The best Canon RF lenses in 2024: top lenses for the EOS R system

The best Canon RF lenses now cover almost every need a photographer could have. In our experience of testing and reviewing EOS R System lenses, Canon's first-party optics for its mirrorless range are almost all fantastic at what they do. Choosing the 'best' depends on your needs and budget. In the guide below, we've picked out the best RF lenses for different requirements based on our expert reviewers' experience, from the best cheap RF lens to the best RF lens for wildlife and the best RF lens for portraits.

With R-system cameras, you're still mainly limited to Canon glass, but there are now plenty to choose from, from compact, budget primes to high-end 'L-series' optics.  We've tried and tested most of them, both through standard benchmark tests and real-world use, allowing us to pick the best options for different needs. Note that in this guide, we're looking only at RF lenses designed for full-frame cameras, such as the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6. We won't be considering RF-S lenses designed for APS-C cameras like the Canon EOS R50 and Canon EOS R10.

Without further ado, here are the best Canon RF lenses on the market right now. Remember that you can also use old Canon EF lenses on R-system bodies if you buy an adapter, so you might also want to see our pick of the best Canon lenses for DSLRs.

James Artaius, Digital Camera World editor
James Artaius

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.

The Quick List

We'll start our guide with a very quick overview of our top six picks as the best Canon RF lenses overall. Click 'read more' to see more of our opinion on each lens or scroll down for our full selection.

The best Canon RF lenses in 2024

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The best Canon RF lens overall

(Image credit: Digital Camera World)
Best Overall

Specifications

Autofocus: Nano Ultrasonic
Stabilizer: 5-stop
Min focus distance: 0.21m (at 24mm) / 0.38mm (at 70mm)
Max magnification: 0.3x (at 32mm)
Filter thread: 82mm
Dimensions (WxL): 88.5x125.7mm
Weight: 900g

Reasons to buy

+
Superb stabilization
+
No focus breathing
+
Super centre sharpness

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Average edge sharpness

If you're going to buy just one Canon RF lens to start with, this should probably be it. Considered part of Canon’s trinity of essential zooms for its DSLRs, this focal length was essential to get right to proselytise people to the benefits of the EOS R system, and we think it will indeed have most users singing 'Hallelujah'. 

In our real-world review, we found the lens to be sharp and quick to focus, responding more quickly than its EF predecessor.  The 5-stop Image Stabilizer is a game-changer for those using a non-stabilized EOS R. When you combine that with the smoothness of the focusing and a focus breathing suppression system, we think this is a a great lens for video as well as stills.

In our lab tests, we found centre sharpness to be excellent, although, at the long end, we did find images to be a little rougher around the edges than we would like at this price point. That may disappoint some demanding landscape photographers who create large prints, but portrait photographers shouldn't have any complaints. We think that in all other respects, this is a lens that anyone – on any system – would be proud to have in their kit bag.

For a wider aperture, Canon also has the RF 28-70mm f/2 L, but that rather exotic lens is even more expensive, significantly heavier and doesn't have image stabilization.

Read our full Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM review

The best wide-angle Canon RF lens

(Image credit: Future)
Best wide

Specifications

Autofocus: Nano Ultrasonic
Stabilizer: 5-stop
Min focus distance: 0.28m
Max magnification: 0.21x
Filter thread: 82mm
Dimensions (WxL): 89x127mm
Weight: 840g

Reasons to buy

+
Super-wide viewing angles
+
Removable hood

Reasons to avoid

-
Corner-sharpness could be better
-
Bigger and more expensive than slower alternatives

After a native RF zoom lens that's wider than the standard 24-70mm? We found the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 to be perfect for landscape, architectural, and travel photography. It can even handle close-up sporting action thanks to its super-fast Nanon USM autofocus system. 

The f/2.8 aperture, which remains constant throughout the zoom range, combines with a 5-stop image stabilizer for great handheld performance in low-lighting conditions. We were able to really exaggerate the perspective between background and foreground areas when shooting at the wide end of the zoom range. We should note that corner sharpness does drop off a bit, but we were impressed to see no visible distortion in our test images, even at 15mm.

This lens has the usual Canon L-series attractions, with full weather sealing and solid build quality. Another bonus is that, unlike with some ultra-wide-angle lenses, the hood is removable, so filters can be easily fitted via the 82mm attachment ring

For a more affordable alternative, consider the Canon RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM. It has a slower aperture and no weather sealing, but we found offers good handling for the price, and it's more compact.

