Canon's APS-C RF cameras were crying out for an ultra-wide lens – and now they have one! Meet the new RF-S 10-18mm
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
We've been whining for a while that there aren't any ultra-wide lenses available for Canon's APS-C line of RF cameras, but we can stop complaining now – the Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM has just been announced.
Announced next to a pair of jaw-dropping lenses – the world-first super-telephoto zoom Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM and the truly astounding Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z – the RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM brings a much-needed wide-angle perspective to users of Canon's APS-C range of RF-mount cameras.
While it's sure to draw comparisons with the old DSLR iteration, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6, the new RF-S 10-18mm version is better in every way. This comes, most importantly, in terms of image quality, where edge sharpness in particular has been improved thanks to the pair of larger elements situated to the back of the lens (thanks to the shorter flange distance and larger throat of the RF mount), significantly improving detail.
(Image credit: Canon)
The RF-S lens is also smaller and lighter than the EF-S version, at just 44.9mm in length and only 150g in weight (compared to the 72mm and 240g of its predecessor). It also eclipses the old DSLR version in terms of magnification (0.5x instead of 0.15x) and, while the optical image stabilization offers the same 4 stops of compensation, when mounted on a camera with in-body image stabilization it offers up to 6 stops.
Unlike the recently announced Canon RF 10-20mm f/4L IS STM lens for full frame cameras, the RF-S 10-18mm does not feature the new Peripheral Correction IS system (which uses an algorithm to detect movement and reduce the Jell-O-like wobble at the edges of frame when shooting at extreme wide-angles).
I'm impressed at how rapidly Canon has populated the lens ecosystem for its APS-C RF range. This is now the fourth RF-S lens in the lineup (alongside the Canon RF-S 18-45mm, RF-S 18-150mm and RF-S 55-210mm) and it gives me confidence that Canon is committed to APS-C when it comes to its new mirrorless system.
The Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM goes on sale in December with a retail price of $329.99 / £379.99 / AU$599.99. Check out our hands-on Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM review to read our verdict.
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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.
