Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS Review (versatile lens, fairly strong macro performance)

Here is a brand new Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS review.

At a glance:

• RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
• Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
• One UD Element, One Aspherical Element
• Super Spectra Coating
• STM Stepping AF Motor
• 1:2 Max. Magnification, 5.5″ Min. Focus
• Optical Image Stabilizer
• Customizable Control Ring
• Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Dustin Abbott posted his exhaustive Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS review. From his conclusion:

I didn’t love the Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS when I reviewed it, and while the RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM is similar in so many ways, I actually feel more positive about it. Yes, it has way too much distortion and vignette, but it also nice and strong in a lot of different areas, including delivering a fairly strong macro performance.

What really stands out is the versatility of a lens like this.  You can do a LOT of different photography with a lens like this, from up close work, to walk around and street, to landscape and environmental portraits.

The RF 24mm  is not going to compete with L series lenses optically, but I also found that images had a fairly good pop to them and I generally liked the look of them other than shots where the bokeh got a little busy.  Some people love the 24mm focal length, and if that describes you, then the Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM is a lens that will probably become a favorite even if also sports a few flaws.

Read the full review at Dustin Abbott’s…

As usual, Dustin Abbott’s reviews come with a large set of test photos, sample pictures, and test charts and then some more. For those inclined to watch a review, the video below with the full review might the right choice.

Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Broad Views, Close-Up Details

Mixing a broad field of view with a close-focusing design, the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is a unique combination of an ultra-wide focal length and a macro lens. Pairing these two attributes, this lens enables shooting at close-range while maintaining a broad sense of space and increased depth of field compared to conventional telephoto macro optics.

Wide-Angle Macro Lens

• Wide-angle prime is suitable for a variety of subjects, including landscapes, nature, and street, and the close-focusing ability helps to home in on nearby subjects in between photographing broad spaces.
• Macro designation offers a 1:2 half life-size maximum magnification and a minimum focusing distance of 5.5″.
• Bright f/1.8 design offers both depth of field control and suits working in a variety of lighting situations.
• One UD (ultra-low dispersion) element and one aspherical element control both chromatic and spherical aberrations for well-corrected imagery that is especially sharp and color-accurate.
• Super Spectra coating has been applied to resist flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color fidelity when working in strong lighting conditions.
• Rounded nine-blade diaphragm contributes to a smooth, pleasing bokeh quality.

Autofocus, IS, and Design

• STM stepping motor offers fast, quiet, smooth, and accurate autofocus performance that benefits both stills and video recording needs.
• Optical Image Stabilizer minimizes the appearance of camera shake by up to 5 stops, or 6.5 stops with coordinated IS, to better enable working handheld in low-light conditions and with slower shutter speeds.
• Configurable Control Ring can be used to adjust a variety of exposure settings, including aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation.