Canon announced the RF16-28mm F2.8 IS STM, a new full-frame RF mount wide-angle zoom lens for the EOS R mirrorless system. Equipped with a bright f/2.8 constant aperture, the RF16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is Canon’s second lens in affordable yet quality and performance at par with L series after 28-70mm F2.8 STM lens announcement with constant aperture zoom lens.
Versatile Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom Lens
Ultra-wide angle zoom lenses are an extremely popular next lens to get and especially so for creators due to their wider coverage, dynamic perspective, and framing flexibility. The RF16-28mm F2.8 IS STM will be the first of its class to supercharge these features with a bright, constant f/2.8 aperture. Previously only available on prime lenses or professional-grade lenses, it is now possible for creators who are on a tight budget to create beautiful bokeh or shoot in low light with increased control over exposure settings, regardless if they are creating dramatic compositions at 16mm or more natural-looking context-filled portraits at 28mm.
The lens can also be utilised as a constant aperture standard zoom lens when paired with APS-C cameras, offering a highly versatile 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.
Handheld Still and Video Shooting with Ease
Designed to be compact and lightweight, the RF16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is around 9.1cm long when fully retracted, and weighs about 445g, which is similar to the RF28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM. It can also be fitted onto a gimbal, creating a lighter and user-friendly setup that is ideal for travel, hikes, and exploration.
When using compatible cameras such as the EOS R6 Mark II, the lens’ built-in optical image stabiliser (Optical IS) supports peripheral coordinated control, which corrects the blurring that occurs in the edges of the image that characteristically occurs when shooting stills with wide-angle lenses.
Its image stabilisation capabilities during still shooting are shown as below (according to CIPA 2024 standards):
| Optical IS Only | Coordinated Control IS (on camera with In-Body IS) | |
| Centre | Up to 5.5 stops[1] | Up to 8.0 stops[2] |
| Corner | N. A | Up to 7.5 stops[3] |
When the lens is used with cameras that support Movie Digital IS, the two IS systems coordinate with each other to enhance stabilisation of handheld footage shot while moving.
Accurate and Seamless Autofocusing
Driven by the fast and highly responsive lead-screw type STM, the AF on the RF16-28mm F2.8 IS STM can provide swift, precise and accurate AF during stills and excellent control required for smooth, quiet focus transitions when shooting videos. It also supports focus breathing correction when used with compatible cameras, where the camera digitally corrects fluctuations in the angle of view caused by focus movement during video shooting.
Durable Build and Outstanding Image Quality
The RF16-28mm F2.8 IS STM has a dust- and drip-resistant build equivalent to that of professional-grade L-series lenses, with a weather-sealed ring and mount joints for better peace of mind when shooting outdoors.
Discerning and detail-oriented creators will be delighted by the lens’ impeccable optical quality, which is comparable to professional-grade L-series lenses. Improvements to the manufacturing process have enabled usage of a larger replica aspherical lens as the frontmost element, correcting aberrations more thoroughly resulting in even better image quality.
Pricing Details:
| Name | Price (MRP) |
| RF16-28mm F2.8 IS STM | ₹ 108 495.00/u (incl. of all taxes) |
[1] Focal length of 28mm using an EOS R1; Yaw/Pitch axes
[2] Focal length of 28mm using an EOS R1; Yaw/Pitch/Roll axess
[3] Focal length of 28mm using an EOS R1; Yaw/Pitch/Roll axes