Outstanding Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS M

In search of a telephoto lens for Canon EOS M mirrorless camera?

Canon is well known for producing noteworthy lenses that can capture good quality and sharp images.

On the other hand, there are also third-party lenses that perform well on Canon’s mirrorless cameras but need to use a lens adapter.

Here, I will provide three of the best Canon telephoto lens.

Best Canon Telephoto Lens for EOS M Mirrorless Cameras

The call for a telephoto lens is usually driven by the need to photograph wildlife and sports. Since in most cases in this kind of scenario you are far from your subject. Thus, you must at least have one gear for this kind of setup.

A telephoto lens (in simple terms) is a special type of zoom lens bringing the subject closer and is capable of capturing sharp images at a far distance.

Here are the best options available:

Notice: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases“. There are affiliate links on this page. I will get a small commission at NO EXTRA COST to you once you decide to buy through these links. Full disclosure.

#	Overview	Product	Best for
1		Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens for Canon	Wildlife
2		Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM	Sports
3		Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 Image Stabilization STM	Budget Lens

Note: For Sigma and Canon EF lenses to work with EOS M cameras... you need to have an EF-EOS M lens adapter. I have discussed this in my previous article about Mirrorless Camera Lens Mount Types. 

Why You Should Get a Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS M

As I have pointed out above, for you to capture far-away subjects you will need to have at least one telephoto lens in your gear. Telephoto lenses are most useful in a setup where you can’t move or get near your subject.

What To Look When Buying Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS M

Everyone has their preferences on what is important or not when deciding on a telephoto lens for Canon EOS M, but I want to offer my opinion on the most important things that the telephoto lens should have.

Maximum Focal Distance

Decide which one to buy depending on your need.

If you like to photograph birds, wildlife, and or sports then you need to consider a telephoto lens with a longer focal length.

Weight

Telephoto lenses are known to be quite heavy.

You have to put the weight into consideration knowing that Canon EOS-M cameras are smaller in size.

What does it mean?

It means that if not handled properly, it could damage the mount of your mirrorless camera (i.e. you have a 600mm telephoto lens mounted then holding your camera just by its body with one hand).

Fast Auto Focus

A telephoto lens with fast auto-focus is a must.

This will be especially useful when photographing moving subjects.

---

Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS M Product Reviews

1. Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens for Canon

Less expensive and lighter than the sports version… and if you need a longer reach, this super-telephoto lens will give you that extra range you desire. This lens is great for birding and wildlife.

This is the same telephoto lens that my brother recently purchased for his Nikon Z50 (check the review here) and for his birding expedition.

For Canon, this lens is designed for EF-mount DSLRs… for the lens to function in a Canon mirrorless camera, you will need an EF-EOS M lens adapter.

Featured key specs:

Type	Contemporary	Lens Mount	Canon EF Mount
Focal length	150-600mm	Lens construction	20 elements in 14 groups
Max. aperture	f5	No. of diaphragm blades	9 (Rounded diaphragm)
Min. aperture	f22	Filter size diameter	φ95mm
Image Stabilization	Yes, 4 stops	Approx. dimension (diameter x distance from camera lens-mount flange)	φ105 x 260.1 mm
Auto-focus	Yes	Approx. weight	1,930g (Protective cover : 1,830g)

Notable reviews:

Pros	Cons
+ Sharp image capture and fast auto focus	– Heavy
+ Cheaper than the similar competitor third party lens	– Not weather sealed

---

2. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM

A versatile telephoto lens with super-fast autofocus… would be great for sports.

This lens is also lighter which is a good option if you are looking for longer coverage. Boasting Nano USM technology for its autofocus system for fast-tracking moving subjects.

Regarding EF-mount DSLRs lenses… for the lens to function in a Canon mirrorless camera, you will need an EF-EOS M lens adapter.

Featured key specs:

Type	EF Full-Frame format	Lens Mount	Canon EF mount
Focal length	70-300mm	Lens construction	17 elements in 12 groups
Max. aperture	f4	No. of diaphragm blades	9 (Rounded)
Min. aperture	f32	Filter size diameter	φ67mm
Image Stabilization	Yes	Approx. dimension (diameter x distance from camera lens-mount flange)	Φ80 x 145.5mm
Auto-focus	Yes	Approx. weight	710g

Notable reviews:

Pros	Cons
+ Sharp image capture	– Need to buy the “hood” separately
+ Very fast autofocus	– Need to buy a “tripod mount” separately

---

3. Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 Image Stabilization STM

This is a native lens for Canon EOS M mirrorless cameras. Portable and lightweight that will be good if you are looking for easy to carry compact telephoto zoom lens.

Featured key specs:

Type	APS-C Format	Lens Mount	EF-M Mount
Focal length	55-200mm	Lens construction	17 Elements in 11 Groups
Max. aperture	f4.5	No. of diaphragm blades	7 (Rounded)
Min. aperture	f22	Filter size diameter	φ52mm
Image Stabilization	Yes	Approx. dimension (diameter x distance from camera lens-mount flange)	φ60.9 x 86.5 mm
Auto-focus	Yes	Approx. weight	260g

Notable reviews:

Pros	Cons
+ Compact and lightweight	– Lesser telephoto coverage
+ Most affordable telephoto lens	– Autofocus is not that fast

---

FAQs: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS M

1. Will Canon discontinue EOS M?

Canon EOS M mirrorless cameras are maybe on the brink of discontinuation since it was rumored last year.

And there’s a strong indication that EOS M will be supplanted with the development of APS-C for Canon’s EOS R series for RF mount. Two of which (EOS R10 and EOS R7) are rumored to be announced on the 24^th of May 2022 according to canonrumors(dot)com.

However, as far as the availability of a compatible lens for EOS M is concerned, I think there will be no issue. As there are a lot of available lenses for EF mount that can be adapted by EOS M using an EF-EOS M lens adapter.

2. Can a third-party lens be used in EOS M?

Yes.

Sigma and Tamron are two examples of third-party lenses that have developed a variety of lenses for Canon. And that includes telephoto lenses for Canon EF mount.

And as mentioned above, you will need an EF-EOS M lens adapter for the lens to work with Canon EOS M mirrorless cameras.

3. Can a Full-frame lens format be used in the EOS M?

Yes, Canon’s EF full-frame lens format can be used on EOS M (APS-C format) without any problem. But again you must have an EF-EOS M lens adapter.

Final Thoughts

A telephoto lens is a must-have lens for any photography enthusiast.

Presently, I am using a kit lens Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM for my Canon EOS M5 which is considered a medium-range telephoto lens.

And I am also looking at the idea of upgrading to a super-telephoto lens.

Following the purchase of my brother’s super-telephoto lens for his Nikon Z50, I have been contemplating getting a super-telephoto lens of my own to pair with my Canon mirrorless camera as an upgrade to meet my current need.

And the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM looks like a good fit for me. Longer reach than my current lens and that would resolve my issue when capturing my daughter’s school activities.

So there you have it folks, once again thank you for reading. If you find this article helpful or you have some questions please leave a comment and I will try to answer them to the best of my knowledge.

---

---