The best first lens to buy after your kit lens is a 50mm f/1.8. It is the cheapest way to get blurred backgrounds and better low-light photos — from ₹5,050 second hand for Canon EF. If you shoot sport, birds or wildlife, buy a telephoto zoom next; if you want one lens that stays on the camera, upgrade to a longer all-round zoom.
Key Takeaways
- Portraits and low light: a 50mm f/1.8 — Canon EF from ₹5,050, Sony E from ₹11,450.
- Sport, birds and wildlife: a 55–200mm, 55–210mm, 55–250mm or 55–300mm telephoto zoom, from ₹6,900.
- One lens for everything: an 18–135mm or 18–140mm zoom, from ₹11,900.
- Check that the lens fits your camera's mount before you buy — see the table below.
- Prices are WorthyTen's on 28 October 2026 and change with stock.
Why Not Just Keep the Kit Lens?
The 18–55mm kit lens is a good starting point, but its aperture is small (f/3.5–5.6). That means slower shutter speeds indoors and little background blur. A lens with a wider aperture, like f/1.8, lets in several times more light at the same settings.
1. For Portraits and Low Light: a 50mm f/1.8
| Lens | Fits | WorthyTen from* |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM | Canon EOS DSLRs; EOS R mirrorless with the EF-EOS R adapter | ₹5,050 |
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM | Canon EOS R mirrorless | ₹12,100 |
| Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS | Sony APS-C (A6000 series, ZV-E10) | ₹11,450 |
| Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 | Sony full frame (A7 series); also fits APS-C | ₹12,200 |
On an APS-C camera (most Canon, Nikon and Sony beginner cameras), a 50mm lens frames like about 75–80mm — ideal for head-and-shoulders portraits. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the best value lens on this page; its STM motor focuses quietly for video too.
For Nikon DX: we don't have a Nikon 50mm in stock right now — check every second hand lens for an AF-S 50mm f/1.8G or AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G, which autofocus on every Nikon DX DSLR.
For Sony full frame: the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 (from ₹23,400) is the classic portrait lens.
2. For Sport, Birds and Wildlife: a Telephoto Zoom
| Lens | Fits | WorthyTen from* |
| Nikon AF-S 55–200mm f/4–5.6 ED VR | Nikon DX DSLRs | ₹6,900 |
| Nikon AF-S DX 55–200mm f/4–5.6G VR II | Nikon DX DSLRs | ₹7,100 |
| Sony E 55–210mm f/4.5–6.3 OSS | Sony APS-C | ₹10,150 |
| Canon EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS STM | Canon APS-C DSLRs | ₹10,550 |
| Nikon AF-S DX 55–300mm f/4.5–5.6G VR | Nikon DX DSLRs | ₹11,450 |
All of these have image stabilisation (Canon IS, Nikon VR, Sony OSS), which matters at long focal lengths. The Canon 55–250mm IS STM is the pick for Canon owners: sharp, light and quick to focus. For Nikon, the 55–300mm reaches further for birds. Note that some Nikon entry-level DSLRs need a lens with a built-in focus motor (AF-S or AF-P) to autofocus — all the Nikon lenses here are AF-S.
3. One Lens for Everything: a Longer All-Round Zoom
- Canon EF-S 18–135mm IS USM — from ₹14,650. Fast, quiet USM focusing; covers wide to short telephoto.
- Nikon AF-S DX 18–140mm f/3.5–5.6G VR — from ₹11,900. Nikon's best-value travel zoom.
Professional Lenses
For full-frame cameras and paid work, WorthyTen also stocks the Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II (from ₹39,700), the Canon EF 24–70mm f/2.8L II (from ₹59,400), the Sony FE 24–105mm f/4 G OSS (from ₹45,850) and the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS (from ₹34,600).
Will It Fit My Camera?
- Canon EF lenses fit every Canon EOS DSLR. EF-S lenses fit only Canon's APS-C DSLRs (such as the 1500D, 200D, 80D and 90D), not full-frame ones.
- Canon RF lenses fit only EOS R mirrorless cameras. EF and EF-S lenses work on EOS R cameras with Canon's EF-EOS R adapter (EF-S lenses crop the frame on full-frame R bodies).
- Nikon DX lenses are made for Nikon's APS-C DSLRs; on a full-frame Nikon they work in a cropped mode.
- Sony E lenses are made for APS-C; Sony FE lenses cover full frame and also fit APS-C cameras.
What WorthyTen Checks Before Selling
Every second hand lens is checked for fungus, haze and scratches and tested on a camera body before it is listed. Every grade carries a 1-year warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a second hand lens safe to buy?
Yes, if it has been checked for fungus and haze and tested on a camera. Lenses have few parts that wear out, so a well-kept second hand lens should perform as it did when new.
Should I buy a better lens or a better camera?
Usually the lens. A good lens on an older camera beats a kit lens on a newer one, and lenses keep their value longer.
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