The Canon EOS 6D Mark II is a semi-professional DSLR camera with a full frame sensor. Its lenses use a Canon EF mount type, and you can find over 270 native (made by Canon) lenses as well as hundreds more from third-party manufacturers.
Selecting the best lenses for your 6D II depends on how you plan to use them, and matching professional grade optics with your semi-pro body is an obvious plus.
It’s best to add lenses based on your intended image subjects and the focal length and aperture range those typically require. Our list covers the gamut of how most people expand their lens options – standard (also called normal) range, telephotos, and wide angles.
In each category, you further need to decide if you want prime lenses (fixed focal length) or zooms (variable), and in zooms, fixed or variable apertures.
This camera body does not have image stabilization in its sensor, so to help with camera shake, look for this in the lens. If you will be outdoors in dicey weather conditions, weather sealed lenses would benefit you.
Here are our recommendations of the best lenses for your Canon EOS 6D MII, organized by primes by range first and zooms in the second half.
10 Best Canon EOS 6D Mark II Lenses
Best Standard Prime: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
- Best For: General purpose, photojournalism, street scenes
- Focal Length: 50mm
- Aperture: f/1.2
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.5 ft.
- Image Stabilization: No
- Weather Sealing: Yes
- Weight: 1.3 lbs.
Everyone needs a lens in the standard or normal focal range of 50mm, the focal distance that best approximates how the human eye sees the world. The aperture of f/1.2 means it is a very fast lens (meaning you can optimize the light of a scene and still shoot with a fast shutter speed).
It also allows you to add neutral density filters and other optical adjustments and still maintain the fast speed and correct exposure.
This Nifty-Fifty is professional level glass with the highest quality of optics, design and construction that Canon makes. Users note it creates a pleasant background blur (bokeh) and avoids ghosting or lens flares. Some people have complained about autofocusing issues, but those could be because lens calibration (something all lenses need) has not been performed.
Best Short Telephoto Prime: Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
- Best For: Portraits, street scenes, candids
- Focal Length: 85mm
- Aperture: f/1.2
- Minimum Focus Distance: 3.2 ft.
- Image Stabilization: No
- Weather Sealing: No
- Weight: 2.3 lbs.
For candid work on the street or for portrait work in a studio, you want a fast lens like this one to freeze faces in action. It is not designed for extreme close-up work with a longer minimum focusing distance than many other lenses in this focal range. If you’re working outdoors, you’ll need to be cautious as this is not a weather-sealed lens.
Reviewers love this Canon telephoto lens for the sharp portraits it takes and for the nice bokeh it produces. Some note that the autofocus does not seem to be fast, impacting some candid work. Overall, the lens is heavier than others in its class, but considered an excellent choice for a fast short tele.
Best Medium Telephoto Prime: Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
- Best For: Mid-distance sports and action, weddings
- Focal Length: 135mm
- Aperture: f/2
- Minimum Focus Distance: 3 ft.
- Image Stabilization: No
- Weather Sealing: No
- Weight: 1.7 lbs.
If you want a fast lens with more distance range, this 135mm is another professional glass option that reviewers rave about. As with many Canon primes, it offers full-time manual focusing to fine tune your autofocusing system. It shines in middle distance imaging and since it’s fast, it can freeze the action without sacrificing exposure.
Users say this lens creates great bokeh while keeping your subjects sharp. The autofocus is reported to be fast and accurate. Buy this lens from reputable sources and customers say it will make you a better photog out of the box.
Best Super Telephoto Prime: Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
- Best For: Wildlife, nature, extreme distances
- Focal Length: 400mm
- Aperture: f/5.6
- Minimum Focus Distance: 114.8 ft.
- Image Stabilization: No
- Weather Sealing: No
- Weight: 2.8 lbs.
If you’re shooting sports on the field or wildlife in the field, you need a lens like this 400mm to bring you close to the action. It can be used as a handheld with minimal issues of shake. The tripod collar will help you make things steadier in distance work too.
This lens is slow compared to others on the market, though faster lenses in this prime range are considerably more expensive. Birders love it for the fast autofocus that’s accurate and sharp. Reviewers say that if camera shake is an issue for you, commit to a tripod and you’ll be delighted with your results.
