Top 10 Most Popular Canon Cameras and Lenses of 2016

To close out the year, we thought it’d be fun to compile a “top 10” list: what were the best-selling Canon items in 2016? We compiled statistics from our street price program as well as the various deals (new from authorized dealers or refurbished) throughout the year, and sorted by number of copies purchased.

As before, many of the deals and promotions are scheduled to expire tonight, including many of the prices below, so please take advantage of 2016 while it lasts.

Without further ado, the top 10…

  1. EOS 6D with 24-105mm f/4L Kit

    Sneaking into the top ten is the surprising EOS 6D kit, which is still an excellent entry-point into full-frame Canon photography. Street price is currently $1699.

  2. EF 35mm f/1.4L II2432257754

    Although much derided for its high introduction price ($1799), some strong Canon instant rebates have bumped up the popularity of this stellar performer in its sophomore year. Street price is currently $1559, but unfortunately an increase is expected on January 1st.

  3. EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

    Strong rebates again have made this lens a great choice in 2016; this lens remains the best way to get into Macro photography in the Canon line-up. Street price is currently $749.

  4. EOS 6DEOS-6D

    This hasn’t been a great year for the EOS 6D, as the prices are higher than previous years (thanks to decreased rebates.) The camera is still popular and still being bought. The body-only plus kits combined would have made #5 on this list, surpassing the sales of 5D Mark III bodies + kits. Street price is currently $1149. Printer bundle deal available.

  5. EOS 5D Mark III

    Nearly five years old and still going on strong. The 5D Mark III has fallen from its #1 position, but still remained popular through 2016. However, we think this will be the last year we see it in the top 10. Street price is currently $2099. Printer bundle deal available.

  6. EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

    Still Canon’s most popular ultra-wide angle zoom, and best value for money (in our opinion) out of all the lenses in this top 10. Street price is currently $959.

  7. EOS 5D Mark IV

    1425404166000_1274705This camera was much derided at launch for its high price tag ($3499), with many enthusiasts swearing that it would never sell (citing only small improvements from its predecessor.) Well, many people were wrong and this has become Canon’s top-selling camera. It would have been the #1 item, except this camera was only released with 4 months to go in the year! Street price is currently $3199.

  8. EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

    A perennial favorite, and the most broadly useful lens in a full-frame shooter’s arsenal. Despite persistent rumors of an image-stabilized replacement, this lens is still doing well; it’s a worthy upgrade over the mark I in terms of sharpness and auto-focus. Street price is currently $1589, price increase expected tonight.

  9. EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

    A lens in its third year of sales, we saw fantastic price drops on this item (down from its introduction price of $2199). That’s vaulted this lens in popularity to #2, but alas not enough to displace the reigning champion… Current street price is $1769, price increase expected tonight. Printer bundle deal available.

  10. EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

    680For two years running, the most popular item is Canon’s EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II. No surprise here, as this lens remains a joy to shoot with, with its sharpness and AF speed. There were many rumors this year of a replacement for this lens, but we really can’t see how you can get much better than this near-perfect gem. We expect this lens to defend as the best-selling lens in 2017 as well. Current street price is $1759, price increase expected tonight. Printer bundle deal available.

Agree? Disagree? Surprised? Comment below!


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18 comments on “Top 10 Most Popular Canon Cameras and Lenses of 2016

  1. CanonGuy
    December 31, 2016 at 12:28 pm EDT

    I can’t speak for CPW’s business but the 5DIV on Amazon is presently situated at #8 and last week I saw it at #20 on one day. I’m a naysayer and believe it’s overpriced and will wait out.

    I’m still not totally convinced it’s worth $800.00 more than Nikon’s D810 with 4 year old technology and a sensor than continues to surpass anything that Canon has out there.

    I’m sticking with my 5DIII for now. I’m not moving over to the darkside because I’m way to heavily invested in Canon glass.

    1. CanonPriceWatch
      December 31, 2016 at 12:34 pm EDT

      There’s no doubt the EOS 5D Mark IV will come down in price. The question is when. The camera has been fluttering in-and-out of stock at various dealers and I’m hearing that supply at Canon is still not plentiful. I think it’ll be still some time before we see a controlled descent in price from authorized dealers on this camera.

      Our numbers are a bit skewed to the high-end, which reflects our audience. I don’t think many of our readers are out there waiting for deals on Rebel-class items, which are items 1 through 6 on the Amazon best-selling list.

    2. Bill C.
      December 31, 2016 at 12:52 pm EDT

      I totally agree with you about the 5D IV’s overpriced issue. The 5D III was the top seller because it does a good job in still photography and most importantly, videos. Now that the 5D IV is basically crippled with it’s half-assed 4K, many videographers had left the brand and opted for something else. Canon had four years to catch up to it’s competitors, but failed in the end (dynamic range).

      I shoot both Nikon and Canon, and was thinking about totally switching over to Canon (fantastic glasses) and placed high hope on the 5D IV…totally disappointed! From both the price point and performance perspective, I can’t see myself putting an extra $1000 for something that’s under-performing than my four year old D810…

      I can totally understand Canon’s marketing strategies; trying to protect all it’s products and at the same time trying to take a crack at the mirrorless market (M5). The 5D IV should have all the latest features from the M5, but instead of a well rounded camera, it’s a half-assed one.

      I’m a still photographer, so I could careless about the video features, but just the on still photography performance side, this camera is, IMO, worth about $1800 – $2000, which is par with the D750 if you compare them feature for feature.

      I’m now hoping the 6D Mark II will has something better to offer…

    3. Tony
      December 31, 2016 at 1:15 pm EDT

      On paper it’s hard to justify the price increase, until you actually use the camera.

