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Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Lens Review

After buying a camera, it's easy for creativity to ebb and flow as life takes over and you might lose creative momentum. That’s when exploring the world through a new lens can reignite your creative spark, and Canon’s latest full-frame zoom might be the perfect solution to a creative slump.

Our Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM lens review explores this compact zoom for EOS R mirrorless cameras, which not only improves on a basic kit lens but offers the potential to explore subjects in greater depth.

Hands-on video review

Gareth checks out the lens in his video review here.

Let’s dive in and find out what this zoom offers and how it differs from other Canon mirrorless lenses in the range.

When did the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 come out and how much is it?

The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Lens costs £1,249.99 and was released on 12 September 2024. It sits above kit lenses like the RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 IS STM (£429.00) and below higher-end models like the RF 24-105mm f/4 L (£1,389.00), which has a longer zoom range.

Next we explore why you might choose the 28-70mm f/2.8 over any of Canon’s other zoom lenses,  and what sets it apart.

Sample rainbow, taken with EOS R6 Mark II. Camera settings: 1/30 sec. f/5.6. ISO 400

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 Key Features

There are several key features which set the full-frame Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 lens apart from kit lenses. These include:

• Unique wide angle to short telephoto zoom range
• A constant wide maximum aperture throughout the zoom range
• Ideal for photo and video content
• Video features include focus breathing correction
• Great image quality thanks to special lens elements
• Powerful built-in optical stabilisation for steady shots at slower speeds
• Fast and quiet autofocus with an STM
• Customisable control ring
• Weighs only 490g

In addition to its unique zoom range, wide aperture, and image stabilisation, users benefit from fast, quiet autofocus for both stills and video, along with breathing correction resulting in smooth, natural-looking footage when pulling focus. These ensure that this zoom lens is as well suited to hybrid content as it is for pure photography.

How is the RF 28-70mm better than a kit lens?

The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 differentiates itself from a kit lens through a constant f/2.8 aperture, offering better low-light performance and the ability to create shallower depth of field. Additionally it offers better image stabilisation, and has several special optics to render higher image quality.

By comparison, the RF 24-50mm F/4.5-6.3 IS STM and RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 IS STM can help you capture great images and are excellent kit lenses to start your creative journey. However, you may outgrow these due to their slower (or narrower) apertures, which don’t provide as strong subject separation.

The f/2.8 aperture of the RF 28-70mm allows your subject to stand out against background distractions, drawing the viewer's eye to what's most important in the frame. Our guide to camera lenses gets into the nitty gritty of how lenses work with more information about aperture, focal lengths and much more.

Sample image of houses @70mm with Canon R5. Camera settings: 1/640 sec. f/2.8. ISO 1000

What is a 28-70mm lens good for?

Its lightweight design, focus breathing correction and quiet STM autofocus make it ideal for both stills and video, particularly for creators who need versatility without compromising on image quality. The zoom range and constant f/2.8 maximum aperture set it from other lenses in the range, and allows you to capture various subjects as diverse as:

• Landscapes
• Portraits
• Street photography
• Cityscapes
• Architecture and interiors
• Events, weddings and concerts
• Family and group photos
• Travel and everyday snapshots
• Video and vlogging

Although the wide end doesn’t reach 24mm like the RF 24-70mm F/2.8L IS, it saves over £1,000 in comparison. This makes it a viable option for beginners and enthusiasts who don’t require professional L-series quality or the extra wide-angle coverage.

Sample long exposure with car light trails  taken with EOS R6 Mark II at 58mm. Camera settings: 3.2 sec. f/14. ISO 100

What drives the Image Quality?

Canon has utilised two UD and two GMo aspherical lens elements, which enable the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Lens to achieve high image quality across the frame and throughout the zoom range. UD (ultra-low dispersion) lenses deliver significantly better performance than ordinary optical glass, and aspherical lens elements reduce the effects of wide angle distortion, and compensate for spherical aberrations.

This is technical jargon that translates into a high performing zoom lens, which offers incredible sharpness and reduces unwanted artefacts within the image, while keeping overall weight low.

Autofocus (AF) capabilities

Canon’s whisper-quiet STM motor delivers signature autofocus performance, providing quick and silent operation to ensure you can confidently capture any subject. Whether photographing people, pets, travel, or shooting video, the lens consistently achieves high-speed AF.

Sample dog portrait with Canon R5. Camera settings: 1/80 sec. f/2.8. ISO 320

Specs comparison

With three comparable zoom lenses available for EOS R creators, the table below highlights key specs to help you choose between them. The newer RF 28-70mm provides a significant leap up in quality with a faster constant aperture, special optics and a 9-bladed diaphragm.

Sample person, taken with EOS R8. Camera settings: 1/3200 sec. f/2.8. ISO 100

Best accessories

There are plenty of filters suitable for this lens such as the high-end Hoya 67mm Variable Density II Filter for long exposure photography and recording video in brighter conditions. The Hama 67mm Variable ND Filter is a more budget-friendly VND with +1 and +8 stops of exposure correction.

Other filters include the Hoya 67mm UX II UV Filter which can protect the front element from knocks and scratches as discussed in our recent post, which debates the pros and cons of a UV protection lens filter.

The PolarPro 67mm Shortstache Everyday Mist Light/PL Filter featured in our hands-on PolarPro Shortstache Everyday Filter Review and offers a dual filter in one, with polarisation and mist for video and stills.

The Canon RF 28-70mm lens is a worthy addition to the RF lineup. It offers a unique focal range, which is more cost-effective than a traditional 24-70mm f/2.8, but offer a significant step up in quality from everyday kit zoom lenses.

The wide aperture opens up at f/2.8 to gather lots of light in low light conditions, with smooth bokeh rendered by the 9-bladed opening. Image quality is very high thanks to special optics and a powerful image stabiliser, allowing you to shoot stills and movies handheld in a variety of conditions.

If you’re stuck in a creative rut, the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Lens might be just the solution you’ve been waiting for, offering new capabilities to experiment with and pushing you out of your comfort zone.

If you’ve got unwanted camera equipment and lenses why not take minute to get a free trade-in quote and find out how much you can save off the price of this RF zoom lens.

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By Nick Dautlich on 12/09/2024