Canon 24mm f/1.8
RF IS STM: $599!
Fast, Ultralight Wide Macro
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
R3 R5 R5C R6 II R6 R R8 RP R7 R10 R50 R100
Bodies Compared RF Lenses EF Lenses
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM (52mm filters, 9.2 oz./261g, 0.46'/5½″/0.14 meters close-focus, 0.5× macro ratio, $599). bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
November 2022 Better Pictures Canon Reviews Mirrorless RF Lenses EF Lenses Flash All Reviews
Sample Images top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
These are just snapshots; my real work is in my Gallery.
More samples throughout this review at Bokeh, Falloff, Macro, Spherochromatism and Sunstars.
These are all shot hand-held as NORMAL (stairstep icon) JPGs; no tripods, FINE (quarter circle) JPGs or RAW CR3 files were used or needed.
Smirking Ferrari, 10:06 AM, Saturday, 29 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at f/5.6 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 13.0), as shot. bigger.
Cactus, 10:28 AM, Saturday, 29 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at f/7.1 at 1/400 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.2), as shot. bigger or camera-original © 20 MP, 6 MB JPG file.
Underpass, 11:04 AM, Saturday, 29 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at f/2.5 at 1/60 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 8.6), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), split-toned print. bigger.
Halloween, 8:37 PM, Monday, 31 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM wide-open at f/1.8 hand-held at 1/10 of a second at Auto ISO 3,200 (LV 0.0), as shot. bigger or camera-original © 20 MP, 4 MB JPG file.
It's 2022. We don't need tripods anymore.
Introduction top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This is a great fast, fixed wide lens that's super-sharp and whose stabilization lets us shoot hand-held in any light.
While this lens' macro performance is excellent, don't buy it for serious macro use because its short focal length means you have to get so close to the subject that you block your own light!
I measure only 1½″ (38mm) between the filter threads and the subject at 0.5×. The macro feature is for freedom in being able to shoot as close as you like rather than for serious macro work, unless you want both a wide-angle perspective and use on-lens lighting.
I got my RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
New intro top
World's first ultralight, low-priced 24mm f/1.8 full-frame lens.
1:1.9 (0.52×) macro ratio in manual focus.
Good intro top
Ultra sharp corner-to-corner, especially wide-open.
Programmable control ring (programmable to be focus or other functions).
Very close focus: 0.46 feet (5½″ or 0.14 meters).
Exceptional macro ratio: 1:1.9 (0.52×) — but it's so close you're almost inside the front of the lens!
Stops down to f/22.
AF/MF switch.
Image Stabilization rated 5 stops improvement; 6½ stops on R5, R6 and R7. (actual real-world performance is 3½ stops on a stabilized camera.)
Image Stabilization switch.
100% U.S.A.-based high-quality technical support at (800) OK-CANON.
Bad intro top
Nothing, other than not being free.
Missing intro top
Like all mirrorless systems other than Nikon's; there is no always-active manual-focus override except if you set it for some modes in your camera's menu system.
No fluorine coatings to resist dirt and smudges, but so what; I use a protective filter.
No case included. So?
No hood included. So? It doesn't need one.
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
Compatibility top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This lens only works on Canon's EOS-R series of mirrorless cameras.
It will not even mount on any other camera.
Specifications top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Name specifications top
Canon calls this the Canon Lens RF24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM:
RF: Works only on Canon's EOS-R Mirrorless cameras.
MACRO: Focuses to half life-size.
IS: Image Stabilization.
STM: STepper (autofocus) Motor.
Optics specifications top
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 internal optical construction. UD and Aspherical elements. IS section.
11 elements in 9 groups.
1 UD extra-low dispersion element which helps reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.
1 Aspherical element.
Front-section focussing. Most of the lens moves in and out from the barrel as focused while the rear element stays put.
The front section moves out about 15mm as focused to 0.5×.
Diaphragm specifications top
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
9 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/22.
Filters specifications top
52mm filter thread, plastic.
Coverage specifications top
Full-Frame (24 × 36mm) and APS-C (15 x 23mm).
Angles of View specifications top
84.0º diagonal on full frame.
74.0º horizontal on full frame.
53.0º vertical on full frame.
Autofocus specifications top
STM.
Front-section focussing. Most of the lens moves in and out from the barrel as focused while the rear element does not move.
Focus Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but both focussed distance and reproduction ratio are displayed in finder in manual focus mode.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
You have to focus somehow to get precise focus at infinity, just like at every other distance.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus (distance from subject to image plane) specifications top
0.46 feet.
5½ inches.
0.14 meters (14 cm).
Working Distance (distance from subject to front of lens at close-focus distance) specifications top
1½″ (38mm), actual measured distance between filter threads and the subject at 0.5×.
Maximum Reproduction Ratios specifications top
1:2 (0.5×).
Reproduction Ratio Scale specifications top
Not on lens, but both focussed distance and reproduction ratio are displayed in finder in manual focus mode.
Image Stabilizer specifications top
Rated 5 stops improvement.
Rated 6½ stops improvement on R5, R6 and R7.
Actual real-world performance is 3½ stops on a stabilized camera.
Caps specifications top
Canon 52mm front cap and Rear Lens Dust Cap RF (p/n 2962C001) included.
Hood specifications top
Optional EW-65B hood.
Perfectly good knock-off EW-65B hoods are made by Vello at B&H and by JJC at Amazon.
Case specifications top
Optional LP-1016 sack.
Size specifications top
2.93" ø maximum diameter × 2.48" extension from flange at infinity (gets about 15mm longer at 0.5×).
74.4 mm ø maximum diameter × 63.1 mm extension from flange at infinity (gets about 15mm longer at 0.5×).
Weight specifications top
9.225 oz. (261.4 g) actual measured weight
Rated 9.52 oz. (270 g).
Quality specifications top
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
Made in Taiwan.
Announced specifications top
11 July 2022.
Included specifications top
Rear Lens Dust Cap RF (p/n 2962C001).
Canon's Model Numbers specifications top
Product code: 5668C002 (5668C001 in Japan).
Model number: RF2418MISSTM.
JAN code: 4549292-207309.
Packaging specifications top
Glossy black corrugated cardboard box.
Lens wrapped in bubble wrap.
Instruction sheet and USA warranty card dropped on top of the bubble wrap.
Box, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
Box, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
October-November 2022
$599 at B&H, at Adorama, at Amazon and at Crutchfield.
Getting a Legal U. S. A. Version top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This section applies in the U. S. A. only.
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM USA Warranty Cards. bigger.
Your lens must include a U. S. A. warranty card like the one shown above from Canon U.S.A., Inc. It should be on top inside your box as you open it. The serial number on the card must match the serial number on the bottom of your lens.
If not, you got ripped off with a gray market version from another country. This is why I never buy anyplace other than from my personally approved sources. You just can't take the chance of buying elsewhere, especially at any retail store, because non-U. S. A. versions have no warranty in the U. S. A., and you probably won't be able to get firmware or service for it — even if you're willing to pay out-of-pocket for it when you need it!
Shifty dealers may include color copies of a card from a legitimate U. S. A. lens in a gray-market box, hoping you won't check serial numbers and catch their fraud. A card with the wrong serial number means nothing other than that you have no warranty coverage.
The serial number on the box doesn't have to match, but it should. It will be hidden someplace on the sticker with all the bar codes. If not, it means a shady dealer took things out of boxes and was too sloppy to put them back correctly — and it means you got a used lens if anyone other than you took it out of the box.
If a gray market version saves you $250 the risk might be worth it, but for $100 or less I wouldn't risk having no warranty or support.
Always be sure to check yours while you can still return it, or just don't buy from unapproved sources or at retail so you'll be able to have your camera serviced and get free updated firmware as needed. Get yours from the same places I do and you won't have a problem.
Performance top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing
Distance Recording Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics
Falloff Filters Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes
Lens Corrections Macro Mechanics Sharpness
Spherochromatism Stabilization
I got my RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
The Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM is optically superb, super light and compact, and costs nearly nothing. Get one!
Autofocus performance top
Autofocus is swell; focus speed is never a problem with wide lenses.
It makes a fast hum as it motors in and out.
Manual Focus performance top
Manual focusing is entirely electronic; the manual focus ring isn't connected to anything other than a digital encoder.
How to get manual-focus override.
Focus Breathing performance top
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The image from this mostly-unit-focussed lens gets larger as focussed more closely.
Focus Distance Recording performance top
The focused distance is recorded in the EXIF data.
I read this in the lower left of my screen in Photoshop's lens correction filter.
Bokeh performance top
Bokeh, the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is iffy. It's not so great wide-open at f/1.8, and becomes neutral as stopped down.
As a wide lens nothing ever gets that far out of focus. If you want out-of-focus backgrounds, any longer lens like the much less expensive RF 50mm f/1.8 is far superior. Simple physics make wide lenses have much more in focus.
