Wondering which Canon lens you should get for your new EOS R system vlogging camera? Here are two to consider!
How to choose a lens for vlogging
Using an interchangeable lens camera like the ones in Canon’s EOS R mirrorless camera system gives you many content creation options. You can change the lens you use with the camera to suit different purposes, or to make your footage look different from usual!
With such a wide variety of RF and RF-S lenses to choose from, how do you pick the best for vlogging? First of all, let’s look at some ideal features for a vlogging lens.
Ideal vlogging lens features
1. Wide-angle
You want the lens to be wide enough to capture at least your entire face with some headroom, even if your camera is just an arm’s length away. There is a sweet spot: a lens that is too wide could cause unflattering distortions to facial features. A full-frame equivalent focal length range of 16 to 28mm is ideal for most people.
2. Small and compact
A small and compact lens makes your setup smaller, lighter, and easier to stabilise.
3. Autofocus
The lens’ autofocusing motors should be fast, precise, and reliable to help the camera keep the focus on your face and eyes (or where you want it) even when you’re moving.
Keeping that in mind, here are our recommendations for two pocket-friendly vlogging lenses to add to your vlogging kit. On both lenses, the autofocus is driven by an STM (stepping motor), known for its fast yet smooth, quiet focusing movement—perfect for shooting video!
1. RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
Key specifications
Size: φ69 x 44.9mm (retracted)
Weight: approx. 150g
Filter diameter: 49mm
Closest focusing distance: 0.14m
Key features
- Zoom lens
- Optical IS (Image Stabilizer)
- Focus breathing correction
Versatility in a tiny package
As the smallest ultra-wide-angle zoom lens in Canon’s current RF lens lineup, the incredibly tiny RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM allows you to choose how wide you want to go. One twist of the zoom ring is all you need to go from showing the wider context behind you at the 10mm end (equivalent to 16mm on a full-frame camera) to a tighter shot at the 18mm long end (equivalent to 28.8mm on a full-frame camera), as well as everything in between.
EOS R50 + RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM @ 10mm (16mm equivalent)
The 10mm wide-end is enough to give a good view of your surroundings.
The built-in Optical Image Stabilizer (Optical IS) helps to capture more stable handheld footage, providing a better viewing experience right out of the camera. Support for focus breathing correction reduces the distracting changes in framing that tend to occur when you move the focus point from near the camera to somewhere further or vice versa.
As an RF-S lens, the RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is designed to balance well with small, compact APS-C EOS R series cameras like the EOS R50, even when shooting with one hand.
2. RF16mm f/2.8 STM
Key specifications
Size: φ69.2 x 40.2mm (retracted)
Weight: approx. 165g
Filter diameter: 43mm
Closest focusing distance: 0.13m
Key features
- Prime lens
- Wide maximum aperture (f/2.8)
- Designed for full-frame EOS R series cameras but also works on APS-C (equivalent focal length on APS-C camera: 25.6mm)
Powerful low light performer
A fast lens like the RF16mm f/2.8 STM is a huge asset to shooting in dim light conditions. While it has the same angle of view as the 10mm wide end on the RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM when mounted onto a full-frame camera, its wide maximum aperture lets in more light so your footage doesn’t get too grainy. This also creates a beautiful background blur (“bokeh”) that simplifies background distractions and makes the footage look more three-dimensional—something that’s hard to achieve on wide-angle lenses because of their inherently large depth of field!
EOS R + RF16mm f/2.8 STM @ 16mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, ISO 800
When shooting video, the aperture setting offers the best flexibility for exposure control. f/2.8 lets you capture clean and beautiful footages even in dimly lit places like this eatery.
Though designed for full-frame cameras, the RF16mm f/2.8 STM is almost the same size as the RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. This is an engineering feat—before this, full-frame ultra-wide-angle lenses were never both tiny and fast!
Its small size also means it balances well with small EOS R series APS-C cameras like the EOS R50, where it gives an angle-of-view equivalent to 25.6mm on a full-frame camera.
While the lens lacks Optical IS, you still can get steadier handheld footage through the Movie Digital IS feature in EOS R series cameras. This stabilisation effect is enhanced with camera bodies equipped with In-Body IS, such as the EOS R7 or EOS R6 Mark II.
Summary of specs
| RF16mm f/2.8 STM | RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM | |
| Full-frame camera compatibility | Native (EOS R series) | 1.6x crop mode |
| Equivalent focal length on an APS-C camera | 25.6mm | 16 to 28.8mm |
| Zoom? | No | Yes |
| Maximum aperture | Large, constant (f/2.8) |
Variable (Goes from f/4.5 to f/6.3 as you zoom in) |
| Built-in image stabilisation | Nil (Turn on Movie Digital IS on the camera!) |
Up to 4 stops (up to 6 stops with Coordinated Control IS) |
We recommend the RF16mm f/2.8 STM if you:
- Want to maximise your full-frame camera
- Frequently shoot in low light conditions
- Want beautiful bokeh
- Mainly vlog on a tripod or stabiliser
- Are using a camera with In-Body IS such as the EOS R7
We recommend the RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM if you:
- Prefer to be able to zoom
- Shoot mostly in good lighting conditions
- Don’t really require bokeh
- Move around a lot when you vlog
Other vlogging gear to consider
The EOS R50, RF16mm f/2.8 STM, and RF-S10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM are pictured with:
- Tripod Grip HG100-TBR
This versatile tripod grip is both a mini selfie stick and desktop tripod. It has an adjustable head that supports vertical shooting. It also comes with the Wireless Remote Shutter BR-E1 (Bluetooth remote control), which lets you release the shutter without pressing the shutter button, so in effect, you are getting 3 accessories in one!
- Multi-Function Shoe Directional Stereo Microphone DM-E1D
An external microphone is essential for better audio quality. This cableless, battery-less fully digital microphone works on EOS R series cameras with Multi-Function Shoe. It is a convenient option for on-the-go vlogging as you don’t have to worry about cables getting in the way.
