Canon announces new RF-mount 16-28mm F2.8 lens with image stabilization

Canon has announced a new ultra-wide zoom lens for its RF-mount mirrorless cameras. The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM lens also features image stabilization.

Lightweight

The Canon RF 16-28mm ultra-wide zoom lens has a compact design and measures only 3.6 inches (91mm) in length when retracted. It’s also lightweight at 15.7 ounces (445 g). Despite its small size, Canon claims the new lens offers “near-L series image quality.” In addition, the RF 16-28mm zoom lens is designed to handle rain, moisture, and dust so that it won’t let you down in challenging environments. The lens’s focus ring also serves as a control ring for customization and control over camera settings

Optical design

Canon’s RF 16-28mm ultra-wide zoom lens is designed with 16 lens elements in 13 groups. These include two aspheric elements and four ultra-low-dispersion (UD) lenses with Super Spectra coatings for incredible clarity. The lens also features a fast Leadscrew (STM) motor for rapid, smooth and near-silent focusing.

The lens offers image stabilization with up to 5.5 stops of stabilization. Usefully, there is a physical switch on the lens to switch stabilization on or off.

Wide maximum aperture

This new lens has a constant wide maximum aperture of F2.8. This means it should be great in low light conditions. However, shallow depth of field will be harder to achieve with such a wide angle lens unless your subject is close to the camera. The close focus distance is under eight inches (20 cm) which will help. In addition, the nine-bladed aperture should give a smooth bokeh in out of focus parts of your images.

Other features

The Canon RF 16-28mm ultra-wide zoom lens has a filter thread of 67 mm. It comes with a lens hood and a lens pouch for storage.

What we think

The Canon RF 16-28mm ultra-wide zoom is an ideal lens for video shooters. The constant F2.8 aperture means your exposure won’t change if you zoom while filming. This is an essential feature for video. The image stabilization is also very welcome to keep your video smooth and stable, even with such a wide-angle lens. In addition, the compact and lightweight design means you won’t get tired if you leave it on all day as a walkabout lens. If you use an RF mount camera, the Canon RF 16-28mm is a great choice for an ultra-wide zoom lens.

Pricing and availability

The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM ultra-wide zoom lens is scheduled to ship from February 11, 2025. It will retail at $1,149.

Pete Tomkies
Pete Tomkies
Pete Tomkies is a freelance cinematographer and camera operator from Manchester, UK. He also produces and directs short films as Duck66 Films. Pete's latest short Once Bitten... won 15 awards and was selected for 105 film festivals around the world.

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