Here are photos from headshot distance wide-open. I'm focused on the DAVIS logo. Click either for the © camera-original file:
Made-in-U. S. A. Davis 6250 weather station, 31 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at f/1.8 at 1/8,000, +0.7 stops exposure compensation, Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.6). bigger or camera-original © file.
Made-in-U. S. A. Davis 6250 weather station, 31 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STMat f/2.8 at 1/3,200, +0.7 stops exposure compensation, Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.6). bigger or camera-original © file.
Made-in-U. S. A. Davis 6250 weather station, 31 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at f/4 at 1/1,600, +0.7 stops exposure compensation, Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.6). bigger or camera-original © file.
Made-in-U. S. A. Davis 6250 weather station, 31 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STMat f/5.6 at 1/800, +0.7 stops exposure compensation, Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.6). bigger or camera-original © file.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/1.8 and get as close as possible.
Distortion performance top
The RF 24mm f/1.8 has no visible distortion as shot on EOS R cameras, which correct for it automatically.
At least on my EOS R6, Distortion Correction is always ON and cannot be turned off.
With this correction active, there is no visible distortion.
For more critical scientific use, you might want to use a correction factor of +0.07 in Photoshop's lens correction filter to JPG images, or just not bother as there is so little distortion.
These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.
While Canon's own software probably also corrects this from RAW CR3 files, be warned that other brands of raw processing software probably won't correct the distortion, and Heaven only knows what distortion you may see in raw files.
Ergonomics performance top
Ergonomics are great; everything is where you want it.
It has Stabilizer and AF/MF switches right under your thumb where you want them.
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RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger. |
RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger. |
You can select other functions for the front ring like Aperture or Exposure Compensation in your camera's menu system with the switch set to CONTROL.
You can pay Canon's service department to remove the very mild clicks from the front ring.
The bigger rubber-covered rear ring is an electronic focus ring. Manual focusing is entirely electronic; the manual focus ring isn't connected to anything other than a digital encoder.
How to get manual-focus override.
Falloff performance top
With Peripheral Illumination Correction left at its default of ON, falloff is invisible.
I've greatly exaggerated the falloff by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background; it will not look this bad in actual photos of real things:
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM falloff on full-frame at infinity, correction at its default of ON:
© 2022 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
If you're silly enough to turn off the peripheral illumination correction and then go looking for it, you'll see some.
Shooting gray targets emphasizes falloff. Sometimes I use this for deliberate artistic effect:
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM falloff on full-frame at infinity, correction OFF:
© 2022 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
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Filters, use with performance top
There's no need for special thin filters on full frame. I can stack two regular filters without vignetting.
Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters.
Be careful with polarizers because the sky's natural polarization can appear as a dark band.
Flare & Ghosts performance top
No problem here so long as you take off any filters. A filter will add more ghosts.
See examples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes performance top
There are no color fringes when shot as JPG with the default Chromatic Aberration Correction (inside the Digital Lens Optimizer) left ON.
If you go out of your way to turn this OFF (or shoot raw and then use non-manufacturer software to process that data into images) then there can be the tiniest bit of green-magenta fringes at the corners. I doubt anyone would ever see them except under laboratory conditions.
Lens Corrections performance top
Other cameras may vary as the years roll on, but my EOS R3, EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS RP all have options to correct for falloff (Peripheral Illumination Correction), Distortion and a Digital Lens Optimizer which correct for a suite of other aberrations. The EOS R has this, too; I just don't have one handy to check the specifics with this lens.
Falloff, Distortion and the Digital Lens Optimizer are ON by default.
Distortion correction can't be turned OFF; it's always ON.
If you turn off the Digital Lens Optimizer, you are then offered à la carte ON/OFF options for Chromatic Aberration Correction and Diffraction Correction — at least on my EOS R3, EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS RP.
Macro Performance performance top
While this lens' macro performance is technically excellent, don't buy it for macro use because its short focal length means you have to get so close to the subject that you block the light! Technically it's excellent, but practically its almost useless.
Its macro abilities mean that close-focus will never be a limiting factor to what you can shoot; anything on which you can get light, you can shoot; just don't get this expecting to use it for macro.
I measure only 1½″ (38mm) between the filter threads and the subject at 0.5× as shown below. I had to work really hard to align everything to get light on my subject with this little clearance. The macro feature is more for freedom in being able to shoot as close as you like than for serious macro work unless you want both a wide-angle perspective and use on-lens lighting.
