Stock Notice: Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM $599

[Photonensammler]

The RF 100 is known to suffer from focus shift, and macro distance at f/8 with a flat subject is where that would be evident.

That is a good point, I redid my test, this time positioning my subject at an angle to reveal any shift in focus. I also focused the RF 100mm stopped down to f8 by holding the aperture preview button and moving the camera accordingly.
Again the 24mm is on the left, the 100mm on the right. While not being as extrem as in the first example, I would still consider the Rf 24mm to be a bit sharper.

It's funny how so many of the lower end lenses have IS now. Especially given some bodies have it and this particular lens is so wide. I have the Sigma Art 24 F/1.4. This looks appealingly light in comparison, but also a little boring.

I am glad it has IS, I find this gives it that little extra in hand-holdability. I went hiking yesterday and took the 24mm with me and after sunset I was able to hand hold the camera for 5s. The images are not perfectly sharp, but absolutely useable.
I also wished that Canon would've released a 24mm 1.4 or even better 1.2, since I'm a big fan of shooting wide but also shallow, but so far I'm happy with the performance of the 24mm 1.8 and it will be a good lens to entertain me until there is a faster option.
Here is an example image from yesterdays hike, shot with the 24mm, wide open at f1.8.

 

[EOS]

Brent Hall did an astrophotography test with this lens on his YT channel and found coma and CA to be fairly poor wide open.

I’ll keep waiting for the RF 24mm f/1.4 L.

 

[AJ]

First look at image quality at TDP

Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens Image Quality

View the image quality delivered by the Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens using ISO 12233 Resolution Chart lab test results. Compare the image quality of this lens with other lenses.

www.the-digital-picture.com

Compared to the new Sigma 24/1.4

Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens Image Quality

View the image quality delivered by the Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens using ISO 12233 Resolution Chart lab test results. Compare the image quality of this lens with other lenses.

www.the-digital-picture.com

 

[Frodo]

Brent Hall did an astrophotography test with this lens on his YT channel and found coma and CA to be fairly poor wide open.

I’ll keep waiting for the RF 24mm f/1.4 L.

Overall he was quite positive. He noted that the CA was easily removed, and that coma was acceptable at f/2.8 and very good at f/4.

 

[Frodo]

Overall he was quite positive. He noted that the CA was easily removed, and that coma was acceptable at f/2.8 and very good at f/4.

Alex Barrera wasn't so positive....

 

[AJ]

Alex Barrera wasn't so positive....

This guy seems surprised by the barrel distortion correction needed (he calls it pincushion). I don't think he has much experience with the RF system?

 

[Frodo]

Yeah "pincushion" was a clanger! He is quite experienced with the R system and has produced some useful comparison reviews, e g. Of the RF 35/1.8 and of the 85/1.8. However, his are not technical reviews, but he does make raw files available. I downloaded and processed the RF 24mm files, and the smearing in the corners appears worse than my RF 16/2.8.

 

[AJ]

Yeah "pincushion" was a clanger! He is quite experienced with the R system and has produced some useful comparison reviews, e g. Of the RF 35/1.8 and of the 85/1.8. However, his are not technical reviews, but he does make raw files available. I downloaded and processed the RF 24mm files, and the smearing in the corners appears worse than my RF 16/2.8.

Right. Here is a comparison of the 24/1.8 with the 16/2.8. Wide open they produce very similar IQ.

Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens Image Quality

View the image quality delivered by the Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens using ISO 12233 Resolution Chart lab test results. Compare the image quality of this lens with other lenses.

www.the-digital-picture.com

With the 24/1.8 stopped down to f/2.8 so that both lenses are at f/2.8, the 24/1.8 clearly stands out as the winner. The midframe and corners have more contrast and they are sharper.

Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens Image Quality

View the image quality delivered by the Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens using ISO 12233 Resolution Chart lab test results. Compare the image quality of this lens with other lenses.

www.the-digital-picture.com

With both lenses stopped down to f/8 or f/11 (as you would do for landscapes) the 24 keeps the edge over the 16.

 

[Frodo]

I use the 16mm for astrophotography so a wide aperture is important. I agree that TDP shows that the 24mm is superior. Brian processes using DPP, but I've found that I've found that processing with DXO PureRaw2 makes a substantial improvement. Stopping down to f/4 significantly reduces coma makes this into an acceptable lens. I tested two of these lenses in the shop and found one to be noticeably better than the other.
I can't comment personally on the 24mm as I don't have one.

 

[AJ]

I've been tempted to get the Sigma 28/1.4 for astro. At $449 it's a heckuva deal.

 

[stevelee]

The RF 100 is known to suffer from focus shift, and macro distance at f/8 with a flat subject is where that would be evident.

I have experienced nothing like that with my non-L EF 100mm macro that I can tell. Is the focus shift peculiar to that RF lens?

 

[neuroanatomist]

I have experienced nothing like that with my non-L EF 100mm macro that I can tell. Is the focus shift peculiar to that RF lens?

Yes.

 

[blackcoffee17]

Yeah "pincushion" was a clanger! He is quite experienced with the R system and has produced some useful comparison reviews, e g. Of the RF 35/1.8 and of the 85/1.8. However, his are not technical reviews, but he does make raw files available. I downloaded and processed the RF 24mm files, and the smearing in the corners appears worse than my RF 16/2.8.

Pincushion distortion is just the opposite of barrel distortion (the one in the video), it's a real thing.

 

[EOS 4 Life]

I've been tempted to get the Sigma 28/1.4 for astro. At $449 it's a heckuva deal.

That might be a temporary price reduction.

 

[EOS 4 Life]

Pincushion distortion is just the opposite of barrel distortion (the one in the video), it's a real thing.

He did not seem very confident about what it was called in the video, so I do not hold it against him that he used the wrong term.

 

[AJ]

That might be a temporary price reduction.

It is. This lens has been on sale periodically. Prices seem to get a little bit better each time it goes on sale.