Canon introduces two of its most most popular lenses to the RF family: the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, and the world’s shortest and lightest f/4 interchangeable lens in its focal range, the RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM.

Continuing its commitment to providing mirrorless solutions for all photographers, Canon announced two of its most-loved EF lenses will now be available in RF form – the RF 50mm F1.8 STM and RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM. Both the prime and zoom are interesting and solutions many photographers will want to add to their kit, but the new zoom is more than a RF version of the EF version, and that’s something users will appreciate.

The RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM is a L-series telephoto zoom lens which is the world’s shortest and lightest f/4 interchangeable lens in its focal range. With just 695 grams and measuring 11.9cm long, the lens features a reduction of an incredible 32 per cent in comparison to its EF counterpart, making it the ideal companion for on-the-go travel photographers. Even at its fully extended length, the RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM is exceptionally portable for a f/4 telephoto zoom lens, says Canon.

The zoom also features a reversible hood which sits neatly on top of the lens body, enabling photographers to store tidily between shooting scenarios. The RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM provides amateur and professional photographers with high-performance, flexibility and a compact design to suit a variety of genres from wildlife and sports to travel and portraiture.

A compact zoom for videographers

The RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM features additional improvements such as Air Sphere Coating, four Ultra Low Dispersion (UD) lenses, and a reduced focusing distance from 1m to 0.6m, demonstrating Canon’s ongoing commitment to developing enhanced image quality for lenses in the RF range. Even at full zoom range, with its 9-blade iris and constant f/4 aperture giving superb bokeh, the RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM provides photographers with incredible detail.

The new zoom features Canon’s 5-stop Optical Image Stabilizer, allowing photographers to focus on pushing creative boundaries whilst the lenses produce high-quality images “without the need for a tripod”, Canon claims. The RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM boasts Dual Nano USM and up to 7.5-stop image stabilisation when used with the new Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6, achieving sharp, focused images at intense pace – even in low light conditions. With Dual Nano USM, the RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM also offers incredible levels of continuous focusing, allowing videographers to shoot in near silence.

The RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM maximises practicality for use outdoors, featuring a fluorine coating and dust and shock resistance. Boosting the high durability and robustness seen in Canon’s L-series lenses, the RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM features a heat shield coating, and dust and water-resistant construction, making it practical to use in both extreme hot and cold climates.

The new “nifty fifty” from Canon

The second lens introduced by Canon is the RF 50mm F1.8 STM – nicknamed the ‘nifty fifty’ lens for its versatility -, is perfect for enthusiast photographers transitioning to the EOS R System. Photographers looking to shoot everything from portraits to landscapes, day or night, can achieve incredible image quality and a new standard of ‘nifty fifty’ when using the RF 50mm F1.8 STM. Whatever are your interests in terms of photography, a “nifty fifty” is always something to have in your kit bag, I would add.

The RF 50mm F1.8 STM also shares the benefit of being compact, measuring smaller in size than the EF version and Mount Adapter combined. Like others in the RF line-up, these lenses give photographers and videographers enhanced shooting capabilities with a kitbag that is much lighter.

With a standard 50mm angle of view and a large aperture of f/1.8, the RF 50mm F1.8 STM provides a perspective that’s close to human vision – ideal for portrait photographers capturing beautifully natural looking images in a wide range of shooting scenarios. Featuring a brand-new optical system, the RF 50mm F1.8 STM’s large aperture and PMo aspherical lenses achieve high image quality even at the maximum aperture, with better separation between the subject and background, allowing photographers to shoot in low light.

The new prime for RF cameras a minimum focusing distance of 0.3m, 5cm closer than the existing EF version, allowing objects to be photographed even closer with a shallow depth of field. The 7-blade circular aperture – inherited from the EF 50mm F1.8 – can be used for a defocused background or foreground, as well as beautiful bokeh. The RF 50mm F1.8 STM also features Super Spectra Coating technology, creating a harmonised colour balance which reduces ghosting and flare, as well as aberration.

Intuitive control

The RF 50mm F1.8 STM benefits from up to 7-stop image stabilisation when used with either the EOS R5 or EOS R6. It also boasts STM for, Canon claims, “impeccable AF performance, providing enthusiast videographers with opportunities to try a range of new shooting types whilst filming in near silent, smooth quality.”

Redesigned to allow photographers to capture with comfort, the RF 50mm F1.8 STM introduces a sophisticated and discreet non-click type combined focus and lens control ring, enabling photographers to have intuitive control over the camera and focusing settings, whilst still viewing the subject.

Both lenses join the RF family, which already includes prime, zoom, telephoto and super telephoto lenses and extenders. Using the lenses with Canon’s full-frame mirrorless camera bodies in the revolutionary EOS R System, from the recently launched EOS R5 and EOS R6 to the EOS R and EOS RP, photographers and videographers have greater levels of performance and creative flexibility.

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM will be $199 and the Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L USM will be $1599. Both lenses are scheduled to be available in early and mid-December 2020. Follow the link more information about Canon’s RF lens line-up, including the newly launched RF 50mm F1.8 STM and RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM.