On 8 February 2023, Canon announced the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM, a new RF-mount standard zoom lens for EOS R system full-frame cameras. Lightweight and compact, the new concept lens provides users with both flexibility and agility when shooting photos and videos on the move.

1. How is the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM different from Canon’s existing standard zoom lenses?

1. How is the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM different from Canon’s existing standard zoom lenses?

The flexibility of a zoom, the portability of a prime

A standard zoom lens is the first lens that most photographers own. After all, kit lenses are usually standard zoom lenses, and for a good reason: their focal ranges usually start from wide-angle (around 24mm) and cover at least the standard focal range (around 40mm to 50mm), providing sufficient flexibility for capturing most everyday scenes.

Canon’s four existing full-frame RF-mount standard zoom lenses extend slightly beyond the standard focal range, reaching into the medium telephoto range (70 to 100mm):
- RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
- RF24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM
- RF24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
- RF28-70mm f/2L USM

In comparison, the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM was designed with priority on portability, providing a focal range of 24 to 50mm (wide angle to standard) to keep the lens compact and lightweight. It is the first such lens in Canon’s line-up with no EF-mount equivalent. With both the flexibility of a zoom and the portability of a typical standard prime lens, it promises to be an asset to users who desire compact, mobile setups, such as content creators shooting with a drone or gimbal.

The RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is significantly smaller and lighter than Canon’s RF24-105mm lenses. In fact, it is almost the same size as the RF35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM (approximately 63mm)! This makes it convenient in situations that call for a compact, mobile setup, such as travel or when shooting video with a gimbal.

2. What is 24mm to 50mm good for shooting?

2. What is 24mm to 50mm good for shooting?

A lot of things! It includes some of the most widely used focal lengths

The 24mm to 50mm coverage of the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM may seem narrow to some, but this focal range is actually among the most widely used and can cover most subjects and scenes. For example,

- 24mm is wide enough for vlogs and livestreams that show the presenter as well as location details. It is also good for capturing landscapes and architecture. With the right composition technique, you can create images with the unique exaggerated wide-angle perspective.
- 50mm is a classic focal length for portraiture because of its natural perspective, and also great for getting closeups of food, flowers, and other small objects.
- 35mm captures slightly more context than 50mm. It provides an angle of view that is easy to work with when shooting interviews, documentaries, quick snapshots, candid moments, or street photography.

Also see:
24mm Closeups: 3 Simple Exercises for Mastering Wide-Angle Perspective

Angle of view on a full-frame camera

Angle of view on an APS-C camera

When used on an APS-C EOS R series camera such as the EOS R7/R10/R50, or in 1.6x crop mode on a full-frame EOS R series camera, the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM provides a focal range equivalent to around 38mm to 80mm on a full-frame camera.

Know your lens techniques, master creative expression! Find out more about important lens concepts that can change your shots in:
4 Lens Concepts to Revolutionise Your Photos

3. Is the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM good for shooting video?

3. Is the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM good for shooting video?

Of course! It’s short, lightweight, can shoot wide angle, and changes focus smoothly

Size, weight, and stability
The compact size and light weight of the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM are huge benefits for scenes that require you to be on the move. If you are shooting handheld, such a compact setup is easier to stabilise; a shorter, lighter lens also provides better balance if you are using a gimbal. The in-lens Optical Image Stabilizer (Optical IS) provides further stabilisation, with enhanced performance when combined with a camera equipped with Movie Digital IS, In-Body IS, or both. (See Point 4 for more on image stabilisation).

Smooth autofocusing, focus breathing correction
As focus transitions get recorded in video, it’s important that they occur quietly and seamlessly. The RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM’s autofocus mechanism is driven by a lead-screw type stepping motor (STM), known for its smooth, quiet movement—perfect for AF tracking during video shooting. Support for focus breathing correction corrects the visible fluctuations in angle of view that might occur during focus transitions, further contributing to seamless, high-quality video.

Goes as wide as 24mm, great for vlogs and demos
In the previous point, we talked about how 24mm can capture scenes that show the background context, even in a small room. This also means that it can capture both a product on the table and you behind the product—great for vlogs and livestreams. A wider angle of view also means the camera and lens can be placed comfortably within arm’s reach, close enough to operate easily.

4. How much image stabilisation does it have?

4. How much image stabilisation does it have?

Still shooting: Up to 7 stops’ equivalent when combined with a camera with In-Body IS

To accompany its handheld shooting-friendly size, the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is equipped with the Optical Image Stabilizer (Optical IS) that achieves up to 4.5 shutter speed stops’ equivalent image stabilisation^*1. When combined with a camera that features in-body image stabilisation (In-Body IS), such as the EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II, the Optical IS and In-Body IS coordinate (Coordinated Control IS) to achieve enhanced image stabilisation of up to 7 shutter speed stops’ equivalent^*2.

Optical IS	Optical IS + In-Body IS
Up to 4.5 stops*1	Up to 7 stops*2

*1 With the EOS R. According to CIPA standards (yaw and pitch directions). At focal length 50mm.
*2 With the EOS R3. According to CIPA standards (yaw and pitch directions). At focal length 50mm.

Both images: EOS R8 + RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM @ FL: 50mm, 1/8 sec, f/7.1, ISO 10000

Video shooting: Optical IS; support for Movie Digital IS

The 4.5-stop Optical IS also effectively corrects camera shake when shooting movies. This is enhanced through Coordinated Control IS when used with a camera that features Movie Digital IS*, which digitally performs 5-axis image stabilisation to compensate for the low-frequency shaking that occurs during handheld video shooting. If the camera also features In-Body IS, the three IS methods work together to achieve even stronger image stabilisation.
* When Movie Digital IS is activated, the field of view becomes narrower

5. What can I expect in terms of image quality?

5. What can I expect in terms of image quality?

Clarity throughout the entire zoom range, even at the image edges

The RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM achieves clear images with little visible colour bleeding or distortion across the entire focal range. This ensures that regardless of whether you are shooting photos or video, subjects appear sharp and clear all the way to the edges—even architecture, landscapes, and other subjects that you’re likely to shoot at wide angles.

EOS R8/ RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM/ FL: 41mm/ Manual exposure (f/8, 1/125 sec)/ ISO 4000/ WB: Auto

* Lens Aberration Correction on the camera will be automatically set to ‘ON’ when this lens is attached.

Also note:
- Use with the EOS R and EOS RP requires a firmware update.
- This lens does not support the Multiple Exposures function.

Key specifications

RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM: Key specifications

Lens hood: EW-63C (sold separately)

Sample images

RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM: Sample images

EOS R8/ RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM/ FL: 24mm/ Manual exposure (f/8, 0.6 sec)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

EOS R8/ RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM/ FL: 50mm/ Manual exposure (f/6.3, 1/160 sec)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

EOS R10/ RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM/ FL: 34mm (54.4mm equivalent)/ Manual exposure (f/5.6, 1/320 sec)/ ISO 125/ WB: Auto