On 23 January 2025, Canon announced the RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM, its first non-L f/2.8 constant aperture ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for full-frame cameras. Boasting excellent image quality that approaches that of professional-grade lenses, and multiple user-friendly features in a compact, weather-sealed body, the new lens sets new standards with its balance of quality, versatility, and affordability.

 

Canon’s first non-professional f/2.8 wide-angle zoom lens

An ultra-wide-angle lens is the essential addition to your standard zoom lens if you desire greater coverage or want to capture unique perspectives rich with impact.  The RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM provides a supercharged option as it combines a versatile 16-28mm zoom range with a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture that enables more flexibility with exposure settings as well as undiminishing bokeh for excellent subject-background separation.

These qualities used to be the domain of professional-grade L-series lenses, associated with larger, heavier bodies and a premium price, but as Canon’s first non-L-series  f/2.8 constant aperture wide-angle zoom lens, the RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM sets new standards. Providing versatility, impeccable performance, and compact portability alongside affordability, it offers the perfect balance for enthusiasts and creators on a tighter budget.

 

More low light possibilities

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 27mm/ f/2.8, 1/125 sec, ISO 800

The RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM’s f/2.8 maximum aperture makes it a large aperture (“fast”/ “bright”) lens. This allows it to take in more light within any given duration, so you can achieve well-exposed images when using faster shutter speeds or higher ISO speed settings, even in low light conditions. That's perfect for freezing action, or capturing beautiful nuances in dim lighting: your images remain clean and grain-free!

More light also means more information for the EOS R series’ Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, so you can also look forward to better, faster low light autofocus and subject tracking.

Also see:
10 Concepts to Know Before Buying Your Second Lens

 

Versatile wide-angle coverage

With its 16mm to 28mm field of view, the RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM’s wide coverage is ideal for grand landscapes, architecture, spacious interiors, or vlogging, and is especially convenient for shooting in tight spaces. Use it with technique to capture breathtaking, unique perspectives at 16mm; for less extreme perspectives, you can get tighter but still context-filled compositions with just a twist of the zoom ring.

Unique wide-macro close-ups

With its approximately 0.26x maximum magnification, achieved at the 28mm end when shooting from the 20cm closest focusing distance, you can capture unique close-ups of subjects juxtaposed against ample surrounding context. Shooting closer to the subject is also a way to maximise the f/2.8 bokeh!

Like a standard zoom lens on APS-C cameras

When mounted on an APS-C camera like the EOS R7, EOS R10, or EOS R50, the RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM works like a constant aperture standard zoom lens. It offers a full-frame equivalent focal range of 25.6mm to 44.8mm, ideal for scenes as diverse as landscapes, street and documentary, everyday life, and portraiture.

 

Beautiful bokeh throughout the entire zoom range

Bokeh is harder to create with shorter focal lengths due to their intrinsically larger depth of field. The RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM's large maximum aperture makes a significant difference, allowing you to achieve beautiful subject-background separation whether you’re zoomed out or zoomed in. 

Watch: Bokeh movie

 

Compact and portable

Lightweight at around 445g, and compact at approximately 91mm when fully retracted, the RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM is around the same size as the RF28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM. This portability supplements its versatile specifications, making it an excellent choice for avid explorers who want to maximise wide-angle shooting opportunities.

The RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM forms a mobile, lightweight setup that’s ideal for travel, hikes, and exploration, as well as for use on a gimbal where a lighter setup allows easier operation.

 

Impeccable image quality approaching L-series lenses

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ Manual exposure (f/2.8, 1/10 sec)/ ISO 100

Wide-angle large aperture lenses are traditionally associated with a larger size, more so when the lens is designed to achieve a certain level of optical quality. However, the RF mount’s short back focus distance and wide 54mm diameter allows a large diameter lens to be placed closer to the image sensor on the RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM, working together with electronic distortion correction to achieve a compact optical system while improving image quality.

Improvements to the manufacturing process also enabled the RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM to use a replica aspherical lens with a larger diameter than before as the front lens element, contributing to even better image quality that’s close to that of professional grade L-series lenses.

 

 

Fast, seamless autofocusing during both still and video shooting

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 16mm/ Manual exposure (f/4, 1/500 sec)/ ISO 100

 

Watch: Swift, steady tracking during video shooting

 

Smoother focus transitions with focus breathing correction

The RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM supports focus breathing correction, where the camera digitally corrects the fluctuations in the angle of view (“breathing”) that may occur when changing the focus position during video shooting. This is perfect for the discerning video creator who takes pride and pleasure in crafting content and short films with the best possible aesthetic quality.

 

Optical IS: Sharp, steady images all the way to the edges

Both images: EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 16mm / Manual exposure (f/8, 0.5 sec)/ ISO 160

Up to 5.5 stops’ built-in Optical IS; Peripheral Coordinated Control

The RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM is equipped with built-in Optical IS, which achieves an image stabilisation effect of up to 5.5 stops in the centre (CIPA 2024 standards)*. When attached to a camera body with In-Body IS such as the EOS R6 Mark II or EOS R7, it supports Coordinated Control IS, which enhances the stabilisation effect to up to 8 stops in the centre and 7.5 stops in the corners**. That means more freedom to use even slower shutter speeds while shooting handheld—great for travelling light, or photographing in locations where using a tripod is inconvenient/not allowed.

When used with compatible cameras such as the EOS R6 Mark II, the RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM supports Peripheral Coordinated Control, which suppresses the blurring at the corners of the image that is more likely to occur when shooting still images handheld with a wide-angle lens.

* Focal length of 28mm using an EOS R1; Yaw/Pitch axes
** Focal length of 28mm using an EOS R1; Yaw/Pitch/Roll axes

Watch: Steady handheld videos with Movie Digital IS

Nail that panning or follow shot with ease! The RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM’s Optical IS works with your EOS R system camera’s Movie Digital IS mechanism to digitally correct camera shake, so your footage looks steady straight out of the camera even without a tripod or gimbal. It’s even more effective with cameras with In-Body IS like the EOS R6 Mark II.

 

L-lens-like durability

 

RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM: Key specifications

 

RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM: Sample images

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 16mm / Manual exposure (f/8, 1/160 sec)/ ISO 100

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 18mm / Manual exposure (f/3.5, 1/2500 sec)/ ISO 100

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 16mm / Manual exposure (f/22, 6 sec)/ ISO 100

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 16mm / Manual exposure (f/2.8, 1/50 sec)/ ISO 640

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 16mm / Manual exposure (f/3.2, 1/40 sec)/ ISO 640

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM/ FL: 28mm / Manual exposure (f/2.8, 1/50 sec)/ ISO 800