I've tested all of the best Canon RF lenses and distilled the results in the guide below. The RF lens line-up has grown significantly since it launched in 2018, and now includes something to cover pretty much any shooting scenario, from portrait primes to wide-angle zooms. Which one you need depends on what and how you plan to shoot.
Of all the Canon RF lenses I and my team have tried, the RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM is the closest thing to an all-rounder. It covers a versatile zoom range with good sharpness. We praised its image quality in our review, as well as its handling. Even paired with one of the best Canon cameras, though, there’s no single lens that can excel in every scenario. That’s why I've covered a whole range of lenses below.
Each recommendation in our round-up is based on extensive real-world feedback from my expert team and I. From 50mm prime lenses to pro telephoto glass, we’ve tested Canon RF lenses fit for every user and budget. To help you find the right one, my guide is divided based on who and what I think each optic is best suited for.
Canon continues to keep third parties locked out of its lens mount for full-frame cameras, but recently unlocked its APS-C mount to the likes of Sigma. I've also dropped in a section at the end which includes some great Canon RF lenses that didn't quite make the final cut for the best list, but deserve consideration in certain circumstances – so make sure to check that out too.
I'm TechRadar's Cameras Editor. With more than 15 years' experience in the photography industry, I've developed a deep technical knowledge of what makes a good lens. While kit lenses are a good starting point for beginners, the Canon RF lenses listed here will allow your photography to expand as your skills grow. In putting together this guide, I've tried to include RF mount lenses suited to every type of Canon photographer, as well as options for a wide range of budgets.
Why you can trust my judgement
Every lens in this guide has been put through its paces in a full review, either by me or one of my expert team. Together, we have many decades of experience in reviewing cameras and camera accessories, so we know what makes a great lens.
When evaluating the best Canon RF mount lenses, I follow a comprehensive testing process, devoting considerable hands-on time to each lens to gain an in-depth understanding of its merits and limitations in different scenarios. I use each lens with one of the best Canon cameras and, where possible, try to pair it with both an APS-C and full-frame model from Canon’s EOS R system.
☑️ 100s of cameras reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
Most Canon photographers don’t use their lenses in controlled environments, so neither do I. Instead, I test RF glass in the kind of real-world scenarios you’re likely to encounter. Depending on the lens in question, that might mean capturing candid portraits in the street, shooting travel scenes from the hip, or framing landscapes on a tripod. This approach gives me a good impression of the practical abilities of a lens, including features such as image stabilization, and how well its performance stacks up for different types of photography.
Throughout the testing process, I keep a number of elements in mind. One is autofocus, especially when looking at lenses designed with fast action in mind. I also test the speed and reliability of focus performance in a range of lighting conditions, and factor in any noise from its motor.
Meet the team
My expert team has a wealth of experience when it comes to testing the best camera gear. Each reviewer has shot with kit from a range of manufacturers, including the best Canon lenses across the last couple of decades. They each know what makes a great Canon R lens.
Rod is an independent photographer and photography journalist with more than 30 years' experience. He's previously worked as Head of Testing for Future’s photography magazines, including Digital Camera, N-Photo, PhotoPlus, Professional Photography, Photography Week and Practical Photoshop, and as Reviews Editor on Digital Camera World.
Matt has written and reviewed cameras for just about every leading photo publication, including Digital Camera World (where he was Editor), What Digital Camera, WEX and of course TechRadar.
Mark is TechRadar's Senior news editor and has been a technology journalist since 2004. Formerly Trusted Reviews and TechRadar's cameras editor, Mark has tested cameras over many years from all of the leading brands.
James Abbott is a professional photographer and freelance photography journalist. He contributes articles about photography, cameras and drones to a wide range of magazines and websites where he applies a wealth of experience to testing the latest photographic tech.
Paul is a digital expert. In the 20 years since he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science, Paul has been actively involved in a variety of different tech and creative industries that make him the go-to guy for reviews, opinion pieces, and featured articles.