Best Wide Angle Prime: Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
- Best For: Interiors, architecture, landscapes
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Aperture: f/2
- Minimum Focus Distance: 10 in.
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Weather Sealing: No
- Weight: .7 lbs.
If shooting real estate or interior design is on your schedule, a good wide angle will provide the versatility for tight space. With almost no distortion at the corners, this prime lens offers you the ability to be close-up but not appear to be in your final images. The lens is fast, too, making the most of each exposure range.
Users note the image stabilization in this lens gives you flexibility in situations where you can’t always take a long time to frame. The autofocus is fast and accurate, even in low light. Reviewers love the light weight and resulting images in every indoor setting and though it lacks weather sealing, feel that it is just about a perfect Canon wide angle lens.
Best Macro Prime: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM
- Best For: Close-up of small subjects, portraits
- Focal Length: 100mm
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1 ft.
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Weather Sealing: Yes
- Weight: 1.4 lbs.
Macro lenses have a range of purposes, from pulling in tight on small subjects from a distance to creating portraits with great bokeh. The magnification on this Canon macro prime is 1x, meaning to you render your subject in real life size or larger. It comes with weather sealing, making it a great choice for nature outdoors such as insects or birds.
Users have nothing negative to share about this professional grade lens. Autofocus is fast, and background blur adds what reviewers call creamy texture around your subject. DSLR videographers also rave about the results they achieve for close-up work.
Best Standard Zoom: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM II
- Best For: General purpose, portraits, photojournalism, street scenes
- Focal Length: 24-105mm
- Aperture: f/4
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.5 ft.
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Weather Sealing: Yes
- Weight: 1.8 lbs.
A zoom with this kind of multi-purpose focal range covers different shooting needs, from close-ups of nature to action on the street. It remains crisp and sharp across its range with good edge-to-edge brightness. The minimum focusing distance gives you flexibility in how far you are from your subject while the top of the focal range reaches for the corners of perspective.
Users love the fact that this lens has both image stabilization and weather sealing for a range of outdoor options. It works well as a handheld with up to four stops of shake control. As a professional grade addition to your gear bag, you’ll be reaching for it often to cover those times when you’re uncertain what kinds of shooting situations you will encounter.
Best Short-to-Medium Telephoto Zoom: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
- Best For: Closer range sports and action, products, staging
- Focal Length: 70-300mm
- Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
- Minimum Focus Distance: 5.9 ft.
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Weather Sealing: No
- Weight: 3.0 lbs.
Another versatile range of zoom falls under the official category of short to medium telephoto, though it can as easily be used for close-ups or for longer distance work. At the wide end, it shoots sharp portraits and at the tele end, its wildlife and action effects render great images. Image stabilization helps in both handheld and tripod shooting.
Users wish this lens did not extend when focusing. Some serious enthusiasts also comment that the variable aperture means they aren’t always sure how they are lighting their scenes. It is slow at the wide and tele ends but offers flexibility for range when you aren’t always sure where your action will be.
Best Medium-to-Super Telephoto Zoom: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- Best For: Distant sports, wildlife, action
- Focal Length: 100-400mm
- Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
- Minimum Focus Distance: 3.2 ft.
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Weather Sealing: Yes
- Weight: 3.5 lbs.
This is one of those lenses that the pros want in their photography gear bag despite being a variable aperture model. It is pro-level glass and weather sealed for consistent performance outdoors no matter what the dust and moisture. The lens is on the pricier end of the zoom range in our list, but it is worth it based on performance.
Users note the lens extends while focusing, and it is slow at both the wide and tele ends. It compensates for these shortcomings by producing excellent color and contrast across its range, and by being sharp across all focus distances. Plan on using your tripod when you can to up your skills in a variety of imagining settings.
Best Wide Angle Zoom: Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
- Best For: Interiors, architecture, landscapes
- Focal Length: 16-35mm
- Aperture: f/4
- Minimum Focus Distance: 11 in.
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Weather Sealing: Yes
- Weight: 1.4 lbs.
If flexibility in typical wide angle settings is something you need, this tried and true lens will serve you well. It is not particularly fast at the wide end but is at tele. The advantages of image stabilization and weather sealing give it a boost for outdoor work.
Users love the sharp corner to corner rendering for interior shots. Some even label it prime-like in the center of its range. As professional glass, the build quality will remain reliable for years to come.