It gets close and is very sharp even wide-open, but it's very tough to get any light on the subject:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance wide-open at f/1.8, 31 October 2022. Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at f/1.8 at 1/2,000 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 12.6). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (4.56× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
The texture you're seeing is on the watch face. There is very little in focus due to the nonexistent depth-of-field this close with any lens. What seems soft here is simply out of focus; I was hand-holding everything.
The color fringes are spherochromatism only in out-of-focus areas.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 9¼ × 14" (25 × 35 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 18½ × 28" (50 × 70 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37 × 56" (1 × 1.4 meters) at this same magnification.
Mechanical Quality performance top
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
This is a well-crafted, mostly-plastic lens with a metal mount.
Finish
Black plastic.
Front Bumper
None.
Filter Threads
Plastic.
Hood Bayonet Mount
Plastic.
Front Barrel
Plastic.
Front Function Ring
Plastic.
Focus Ring
Rubber-covered plastic.
Rear Barrel Exterior
Plastic.
Slide Switches
Plastic.
Identity
Printed around front of lens on a ring bebehind the filter threads, also "24" printed on top of barrel.
Internals
Seem like mostly plastic.
Dust Gasket at Mount
No.
Mount
Chromed metal.
Markings
Paint.
Serial Number
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
Laser engraved in black-on-black on bottom of barrel.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Very mild clicking.
Made in
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
Made in Taiwan (marked on top of rear light shield above).
Sharpness performance top
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/11 or smaller(as I did above) where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 100 or below because cameras become softer at ISO 200 and above, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it (I set mine to the maximum) and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/16 or smaller at ISO 1,600 or above at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.
People worry waaaaay too much about sharpness. It's not 1968 anymore when lenses often weren't that sharp and there could be significant differences among them; today they are all pretty much equally fantastic.
This Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM is super sharp edge-to-edge and corner-to-corner, as we expect in 2022. The biggest defect is the simple physics of diffraction that softens all lenses at the smallest apertures, and there can be just a slight loss of contrast in the corners at the largest apertures, but I only see this in the lab. In actual photos, it's ultrasharp hand-held at f/1.8 at night.
It's so much better than decades-old lenses like the Nikon 24mm f/2 AI-s (1977-2007) that was revered by photojournalists for its ability to give wide, hand-holdable images in very dim light, but by today's standards is downright blurry and dark in the corners at f/2. This Canon RF 24/1.8 is much sharper wide open, and adds stabilization and the corners don't go dark. Bravo!
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MTF at f/4 at 10 cyc/mm (black) and 30 cyc/mm (blue). Sagittal (solid) and meridional (dashed).
Spherochromatism performance top
Spherochromatism, also called secondary spherical chromatic aberration or "color bokeh," is an advanced form of spherical and chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral chromatic aberration. It happens mostly in fast normal and tele lenses when spherical aberration at the ends of the color spectrum are corrected differently than in the middle of the spectrum. Spherochromatism can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
It has plenty of spherochromatism at 0.5× wide-open at f/1.8, but you're only going to see it in the tiniest regions of defocus:
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at 0.5× at f/1.8, 31 October 2022. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (4.56× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 9¼ × 14" (25 × 35 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 18½ × 28" (50 × 70 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37 × 56" (1 × 1.4 meters) at this same magnification.
Spherochromatism goes away as stopped down, or at longer distances as seen below. Overall you really have to go out of your way to see much in the way of spherochromatism:
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at about 0.2x (0.22m) at f/1.8, 31 October 2022. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (4.56× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 9¼ × 14" (25 × 35 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 18½ × 28" (50 × 70 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37 × 56" (1 × 1.4 meters) at this same magnification.
Image Stabilization performance top
This lens has its own internal Optical Image Stabilization (OIS or IS) and also works with in-camera stabilization.
Stabilization is great for a wide lens, giving me 3½ stops of real-world improvement and letting me get perfectly sharp shots almost all of the time at 1/8 of a second hand-held on my stabilized Canon EOS R6.
