The RF mount’s design flexibility has expanded optical engineering possibilities, making it possible to create innovative new lenses as well as reinvent some lenses with familiar focal lengths into totally different beings. Here are 8 innovative Canon lenses as of December 2024. Which lens are you going to get next?

 

One-of-a-kind ultra-wide-angle lenses

1. RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM

Ultra-wide wonder

Go wide beyond your wildest dreams: the RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM is currently the widest non-fisheye autofocus zoom lens for full-frame cameras. It is also over 50% lighter than its EF mount counterpart, the EF11-24mm f/4L USM, while adding up to 5 stops’ equivalent built-in image stabilisation. With its breathtaking field of view and newfound travel-friendly portability, this lens puts a different spin on your view of both old and new places.

A must-have for: Landscapes, urban, and architecture; those who love capturing images from new perspectives.

 

2. RF16mm f/2.8 STM

Tiny, wide, and bright

The RF16mm f/2.8 STM is an engineering feat: it’s the same size as the RF50mm f/1.8 STM nifty fifty and weighs only around 165g! Nowhere else will you find an ultra-wide-angle lens for full-frame cameras that’s as bright and tiny. Slide it into your bag to supplement a standard zoom lens—it’s perfect for travelling light without dealing with FOMO! P.S: It’s also a great lens for vlogging.

A must-have for: Frequent travelers, vloggers, and anyone who wants a fast ultra-wide-angle lens that’s also compact and lightweight.

 

Game-changing professional workhorses

3. RF24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z

Ultimate versatility

With this lens, you no longer need to choose between focal range and a larger aperture. With its game-changing combination of a wide 24-105mm focal range with a big, bright f/2.8 maximum aperture, the RF24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z is the one lens that can do it all: shoot wide-angle to medium telephoto, create beautiful bokeh, and provide flexibility in low-light situations, all with astounding, professional-grade optical quality.

An iris ring and support for smooth power zooming with the Power Zoom Adapter PZ-E2 (sold separately), along with other video-centric features, also make the lens an excellent option for serious video creation and filmmaking.

A must-have for: Hybrid creators; professional and semi-professional photographers and creators who want one powerful all-rounder lens to rule it all; filmmakers and video producers looking for a budget-friendlier quality zoom lens alternative to cine-servo lenses.

 

4. RF28-70mm f/2L USM

Speed and stellar optical quality

Canon captured the imagination of many when they announced this lens, the first in the world with its zoom range and aperture combination. Its f/2 maximum aperture is a full stop brighter than conventional f/2.8 standard zoom lenses.

Described to be “as sharp as multiple prime lenses”, the lens soon became highly sought after for its combination of speed, performance, and outstanding image quality. Many professional photographers now consider it their ultimate workhorse for genres as diverse as weddings, events, commercials, portraiture, and even landscape photography.

A must-have for: Users who prioritise high-performance optics and low-light performance.

 

5. RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM

Top-of-the-line telephoto zoom

Certain kinds of photography require another kind of workhorse—one that brings speed and low-light performance with a longer reach. Enter the unprecedented RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM, which is the first to combine two professional telephoto staples (the 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom and 300mm f/2.8 prime lenses) into one versatile body. Whether you’re documenting the energy of a live event, in an arena angling for decisive sporting moments, or seeking a different approach to a fashion or portrait shoot, you’ll be able to freeze moments from close-up to wide with just a twist of a zoom ring.

A must-have for: Action; event and press coverage in larger low-light venues; outdoor portrait and fashion; wildlife

 

Virtual reality lenses

6 and 7. Dual fisheye lenses

6. RF5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fisheye—for compatible full-frame EOS R series cameras*
7. RF-S3.9mm f/3.5 STM Dual Fisheye—for compatible APS-C EOS R series cameras**

Take visual expression into a new realm

Creating high-resolution 3D VR content used to be a complex process that required high-end equipment, tedious setups, and specialised post-processing skills. This is now a thing of the past with Canon’s unique dual fisheye lenses, which simplify the process tremendously by capturing two parallax images simultaneously with a single camera, creating files that can be easily processed and converted into immersive 3D images with the EOS VR Utility software or EOS VR Plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro.

A must-have for: innovative creators who seek to stay ahead in the content creation game—or love exploring new forms of visual storytelling.

*Compatibility as of September 2024:  EOS R5 Mark II, EOS R5 (firmware ver.1.5.0 or later), EOS R6 Mark II (firmware ver.1.2.0 or later), EOS R5 C (firmware 1.0.5 or later), EOS C80, EOS C400. 
**Compatibility as of September 2024: EOS R7 (firmware ver.1.6.0 or later)

 

8. RF-S7.8mm f/4 STM Dual

Realistic Spatial 3D images

While the dual fisheye lenses create immersive 3D VR images that surround the viewer and transport them into the scene, the nifty little RF-S7.8mm f/4 STM Dual* creates Spatial 3D images that transport scenes to the viewer when viewed on devices like the Apple Vision Pro, making them feel like the subjects are in front of them. Simple to use, compact, and lightweight at just 130g, and priced friendlier than the dual fisheye lenses, it’s a great starter lens for those who have a compatible camera and want to experiment with 3D content creation.

*Compatibility as of September 2024: EOS R7 (firmware ver.1.6.0 or later)

A must-have for: Content creators, visual artists, and tech-savvy trendsetters who want to try a new form of visual expression.