- It is an ultra-wide zoom lens designed for full-frame cameras just like the Canon EOS R8
- Virtually similar design to the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM
- A £1,249 record value – we’ll verify US and Australia pricing asap
Canon has unveiled its newest ultra-wide angle zoom lens for it is full-frame mirrorless cameras, the RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM, and I bought a correct really feel for it throughout a hands-on session hosted by Canon forward of its launch.
It contains a shiny most F2.8 aperture throughout its complete 16-28mm vary, and is a way more compact and reasonably priced possibility for lovers than Canon’s professional RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM lens. Think about the 16-28mm a wise match for Canon’s newbie and mid-range full-frame cameras as an alternative, such because the EOS R8.
Design-wise, the 16-28mm is an ideal match with the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lens – the pair share the identical management structure and are virtually similar in dimension, even when the 28-70mm lens is round 10 p.c heavier.
The brand new lens is seemingly a part of a transfer by Canon to ship extra accessible quick aperture zooms that match higher with Canon’s smaller mirrorless our bodies – the 16-28mm weighs simply 15.7oz / 445g and prices £1,249 – that is a lot lower than the comparable professional L-series lens.
Picture 1 of 3
The appropriate match for lovers
Regardless of its lower cost tag, the 16-28mm nonetheless feels reassuringly stable – the rugged lens is made in Japan and contains a safe metallic lens mount. You get a customizable management ring, autofocus / guide focus change plus an optical stabilizer change, and that is the extent of the exterior controls.
When paired with a Canon digicam that options in-body picture stabilization, such because the EOS R6 Mark II, you stand up to eight stops of stabilization, though the cheaper EOS R8 is not blessed with that function, and for which the lens affords 5.5 stops of stabilization alone.
I examined the 16-28mm lens with an EOS R8 and the pair is an ideal match, as is the EOS R6 Mark II which is just somewhat bit larger.
Picture 1 of 5
I did not get too many alternatives to take photos with the brand new lens throughout my temporary hands-on, however I’ve taken sufficient pattern pictures captured in uncooked and JPEG format to get a ok thought of the lens’ optical qualities and deficiencies.
For instance, on the excessive vast angle 16mm setting and with the lens aperture vast open at F2.8, uncooked recordsdata reveal extreme curvilinear distortion and vignetting. Have a look at the corresponding JPEG, which was captured concurrently, and you’ll see simply how a lot lens correction is being utilized to get you clear JPEGs out of the digicam (try the gallery of pattern pictures under).
Picture 1 of 10
These lens distortions actually are fairly extreme, however if you have a look at the JPEG output, all is forgiven – even with such heavy processing going down to appropriate curvilinear distortion and vignetting, element is persistently sharp from the middle to the very edges and corners of the body, whereas mild fall off within the corners is usually handled.
I will exit on a limb and counsel the audience for this lens might be much less involved with these lens distortions, as long as it is attainable to get the top outcomes you want, and my first impressions are that you may actually do this – I’ve grabbed some sharp selfies and concrete landscapes, with respectable management over depth of subject, plus loved the additional vast perspective that makes vlogging a complete lot simpler.
A worthy addition to the Canon RF-mount household?
I count on most photographers and filmmakers will largely use the 16-28mm lens’ excessive ends of its zoom vary; 16mm and 28mm. The previous is especially helpful for video work due to its extremely vast perspective, whereas it is a versatile vary for panorama and structure images.
That zoom vary is hardly intensive, nevertheless, and I am undecided if it is a lens that notably excites me, even when it does make a wise pairing with the RF 28-70mm F2.8 for lovers.
It’s less expensive than a comparable L-series lens, however I might hardly name a £1,249 lens low cost. Additionally, why not simply choose up the RF 16mm F2.8 STM and the RF 28mm F2.8 prime lenses as an alternative? These are Canon’s smallest lenses for full-frame cameras and the pair mixed prices half the value of the 16-28mm F2.8.
As succesful because the 16-28mm seems to be on my first impressions – it is a tremendous sharp lens with versatile most aperture – I am merely not satisfied how a lot further it brings to the RF-mount desk, and if there’s sufficient of a case for it for most individuals.
