Although we're billing these as the best Canon RF lenses, the fact of the matter is that almost every RF lens is pretty darned good – particularly the first-party optics from Canon, which are uniformly stunning.
Thankfully it's no longer the case that the very best Canon RF lenses come with eye-watering price tags, as a number of budget options have been released in the past year that make the EOS R ecosystem appealing to every pocket.
In fact, the advent of the APS-C EOS R bodies such as the new Canon EOS R50, Canon EOS R7, and Canon EOS R10 has ushered in a new line of RF-S lenses. These APS-C-specific optics (like the EF-S mount was to the EF mount on Canon DSLRs), are smaller, lighter, and more affordable – like the new Canon RF-S 18-45mm and the new Canon RF-S 55-210mm.
So whether you're looking for the highest image quality when shooting with the high-res Canon EOS R5, tell, and super tele lenses to capture the action with the Canon EOS R6, something sleek and street-worthy for the svelte Canon EOS RP, something suitable for astro on the Canon EOS Ra, or you're looking ahead to pro-quality performance on the Canon EOS R3, there's something here for you.
So without further ado, here are the best Canon RF lenses on the market right now, and for convenience, we've split these into zoom lenses and primes, with the shortest focal lengths first and working up to the longest.
Best Canon RF lenses
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Canon RF zoom lenses
Canon’s most important RF mount trinity lens is here to proselytize the benefits of the EOS R system – and it will have most users singing 'Hallelujah' all the way to the nearest camera store. It’s snappy, it’s sharp, it’s stabilized and it even suppresses focus breathing… but it's a little rough around the edges, literally, and at this price point that's enough to stop it short of greatness.
Depending on your usage, the issue of middling edge sharpness may not be a factor. Portrait photographers will likely have no problem with unrefined corners, but those intending to put this to general-purpose use for things like landscapes may be a little less forgiving.
That's really more a reflection of the price than the performance, though. In all other respects, this is a lens that anyone – on any system – would be proud to have in their kit bag. It feels snappier and more responsive than its EF predecessor, and the addition of image stabilization is a real game-changer for non-stabilized EOS R bodies.
Read our full Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM review
If you're after a native RF zoom lens that is wider than a standard 24-70mm, you're only option is the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8. It's perfect for landscape, architectural, and travel photography as well as close-up sporting action thanks to its super-fast Nanon USM autofocus system.
You can really exaggerate the perspective between background and foreground areas when shooting at the wide end of the zoom range though it's worth noting corner sharpness does drop off a bit.
The f/2.8 aperture, which remains constant throughout the zoom range, combines with a 5-stop image stabilizer to enable great handheld performance under low-lighting conditions. Unlike with some ultra-wide-angle lenses, another bonus is that the hood is removable, so filters can be easily fitted via the 82mm attachment ring.
Read our full Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM review
Not only an ideal ‘kit’ lens to buy with an R-series camera body, but this is also an excellent optic in its own right. Typical RF attractions include a customizable control ring, in addition to the zoom and focus rings, which can be ‘de-clicked’ for step-less control.
That’s preferable when shooting video, but you’ll have to send the lens away to a service centre to have the work carried out. L-series attractions include comprehensive weather seals and up-market build quality.
The Nano USM autofocus system is super-fast for stills, while also delivering smooth, near-silent focus transitions for movie capture. Typical of RF-mount ‘IS’ lenses, the stabilizer has 5-stop effectiveness.
Physically, it’s slightly smaller and lighter than the equivalent EF 24-105mm L-series lens for SLRs but still feels a bit chunky, especially when mounted on an EOS RP body. Money is no object, Canon’s fully pro-spec RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM and RF 28-70mm F2L USM is the most exotic options but this f/4 lens is the sensible buy.
Read our full Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM review
This small and lightweight 'superzoom' is perfect for capturing things right up close or really far away thanks to its massive zoom range. For anyone who likes to shoot with minimal kit, this lens is incredibly versatile and could be used to shoot portraits, landscapes, interiors, architecture, or even wildlife.
It benefits from the same build quality and features as the other RF lenses including fast and accurate autofocus and 4-stops of lens stabilization. Like with all superzoom lenses, there is some compromise on image quality but the 24-240mm still delivers impressive images with little aberrations thanks to in-camera corrections.
For anyone who doesn't want the fuss of carrying multiple lenses or changing them frequently, this lens is perfect and it weighs just 750g so it won't weigh you down too much.
Read our full Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM review
Canon’s RF lenses are often criticized for feeling big and heavy on mirrorless bodies, but this one remains reasonably slim and svelte. Compared with the latest EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens for SLRs, it’s significantly smaller and only about two-thirds of the weight.
Unlike the EF lens, the RF edition has an extending inner barrel rather than a fixed physical length. Autofocus is amazingly rapid, based on dual Nano USM actuators, and it beats the EF lens for stabilization, with 5-stop rather than 3.5-stop effectiveness.
