Canon RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Overview

The Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens is an incredibly versatile and lightweight zoom lens designed for Canon’s full-frame EOS R mirrorless cameras. Weighing in at just 190g, this compact lens features a 2x zoom range, covering wide-angle to standard focal lengths from 24mm to 50mm – making it an ideal walkaround lens for everyday shooting.

Despite its portable size and affordability as a kit lens included with cameras like the EOS R8, the RF 24-50mm punches above its weight class by incorporating some of Canon’s most advanced technologies. The 4.5-stop optical image stabiliser provides up to 4.5 stops of shake correction for sharp handheld shots and stable video footage, even in low light conditions. The STM focus motor ensures fast, smooth, and near-silent autofocus that won’t disturb your subject.

With a minimum focusing distance of just 13cm at the 24mm end, the RF 24-50mm lens can focus very closely for unique wide-angle perspectives. The 7-blade circular aperture diaphragm produces attractive background blur when shooting portraits or other shallow depth-of-field shots. As part of Canon’s RF mount system, the lens can leverage in-camera distortion and peripheral illumination correction for maximised image quality.

If you’re looking for a nimble, everyday lens for travel, family events, landscapes, or video – the Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM punches well above its weight with impressive versatility, advanced optics and stabilisation in a uniquely compact form factor. At this approachable price point either bundled with a camera or purchased separately, it’s an easy choice for photographers and content creators getting started with Canon’s mirrorless system.

Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Key Features:

• Lightweight 190g design
• Retractable 2x 24-50mm zoom
• 4.5-stop optical image stabilisation
• STM focusing motor for smooth AF
• Close 0.13m minimum focus distance
• 7-blade circular aperture design
• Compatible with RF mount cameras
• Affordable kit lens pricing

Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens User Benefits:

• Easy to carry all-day walkaround lens
• Versatile wide-angle to standard focal range
• Sharp handheld shots and stable video
• Quiet autofocus performance
• Unique wide perspective for close-ups
• Soft background blur for portraits
• Leverage RF mount technology features
• Great value starter lens for RF system

Canon RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Features In Detail

Compact, Lightweight Design That Makes Carrying a Breeze

Tip the scales at a mere 190g and this diminutive lens proves a perfect companion for wanderlust shooting. When not capturing images, the barrel neatly retracts to just 74.4mm for storing in your kit bag or jacket pocket without hassle. Such portable proportions balance splendidly on Canon’s suite of mirrorless bodies. Thanks to its slimmed-down design, photographers and videographers alike will find themselves constantly carrying the RF 24-50mm as they traverse urban sprawls and rolling countrysides seeking that perfect shot.

Advanced Optical Image Stabilisation for Steady Captures

By ingeniously shifting lens elements to counterbalance camera shake, Canon’s clever Optical Image Stabilisation system allows for tremendously sharp handheld photographs. With up to 4.5 exposure value stops of compensation, photographers gain a significant edge to freeze motion sans the blur of camera movement. This grants the ability to employ much slower shutter speeds than typically feasible when shooting in low ambient light whilst avoiding excessive digital noise at higher ISOs. Videographers stand to benefit too from smoother handheld footage as stabilisation soothes disruptive tremors when filming.

Supersmooth STM Focus Motor

An STM focus motor graces the RF 24-50mm driving speedy, near-silent autofocus performance. This grants photographers the ability to rapidly acquire focus on moving subjects with accuracy and subtlety. Videographers especially appreciate the discreet operation while filming, as the hushed STM motor makes focus transitions without introducing disruptive noise into the audio feed. Whether photographing a fleeting facial expression, tracking a bounding pet, or recording a speaker on stage, you can trust this lens to shift focus fluidly without distraction.

Close-Focusing Capabilities

Get up near and personal with your subjects by focusing as closely as 13cm when zoomed to 24mm. Unlock a dynamic set of wide-angle perspectives for intriguing close-up compositions such as emphasising a single flower amidst a field, highlighting intricate product details in an advertisement, or exaggerating facial features in a dramatic portrait. The shortened minimum focus distance amplifies that wide angle magnification too for enhanced background blur.

