Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM Hands-on Review
Summary Verdict
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM balances a compact design with an attractive feature set, making it an appealing choice for enthusiast photographers wishing to avoid the cost of an L-series lens. Its constant f/2.8 aperture, stabilisation and solid build quality should ensure it performs well in a variety of shooting scenarios, while its lightweight, manageable size makes it easy to take anywhere. The 28mm maximum focal length rather than 35mm and lack of an included lens hood might give some photographers pause, but they seem a small price to pay, especially if the lens is paired with the Canon RF 28-70 F2.8 IS STM.
Score: TBC
For
Constant f/2.8 aperture
Weather-sealed
Compact and lightweight for the aperture and focal length
Against
28mm long point rather than the more common 35mm
The collapsible design can be inconvenient
Lens hoods is an optional extra
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM at the 28mm end.
What is the Canon RF 16-28 F2.8 IS STM?
The Canon RF 16-28 f/2.8 IS STM is a new full-frame wide-angle zoom lens for Canon EOS R-series cameras. While the RF 16-28 f/2.8 IS STM isn’t part of Canon’s top-flight L-series lens range, it’s weather-sealed and built to high standard to appeal to experienced enthusiast photographers, most likely those using cameras such as the Canon EOS R6 II and Canon EOS R8. However, it’s also suitable for use on Canon APS-C format cameras such as the EOS R7 on which it has an effective focal length range of 25.6-44.8mm.
The Canon RF 16-28 F2.8 IS STM is very similar in size and design to the Canon RF 28-70 F2.8 IS STM, which is intended as an upgrade to a standard kit lens.
Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM at the 16mm, it’s a little longer than at the 28mm point.
Canon RF 16-28 F2.8 IS STM Price and Availability
The Canon RF 16-28 F2.8 IS STM’s price is yet to be confirmed, but it’s believed to be £1,249.99 / €1,419.99, and it will go on sale on 14th February 2025.
Specifications
Lens type: Wide-angle zoom
Announced: 23rd January 2025
Format: Full-frame
Mount: Canon RF
Construction: 16 elements in 13 groups with 4 UD and 2 aspherical elements, including 1 GMo aspherical element
Coatings: Super Spectra
Number of diaphragm blades: 9
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Minimum aperture: f/22
Closest focusing distance: At 16mm: 25cm, at 28mm: 26cm
Stabilisation: Optical: 5.5EV, Optical & IBIS (In body stabilisation): 8EV
Filter size: 67mm
Dimensions (length X diameter): 91 x 76.5mm
Weight: 445g
Lens hood: EW-73E (not supplied)
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM fully retracted and mounted on the Canon EOS R8.
Features
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is constructed with 16 elements arranged in 13 groups, including four UD (ultra-low dispersion) and two aspherical elements, one of which is a GMo (glass-moulded aspherical) element. These specialised elements help to minimise optical distortions, such as chromatic aberration and field curvature (which results in soft corners) and deliver crisp, high-quality images across the frame and throughout the zoom range. The lens also features Canon’s Super Spectra Coating to reduce ghosting and flare, ensuring vibrant, contrast-rich images.
Despite not being part of Canon’s high-end L-series, the RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is built to a high standard, with moisture and dust sealing around all the moving parts and switches, as well as the mount. It’s good to see this trend for weather sealing in non-L series lenses continuing. That said, the RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM isn’t sealed to the same standard as L-series lenses. Canon hasn’t stated a weather-resistance rating for the lens.
One of the most attractive features of the RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is its constant f/2.8 maximum aperture. This is useful in low light because the sensitivity (ISO) doesn’t need to be pushed up as much as with a smaller aperture lens. The constant aperture also means that the exposure doesn’t change when zooming from one aperture to another. Plus, the wide maximum aperture enables good depth of field control.
The lens has optical image stabilisation (IS) built-in and it offers up to 5.5 stops of stabilisation, which is extended to 8 stops when paired with Canon’s in-body image stabilisation (IBIS). This and the lens’ comparative light weight make it an attractive option for hand-held shooting.
Canon has given the lens its STM (Stepping Motor) technology for smooth and quiet autofocusing. This is particularly beneficial for videographers who require precise, silent focus adjustments without distracting noise. The RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is also compatible with Canon’s focus breathing correction, boosting its appeal for video capture.
The RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM has impressive close-focusing capabilities. At 28mm, it can focus as close as 26cm from the sensor, and at the 16mm end, that distance drops to just 25cm. With a maximum magnification of 0.11x at 16mm and 0.26x at 28mm, the lens is well-suited for wide-angle close-up shots, capturing details in context in landscape or architectural scenes.
Designed for Canon’s RF-mount mirrorless cameras, the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is compatible with all of Canon’s EOS R-series bodies, but it’s most likely to be seen on the EOS R6 II and EOS R8 or the more compact, APS-C format EOS R7, where it offers an effective focal length of 25.6-44.8mm. Of course, it can also be used on the Canon EOS R5 II and Canon EOS R1, but they are more likely to be used with L-series optics.
Thanks to its wide-angle perspective and fast aperture, the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is ideal for a wide range of photographic genres, including landscape, architecture, street and environmental portraiture. Meanwhile, its lightweight design makes it an attractive option for everyday photography and travel.
Unusually for such a wide-angle zoom lens, the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM has a 67mm filter thread. That’s good news as smaller filters are more affordable. However, the lens doesn’t come with a lens hood, the EW-73E hood has to be bought separately. A lens hood is usually advisable, especially for wide lenses, to keep rain droplets away from the front element and reduce the risk of flare.
Although RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is significantly more expensive than the Canon RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM, that extra cash brings weather-sealing and a larger constant aperture - albeit with a more limited focal length range. The RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is also more affordable than the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM - especially the RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM, which is almost twice its price.
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM at its longest length (at the 16mm end) and mounted on the Canon EOS R8
Build and Handling
At just 445g, the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is remarkably lightweight for a fast, wide-angle zoom lens. This and its compact size (91 x 76.5mm) make it easy to carry on trips or during extended shoots.
Compared to the Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM, which shares a similar design and measures 92.2 x 76.5mm, the RF 16-28mm is 45g lighter and 1.2mm shorter. This makes the two lenses a nice match, covering a combined focal length range of 16mm to 70mm with a constant aperture of f/2.8.
Like the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM, the RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM has a collapsible design, and the zoom ring has to be rotated to 16mm to extend it ready for use. When you’ve finished shooting, rotating the zoom ring to its widest point and beyond the 16mm mark collapses it for packing in a bag.
While I like the smaller size of collapsible lenses, I often power up the camera when the lens is collapsed and see a reminder to extend it before use.
Although it’s not an L-series lens, the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM isn’t an entry-level optic either. It feels well made and the ring movements are smooth with pleasant tension.
Like the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM, the RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM has two rings. The slim ring towards the front element is customisable. A switch lets you change between using it for manual focusing or adjusting a parameter such as the aperture, shutter speed, or ISO setting, depending on your preferences. An AF/MF (autofocus/manual focus) switch also provides quick and easy switching between the two focus modes.
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM has a metal mount and a rubber seal around its outer edge.
Performance
I have used a pre-production sample of the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM on the Canon EOS R8 and although there needs to be a lot more testing of a full-production sample of the lens before I can pass final judgment, the early signs are very good. Even in low light, partly because of its large aperture, it focuses quickly and quietly.
Although in-camera correction profiles are used widely these days, Canon has pointed this out with the RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM because it enables the lens to produce high-quality results without the weight and expense of correcting some aberrations and distortion optically. This is borne by the quality of the results I have seen so far. There’s a very good level of detail across the frame, curvilinear distortion is controlled very well and vignetting isn’t a major concern.
As yet, Adobe Camera Raw doesn’t have the correction profiles for the lens, and without them, there’s significant vignetting and some barrel distortion visible in the raw files shot with the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM on the Canon EOS R8. I anticipate this changing soon after the lens goes on sale when the correction profiles are added to the software.
Although you get more depth of field at short focal lengths than at long focal lengths, thanks to the large maximum aperture, it’s still possible to get some separation of the subject from the background when shooting at 16mm with the RF 16-28mm lens. Initial indications are that the blur is natural and smooth in appearance, but I will investigate this further when a production sample of the lens comes in for testing.
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM (left) next to the Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM - both fully-retracted.
Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM Sample Images
These images were captured using a pre-production sample of the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM on the Canon EOS R8 and may not match the final image quality.
Distortion is corrected well in this shot captured at the 16mm end of the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM.
Shooting at f/2.8 at the 28mm end of the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM has produced shallow depth of field with smooth background blur in this image.
There’s a pleasing amount of detail in this close-up image shot at 16mm using the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM.
Shot at the 28mm end of the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM at its closest focusing point.
I need to shoot in more challenging conditions to test it fully, but chromatic aberration seems to be controlled well.
There appears to be a good level of detail and sharpness across the frame.
Early Verdict
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM offers an appealing combination of versatility and portability for enthusiast photographers seeking a wide-angle zoom lens with a constant aperture. Its lightweight design, weather sealing and optical stabilisation make it an attractive option for a variety of genres, including landscapes, architecture and travel. Meanwhile, its f/2.8 aperture adds to its usability for nighttime, indoor and low-light photography.
Although it’s not part of Canon’s premium L-series, it has a solid wether-sealed construction. It also looks set to deliver high-quality results, with sharp detail across the frame and effective distortion correction, thanks partly to in-camera processing. The collapsible design enhances portability, but the need to extend the lens before shooting may frustrate some users. While its 28mm longest focal length and the lack of an included lens hood are minor drawbacks, the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is shaping up to be a strong choice for those looking for a more affordable, high-quality wide-angle zoom.