Read our full Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM review

The best RF standard zoom lens

(Image credit: Future)
Best standard zoom

Specifications

Autofocus: Nano Ultrasonic
Stabilizer: 5-stop
Min focus distance: 0.45m
Max magnification ratio: 0.24x
Filter thread: 77mm
Dimensions (WxL): 84x107mm
Weight: 700g

Reasons to buy

+
Versatile zoom range
+
Constant f/4 aperture

Reasons to avoid

-
Again rather large
-
‘De-click’ only available as a service option

We think this is more than just an ideal ‘kit’ lens upgrade for an R-series camera body, and an excellent optic in its own right. It earns its L-series red ring with impressive sharpness, and the wide focal range makes it suitable for many scenarios.

It has typical Canon RF features like the customisable control ring, in addition to the zoom and focus rings, which can be ‘de-clicked’ for step-less control. Declicking is a boon for shooting video, but you’ll have to send the lens away to a service centre to have the work carried out. In our testing, we found the Nano USM autofocus system to be 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. If money is no object, Canon’s fully pro-spec RF 24-70mm F/2.8L IS USM (see number 1 on this list) is faster and sharper, but it doesn't have as much reach. This f/4 lens is the sensible buy if you want versatility and L-series quality and don't need the 2.8 aperture.

Read our full Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM review

The best all-rounder RF lens

(Image credit: Future/Digital Camera World)
Best all-rounder

Specifications

Autofocus: Nano Ultrasonic
Stabilizer: 5-stop
Min focus distance: 0.5m
Max magnification: 0.26x
Filter thread: 72mm
Dimensions (WxL): 80x123mm
Weight: 750g

Reasons to buy

+
Monster 10x zoom range
+
Small and lightweight for a full-frame superzoom

Reasons to avoid

-
Long-zoom aperture is slow
-
Slight compromise in image quality

The RF 24-105mm f/4 L above has a versatile zoom range but may feel limiting compared to this small and lightweight 'superzoom'. With a massive 24-240mm range, this is the lens to go for if you only want to carry just one RF lens in your bag but you want to shoot things that are both close and distant, from portraits and interiors to landscapes, architecture and even some wildlife. 

This isn't an L-series lens, so there's no weather sealing. And, like with all superzoom lenses, there is some compromise on image quality. However, our reviewer was still impressed with the results, finding that in-camera corrections help to avoid major aberrations. The lens also benefits from fast and accurate autofocus and 4-stops of lens stabilization. For anyone who likes to shoot with minimal kit instead of carrying multiple lenses and having to change them, this option may be very welcome, and it won't weigh you down too much. It weighs in at just 750g, 150g less than the RF 24-70mm f/2.8L at number on our list. 

For options with fixed maximum aperture and L-series quality, the closest you can get to this range are the excellent RF 70-200mm f/2.8L and the RF 70-200mm f/4L, which is the shortest 70-200mm lens around. They boast faster apertures and incredible sharpness but lack both the reach and width available here.

Read our full Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM review

The best telephoto zoom Canon RF lens

(Image credit: Future)
Best telephoto zoom

Specifications

Autofocus: Nano Ultrasonic
Stabilizer: 5-stop
Min focus distance: 0.9-1.2m
Max magnification: 0.33x
Filter thread: 77mm
Dimensions (WxL): 93.8 x 207.6mm
Weight: 1530g

Reasons to buy

+
Stellar build and image quality
+
Versatile focal range

Reasons to avoid

-
Narrow maximum aperture
-
Works best on R5 and R6 bodies

The Canon RF 100-500mm will be a dream come true for enthusiast or semi-professional wildlife photographers. It puts the ideal focal range in a form that's compact and light enough to be comfortable to use handheld for extended periods. With excellent stabilization that can be switched between three modes, we were even able to shoot short videos handheld at the long end. And then there's the autofocus, which offers superb subject and eye-detection for sports and wildlife, including birds in flight.

The build quality is everything you would expect from an L-series lens, and the collar is included. The optical performance is up there with the best Canon zoom lenses we've tested. 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 R3, R5 or R6. Shoot with this lens on the older EOS R or RP and you can expect AF to be noticeably more sluggish. We also find that the autofocus can be hard to use in situations with many distractions such as branches and leaves, although the focus limiter switch can be useful in some situations like this.

The RF 100-500mm is one of the few lenses compatible with Canon's 1.4x and 2.5x extenders, which open the possibility of further reach. However, they can only be used with the lens extended to at least 300mm, which we find can make it feel a little unwieldy. 

