The Affordable Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Gets Praise From DxOMark

The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM for the EOS R system got DxOMarked and it didn’t score bad at all. This is not the first very positive review this lens gets.

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at a glance:

• RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
• Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
• One Aspherical Element
• Super Spectra Coating
• STM Stepping AF Motor
• Customizable Control Ring
• Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm

DxOMark gives the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM a score of 30. From their conclusion (emphasis mine):

With the introduction of the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM, Canon continues to explore new and innovative lenses for the RF mount. In an effort to reduce the optical complexity, thereby driving down the size, weight and cost, lens correction profiles make a lot of sense. Even without taking software correction into account, in our DXOMARK Lens test, the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM performs very well in certain key areas. It has, for example, similar sharpness and transmission to the larger and pricier Zeiss Distagon T* 15mm F2.8, while being much smaller and lighter. More importantly, especially for anyone on a tight budget, it’s around one-eighth of the price of the Zeiss and around the same price as the Samyang 14mm F2.8, making the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM a highly tempting option.

Head over to DxOMark for test charts and more

This is a little gem only Canon can make at this price. The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM sells at $299:

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

All Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM coverage is listed here.

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Overview

Ultra-wide field of view mixed with a compact and portable design, the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is a sleek everyday wide-angle prime. Blending a compact, lightweight design with a bright maximum aperture, this rectilinear ultra-wide comes in handy when photographing interiors and architectural subjects, as well as broad landscape views and astrophotography scenes.

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Overview

Ultra-wide field of view mixed with a compact and portable design, the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is a sleek everyday wide-angle prime. Blending a compact, lightweight design with a bright maximum aperture, this rectilinear ultra-wide comes in handy when photographing interiors and architectural subjects, as well as broad landscape views and astrophotography scenes.

• Sleek ultra-wide-angle prime is designed for use with full-frame Canon RF-mount mirrorless digital cameras.
• Bright f/2.8 maximum aperture suits working available lighting conditions, helps control depth of field, and contributes to a sleek form factor.
• One aspherical element helps control distortion and promotes a high degree of sharpness.Super Spectra Coating has been applied to minimize flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color fidelity when working in strong lighting conditions.
• STM stepping motor offers fast, quiet, smooth, and accurate autofocus performance that is ideal for video recording as well as still shooting.
• Minimum focusing distance of 5.1″, along with a maximum magnification of 0.26x, makes this a unique option for close-up shooting while retaining great depth of field.
• Configurable Control Ring can be used to adjust a variety of exposure settings, including aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation.
• Rounded seven-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality.