Along with the pricey (but pretty impressive) EOS R3, Canon has also announced two new lenses: the RF 16mm f/2.8 STM and the RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM. Both lenses are made for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, and unlike the latest camera – they aren’t expensive at all.
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM
The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is a sleek, compact, and lightweight wide-angle prime. It’s a rectilinear lens, so it can be used for shooting interiors and architecture, among other things. It was built from nine elements in seven groups, with one aspherical element and a 7-blade rounded diaphragm.
What I find particularly cool about this lens is its minimum focusing distance. It’s only 5.1″ (13 cm) so you can get those nice close-up wide-angle shots. At least I totally love those.
Canon’s new 16mm lens is an AF lens. It features an STM AF motor for smooth and quiet focusing, so you can use it for both photos and video. It features a configurable control ring which you can use to adjust exposure settings like aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation.
Here are the full specs:
| Focal Length | 16mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 |
| Lens Mount | Canon RF |
| Format Compatibility | Full-Frame |
| Angle of View | 108° 10' |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 5.1" / 13 cm |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.26x |
| Optical Design | 9 Elements in 7 Groups |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7, Rounded |
| Focus Type | Autofocus |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Filter Size | 43 mm (Front) |
| Dimensions (ø x L) | 1.6 x 2.7" / 40.1 x 69.2 mm |
| Weight | 5.8 oz / 165 g |
The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is available for preorders and it will set you back only $299. So if you’re left with anything after buying that EOS R3, you can pair it with this wide-angle prime. :)
Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM
Another new lens from Canon is a telephoto zoom. The RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is also made for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, and aimed at wildlife and sport photographers. It’s relatively small and lightweight for a lens of that focal length range, weighing 1.4 lb (635 g). But, that’s why it has a pretty modest maximum aperture of f/5.6-8. You win some, you lose some.
The lens packs 12 optical elements in nine groups, with one ultra-low-dispersion element and one aspherical element. As for the aperture, it features a nine-blade round diaphragm. The lens supports Coordinated IS to help control up to six stops of camera shake. It features Nano USM AF for faster focusing performance. Close-focusing performance is also possible, with a maximum magnification of 0.41x at the 400mm position. Canon notes that this allows you close-up shooting of subjects “as small as a credit card.”
Like its wide-angle cousin, the RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM also has a configurable control ring for adjusting exposure settings. You can pair it with RF 1.4x and RF 2x teleconverters to further increase the effective focal length.
And now, the specs:
| Focal Length | 100 to 400mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/5.6 to 8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/32 to 45 |
| Lens Mount | Canon RF |
| Format Compatibility | Full-Frame |
| Angle of View | 24° to 6° 10' |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 2.9' / 88 cm |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.41x |
| Optical Design | 12 Elements in 9 Groups |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9, Rounded |
| Focus Type | Autofocus |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Filter Size | 67 mm (Front) |
| Dimensions (ø x L) | 3.1 x 6.5" / 79.5 x 164.7 mm |
| Weight | 1.4 lb / 635 g |
The Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is available for preorders at the price of $649. Not exactly pocket money, but for this type of lens, it’s pretty affordable.
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