The RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM ($499.99) is the upmarket alternative to the RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM ($299.99), Canon's other kit lens for APS-C EOS R mirrorless cameras. The 18-150mm is, understandably, a bit larger and pricier, but we think those trade-offs are worth it. In particular, the extra zoom range and better macro capability are significant advantages especially for a lens that you are likely to use for day-to-day photography.

A Familiar Lens for Some

If the 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM designation sounds familiar to you, that's because Canon made an EF-M 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM for its EOS M camera system. DPReview reports the RF-S and RF-M models share the same optical diagram and MTF performance charts. We won't fault Canon for leveraging an existing optical design here, as the EF-M 18-150mm was a capable starter zoom when we reviewed it.

The RF-S edition looks a bit different than the EF-M variant, with a slightly thicker base that matches the EOS R system's wider-throat lens mount. Just keep in mind that EF-M and RF-S lenses are not cross-compatible if you are a current EOS M owner mulling a swap to an EOS R10 or R7. On the other hand, if you're moving up from a Canon SLR, you can use your current lenses with the EF-EOS R adapter.

The lens features a plastic barrel and mount. It's lightweight at about 10.9 ounces and measures just 5.0 by 2.7 inches (HD) at its shortest position. The barrel telescopes to zoom, as you can see below. You don't get a hood with the lens, just front and rear caps, so you may want to add a 55mm filter to protect the front element from bumps and stray fingerprints. Alternatively, you can pick up the Canon EW-60F hood (around $30) or a third-party alternative (for as little as $10).

You don't get any dust or splash protection here, features Canon reserves for its premium L series lenses. We will have to wait and see if Canon releases a premium standard zoom for APS cameras like the EOS R7 and R10 but, for now, creators looking for a sensibly sized, step-up zoom for the system can think about the RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM ($549.99) as a midrange pick, or the RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM ($1,699) as a sensibly-sized, weather-protected premium option. Of course, neither offers much telephoto coverage, and our advice may shift as Canon announces more lenses for the system.

Handling and Controls

The RF-S 18-150mm covers a wide range—29-240mm in full-frame terms—but is deceptively small, something we expect from an optical formula originally made for the svelte EOS M family. On-barrel controls include just the zoom ring and manual focus ring. The zoom occupies the bulk of the barrel and features a ridged plastic finish. The focus ring sits ahead of it; it's fairly narrow and sports a rough, diamond texture pattern.

Autofocus is smooth and silent, a benefit of the STM motor. The lightweight optics rack focus from close to far in an instant. The manual focus experience isn't great, however. The throw is very short, and a nonlinear response means you need to make very slow, deliberate movements for precise adjustments. We recommend you stick with autofocus, for the most part.

Videographers should appreciate how well the lens controls the breathing effect. There's no change in angle of view with photos at the nearest focus distance compared with those at infinity, so you can freely use the lens for creative shots that shift focus from one subject to another.

We're quite happy with the RF 18-150mm for close-up work. It focuses to 6.7 inches at 18mm and 17.8 inches at 150mm, good enough for 1:2.3 life-size macros. That's an excellent result for a standard zoom and a nice perk for nature photographers. The more affordable RF-S 18-45mm is capable of only 1:6.3 magnifications for macro work, which is not nearly as impressive.

The RF-S 18-150mm includes optical stabilization, which is useful for cameras like the entry-level EOS R10 that don't have in-body stabilization. I found the IS effectively suppresses handshake-induced blur for exposures as long as 1 second at 18mm and about 1/4 second at 150mm. I got similar results with the EOS R7, which does include a stabilization system, though Canon says the combination should net two additional stops of stabilization.

RF-S 18-150mm: In the Lab

I paired the lens with the 32.5MP EOS R7 for resolution testing in the lab. Imatest shows very good resolution (around 3,000 lines) through the entire range with slightly better clarity from between f/5.6 and f/8 (around 3,300 lines). Edge clarity isn't perfect at the wide end and remains a little soft when stopped down, but that's something we expect given the lens's size and 8.3x zoom ratio.

The lens leans on some in-camera corrections to suppress distortion, vignette, and lateral chromatic aberration. If you take photos in Raw format, you need to take care of these issues yourself. Adobe Lightroom Classic includes a correction profile for the lens that straightens unnaturally curved lines and brightens vignetted corners. I also recommend using the Remove Chromatic Aberration checkbox; it effectively suppresses lateral CA that sometimes appears as false purple color around tree branches, power lines, and similar objects.

It's pretty easy to blur away backgrounds at both close and telephoto focal lengths, despite the lens's relatively modest aperture range. Defocused highlights are generally circular, but they show a cat's-eye shape toward the edges of the frame at open apertures. Simply stop down to get circular bokeh from edge to edge. Highlights are soft-edged, and we didn't spot any longitudinal CA (LoCA) in specular highlights or focus transitions.

If you are interested in sunstars for your landscape images, the 18-150mm does a good job drawing them at its widest angle and smallest f/22 aperture. You lose some edge image clarity at that aperture, but the 18-point sunstars may be worth the trade-off. You might also encounter ghosting flare when you chase sunstars, though flare is more noticeable at wide-open settings. At 18mm f/3.5 and 150mm f/6.3, the lens shows some flare in images with a strong backlight; if you do a lot of outdoor work, consider picking up the hood accessory to improve contrast.

The Better RF-S Starter Zoom

If you're buying an EOS R10, you get to choose between two bundled lenses—the tiny RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM or this larger (but still carry-friendly) RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM. Both lenses are competent for photographers starting out with Canon's R mirrorless system, but the 18-150mm is the one to get. Its longer zoom range and better macro capability are both worthwhile upgrades.

The price difference between the two kits may be an issue, though. You can get the R10 with the 18-45mm for $1,099, but the kit with the 18-150mm comes in at $1,379 (a $100 discount versus buying the camera and lens separately). If you have a strict budget or prefer the 18-45mm's ultra-small form, you may disagree with our take.

Prospective EOS R7 owners don't get a choice; the RF-S 18-150mm is the only kit lens option. (You get the same $100 discount on the lens with this bundle.) We found the lens to be quite competent with the R7, though understand that creators shopping for an upmarket camera may want a standard zoom with a wider angle of coverage or brighter maximum aperture.

Canon hasn't introduced any made-for-APS zooms that qualify as of yet, but a couple of full-frame options are worth considering. We've not yet tested the RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM ($549.99), but it shows promise. If you've got some money to spend, the RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM ($1,699) is another candidate. Both are short zooms, so you have to supplement them with a telephoto option for portraits and distant subjects.