Try a wide-angle zoom lens if you’re wondering what lens to get next to expand your travel photography arsenal. These zoom lenses that cover focal lengths wider than 24mm full-frame equivalent are the original version of those 0.5x wide-angle lenses on your phone, and they promise much better images—especially when combined with a full-frame EOS R series camera. Here’s what you can do with them.
1. Literally capture more of the world around you
EOS R6 Mark II + RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 15mm, f/9, 1/125 sec, ISO 125
The wider the lens, the easier it is to capture more of the scene in front of you—and you’ll often need that coverage to complete your composition! In the image above, 15mm enabled the photographer to not only capture the symmetry of the autumn trees and their reflections but also the fish in the lower left corner, adding life into the picture.
Gear tip: Lenses for shooting under challenging weather conditions
Weather-sealing on the RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
The dust- and droplet-resistant weather sealing on Canon’s professional-grade L-series lenses like the RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM and RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM will give you additional peace of mind whether you are shooting a waterfall, in the snow, or in the middle of a desert. Smudge-resistant coating on the surface of the front and rear elements make dirt easy to wipe off: pristine glass, pristine images!
2. High quality unique perspectives
EOS R + RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 15mm, f/8, 1/400 sec, ISO 800
Create images that make people stop and wonder, “there’s something about this picture that looks different”! The secret to the unique look of wide-angle images is their perspective exaggeration, which makes objects near the lens look bigger and nearer than usual, and objects far away appear smaller and further away, adding depth and dynamism.
Pro technique: Shoot close to something in the foreground.
This makes the image look even more dynamic as the exaggerated perspective becomes more obvious. For even better results, tilt the camera.
Gear tip: Clean backlit images
EOS R8 + RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM @ 14mm, f/13, 1/250 sec, ISO 100
Go ahead, put the sun in the frame. Narrow the f-stop down to f/11 or f/16 to create a beautiful starburst effect. Like all L-series lenses, the RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM and RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM have special anti-reflective coatings that reduce the ghosting and flaring that occur when you shoot into strong light.
3. Find inspiration for unique compositions even in low light
EOS R6 Mark II + RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM @ 14mm, f/4, 1/10 sec, ISO 2500
Because of its unique perspective effect, a wide-angle lens presents scenes in a way that we don’t see with our bare eyes. Looking through them unveils an entire world filled with previously unnoticed shapes, frames, and lines.
When inspiration strikes in low light, a faster lens will give you more flexibility over your exposure settings. The RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM lets you shoot at maximum aperture f/4 over the entire 14 to 35mm range while the RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM lets you use aperture settings as wide as f/2.8. This is regardless of whether you are shooting at 15mm, 35mm, or anything in between.
Both lenses are equipped with an Optical Image Stabilizer (Optical IS) to combat camera shake, so feel free to use a slower shutter speed.
| Lens | Optical IS | Coordinated Control IS (Optical IS + Camera with In-Body IS) |
| RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM | Up to 5.5 stops* | Up to 7 stops* |
| RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM | Up to 5 stops* | Up to 7 stops* |
*At 35mm, CIPA standard (yaw and pitch directions)
Gear tip: Not just for grand scenic places
EOS R6 Mark II + RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 35mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO 1600
EOS R + RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 28mm, f/2.8, 1/1000 sec, ISO 400
We pay a lot of attention to how wide wide-angle zoom lenses can go. However, they are also versatile because you can zoom in to 35mm, a classic focal length for street, documentary, and everyday photography.
Since Canon’s professional wide-angle zoom lenses are constant aperture zooms, their maximum apertures stay wide and bright as you zoom towards the 35mm end—perfect for achieving beautiful background blur. You could easily keep the lens on your camera the entire day!
Lenses in this article
RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM
Compact and lightweight, the wide-angle zoom lens in Canon’s f/4L zoom trinity provides the perfect balance between portability and performance.
It shares the same 77mm filter thread size as the RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM, RF70-200mm f/4L IS USM, and RF100-500mm f/4-7.1L IS USM, so you can use the same screw-in ND or PL filters interchangeably.
RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon’s best wide-angle zoom lens for the RF mount, and a member of its classic f/2.8 zoom trinity. It gives you a 1-stop advantage over the RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM, which makes a huge difference for photographers and filmmakers who prioritise speed and low light performance.
