Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM and Canon RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM First Look Wide, light, stabilized with "macro" capabilities

Canon introduced two wide-angle full-frame RF lenses with image stabilization and close-up capabilities in the form of the RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM and RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM.

In the video above, the guys from the London Camera Exchange talk to Dave Parry from Canon about the two new lenses and their unique features.

Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM

The new RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM is a very compact (9.5 oz / 270 g) wide prime lens with 11 elements in 9 groups and a 1:2 macro magnification ratio and 14cm min focus distance (not full macro but still very nice for close-ups).

It has a small front element with a 52mm front filter thread and built-in image stabilization (up to 5 stops or 6.5 stops with a supported Canon camera) and an STM motor for smooth silent focusing in video and stills.

The new compact, stabilized RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM

Canon RF 24MM f-1-8 macro is stm

Canon RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

The RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM is an interesting lens. It is far smaller, lighter, and way more affordable than the fast RF 15-35MM F2.8L IS USM lens announced by Canon in 2019. It is more suited to travel and landscape work were having a slower aperture might be less critical compared to weight (13.8 oz / 390 g, the L version is more than twice as heavy).

The lens has 13 elements in 11 groups, 7 aperture blades, 67mm filter thread, and like the RF 24mm f/1.8 has a 1:2 macro magnification ratio but with a mere 13cm minimum focus distance.

The RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

RF 15-30mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM

Pricing

Unlike many other Canon lenses from the past few years, both of these new wide-angle lenses are fairly affordable. The RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM should start selling soon for $600 while the RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM will sell for $550.

VIdeos from around the web

There are a number of official Canon videos and a handful of early hands-on with these new lenses – here are a few of them:

Park Cameras talking to Canon on the two new lenses

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Official Canon video with Paul Seibert on the RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

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Official Canon video on the RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM

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Iddo Genuth
Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.

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