With their versatility and focal range, standard zoom and superzoom lenses are very popular lenses, especially for beginners. Let’s find out more about their special features.

EOS R8 + RF28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM @70mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec, ISO 100

 

Characteristics of standard zoom lenses & superzoom lenses

1. They cover 50mm (full-frame equivalent) somewhere in the middle of their focal range.
2. Superzoom lenses are standard zoom lenses with more “zoom power”.
3. Very versatile: can shoot most genres and scenes.

 

What is a standard zoom lens? What is a superzoom lens?

Previously, we learned about zoom lenses and how they differ from prime lenses. Standard zoom lenses and superzoom lenses are the two most popular types of zoom lenses.

Standard zoom lenses are zoom lenses that cover 50mm (“standard” focal length), slightly wider than it (wide-angle), and slightly narrower than it (medium telephoto/telephoto). Some classic standard zoom lens focal ranges are 24-70mm, 28-70mm, and 24-105mm for full-frame cameras, and 18-45mm for APS-C cameras.

Superzoom lenses are like standard zoom lenses, but with more reach. They are useful for close-ups of faraway scenes, as well as making use of telephoto perspective compression.

Benefit 1: Framing flexibility

All images above shot on: EOS R50 + RF-S18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

With a twist of the zoom ring, you can go from showing a stunning wide landscape, to a tighter framing that highlights a subject, to a close-up that draws attention to details not visible to your bare eyes.

Benefit 2: Versatility

As standard zoom and superzoom lenses provide the benefits of different focal ranges (wide, standard, and telephoto), you’ll be well-equipped to handle a wide variety of subjects and scenes.

Though standard zoom and superzoom lenses seem perfect, they do have their weaknesses. It’s technically challenging to balance a wide zoom range with portability, a large maximum aperture, optical quality, and cost. Hence, superzoom lenses and the most portable and budget-friendly standard zoom lenses are usually variable aperture lenses, while the “fast”, constant aperture standard zoom lenses used by many professional photographers are usually bigger and heavier.

 

Main types of standard zoom lenses

Canon’s standard zooms fall into two main categories:
i) Constant aperture standard zoom lenses
ii) Variable aperture standard zoom lenses

i) Variable aperture standard zoom lenses

1. RF24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM
2. RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
3. RF-S18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM (for APS-C cameras; effective full-frame equivalent focal length: 29-72mm)

These popular kit lenses are smaller, lighter, and more affordable than constant aperture standard zoom lenses with a similar focal range. However, the maximum aperture becomes narrower (“darker”) as you zoom in.

Also see: What’s the Difference Between RF-S and RF Lenses?

ii) Constant aperture standard zoom lenses

1. RF28-70mm f/2L USM
2. RF24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z
3. RF24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
4. RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
5. RF28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Professional photographers are likely to have at least one of these as their trustworthy workhorse. Their maximum aperture tends to be relatively large and doesn’t change even when you zoom in, giving greater flexibility for bokeh and low light shooting.

The red ring lenses (L-series lenses) have higher quality optics and a more robust build to cater to stringent professional needs.

 

Superzoom lenses

Superzoom lenses can be categorized by zoom magnification level, obtained by dividing the longest focal length by the shortest focal length. There are currently two superzoom lenses in Canon’s RF lens lineup: one designed for EOS R series full-frame cameras and another designed for EOS R series APS-C cameras.

1. RF24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM (10x zoom)
2. RF-S18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM (around 8x zoom; for APS-C cameras; effective full-frame equivalent focal length: 29-240mm)

 

Try with your standard zoom/superzoom lens

2 tricks for getting an even better defocus bokeh effect

Compared to prime lenses, standard zoom and superzoom lenses tend to have a smaller maximum aperture. To get a stronger defocus bokeh effect beyond what the minimum f-number on the lens suggests, try either or both of the following: 1. Move as close to the subject as the minimum shooting distance (closest focusing distance) allows. 2. Choose a background that is far away from the subject.

Both images above shot on: EOS R6 Mark II + RF24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM

 

Standard zooms & superzooms are great…

…for exploring different angles and framing while travelling light!

All images above shot on: EOS R50 + RF-S18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

Beautiful heritage shophouses in Singapore shot from a narrow street. With just one superzoom lens, by varying our shooting distance, we managed to capture:
(1) A low-angle shot that mimics our gaze as we stare up in wonder at the building;
(2) A shot taken from across the street that shows the entire shophouse unit and its next-door neighbours;
(3) A tighter shot with minimal perspective distortion that faithfully captures the shapes of the windows and the intricate details around them, and;
(4) A detailed close-up of the ornamental green glazed canopy of the first floor.

This makes standard and superzoom lenses ideal for travel, exploring new places, and scouting shoot locations!

EOS RP/ RF24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS STM/ FL: 178mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/6.3, 1/4000 sec, EV  -1)/ ISO 1250/ WB: Auto (Ambience-priority)

…for responding quickly to fleeting moments
A quick twist of the zoom ring is all it takes to find the best framing.

Wondering how to make the best of your standard zoom or superzoom lens? Or thinking about upgrading it and wondering what to get next? Here are some articles to help!
10 Concepts to Know Before Buying Your Second Lens
The RF f/4L Zoom Trinity: A Professional Lens “Starter Kit”
Prime Lens or Zoom Lens: Which Should I Buy?
4 Lens Concepts to Revolutionise Your Photos