Canon Adds Compact Standard Zoom for Enthusiasts on a Budget

(Credit: Canon)

Canon's latest lens for its RF mirrorless camera system fills a very important gap in its lens catalog: a mid-priced standard zoom with professional-grade f/2.8 optics. Its RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM debuts at $1,099, for roughly half the cost of its marquee RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM.

Obtainable Full-Frame F2.8 Zoom

It's good news for photogs who've picked up a full-frame starter camera like the excellent EOS R8 and want to take advantage of the background blurring power and low light creative possibilities that come with an f/2.8 zoom. It's a type of lens that third parties have made for other systems—Sigma and Tamron make similar zooms for the Sony system—but not for Canon cameras.

The RF 28-70mm isn't just priced affordably, the lens is small enough to match well with entry-level cameras. It measures 3.6 by 3.0 inches (HD) and weighs in at 17.5 ounces, pretty small and light as far as full-frame zooms go. And even though the lens is not part of Canon's premium L series, a representative from the company says that the lens is weather-sealed to the same degree as L glass, so it's fine for use in rainy weather.

The optics are stabilized too, so you can readily use longer shutter speeds when paired with a non-stabilized camera body like the RP or R8. On its own, the lens stabilization provides up to 5.5 stops of compensation, and it gets 7.5 stops when matched with a camera with a stabilized sensor like the EOS R6 Mark II; both figures are based on CIPA testing standards.

The lens uses a custom-designed stepping motor (STM) to drive focus. Lenses that use STM usually provide quiet autofocus with smooth transitions for video. In this case Canon says the focus is also very fast, as the 28-70mm's STM system includes a magnetic sensor to provide rotational speed data to the camera in real time, the end result being faster focus drive without any sacrifice in accuracy. For video, Canon also promises that the breathing effect is minimal.

Pricing and Availability

The RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM is available for order and set to ship to customers this month. As mentioned, it's priced at $1,099, and compatible with Canon EOS R mirrorless cameras.

About Our Expert

Jim Fisher

Principal Writer, Cameras

My Experience

Images, and the devices that capture them, are my focus. I've covered cameras at PCMag for the past 14 years, which has given me a front row seat for the changeover from DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, the smartphone camera revolution, and the emergence of drones for aerial imaging. I have extensive experience with every major mirrorless and SLR system, and am also comfortable using point-and-shoot and action cameras. As a Part 107 Certified drone pilot, I’m licensed to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for commercial and editorial purposes, and am knowledgeable about federal rules and regulations regarding drones.

The Technology I Use

I use all of the major camera systems on a regular basis, swapping between Canon, Fujifilm, L-Mount, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon, and Sony systems. I still find time to use Leica M rangefinders and Pentax SLRs on occasion, too. I keep an iPhone 13 in my pocket for the rare occasions I'm not carrying a camera.

I'm not a brand-specific photographer. For product review photos, I swap between a Canon EOS R5 and a Sony a7R IV. I use Flashpoint and Godox TTL lights and Peak Design tripods, and I most often reach for a Think Tank or Peak Design backpack to carry equipment.

When it comes to computers, I'm an unapologetic Mac person and have been for the past 20 years. I write in Pages and use Numbers for spreadsheets. I currently swap between an Intel i9 MacBook Pro and an Apple Silicon Mac Studio for writing and use a calibrated BenQ 32.5-inch with the Studio for photo and video editing. I rely on a LaCie 6big RAID for media storage. I also keep a PC around for gaming, but please don't tell my Macs about it; they'll get jealous.

I split time between several different software apps depending on the type of editing I'm doing. For Raw image processing, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic is my standard. I pair it with a LoupeDeck CT console to supplement my keyboard and trackpad, and I lean on RNI All Films 5 presets when I want to give an image a film look. I use Apple Final Cut Pro for video editing.

My first digital camera was the Canon PowerShot Elph S200, and my first DSLR was the Pentax *ist DL. I have a soft spot for antique film gear. I still use a 1950 vintage Rolleiflex Automat TLR and love trying mid-century Leica lenses on film and digital alike. I mainly use whatever's in front of me for review for digital snaps, but I pick up either my Leica M Typ 240 or Pentax K-3 III Monochrome when I want to step away from review work. In my downtime, I enjoy bird watching, reading, video games, and both good and bad movies, especially in the sci-fi and horror genres.

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