanks to its long focal length and impressive macro capabilities. Its image stabilization also reduces shake by up to eight stops for clean, sharp images when using this lens handheld. Combined with the f/2 aperture, you can get an extremely shallow depth of field when close to your subject, making this an excellent lens for wedding photography.

The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM also includes a programmable control ring, which you can use to adjust settings like aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation right from the lens. This feature is helpful because it allows you to make changes without taking your eye off the subject. While we wish this telephoto lens had faster shutter speeds, it still performs well in low light, and the compact size makes it easy to maneuver.

Pros

  • Programmable control ring

  • Excellent stabilization

  • Sharp macro images

Cons

  • No weather sealing

Buy now at Amazon

$599.99 from Best Buy

$599.00 from Abt

$579.00 from Walmart
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Meet the tester

Brandon Russell

Contributor

Brandon Russell is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

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