A Review of the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM Lens

The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is an absolutely tiny lens, making it an intriguing option for anyone who wants a nice walkaround setup that will not break their back or bank account. How does it hold up in practice? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it in use.

Coming to you from The Camera Store TV, this awesome video review takes a look at the new Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM lens. As a pancake lens, the 28mm f/2.8 is remarkably small, measuring only an inch (24.7 mm) in length and weighing just 4.2 oz (120 g). And with an MSRP of only $299, it is an intriguing option for a lot of users. In addition to that tiny footprint, it comes with a variety of features, including: 

  • 8 elements in 6 groups
  • Minimum focusing distance of 9.1 inches
  • Maximum magnification of 0.17x 
  • Customizable control ring
  • Gear-type STM motor for smooth autofocus in video
  • 7-blade circular aperture for smoother bokeh

While some might be put off by the somewhat modest maximum aperture, the tradeoff is a very small and lightweight lens, and with the ISO capabilities of modern cameras, that generally is not a major issue. Check out the video above for the full rundown.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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1 Comment

Horrible lens. STM is extremely noisy and you cannot use it for video and according to Canon, you cannot add any filters to the lens. Plus, whatever distortion it creates, the camera fixes it.