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

The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is an excellent everyday enthusiast lens – but is speed an issue?

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

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is a very capable lens, a real Swiss Army knife. Its expansive focal range is extremely versatile, and it's capable at everything from portraits to close-ups – and super close-ups, too, as its Center Focus Macro mode facilitates 0.5x shooting as near as 13cm. Could it be faster? Of course it could – but for $400 / £460, f/7.1 is still workable and produces some great results.

Pros

  • +

    Remarkably priced

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    Impressive sharpness

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    0.5x macro capability

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    5-stop optical IS

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    Incredibly small and light

Cons

  • -

    Only f/4 for 24mm wide setting

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    f/7.1 is limiting at 80mm and longer

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    Not weather sealed

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The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is a smaller, lighter and more affordable alternative to the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM – the "kit" lens that released with the Canon EOS R back in October 2018. 

The L-series version performed far better than its kit lens designation might suggest, and it remains a formidable all-purpose optic – in fact, it sits right at the top of our best Canon RF lenses guide. So where does the new non-L version come into play, and why? 

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James Artaius
Editor

James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.