EOS R owners get their first taste of a pancake lens: the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan)
Canon has just announced its first ever pancake lens for the EOS R system: the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM.
Weighing in at only 120g, and measuring just 24.7mm in length, the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is absolutely tiny for a full-frame lens – and indeed is the smallest Canon RF lens available. Given its tiny size and form factor, it is also a brilliant option for APS-C bodies like the newly launched Canon EOS R100 where it enjoys a 44.8mm equivalent focal length.
Sitting between the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro and the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro, the new 28mm f/2.8 is the latest in the manufacturer's lineup of compact, affordable enthusiast prime lenses.
It boasts a customizable ring, toggled via a switch on the side of the lens between either manual focus or control ring mode (the latter enabling you to change exposure parameters like ISO, aperture, shutter speed and so on).
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan)
The lens construction is fascinating. Its six groups comprise eight elements, three of them aspherical – and featuring what we believe are Canon's first ever "Seagull" elements, made using plastic-molded technology.
These non-circular, custom-shaped elements enabled the lens to be much smaller (and provided flexibility in where the stepping motor could be placed) and more affordable, and according to Canon they also produce superior corner sharpness.
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The seven-blade aperture delivers unobtrusive background blur, and speaking of unobtrusive the lens also features focus breathing control – ensuring that focus can be racked while shooting video, without causing focus disruption. Maximum magnification is 0.17x, with a close focusing distance of 0.23m, and the lens features a 55mm filter thread.
The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM goes on sale in June, priced at $299.99 / £344.99 / AU$549.
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 Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital 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.