Read our full Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM review

If you're on a tighter budget, want huge reach and can live with a narrow fixed aperture and none of the L-series luxuries like weather sealing, Canon also has the excellent value Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM and Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM review

The best RF prime lens

(Image credit: Future)
Best prime lens

Specifications

Autofocus: USM
Stabilization: None
Min focus distance: 0.4m
Filter thread: 77mm
Dimensions (mm): 89.8 x 108
Weight: 950g

Reasons to buy

+
Superior sharpness
+
Versatile focal length
+
Build quality is excellent

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive
-
Heavy and unwieldy

Canon 50mm lenses are legendary, and this lens in the EF mount was a go-to for fashion and portrait photographers for over a decade, providing a unique rendering not seen in any other Canon lens, with almost a medium format look. That legacy has been reborn for the RF mount, and although the RF 50 mm lens has lost some of the characteristics that made its predecessor so unique, it 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, we found it easy to get beautiful subject isolation in a focal length that allows more of the environment to be included in the photo. We found bokeh is super buttery, almost otherworldly, and we found the eye-tracking autofocus to be super snappy: perfect for rapid-fire fashion shoots.

The only real drawback we see is the price and the size. It's a heavy lens at 905g, and it's unwieldy for smaller EOS R cameras without an additional solid grip. This lens is certainly isn't cheap either, but we think the quality and precision more than justify the price.

Read our full Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 USM lens review

The best Canon RF lens for street photography

(Image credit: Future)
Best for street photography

Specifications

Autofocus: Pulse (stepping motor)
Stabilizer: 5-stop hybrid
Min focus distance: 0.17m
Max magnification: 0.5x
Filter thread: 52mm
Dimensions (WxL): 74x63mm
Weight: 305g

Reasons to buy

+
Small and lightweight
+
Relatively inexpensive
+
0.5x macro with hybrid stabilization

Reasons to avoid

-
Autofocus isn’t particularly speedy

If you’re on a budget and want just one everyday prime lens for your Canon R-series camera, this is the one we would go for. It’s wonderfully compact and lightweight, and it costs about a fifth of the bulky 50mm f/1.2 lens above. The 35mm focal length is perfect for street photography, providing an entirely natural viewing perspective that also works well for landscape, architectural photography and for environmental portraits where you want to include the subject's surroundings. And the f/1.8 aperture allows faster shutter speeds in dim lighting.

And the versatility doesn’t end there, as the lens has a short 0.17m minimum focus distance that enables 0.5x macro shooting. That's not true macro, but we found this to be a great lens for capturing close-up details. Add in a hybrid 5-stop stabilizer that corrects for x-y shift in addition to the more usual angular vibrations, and we think this is the most interesting of the more affordable RF lenses that Canon has produced.

Read our full Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens review

The best cheap RF lens

(Image credit: James Artaius)
Best cheap RF lens

Specifications

Autofocus: Pulse (stepping motor)
Stabilizer: None
Min focus distance: 0.3m
Max magnification: 0.25x
Filter thread: 43mm
Dimensions (WxL): 69.2x40.5mm
Weight: 160g

Reasons to buy

+
Same size and weight as EF version but less plasticky.
+
Impressive image quality
+
Very affordable

Reasons to avoid

-
Not weather sealed
-
No switch for manual focus

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the RF version of the classic Canon nifty fifty, and it's almost everything we wanted it to be. It's cheap, compact and very capable, delivering great image quality in a truly pocket-sized lens. We find the fast aperture and 50mm focal length make this a great option for spontaneous shooting in dimly lit places such as clubs and concerts, and the small size makes it particularly ideal for a sleek but discreet street-friendly setup for the Canon EOS RP.

We found subject separation and background blur to be very pleasing at f/1.8, although the lens is sharper at 2.8. Stopped down, in certain situations, the lens doesn't lag too far from the hefty RF 50mm f/1.2L, which costs over ten times as much. 

What it lacks is weather sealing as usual in non-L lenses and also image stabilization, which isn't a surprise at this price point. But there's also no button to switch to manual focus, which is something that we did have on the EF nifty fifty. Some would say autofocus on Canon's R system cameras is so good, you won't often need it, and you can switch to manual focus in the camera itself, but autofocus isn't infallible and a switch on the lens is a handy thing to have.