Best Canon RF lenses in 2025
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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best Canon RF lenses in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best all-rounder Canon RF lens
Superzoom lenses are notorious for bumping up the zoom range while compromising image quality, typically with a drop in sharpness and a rise in distortions. The upside is that you can cover everything from wide-angle to telephoto shooting at the twist of a zoom ring, rather than having to change the lens on your camera, or carry additional lenses in your camera bag. As such, this type of lens is great for travel and walkabout photography.
Rising well above the norm, we found that the RF 24-240mm delivers very good sharpness and, while distortions are very extreme, they’re automatically corrected in-camera, basically becoming a non-issue. Handling is natural and, as with some other RF lenses, a switch is featured that enables you to swap the action of the manual focus ring to other, customizable functions. There are no weather-seals and you need to buy the lens hood separately but, all in all, this is a lens that really puts the ‘super’ into superzoom.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM review
The best wide-angle zoom
With a useful wide-angle zoom range and a solid set of features, we think the 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM is a quality choice for landscape, architecture and travel photographers. In our review, we praised its pro-grade build quality: it’s slightly heavier than expected, but it balances well with full-frame Canon bodies, plus it benefits from weather seals. Like other upmarket RF lenses, it features a programmable control ring. Whether that’s useful will come down to your personal shooting preference.
In testing, we found the Nano USM autofocus system rapid yet virtually silent, while the constant f/2.8 aperture opens up creative potential. Image quality also impressed in our review, with decent edge sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration. The caveat is that the 15-35mm relies heavily on lens corrections, which is surprising for L-Series glass at this price. Then again, you’re also getting useful features such as optical image stabilization and a short minimum focus distance. Taken together, you’ve got a versatile wide-angle lens for full-frame Canon mirrorless cameras.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM review
The best budget telephoto lens for Canon cameras
With a portable build and accessible controls, this is a fantastic full-frame telephoto lens for students of sport and wildlife photography. Lightweight at 635g and relatively compact at 165mm from end to end, we found it easy to wield in testing. Space around the lens is utilised well, with a broad zoom ring that comes in handy when you need to quickly target a subject. And despite its handy proportions, it offers an excellent amount of reach: 400mm offers useful flexibility.
A maximum aperture of f/5.6 isn’t the widest around, and means you’ll need to accept the noise of higher ISO settings if you want faster shutter speeds. That said, the lens performs well in good light, with no noticeable barrel distortion or chromatic aberration. While the built-in image stabilizer only has one mode, it still works impressively well. There are some limitations that come with the accessible price tag: there’s no focus limiter and you can only lock the focal length at 100mm. But this is nevertheless a fun telephoto that’s easy for beginners to shoot and travel with.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM review
The best 35mm Canon RF prime lens
Thanks to its natural perspective, 35mm is a popular focal length that's ideal for street, architectural and landscape photography. This Canon number is particularly versatile, because it delivers 0.5x macro magnification at its shortest focus distance of 0.17m, so it can capture extreme close-ups. The only catch is that, as the distance is measured from the focal plane of the camera, and the lens’ inner barrel extends at shorter focus distances, the working distance between the front of the lens and the subject shrinks to just 6cm for 0.5x macro shooting.
Typical of non-L-series Canon lenses, there are no weather seals and the hood is sold as an optional extra. Even so, build quality felt very good in testing, and there’s a separate customizable control ring, as well as onboard switches for AF/MF and on/off for the 5-stop image stabilizer. As a fast yet compact and lightweight prime lens with great performance, we think it offers great value at the price. If you’re on an even tighter budget or want a more seriously ultra-wide-angle lens, try the fully manual Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 RF.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM review
The best Canon RF mount portrait lens
For most people, the moderately priced and easily manageable Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is an ideal lens for portraiture on any of Canon’s full-frame mirrorless EOS R series cameras. For those who demand an even tighter depth of field and faster low-light shooting, the f/1.2L lens is simply the best. Building on the legendary reputation of Canon’s EF 85mm f/1.2 lens for DSLRs, the RF mount edition is completely redesigned. It delivers superior sharpness which remains spectacular even when shooting wide-open, along with deliciously smooth bokeh.
