5 lenses that get 8 stops of stabilization on the Canon EOS R5 and R6

5 lenses that give you 8 stops of IBIS on the Canon EOS R5 and R6
(Image credit: Canon)

With the launch of the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6, Canon has finally embraced the power of in-body image stabilization (IBIS) – which was previously perhaps the single biggest omission from the EOS R system. 

However, with the addition of five-axis IBIS to its two latest cameras, both the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 are capable of a remarkable eight stops of stabilization, depending on the lenses that are used.

The stabilization system in the R5 and R6 will work with Canon's RF, EF and EF-S lenses, regardless of whether they feature in-lens IS (aka Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer). It will also work with third-party lenses as well as "dumb" lenses with no electrical communication. 

That means that any lens you mount on the Canon EOS R5 or R6 – whether it's a Canon lens, a Sigma lens, a vintage lens, an expensive cine lens or a cheap manual focus lens – will benefit from a maximum 8 stops of stabilization. 

So which glass will give you this premium IBIS performance? So far there are five Canon RF lenses that deliver the full eight stops:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
LensLens IS onlyLens IS + in-body IS
RF 24-70mm f/2.8L5 stops8 stops
RF 24-105mm f/4L5 stops8 stops
RF 24-105mm f/4-7.15 stops8 stops
RF 28-70mm f/2LNone8 stops
RF 70-200mm f/2.8L5 stops8 stops

What's remarkable is that the system doesn't rely on sync-IS to achieve its top stabilization. Unlike Olympus, Panasonic and Fujifilm's IBIS, which synchronizes with the IS in specific lenses to produce their respective maximum stabilities, Canon's IBIS system can deliver eight stops even on the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM – a lens that has no stabilization at all. 

This is no doubt thanks to the enormous image circle and outstanding edge-to-edge sharpness featured by the lens, as detailed below. And it should be pointed out that eight stops is the new industry best – even outpacing Olympus, whose 7.5 stops of IBIS in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and E-M1X was the previous champion. 

The incredible IBIS doesn't stop there, though, as there are a further three lenses that deliver a still-amazing seven stops of stabilization: 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
LensLens IS onlyLens IS + in-body IS
RF 15-35mm f/2.8L5 stops7 stops
RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro5 stops7 stops
RF 50mm f/1.2LNone7 stops

Again, it's incredible that the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM – which doesn't possess any in-lens stabilization – immediately benefits from 7 stops of IBIS when mounted on the R5 and R6 bodies.

And that's not all! There are another two lenses that benefit from six or more stops of stability when used with the new bodies:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
LensLens IS onlyLens IS + in-body IS
RF 24-240mm f/4-6.35 stops6.5 stops
RF 100-500mm f/4.5-5.6L5 stops6 stops

So there are 10 RF lenses that benefit from between 6.5 and 8 stops of stabilization on the Canon EOS R5 and R6. What Canon has yet to clarify, however, is the base or minimum number of stops provided by this IBIS technology. 

Most 5-axis in-body image stabilization systems state 5 stops of stability, but Canon is being a little more measured at this point and explains that it is all down to the properties of individual lenses.

"What this is all about is the size of the image circle that the lens can project inside the camera," said David Parry, Product Intelligence Consultant at Canon UK. 

"So if the image circle is really big, if the image quality on it is really good edge-to-edge, you're allowing the sensor to move around a lot, which will give you the image stabilization. And obviously that will vary depending on focal lengths and all the rest of it as well."

That would explain how the 50mm f/1.2L and 28-70mm f/2L, two lenses with no stabilization but huge image circles, can achieve 8 stops of stabilization purely from  IBIS – a trick that no other manufacturer has yet mastered. 

So, while Canon may be late to the party when it comes to in-body image stabilization, it has spent that time finding new wrinkles to the tech that nobody else is capable of. Better fashionably late than never!

Read more: 

Canon EOS R5 review
Canon EOS R6 review
Best Canon RF lenses: the best lens for Canon EOS R5, R6, RP and Ra
Canon RF lens roadmap: current and future lenses for the Canon EOS R system

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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.