Read our full Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review

The best RF lens for portraits

(Image credit: James Artaius)
Best for portraits

Specifications

Autofocus: Dual Nano USM
Stabilizer: None
Min focus distance: 0.85m
Max magnification: 0.12x
Filter thread: 82mm
Dimensions (WxL): 103.2 x 117.3mm
Weight: 1195g

Reasons to buy

+
The nicest portrait lens we've ever used
+
Breathtaking bokeh and blur

Reasons to avoid

-
Enormous and heavy
-
Breathtakingly expensive

This enormously expensive lens would appear much higher up on our list were it not for the cost. But it's the pièce de résistance of the Canon RF lenses and possibly one of the finest portrait lenses we've ever reviewed. It's stunningly sharp, even when shooting at f/1.2 and when shooting wide open, it delivers sublime subject separation and beautifully blurred backgrounds – especially if you go for the DS (defocus smoothing) version, which has the addition of a special coating for even silkier bokeh (this costs around $400/£400 more).

We found images look as though they've already been through a round of well-considered post-production. However, this is also a heavy beast of a lens, weighing almost 1.2kg with dimensions of 103.2x117.3mm, and it has no image stabilization. That makes it more suited to the Canon EOS R3, R5 or R6 as they have in-body stabilization which helps to steady the setup while shooting. It's also probably not the best lens to invest in if you want something for travel or hiking.

If you're a pro, the results of this lens can probably justify its cost. If you're not, you might want to consider the RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, which can deliver beautiful images at a fraction of the weight and price. Note that the DS coating on the DS version does have the disadvantage of causing a loss of some light.

Read our Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L review

The best RF lens for macro

(Image credit: James Artaius)
Best Macro

Specifications

Autofocus: Dual Nano USM
Stabilizer: 5 stops (2 stops at 1.0x)
Min focus distance: 0.26m
Max magnification: 1.4x
Filter thread: 67mm
Dimensions (WxL): 81.5 x 148mm
Weight: 730g

Reasons to buy

+
1:1.4 reproduction ratio
+
Incredibly sharp
+
SA (bokeh!) control
+
Near-zero focus breathing

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive, inevitably

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). Focus and breathing? Faster and more controlled than ever. Bokeh? Even more beautiful, thanks to the special SA (spherical aberration) control ring that shifts the lens elements (Yes, that's right a bokeh control ring!)

We were massively impressed by the sharpness of the lens across the frame. Our reviewer found that sharpness peaks between f/2.8 and f/4, making this a superb standalone portrait lens as well, with pin-sharp rendering and a flattering focal length. The effects of SA Control are most noticeable when shooting at larger apertures, and too much can create a phone-filter kind of look, but we found that a conservative application can pleasingly soften the skin for portraits. 

Our reviewer found the SA Control most useful for macro work to create an almost painterly, dreamlike look, both for stills and video. The fact that focus breathing is so well controlled is also a great advantage for videographers but also for macro photographers who use focus stacking to increase the depth of field. If you want to photograph close-ups of small things and large things alike, We're confident that you'll love this lens.

Read our full Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro review

The best budget zoom RF lenses

(Image credit: Future)
Budget zoom

Specifications

Autofocus: Pulse (stepping motor)
Stabilizer: 5-stop
Min focus distance: 0.2-0.34m
Max magnification: 0.21-0.4x
Filter thread: 67mm
Dimensions (WxL): 77x89mm
Weight: 395g

Reasons to buy

+
Compact, lightweight build
+
Center focus macro facility

Reasons to avoid

-
‘Slow’ aperture at long zoom settings
-
No separate focus and control rings

Especially well suited to the EOS RP, Canon’s RF 24-105mm takes downsizing to the extreme. It’s little more than half the weight of its more professional sibling, the RF 24-105mm f/4L, and much more compact. And 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 to help keep the size to a minimum, and 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. The lacklustre variable maximum aperture is limiting, and there's no weather sealing, but our lab results returned sound centre sharpness, and we think this enthusiast lens makes a good travel companion.

Read our full  Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM review

The best RF pro telephoto zoom

(Image credit: Future)
Pro telephoto zoom

Specifications

Autofocus: Dual Nano USM
Stabilizer: 5-stop
Min focus distance: 0.6m
Max magnification: 0.28x
Filter thread: 77mm
Dimensions (WxL): 90 x 146mm
Weight: 1070g

Reasons to buy

+
Super-fast autofocus
+
Triple-mode 5-stop stabilization

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy and expensive

Canon’s RF lenses are sometimes criticised for feeling big and heavy on mirrorless bodies, but this one is smaller and about two-thirds the weight of the last EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens for DSLRs. 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.