      1. Dave
        December 31, 2016 at 5:11 pm EDT

        Which price increase and which camera?

  2. Alvaro
    December 31, 2016 at 1:28 pm EDT

    I jumped on the 100-400 this year, and it replaced my 100mm macro as favorite lens.

  3. Kent
    December 31, 2016 at 1:56 pm EDT

    I’m surprised that the 6D didn’t do well in sales this year. From the value vs performance perspective, it’s the best Canon has to offer. The 6D has the ability to focus in the dark where the 5D III would fail, not to mention that it’s high ISO performance is equivalent to the 5D IV. Although the focusing system is primitive, it’s excellent for general photography minus actions…

  4. December 31, 2016 at 4:40 pm EDT

    Canon t5

  5. December 31, 2016 at 4:41 pm EDT

    Canon t5

  6. Barry Adam Johnson
    December 31, 2016 at 10:34 pm EDT

    Makes sense to me…I have # 2, 3, 5 6 &8

  7. Cybersimba
    December 31, 2016 at 11:43 pm EDT

    I think 5D IV is an excellent camera. Also all the hoopla about high price is totally uncalled for. Here is why, think of price 5D III was released for 4+ yrs ago. It was 3499. 5D IV is exact same price. If you consider cost over time and the premium it would enjoy of being a reliable work horse Canon could increase the price. But they kept the price same. Also they have offered very good balance of megapixels, fps, DPAF, 4k, wifi, gps, touch screen, greatest AF system derived from 1DX II and many more features based on the demand and what Pro still photogs wanted. One must question if 810 has all those features in one body OR A7RII has those in one body. Of course not. If I remember correctly there was similar hoopla going on when 5D III was released. Based on what I hear and my limited testing of this camera (that I recently bought) I can tell that its a fantastic body and priced alright. Now if buyers are looking for discounts, of course, you shall not find it immediately and that too certainly not from a reputed brand and reputed series like 5D. Only over time depending on what Canon would want to push to market they might offer some price breaks. Even with 5D III and 6D bodies Canon has been very respectable in keeping the prices at a respectable level. That is because they are excellent cameras and even now after many years they shall still sell well. The main thing to note is that much like 5D III and 6D, 5D IV is designed to be a very consistent tool that pro photogs are going to want to make their primary work horse. Agreed for enthusiasts, its certainly high priced. But then its not targeted for that market segment either. All in all, another point to note is, one has to use this body and then comment on the price. What’s the point in blaming it if you haven’t tried it. If you use this body you shall know that just the AF system + consistency in performance alone is worth the price tag.

    Cybersimba

    1. Dave H.
      January 1, 2017 at 12:57 pm EDT

      Have you actually tried the Sony A7rII, Nikon D810, or the Pentax system?

      1. cybersimba
        January 1, 2017 at 1:05 pm EDT

        No I have not tried those. But based on detailed reviews by those who tried them all, its evident that 5DIV is a consistent solid performer. Agreed that technology wise (why even nikon and sony) even Fuji Mirrorless is ahead of Canon and Canon has to catch up. But my point was that 5D IV is targeted at a different segment. Here is latest comparison of it with 810 and a7rii: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNja03tkNzE

    2. Dave H.
      January 1, 2017 at 1:52 pm EDT

      You probably missed these reviews about the 5D IV:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQlNrXcHRIA
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeJRuzGNvCk
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4c78yuHgMY

      BTW, I shoot Canon, Nikon and Fuji X-series…

      1. cybersimba
        January 1, 2017 at 2:31 pm EDT

        Except the first one that I had glanced at. The other two I have seen before. Tony’s video simply has popular vote. Even Tony and Chelsea do admit that its a fine camera but of course tech wise many people including themselves expected more. Exposure streaking issue has not happened to all. Its possible that some batch has that issue. But not sure if that is something to totally worry about. I am sure many cameras when released come across some issue or the other that mfg. then resolves over time or recalls for valid reasons. I am not discounting the fact on technology advancement or any other aspect like crop video 4k that people are not happy about. All I am saying is that 5DIV being bad etc etc is overblown. Even Tony/Chelsea video mentions that. Have you used/tested 5DIV? Wonder how many that are not happy with 5DIV have actually used one? Quite frankly we have in some ways hit a wall when it comes to offering anything to (still) DSLR consumers as most things are already common across brands. Even megapixel wise 20-30 mp is more than enough. AF wise there are incremental improvements happening. I have a feeling based on patents filed by Canon being discovered on some websites that Canon (and surely others are) perhaps working on “next thing” to entice users.

        1. Dave H.
          January 1, 2017 at 2:40 pm EDT

          “Canon (and surely others are) perhaps working on “next thing” to entice users.” Your statement sums up why most users are not buying into the 5D IV at this point…

  8. David S.
    January 4, 2017 at 9:50 pm EDT

    What would be interesting to compare would be how this year’s year-end deals stacked up to past years’ deals, particularly in the post-MAP era. Comparing the amount of deals, hot deals, and super hot deals, and from whom (Adorama, BuyDig, Amazon, Street Price, etc.) and on what (lenses, bodies, bundles, accessories, etc.). For example, this year’s deals seemed better than 2015, but not as good as 2014. But 2015 seemed to be the year of the printer bundle deals, yet 2016 had better lens bundle deals. And 2014 seemed like there were more “accessories” on sale like tripods and memory cards, if memory serves. I think it would make for a neat, if not tedious, comparison of past trends and how they compared to new product launches during that year. And it could serve as some predictions as we go forward in 2017, especially as Canon announces new products.

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