Three switchable modes are on offer static and panning shots, plus a third option that applies stabilization only during exposures. This makes it easier to track erratically moving objects in the viewfinder, or via the camera’s rear screen.
Read our full Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM review
Especially well suited to the EOS RP, Canon’s latest RF 24-105mm takes downsizing to the extreme and makes a perfect travel companion. It’s little more than half the weight of its sibling RF 24-105mm f/4 L-series lens and much more compact.
Unlike some ‘compact’ standard zooms, it achieves its diminutive size without having a retractable design, so it’s always ready for duty. Handling is refined although, to help keep the size to a minimum, there aren’t separate control and focus rings, but rather one ring with a switch for swapping the function.
A novel extra is the ‘centre focus macro’ facility, which enables focusing down to a distance of just 13cm at the centre of the image frame, with 0.5x magnification.
Read our full Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM review
Canon's RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM is easily the shortest and lightest 70-200mm f/4 in the world. Side-by-side it's only slightly larger than a soda can when the lens is fully collapsed, while it's shorter and lighter than the f/2.8 variant above.
It doesn't compromise on performance though, delivering an impressive 7.5 stops of stabilization (on an EOS R6 or R5 at least), making it incredibly versatile for a range of shooting situations. Optically and the center sharpness is fantastic as well, even at 200mm, though corner sharpness can be a little disappointing.
Somewhat frustratingly though the lens is not compatible with teleconverters, while it's very pricey compared to the EF version, which admittedly isn't quite as advanced. Though issues aside, this is a cracking lens for R-series shooters.
Read our full Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM review
The Canon RF 100-500mm is a superb addition to the rapidly expanding range of RF-mount lenses for Canon's EOS R-series cameras. It combines Canon's legendary L-series build quality with premium optical performance that's up there with the very best Canon zoom lenses we've tested.
There is, however, a catch: to really get the most from the autofocus system, especially for accurate action shots, you’ll need to pair it with the amazing AF and IBIS on the R5 or R6. Shoot with this lens on the older EOS R or RP and you can expect AF to be noticeably more sluggish, which is somewhat disappointing when you've just dropped big money on a lens like this.
Read our full Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM review
Canon RF prime lenses
The legendary Canon 50mm legacy has been reborn for the RF mount. This lens in the EF mount was a go-to for all fashion and portrait photographers for over a decade. It provided a unique rendering not seen in any other Canon lens, with almost a medium format look to its images.
The RF 50 mm lens has lost some of these characteristics that made the old lens such a unique prospect, however, this lens is still more than capable of producing the most stunning photos.
There is no mistaking how sharp and fast this lens is. With a huge f/1.2 aperture, you can get beautiful subject isolation in a focal length that allows more of the environment to be included in the photo. And with lightning-fast autofocus with eye tracking, if you take a lot of fashion and portraits, this really is the lens that you need.
The only drawback is the size, with it being a heavy lens at 905g and unwieldy to have on smaller EOS R cameras without an additional solid grip. This lens is certainly not the cheapest but the quality and precision you get from this lens more than justify the high price.
Read our full Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 USM lens review
If you’re only going to buy one own-brand prime lens for your Canon R-series camera, this is the one to go for. It’s wonderfully compact and lightweight, as well as only costing about a fifth of the price of Canon’s bulky f/1.2 lenses. Indeed, the relatively small and inexpensive build enabled by the more modest aperture rating makes you wonder why Canon hasn’t made more f/1.8 RF primes yet.
The 35mm focal length is perfect for street photography and gives an entirely natural viewing perspective that works well for landscape and architectural photography, as well as for environmental portraits where you want to include a person’s surroundings.
The versatility doesn’t end there, as the lens has a short 0.17m minimum focus distance that enables 0.5x macro shooting, complete with a hybrid 5-stop stabilizer that corrects for x-y shift in addition to the more usual angular vibrations.
Read our full Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens review
Though not quite as wide as the Rokinon/Samyang MF 14mm f/2.8 RF (below), Canon's 16mm wide prime is just as affordable and packs the added bonus of autofocus. It's equally fast, too, yet at a mere 40mm long and 165g light, it's considerably more portable.
In fact, like the RF 35mm, 50mm and 85mm primes before it, this 16mm makes a convincing case for leaving a standard zoom lens out of the shooting equation and sticking to prime numbers. And even if you do generally shoot with a standard zoom, the RF 16mm is an excellent addition, delivering an ultra-wide viewing angle with convincing image quality and all-round performance. If ever a lens was a no-brainer, it’s this one.
Read our full Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM review
The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is everything you want a nifty fifty to be. It's cheap, compact, and capable, delivering great image quality (on par in some areas with the RF 50mm f/1.2L, which costs over ten times as much!) in a truly pocket-sized lens.
The smallest optic for the EOS R system, it's a fantastic everyday lens that pairs well with any RF body – and is particularly perfect with the Canon EOS RP if you want a sleek, street-friendly setup.