Like on the RF 100-500 at number 5, there are three switchable modes for stabilization, with an option that 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/4L IS USM review

How to choose the best Canon RF lenses

The best Canon RF lenses for you will depend very much on what type of photography you do, what focal lengths you tend to use and how much you're willing to spend. Logically, the best Canon RF lenses for image quality and sharpness tend to be L lenses, which can be hugely expensive. However, Canon does have some reasonably priced non-L lenses, which are great value and which we think do very well for certain types of photography, especially the primes.

If you're going to start with just one Canon RF lens, most people will be best going for a zoom since this offers some flexibility. A 24-70mm or 24-105mm is a popular choice. However, if you know that you're going to be building your collection gradually, you might want to bear in mind what your next lenses will be. In the guide above, we've highlighted what we think are the best RF lenses for different needs and situations.

(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Future)

Are RF lenses good for filmmaking?

All of the RF lenses we've included in this guide are solid options for video production, but Canon has also announced the launch of specialist RF cine lenses for serious filmmakers. Seven models will be released between February and May 2024, including the CN-R20mm T1.5 L F and CN-R24mm T1.5 L F. The lenses boast optical performance suitable for 8K productions and feature geared rings for use with third-party follow focus systems.

What's the difference between RF and RF-S lenses?

Both Canon RF lenses and RF-S lenses can be used with any Canon R mirrorless camera, but the two ranges are designed with different types of camera in mind. RF lenses, which we focus on in this guide, are designed for the full-frame cameras in Canon's R system range: the EOS R8, R6 (and R6 Mark II), R5, and R3. RF-S lenses are designed with APS-C cameras (the R100, R50, R10, and R7) in mind.

RF lenses have an image circle that covers a full-frame sensor, while the image circle in RF-S lenses covers the smaller APS-C format sensor. As a result, the final image’s field of view and recorded image resolution will be different depending on the type of lens. If you use an RF-S lens with a full-frame camera, the camera will automatically switch to crop mode. Conversely, if you use an RF lens on one of Canon's APS-C R system cameras, it will only use the centre part of the lens. 

In terms of price and weight, RF-S lenses are generally lighter and cheaper than full-frame equivalents (see our Canon RF-S 18-45mm and Canon RF-S 55-210mm reviews). 

Can you use Canon RF lenses on a Canon DSLR?

No, Canon RF lenses are not compatible with Canon EF-mount DSLRs, and there is no adapter available to make them compatible. However, the reverse is possible. You can use old EF lenses on Canon R system cameras if you use an EF-EOS-R adapter.

Can you buy third-party RF lenses?

Until now, there are relatively few third-party RF lenses available and the vast majority are manual focus. Canon has insisted that it is open to the idea of third-party RF-mount lenses and that it is in talks with several manufacturers, but so far it has been uninclined to allow manufacturers to use its RF lens mount standard, even taking legal action against those that do so without permission.

So far, there are no RF lenses from the likes of Sigma and Tamron, and the third-party lenses that exist tend to be quite specialist. We have included one third-party Canon RF lens from Laowa in our guide above. There are also  lenses available from Rokinon (Samyang) and 7 artisans, and cinema lenses from Sirui and Meike. There is also now the lightning-fast Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1 Aspherical RF-mount. Released in October 2023, this is the first third-party RF lens with officially sanctioned EXIF data.

What is the difference between L lenses and regular Canon RF lenses?

Like with the EF lenses for its DSLRs, Canon employs an 'L' in the names of certain lenses to denote higher quality build and internal optics. L-series lenses can be identified by the red ring around the lens barrel. Most of the longer lenses are white rather than black.

L lenses tend to have larger and higher-quality glass elements and superior lens coatings for sharper images with fewer distortions. They have full weather sealing, come with lens hoods and can also have better autofocus control and image stabilization. They also tend to have faster apertures than standard Canon RF lenses.

How we tested the best Canon RF lenses

Our team of writers has reviewed and tested all of the Canon RF lenses included in this guide by conducting both lab tests and by using them over an extended period in real-world conditions for different use cases. We find the combination of lab and real-world testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics.

Our lab tests are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the Imatest testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/picture height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. 

To choose the best Canon RF lenses to include in this guide, we considered our lab tests and hands-on reviews of each lens and also considered what each lens is useful for to provide recommendations for photographers with different needs. We've also considered value to recommend options for photographers who are working on different budgets. You can read more about how we test.

James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.

With contributions from