"Percent Perfectly Sharp Shots" are the percentage of frames with 100% perfect tripod-equivalent sharpness I get when I'm shooting hand-held while free-standing with no support or bracing. Hand tremor is a random occurrence, so at marginal speeds some frames will be perfectly sharp while others will be in various stages of blur — all at the same shutter speed. This rates what percentage of shots are perfectly sharp, not how sharp are all the frames:
On my stabilized EOS R6
| % Perfectly Sharp Shots | 2s |
1s |
1/2 |
1/4 |
1/8 |
1/15 |
1/30 |
1/60 |
1/125 |
| Stabilization ON | 0 |
0 |
29 |
50 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| Stabilization OFF | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
100 |
100 |
I see about a 3½ stop real-world improvement on my stabilized Canon EOS R6, which lets me get perfectly sharp shots half of the time at 1 full second.
This is for perfect sharpness as seen at 300% on an 80 DPI monitor. For most uses you can shoot at much slower speeds and still get great results.
Sunstars performance top
With a 9-bladed rounded diaphragm, I get superb 18-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light at the smallest apertures.
Click any to enlarge:
Canary Palm, 31 October 2022. Click any to enlarge.
This is with no filter. A filter will add some ghosts.
Weather Sealing performance top
This lens claims no weather sealing. Neither does any LEICA M lens, nor did anything other than dedicated underwater cameras claim this up until a few years ago. "Weather sealing" is mostly a marketing feature to get you to pay more for more expensive lenses.
I've shot my RF 24mm f/1.8 in moderate rain, and it works fine. If it really starts to rain I work under an umbrella. If a few drops of rain hit my lens, no big deal: i just wipe it off.
People worry way too much about this ever since camera companies started FUD campaigns to make us think that our gear will melt unless it has weather sealing. How do you think we shot in the rain for the first 190 years of photography?
User's Guide top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM. bigger.
Don't push the front of the lens with a camera ON, even though it's not that difficult to push or pull in and out.
It will push-in, and then the focus servo system will try to motor it back out where it belongs so long as the camera is ON. So long as the camera is ON, no matter what you do, the focus system is going to fight you and keep moving the lens in and out where it wants it. You won't damage anything, but do this long enough and you just might.
AF-MF Switch user's guide top
AF: Auto Focus, with instant manual focus override in ONE SHOT if set.
MF: Manual Focus only.
STABILIZER Switch user's guide top
Leave it ON unless you're on a very sturdy tripod, or if you're making exposures longer than a second on any kind of tripod.
It controls both the in-lens optical stabilization and any in-camera stabilization at the same time; there is no way to use just one system at a time in cameras with built-in stabilization. You either get both systems working together, or none.
Manual-Focus Override user's guide top
By default, there is no always-responsive instant manual-focus override as we take for granted in our DSLRs.
EOS R cameras need a menu setting changed for manual-focus override, otherwise the focus ring is always ignored in AF.
Find the "Lens electronic AF" option in your AF menu (AF 6 in R7 and R10, AF 4 in EOS R5 and EOS R6 or CAMERA 8 in EOS RP), and set it to either "One‑Shot‑> enabled" or "One‑Shot‑> enabled (magnify)."
Canon should have it set this way by default, but they don't. No big deal now that I figured it out.
In ONE SHOT mode manual focus now takes over and stays wherever you set the focus manually, however in SERVO mode this setting lets the lens focus manually as you turn the ring, but as soon as you stop turning the ring the AF system takes back over and keeps tracking focus! Oh well.
Recommendations top
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Compatibility Specifications USA Version
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
This is a great fast, fixed wide lens that's super-sharp and whose stabilization lets us shoot hand-held in any light. While a poor choice for serious macro use simply because of its short focal length and lack of working distance (see Best Macro Lenses), the macro feature means that the lens never gets in the way of framing our shot, letting us focus to within an inch and half (38mm) of the front of the lens.
I got my RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap (exactly like an iPhone) so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The very best protective filter is the Multicoated Hoya HD3 52mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints. It's expensive, but it will last forever long after this lens is gone.
For less money, the classic Nikon 52mm NC is superb, as are the multicoated B＋W and multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt. I still use my classic Nikon 52mm L37c (multicoated 370 nanometer UV) filters because I bought them back in the 1980s when they were the best, and they never wear out.
If I was working in nasty, dirty areas, I'd use an uncoated 52mm Tiffen UV filter instead. Uncoated filters are much easier to clean, but more prone to ghosting.
All these filters are just as sharp and take the same pictures, the difference is how much abuse they'll take and stay clean and stay in one piece. Since filters last a lifetime or more, there's no reason not to buy the best as it will last you for the next 40 years. Filters aren't throwaways like digital cameras which we replace every few years, like it or not. I'm still using filters I bought back in the 1970s!
I got my RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken.
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