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A Complete Guide to Canon RF Lenses and Their Specifications

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canon rf lens

The RF lens mount was developed by Canon and launched in 2018, alongside the EOS R mirrorless camera system to replace the EF mount. The shorter flange distance of the RF mount means that Canon RF lenses can only be used on Canon’s mirrorless EOS R cameras; they are not backward compatible with DSLR cameras using the older EF mount.

While Canon initially continued to develop several more EF mount DSLRs after the launch of the RF mount, they stated publicly at the beginning of 2020 that there would be no more Canon EF lenses for DSLRs. Since then, the Canon RF lens range has expanded rapidly. In this guide, you’ll find detailed specifications of every Canon RF lens and a release date timeline.

Canon RF Lens Terminology Key

Below is a very brief overview of the most common acronyms and abbreviations found within the names of Canon RF lenses. For a more detailed explanation of these and other Canon lens terminology, such as lens coatings and focus motor designs, please take a look at our in-depth Canon lens terminology guide.

  • RF – The letters RF designate the lens as designed for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless system using the RF mount. (Canon’s DSLRs used the EF Mount)
  • L – Canon’s L-Series lenses, or Luxury lenses, feature their highest level of optical performance and pro-level weather sealing and construction.
  • IS – The lens is equipped with Image Stabilization gyros which dampen vibration and camera movement to deliver a sharper image.
  • STM – These lenses feature Canon’s Stepper Motor technology, designed for smoother and near-quiet focussing during video recording.
  • VR – Stereoscopic lenses designed for virtual reality productions, and compatible with Canon’s EOS VR Utility software.
  • DS – Lenses with Canon’s Defocus Smoothing technology deliver smoother out-of-focus background blur.
  • SA Control – Featured in the RF 100mm macro lens, Spherical Aberration Control allows you to control the shape and characteristics of foreground and background bokeh.

Canon RF Lens Annual Release Rate

How many new RF lenses does Canon launch every year? The number is variable, but the chart below will give you some historical context and show the split between full-frame RF lenses and APS-C RF-S lenses.

Canon RF Lens Release Dates in Order

Many people are interested in the latest and greatest Canon products, so it can be helpful to see a simple chronological list of Canon RF lenses. The new Canon RF lenses are at the top.

#Lens ModelRelease Date (MM/DD/YY)
2023
33RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L (read commentary)04/20/23
32RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM02/08/23
32RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM02/08/23
2022
31RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS11/02/22
30RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM07/12/22
29RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM07/12/22
28RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM05/24/22
27RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM05/24/22
26RF 800mm f/5.6 L IS – (weird lens – read commentary)02/24/22
25RF 1200mm f/8 L IS – (see above)02/24/22
2021
24RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR Lens10/05/2021
23RF 16mm f/2.8 STM09/14/2021
22RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 09/14/2021
21RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS06/29/2021
20RF 100mm f/2.8 L IS Macro04/14/2021
19RF 400mm f/2.8 L IS04/14/2021
18RF 600mm f/2.8 L IS04/14/2021
2020
17RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM04/10/2020
16RF 50mm f/1.8 STM04/10/2020
15RF 600mm f/11 IS STM07/09/2020
14RF 800mm f/11 IS STM07/09/2020
13RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM07/09/2020
N/ARF 1.4x Extender07/09/2020
N/ARF 2x Extender07/09/2020
12RF 24-105mm f/4-7.102/12/2020
11RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS07/09/2020
2019
10RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM10/24/2019
9RF 85mm f/1.2 USM DS10/24/2019
8RF 15-35mm F/2.8 L IS USM08/28/2019
7RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM08/28/2019
6RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM08/28/2019
5RF 85mm f/1.2 USM05/08/2019
2018
4RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM09/05/2018
3RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM09/05/2018
2RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM09/05/2018
1RF 24-105mm f/4 L USM09/05/2018

Canon RF Lens Specifications

By default, lenses in the table are sorted by their widest focal length, placing wide-angle lenses at the top and super-telephoto lenses at the bottom.

  • Use the filters to narrow down lenses shown in the table.
  • Use the horizontal scroll bar below the table to reveal more specifications.
  • Mobile users can press the + button to expand lens details.

Canon RF Lens Price Guide

Canon RF Zoom Lenses

Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Price Check:

Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L USM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


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

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Price Check:

Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STMAmazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM


Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS Price Check:

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L ISAmazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS

This is an interesting lens that deserves some additional commentary. Read my thoughts on the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS.

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS Price Check:

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L ISAmazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF Prime Lenses

Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR Lens

Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye Price Check:

Amazon B&H Adorama Lensrentals WEX (UK) digiDirect (AUS)

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 24mm F/1.8 Macro IS STM

Canon RF 24mm F/1.8 Macro IS STM Price Check:

Canon RF 24mm F/1.8 Macro IS STM – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 USM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 USM DS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L IS Macro

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS

Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS Price Check:

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 400mm f/2.8 L IS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 800mm f/5.6 L IS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 1200mm f/8 L IS

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF Extenders

Canon RF 1.4x Extender

Canon RF 1.4x ExtenderAmazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF 2x Extender

Canon RF 2.0x ExtenderAmazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF-S Zoom Lenses

Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3

Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 Price Check:

Canon – Amazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM

Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM Price Check:

Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STMAmazon / B&H / Adorama / Lensrentals / WEX (UK) / digiDirect (AUS) / Camera Canada


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Professional photographer based in Yukon, Canada, and founder of Shutter Muse. His editorial work has been featured in publications all over the world, and his commercial clients include brands such as Nike, Apple, Adobe and Red Bull.

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11 thoughts on “A Complete Guide to Canon RF Lenses and Their Specifications”

  1. Thanks Dan – great start! However, the column sorts don’t work well. Click focal length and it sorts 100mm before 24mm. Ditto with weight (the weights are a mix of pounds and ounces that become a mishmash – best to sort by grams and show all in lbs?)

    Reply
    • Thanks for the feedback Chris. I think the zoom focal lengths are really throwing the sorting off something crazy. I’ll have to try and find some time to figure this out.

      Reply
  2. Dan, this is a great resource! Just one blip I noticed: the length and diameter of the RF 600mm f/4 L IS are shift a column to the right (so the weight is covered by the diameter.)

    Sadly, this lens is far out of my hobby budget. Oh, well.

    Thanks!

    Reply

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