Canon EOS 4000D Camera Lenses

[CariY2206]

Hi! So, I have a Canon EOS 4000D at home. However, I've been blessed with the opportunity to take professional photos with different cameras at my church. When I first purchased the EOS 4000D, I did it with little knowledge because I was excited to own my first camera. However, the picture quality between both cameras is drastically different, regardless of the settings. I learned from one of my colleagues that the camera body doesn't matter, but the lens does. Therefore, I am wondering what other lenses will be good for the Canon EOS 4000D, other than the zoom lens that came with the camera (the EF-S 18-55mm lens). All the pictures look grainy with that lens in comparison to the photos I take at church. Additionally, which adapter would be good to purchase with this camera as well because I don't desire to be limited in my lens usage.

[Tronhard · Accepted solution]

Great to get your prompt response!

Let's start off assuming you want to keep the 4000d for a while but want better glass.

There are two lenses that I would recommend off the bat.  The first is the Canon EF-S 18-135 IS STM or (nano) USM lens.  This is a brilliant general purpose lens with a much wider range than your 18-55.  The STM and nano-USM units focus using fly-by-wire technology that makes the virtually silent and can be manually focused at any time.  The USM unit is a bit faster than the STM but optically very similar - I have both.

The following images were taken with the  EF-S18-135 STM, hand-held, in available light:

Canon 80D, EF-S 18-135@135mm USM, f/8, 1/2000sec, ISO-200

At the long end, for the investment, I would recommend getting the EF 70-300 lenses.  There are a couple of variants of this the original (released in 2005) and a new one, MkII in about 2016.  Again, I have both and they are both excellent optically, although the MkII has the nano-USM motor and is blazing fast at focus.  Both versions of this lens are image stabilized and if you decide to upgrade to a FF body, they will work with those bodies.  I have also tried them via an adapter on the new R-series FF bodies and they work very well.

I recommend you read my review of 70-300 lenses HERE   If you are interested, you could look on Canon's refurbished lens site as they are like new, significantly reduced in price and come with a 1-year warranty.  You can access that site HERE 

If you eventually want to move up to a higher-end body, there are two paths to follow:

Stay with a DSLR and take advantage of low prices for refurb and second-hand gear as enthusiasts relinquish their gear and move into mirrorless.  In that case I would look for the EOS 80D or 90D.  Either should work for your purposes - again, I have both and they are both great bodies.

Alternatively, you could eventually upgrade into the new R-series mirrorless interchangeable lens system (MILCs).  That is a fast-developing market with excellent FF and a couple of crop sensor bodies.  While a crop-sensor body has advantages for wildlife, a FF body has advantages at the wide end and for portraiture.

However, I would suggest the lenses first.  The EF-S lens would work on the R7 and R10 MILC bodies and the 70-300 would work well on any MILC body.  (Technically, the EF-S lens can work on a FF MILC body, but it massively reduces the sensor output and I would not recommend that).

[CariY2206]

This is true. The church I shoot for is almost pitch black if it weren't for the stage lights. Thank you so much for your recommendations also!!!

[Tronhard]

You will find all four lenses recommended by Ricky and me at the Refurb lens site listing I sent you.