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Canon RF 28–70mm F2.8 IS STM · Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF28-70mm f2.8 IS STM Slant.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
Canon · RF
RF 28–70mm F2.8 IS STM
A full-frame RF standard zoom with a constant f/2.8 aperture, optical image stabilisation and a retractable barrel.
- Mount
- Canon RF
- Focal length
- 28–70 mm
- Max aperture
- f/2.8
- Stabilisation
- Yes
- Weight
- 490 g
What reviewers say
Both reviews praise compactness and quick quiet autofocus but question pricing and the omitted hood. OpticalLimits finds excellent wide-to-mid-range sharpness with weak 70 mm corners and heavy raw shading. Cameralabs’ shorter initial testing finds milder corner softening, while noting visible focus breathing. Both describe digital correction dependence and useful background separation from the constant f/2.8 aperture.
From opticallimits.com, cameralabs.com and cameralabs.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specOptics
- Lens type
- Zoom
- Focal length
- 28–70 mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.8
- Minimum aperture
- f/22
- Optical construction
- 15 elements in 12 groups
- Special elements
- Two UD elements and two GMo aspherical elements
- Coatings
- Super Spectra; no fluorine coating, per UK maker specification
- Diaphragm
- Nine blades
Mount and compatibility
- Mounts
- Canon RF
- Image circle
- Full frame
- Compatibility
- Full-frame image circle, Canon RF mount; incompatible with EF DSLRs and EOS M bodies. Canon RF extenders not compatible
Focus and stabilisation
- Autofocus
- Yes
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.24 m (manual focus)
- Maximum magnification
- 0.24×
- Optical stabilisation
- Yes
- Autofocus detail
- Lead-screw STM with magnetic motor-speed sensor and feedback control, electronic manual focus
- Focus distance detail
- Minimum focus at 28 mm is 0.27 m in AF or 0.24 m in MF; main figure retains the closer MF mode
- Magnification detail
- Maximum 0.24× at 70 mm in either AF or MF
- Stabilisation detail
- Lens optical IS rated 5.5 central stops at 70 mm with EOS R8, yaw/pitch under CIPA2024. Japan current feature page rates coordinated EOS R6 Mark II body/lens IS 7.5 central and 7.0 peripheral stops, yaw/pitch/roll; original press release gives the same coordinated rating with EOS R1
- Video features
- Smooth STM movie focusing; compatible camera breathing correction is digital. Cameralabs observes uncorrected focus breathing, more visible at 28 mm
Design
- Dust and moisture resistant
- Yes
- Filter diameter
- 67 mm
- Maximum diameter
- 76.5 mm
- Length
- 92.2 mm
- Weight
- 490 g
- Controls
- Shared focus/control ring with AF/control/MF selector; separate zoom ring and stabilisation switch
- Zoom design
- Retractable barrel must be extended to 28 mm before shooting; length 92.2 mm stored, 112.4 mm at 28 mm and 138.9 mm at 70 mm, per Japan maker table
- Weather resistance
- UK maker states dust/moisture resistance, including rubber mount seal; no waterproof rating published
- Dimensions detail
- Maximum diameter 76.5 mm; 92.2 mm length when retracted
- Weight detail
- UK current specification and store state 490 g; Japan current table, Camera Museum and original press release state 495 g. Main value follows UK specification; no undocumented regional variant inferred
- Lens hood
- EW-73D, sold separately
- In the box
- UK maker store lists lens, E-67 II front cap, rear dust cap and user manual
- Release detail
- September 2024 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum; original maker release specifies 27 September in Japan. No exact worldwide first-sale day inferred; no successor link inferred across co-sold standard zooms
Pros and cons
Pros
- Constant f/2.8 aperture
- Compact retractable design
- Optical stabilisation and weather resistant construction
Cons
- 28 mm wide end offers less coverage than 24 mm zooms
- Must extend before shooting
- Lens hood sold separately
Closest rivals
Model | Mount | Focal length | Max aperture | Stabilisation | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon RF | 24–70 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | 900 g | Sept 2019 | |
| Canon RF | 28–70 mm | f/2 | No | 1,430 g | Dec 2018 | |
| Canon RF | 20–50 mm | f/4 | Yes | 420 g | Jun 2026 |
Sources
- canon.co.uk/lenses/rf-28-70mm-f2-8-is-stm/specifications
- canon.co.uk/store/canon-rf-28-70mm-f2-8-is-stm-lens/6535C005
- personal.canon.jp/product/camera/rf/rf28-70-f28/spec
- personal.canon.jp/product/camera/rf/rf28-70-f28/feature
- global.canon/en/c-museum/product/rf541.html
- corporate.jp.canon/newsroom/newsrelease/2024/pr-0912
- opticallimits.com/canon/canon-rf/canon-rf-28-70mm-f-2-8-is-stm-review
- cameralabs.com/canon-rf-28-70mm-f2-8-is-stm-review
- cameralabs.com/canon-rf-28-70mm-f2-8-is-stm-review/3
- Canon RF 28–70mm F2.8 IS STM — front three-quarter view: Canon
- Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lens, standing front view, retracted: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lens, standing three-quarter front view: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lens, standing side view showing switches: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lens, standing front view with the zoom extended: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lens, mounted on a camera held in two hands outdoors: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lens, mounted on a camera used by a photographer outdoors: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF28-70mm f2.8 IS STM Front Slant, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF28-70mm f2.8 IS STM Front Slant.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
- Canon RF28-70mm f2.8 IS STM Front Slant w hood, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF28-70mm f2.8 IS STM Front Slant w hood.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
- Canon RF28-70mm f2.8 IS STM Side Extended, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF28-70mm f2.8 IS STM Side Extended.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.