I took a quick look at the data and told Craig. I want two of these, please. When mounted on Canon’s EOS R8, this will now be my perfect travel companion.
So first of all, we have seen from past examples with the Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD, that a small lightweight F2.8 zoom lens is a popular hit with the masses, and I’m certainly one of those people. The Tamron lens always gave me a fit of jealousy that it wasn’t available on the RF mount, but now I don’t have to worry about it (Even though I still love the look of the Tamron lenses).
If you don’t want to read any further, TL;DR;
Here are those links right now, so when it goes to backorder status, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.
Let’s dive into this lens a bit and why this is a lens I think even though it’s inexpensive you should be clicking preorder before you are done reading the article.
First, the size and weight of this lens are travel-friendly and small. Here is a graphic from Canon Japan breaking it down for you.
If you have difficulty judging the size, it’s almost the same size as the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM and weighs a bit heavier because of those larger elements needed for F2.8 and constant aperture.
RF 28-70m f/2.8 IS STM
RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM
Size
76.6 x 88.8
77mm x 92mm
Weight
395g
495g
On Canon Japan’s website, they also mention that they have optimized the size of the IS unit allowing them to make the lens both smaller and lighter than they could before.
Compared to the IS unit in the early EOS R system, the new IS unit installed in the RF28-70mm F2.8 IS USM has an optimized layout with precise calculations of the center of gravity of each component that makes up the IS. As a result, as shown in the image below, the number of mechanical components has been reduced, making this lens smaller and lighter.
Canon Japan Store
The MTFs
I’m going to show this lens quite unfairly to its RF brothers – the Canon RF 24-70 f2.8L IS USM and the Canon RF 28-70 f/2.0 USM. This is of course a comparison that the Canon RF 28-70 f/2.8 IS STM should have no business in coming close, but we’ll take a little animated look at it.
If we look at these MTFs, it’s no real surprise that the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM doesn’t match up to the optical performance of the two L’s that cost anywhere from 2 to 3 times as much as this lens. But I think it’s noteworthy to mention that it comes pretty close, and on a camera as the 24MP Canon EOS R8, it’s doubtful you’d normally see the difference. Paired with a 45MP Canon EOS R5 Mark II, you would see a difference unless you aggressively used DLO.
My thoughts are that this is going to be a homerun prosumer kit lens for the Canon EOS RF system, and I know I’m certainly getting one.
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Wow, what a nice surprise! Has Canon ever had a non-L in this zoom range and 2.8? Certainly not one with IS, right? Would be a great travel lens. I\'ll be up at midnight ready to pre-order. Hopefully it will come at a price ($649) close to the excellent RF 100-400. But my guess is $799.
Wow, what a nice surprise! Has Canon ever had a non-L in this zoom range and 2.8? Certainly not one with IS, right? Would be a great travel lens. I\'ll be up at midnight ready to pre-order. Hopefully it will come at a price ($649) close to the excellent RF 100-400. But my guess is $799.
Only for EF-S in the 17-55 that I can recall off the top of my head.
A nice surprise for the people looking for an “affordable” constant aperture standard zoom, as Canon will officially be announcing the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM tonight at midnight EDT. One of the big knocks on the RF lineup is the lack of good and affordable lenses. Here we'll have the first constant aperture non-L
I may jump on this. I love my 24-105L for walk around. But haven't replaced my old (and now AF motor failing) 28-70L from ages ago. If the quality is good on this one, and priced right, it could be a nice add.
wow, it\'s only a bit longer than the RF35 f/1.8. This is going to be a huge seller. Expect the uncorrected files to have massive distortions and vignette. This is a lens which NEEDS a lot of in camera hocus pocus to manage this size with IS at a sub 1000 price.
I\'ll take five. I\'ve been wanting something like this forever. The (presumed) lack of weather sealing is a bit of a bummer, but it\'s pretty rare to have that in a Canon lens at the (presumed) price point. A perfect complement to the RF 70-200 or a fast telephoto prime for weddings.
Well, if the thing cost less then the reselling price of my EF 24-70 2.8 L II, and it's at least on pair in optical quality, then it could be a day one purchase for me; I don't mind at all 24vs28, but if they could do it just a tad longer, 80 or 90mm, that would have been amazing.
I’ve been eager for an f/2.8 zoom that wasn’t massive or expensive on this mount. I’m transitioning my travel gear back from Fujifilm mostly and this will pair perfectly as a replacement. Ordering immediately.
I think what happens is that it will extend all the way to maximum length at 28mm from the storage position, and then it gradually retracts somewhat as you zoom in to 70mm.
It is the same with the RF 24-50 -- the shortest physical length is when the lens is in the collapsed state, and the longest physical length of that lens is at 24mm. That lens retracts somewhat at 35mm and extends a bit again at 50mm (though not to the length when it is at 24mm).
Hopefully it will come at a price ($649) close to the excellent RF 100-400. But my guess is $799.
I doubt. The Sigma costs $899 and that’s a third party unstabilised lens.
My guess is $1199 or $1299 for this one, if is uses significant software corrections, or more if it has optical corrections.
Sounds like a very interesting lens, that can sell very well. I could be wrong, but my guesses are heavy vignetting, lots of barrel distortion on the wide end, a very decent level of sharpness, probably significant focus breathing, small size (possibly another twin to the 24-105 and 15-30mm) super lightweight, cool autofocus.
Edit: Do I see an IS switch there? Absolute banger lens :O
Only for EF-S in the 17-55 that I can recall off the top of my head.
Anything would be better than the 24-50!
Brian
I wonder if it has macro capabilities.
Also it will probably have quite a bit of software correction on the wide end -- mainly for dark corners and barrel distortion.
“Good” and “affordable” are relative terms. Skeptical me is skeptical.
I think what happens is that it will extend all the way to maximum length at 28mm from the storage position, and then it gradually retracts somewhat as you zoom in to 70mm.
It is the same with the RF 24-50 -- the shortest physical length is when the lens is in the collapsed state, and the longest physical length of that lens is at 24mm. That lens retracts somewhat at 35mm and extends a bit again at 50mm (though not to the length when it is at 24mm).
My guess is $1199 or $1299 for this one, if is uses significant software corrections, or more if it has optical corrections.
Sounds like a very interesting lens, that can sell very well. I could be wrong, but my guesses are heavy vignetting, lots of barrel distortion on the wide end, a very decent level of sharpness, probably significant focus breathing, small size (possibly another twin to the 24-105 and 15-30mm) super lightweight, cool autofocus.