Canon’s latest lens for its RF mirrorless camera system fills a very important gap in its lens catalog: a mid-priced standard zoom with professional-grade f/2.8 optics. Its RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM debuts at $1,099, for roughly half the cost of its marquee RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM.Obtainable Full-Frame F2.8 ZoomIt’s good news for photogs who’ve picked up a full-frame starter camera like the excellent EOS R8 and want to take advantage of the background blurring power and low light creative possibilities that come with an f/2.8 zoom. It’s a type of lens that third parties have made for other systems—Sigma and Tamron make similar zooms for the Sony system—but not for Canon cameras.
(Credit: Canon)
The RF 28-70mm isn’t just priced affordably, the lens is small enough to match well with entry-level cameras. It measures 3.6 by 3.0 inches (HD) and weighs in at 17.5 ounces, pretty small and light as far as full-frame zooms go. And even though the lens is not part of Canon’s premium L series, a representative from the company says that the lens is weather-sealed to the same degree as L glass, so it’s fine for use in rainy weather.The optics are stabilized too, so you can readily use longer shutter speeds when paired with a non-stabilized camera body like the RP or R8. On its own, the lens stabilization provides up to 5.5 stops of compensation, and it gets 7.5 stops when matched with a camera with a stabilized sensor like the EOS R6 Mark II; both figures are based on CIPA testing standards.The lens uses a custom-designed stepping motor (STM) to drive focus. Lenses that use STM usually provide quiet autofocus with smooth transitions for video. In this case Canon says the focus is also very fast, as the 28-70mm’s STM system includes a magnetic sensor to provide rotational speed data to the camera in real time, the end result being faster focus drive without any sacrifice in accuracy. For video, Canon also promises that the breathing effect is minimal.
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(Credit: Canon)
Pricing and Availability The RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM is available for order and set to ship to customers this month. As mentioned, it’s priced at $1,099, and compatible with Canon EOS R mirrorless cameras.
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About Jim Fisher
Lead Analyst, Cameras
Images, and the devices that capture them, are my focus. I’ve covered cameras at PCMag for the past 13 years, which has given me a front row seat for the DSLR to mirrorless transition, the smartphone camera revolution, and the mainstream adoption of drones for aerial imaging. I have extensive experience with every major mirrorless and SLR system. As a Part 107 Certified drone pilot, I’m licensed to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for commercial and editorial purposes, and am knowledgeable about federal rules and regulations regarding drones. You can find me on Instagram @jamespfisher.
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