In testing, we found autofocus much faster than in the older EF lens, while the high-tech optical path includes Air-Sphere Coating for minimizing ghosting and flare, and Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics that reduce color fringing to negligible levels. The L-series build includes weather-seals and, as with other high-end RF lenses, there’s a dedicated customizable control ring. If you want something cheaper with faster aperture and you don’t mind focusing manually, try the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 RF.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM review
The best super telephoto for Canon cameras
Picking up the baton from Canon’s highly popular EF 100-400mm zoom for DSLRs, this lens for mirrorless EOS R-series cameras delivers even greater telephoto reach, but remains reasonably compact and lightweight for a ‘super-telephoto’. The trade-off is that the aperture shrinks to f/7.1 at the long end of the zoom range, so you might need to bump up your camera’s ISO setting if you need to freeze action under dull lighting conditions, which can degrade image quality.
Like the RF 70-200mm f/2.8, this lens features a triple-mode, 5-stop image stabilizer and a fast Dual Nano USM autofocus system. However, we found that autofocus speeds were a little pedestrian on EOS R and RP bodies. The lens really comes into its own on EOS R5 and R6 bodies, where it takes full advantage of the advanced, intelligent autofocus tracking for people, animals and birds. It’s able to track these as they move around the frame with excellent accuracy and consistency.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM review
The best super zoom for full-frame Canon cameras
You won’t find another lens with reach like this: it’s the world’s first full-frame zoom to hit 800mm. Paired with a camera body like the Canon EOS R7, with its subject-detection autofocus and in-body image stabilization, you have a combo that can cover just about anything – from Sunday sport to faraway wildlife. The only major drawback is its modest maximum aperture which, at f/6.3-9, means its action credentials are limited to good lighting.
Still, our tests found this a compelling lens to shoot with. A little clarity is lost at 800mm, but image quality is otherwise impressive, and very sharp at 200mm. 5.5-stops of optical image stabilization also help to keep results crisp. The lens itself is nicely built and well-balanced when paired with Canon’s DSLR-style mirrorless models, such as the EOS R5. Its performance isn’t quite up there with Canon’s pro-grade glass, but this is still a winning choice for enthusiasts.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM review
The best Canon RF mount macro lens
The only official macro lens for Canon’s RF mount, this close-up specialist is capable of producing extremely sharp images at short distances. Magnification of up to 1.4x means you can fill the frame with small subjects, even if the length of the lens itself has the potential to cast unwanted shadows. Built-in image stabilization is also a welcome addition, though we found it less effective when focusing up close.
Interestingly, Canon has also touted this as a portrait lens: a Spherical Aberration control ring, unlocked with a switch underneath, can be used to adjust bokeh and soft-focus, giving it a useful backup skill. Keen portrait photographers will find better value in a dedicated lens like Canon’s RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, but if you want a versatile macro lens with the familiar look and feel of Canon RF glass, this has a lot going for it.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM review
The best ultra-wide Canon RF lens
Not many Canon photographers need a lens that can shoot at 10mm, a focal length so wide that it can be dizzying. In fact, we found in our review that it requires care to manage the convergence effect of the ultra-wide focal length. But if you photograph architecture and interiors, and you have the budget, this is an exceptional tool. Nothing in the RF line-up comes close to matching its full-frame field of view.
It benefits from exceptional optical performance, even if it relies heavily on digital corrections to adjust for distortion. Edge-to-edge sharpness proved pretty exceptional, dropping away only a little at corners. In testing, we also found it a lovely lens to handle, with a lightweight build and useful physical controls. Built-in image stabilization controls wobble at the edge of the frame, too. There are better value RF lenses if you don’t need to go so wide (such as the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM) – but within its niche, this is an outstanding lens.
- Read our in-depth Canon RF 10-20mm F4L IS STM review
Also consider
I and my team have reviewed a whole range of Canon RF lenses, which means there are plenty more that almost made it into this list. Here are a few honorable mentions to consider.
Best standard zoom – Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM: Covering a standard range with a fast, constant f/2.8 aperture, this 24-70mm number is a fantastic zoom lens for covering a variety of scenarios. Based on my in-depth tests, it delivers superb image quality and all-round performance, aided by super-fast Nano USM autofocus and 5 stops of image stabilization, with the added benefit of weather seals.