7-Blade Circular Aperture Design

A pleasing 7-blade aperture diaphragm imparts the RF 24-50mm with the ability to render creamy background blur in out-of-focus areas. Photographers are thus empowered to isolate their subjects with an artistic shallow depth of field. When photographing portraits, the rounded aperture blades produce particularly attractive effects across blurred highlights. This adds an essence of professionalism to images with gorgeous bokeh.

Seamless Operation with RF Mount

Engineered specifically taking advantage of the technologies afforded by Canon’s RF lens mount, the 24-50mm behaves as a natural extension of compatible EOS R cameras. This permits tapped access to in-camera correcting profiles that rectify distortions and peripheral illumination issues with every shot for optimised image integrity straight from the camera. The large 54mm mounting diameter also improves communication between lens and camera for an unparalleled shooting experience.

Intuitive Customisable Control Ring

Photographers can take full advantage of the intuitive click-stopped control ring featured on the 24-50 mm barrel to make on-the-fly adjustments to camera settings whilst composing images. After customising the ring to control aperture, shutter speed, ISO or exposure compensation, crucial exposure parameters are yours to tweak simply by spinning the ring. This provides an efficient directness to image capture and allows experimenting fluidly with camera settings to balance exposures.

Canon RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Compatibility

The Canon RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens is compatible with the following Canon EOS R series mirrorless cameras:

• EOS R
• EOS RP
• EOS R5
• EOS R6
• EOS R3
• EOS R5 C
• EOS R7
• EOS R8
• EOS R10
• EOS R100
• EOS R50
• EOS R6 Mark II

Photography Styles For The Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens

• Travel Photography – Compact enough to keep in your camera bag whilst backpacking and versatile 24-50mm range lets you photograph landscapes to portraits.
• Family Photography – Lightweight design you can carry all day and quiet STM AF won’t disturb spontaneous moments with loved ones.
• Real Estate Photography – 24mm wide-angle coverage ideal for cramped indoor spaces like apartments whilst image stabilisation delivers sharp hand-held shots.
• Food Photography – Get as close as 13cm to plates for appetizing close-ups, whilst background blur isolates dishes against restaurant ambience.
• Vlogging – Small size is great for filming on the move and optical stabilization keeps handheld footage pleasingly smooth when walking and talking.
• Street Photography – Inconspicuous lens you can wield discretely on the streets capturing candid moments without disturbing the scene.
• Beginner Photography – Easy to carry with a bag as a starter lens to learn how to deliver lovely 4K video and well-balanced stills.

Offering a lightweight and versatile everyday zoom range, the RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3’s compact design, effective stabilisation and quiet focusing capabilities make it an ideal walkaround lens for travelling, events, vlogging and discreet street photography.

That said, the 24-50mm punches above its weight class in some respects. The inclusion of 4.5 stops of quality image stabilisation sets it apart from other budget kit lenses, allowing sharp handheld use even at slower shutter speeds. STM focusing is also quick, quiet, and reliable for both stills and video. The 2x standard zoom range, while narrow, will meet everyday needs from landscapes to portraits.

For general daytime travel and walkabout shooting, the RF 24-50mm delivers pleasing JPEGs straight out of the camera. But at longer focal lengths and in low light scenarios, it begins to show some weaknesses – especially towards the corners on high-resolution bodies. Distortion, vignetting and purple fringing also make appearances that require correcting.

Overall, while we wouldn’t choose this lens for professional work or demanding shoots, it represents a balanced set of compromises at its affordable price point. The image stabilisation, autofocus and wide-to-standard zoom range make the RF 24-50mm a great starter lens or backup choice for beginning photographers. But for more advanced applications, we’d recommend spending up on Canon’s more premium RF-mount zooms.

What’s in the box?

1 x Canon RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens
1 x Lens Cap E-58II
1 x Rear Lens Cap

Canon RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Sample Images

Canon RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Specifications

FAQ