Read our full Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review
Most of us use a standard zoom lens for most of our shooting. To go wider than a focal length of 24mm, one (very expensive) option is to go for the RF 15-35MM f/2.8L IS USM, which stretches to 15mm while giving a fair bit overlap in zoom range. However, many photographers end up only using ultra-wide-angle zooms at or near their shortest focal length.
This manual prime lens for RF mount cameras gives a similarly wide viewing angle as the Canon lens at its shortest zoom setting, but for only about a seventh of the cost.
It’s a fully manual lens, so requires manual focusing and you need to set the aperture with the lens’ ring rather than from the camera body. Other downsides are that it has a built-in hood, and therefore no filter attachment thread, and barrel distortion is clearly noticeable with no in-camera corrections being available. Other aspects of image quality are impressive, however, and it’s a fun lens to use.
Read our full Samyang MF 14mm f/2.8 RF / Z review
Right now this is as close as it gets to the classic Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro USM, at least in terms of a Canon macro lens with autofocus (the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO actually offers a 1:2 reproduction ratio if you don't mind manual focus).
Beyond its 2:1 macro, however, the RF 85mm f/2's primary party trick is as a portrait lens – and it's a very, very good one, offering sharpness that actually outclasses the powerhouse Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM (which costs a couple of grand more).
The f/2 aperture isn't quite as bokehlicious as an f/1.2 or even f/1.8 optic, but it still delivers sublime subject separation – and used on the R5 or R6 it offers a whopping 8 stops of stabilization!
Read our full Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM review
This enormously expensive lens would appear much higher up in our list were it not for the cost. It's the pièce de résistance of the Canon RF lenses and possibly one of the finest portrait lenses we've ever used. It's fiercely sharp, even when shooting at f/1.2 and when shooting wide open, it delivers sublime subject separation and a beautifully blurred background.
However, it's a beast of a lens weighing almost 1.2kg with dimensions of 103.2x117.3mm. As it's so heavy it's best suited to the Canon EOS R5 or R6 as they have in0body stabilization which will help to steady the setup while you're shooting. It's also probably not the best lens to invest in if you plan on taking it traveling or hiking as it's bound to weigh you down.
Chances are if you're a pro you could justify the cost of this lens but if not, the 85mm f/2 will still deliver beautiful images only at a fraction of the weight and price.
Read our Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L review
The Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM takes everything that was great about the EF version of this lens and makes it even better. Magnification? Boosted to 1.4x. Stabilization? Upped to 8 stops (on the EOS R5 and R6). Bokeh? Even more beautiful, thanks to a control ring that shifts the lens elements.
Focus and breathing? Faster and more controlled than ever. It's a superb standalone portrait lens as well, with pin-sharp rendering and a flattering focal length. If you want to photograph close-ups of small things and large things alike, you've just found your next purchase! Start saving...
Read our full Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro review
While the RF mount has carved a reputation as the home for Canon's suped-up lenses with premium price tags, it's also home to one of the most unconventional and affordable megzooms on the market. The RF 800mm lens is a fixed aperture f/11 optic that has a collapsible barrel – both of which make it an incredibly cheap, compact, and lightweight lens.
Most photographers using DSLRs wouldn’t find a 600mm f/11 remotely attractive, but it works very well on R system cameras thanks to their live view focusing assists, cutting-edge AF performance, and high ISO tolerances.
With its impressive image quality, fast and accurate autofocus, and high-performance stabilization, it’s certainly not short on performance – and if you want something longer on reach, the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM below is just as good.
Read our full Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM review
This Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM super-telephoto lens for Canon EOS R-series full-frame mirrorless cameras gives phenomenal reach but is much smaller and more lightweight than competing lenses for DSLRs. At 1,260g, it’s perfectly viable for long periods of handheld shooting, aided by a highly effective optical image stabilizer. It also has a retractable mechanism to cut down on stowage size, making it ideal for use anywhere and everywhere from local sporting events to wildlife shoots in far-flung corners of the world.
With a sub-$1,000 price tag, this is a highly attractive super-telephoto prime for any and all Canon EOS R-series full-frame cameras. Comparatively compact and lightweight, it’s very easy to live with for an 800mm lens, both in terms of handheld shooting and for simply carrying around.
The autofocus and optical stabilization systems help to deliver consistently sharp shots, and overall performance and handling are very good. The f/11 fixed aperture isn’t necessarily a bad thing but, while the lens is compatible with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, the reduction in aperture to f/16 and f/22 respectively might prove a step too far under anything but very bright lighting conditions. All in all, this is a very attractive and powerful telephoto lens and a smart buy at the price.
Read our full Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM review
Read more:
The best Canon telephoto lenses: from budget zooms to pro lenses
The best Canon standard zoom lenses for EOS DSLRs
The best macro lenses: get closer to your subjects than ever before!
These are the best mirrorless cameras you can get right now
Looking to turn pro? We check out the best cameras for professionals
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