Best pro telephoto – Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM: Offering a constant f/2.8 aperture, this well-built lens is a fantastic choice for action and wildlife photographers. Rather than a fixed physical length, it adopts a telescoping design that gives it a comparatively compact and lightweight construction. Yet it also benefits from rock-solid build quality and features a full set of weather-seals. In testing, I found image quality excellent in all respects.
Best standard prime – Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM: A compact and inexpensive ‘nifty fifty’, this prime lens feels right at home on smaller Canon mirrorless cameras like the EOS RP. It’s super-small at just 41mm long and lightweight, too, at a mere 160g. In testing, I found it tidily designed and impeccably finished. It also shoots fast at f/1.8 and our review found that it delivers excellent sharpness and pleasantly smooth bokeh.
Best alternative prime for portraits (APS-C) – Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN: Five stars out of five says it all – Sigma's tiny, well-priced prime with an equivalent 85mm focal length impressed us in our in-depth review, and is the perfect portrait lens for Canon's APS-C cameras like the EOS R10.
How to choose the best Canon RF lens
Choosing the right lens for you camera is a complicated thought process. There are several factors to consider before making your decision, beginning with price. Affordability matters but if you did have the budget for good glass, then here are the the other considerations to keep in mind.
Manufacturer: Do you want official third-party Canon glass, or are you willing to opt for a cheaper third-party alternative? Canon heavily restricts third-party full-frame RF lenses, so you have few options there, but if you're shooting with an APS-C camera, it's worth considering third-party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron. For instance, I've tested Sigma's range of affordable Canon RF prime lenses, and found them to be generally excellent for the money.
Purpose: To start with, think about what you want to use the lens for. If you're after all all-purpose, general-use lens, then a standard zoom lens like a 24-70mm might fit the bill perfectly, giving you various focal lengths as well as variable aperture. Standard zooms suits a variety of purposes, but if you shoot more macros, then a dedicated macro lens might be the best option. Or a wide-angle if you want to shoot a lot of landscapes, or primes for portraits.
Sensor format and lens mount: It's important to know what sensor your camera sports before you pick your first lens. Lenses are built specifically for 35mm (full-frame), APS-C, micro fourth thirds, and medium format bodies, although some can be used across some sensor sizes via an adapter. It also means you'll need to pick lenses that are compatible with your camera's lens mount, although you can use lens adapters while switching from a DSLR to a mirrorless body within the same brand (eg: Canon's EF lenses can be used on RF mounts).
Aperture: This is an important consideration as it controls how much light can enter a lens – the larger the aperture, the more light is going to hit the sensor, and vice versa. The f stop number in the name of the lens gives you the aperture, and the smaller the f stop number, bigger the aperture. For example, the RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM has a large aperture, meaning its low-light performance will be better than a lens with aperture of, say, f/5.6. The aperture also influences depth of field, aka that blurry background you see in some images. Large apertures like f/1.8 produce tighter depth of field, and thus very soft, blurry backgrounds and bokehs.
Image stabilization: Having a stabilized lens can be handy for handheld shoots, particularly when combined with a camera's in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This will increase the number of sharp images you capture by automatically correcting for hand and camera shake... to certain degree. Stabilized lenses from Canon are marked with 'IS' in the name.
Handling is another important component. During reviews, I assess how each lens feels in the hand when out in the field, including physical controls such as focus rings and function buttons. Similarly, I keep build quality in mind, especially for the kind of lenses that are likely to encounter heavy use.
When it comes to reviewing the stills shot on test, there are a few specific criteria on which I rate every Canon RF lens. First, I assess overall image quality, including contrast and sharpness across the frame. I’ll also look for smooth bokeh in areas with soft focus, particularly on lenses with wide maximum apertures. I also stay alert for optical imperfections, including distortion and chromatic aberrations (even though most Canon mirrorless cameras can digitally correct for these).
Based on all of the above, I’ll form a rounded view of a lens, the type of photographer it makes most sense for, and whether it’s one of the best Canon RF lenses.. We’ll think about its merits and drawbacks versus those of similar lenses from the Canon stable, as well as alternatives that might cost more.