Adorama has stock of the brand new Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM for $599 and it's ready to ship.
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Key Features
- Dedicated, programmable Control Ring with click-stop operation
- Equivalent to approximately 38mm coverage when used on cameras with
- APS-C size image sensors
- Impressively compact and light at only 270g
- Circular (9 blades) aperture for beautiful, soft backgrounds
- Lens Format: APS-C, Full Frame
- Fixed Focal Length: Focal Length: 24mm
- Lens Type: Wide Angle Lens
- Image Stabilization: Image Stabilization: Yes (OIS)
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM $599
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I've seen Canon promo interviews where they seem to talk about it as lens for vloggng and YouTube type uses. If the focus works well, (unlike the 16mm which can't track focus well on moving subjects, okay for static talking head video) then it might be good for general video work. It would also work as a 38mm f/2.88 equivalent on the RF-S platform, but maybe a bit expensive for a crop sensor 35mm substitute.
Sorry, it is spoken in German, but the reviewer (member of stuff at my photo dealer) was close to euphoric.
I did a little sharpness comparison on the R5. Wide open (f/1.8 on the prime vs. f/2.8 on the zoom) the lenses are pretty similar regarding sharpness in the center. In the corners the new 24mm is a bit softer tough.
Stopped down to f5.6 the prime is noticeable sharper in the middle but still a tad softer in the corners again. Not soft in general, but a bit less detailed.
Overall I would say the 24mm is a good performer (especially compared to the 15-35mm which is an awesome lens), outresolving the L lens in the middle and being not too far off in the corners.
And yes, the lens has pretty severe barrel distortion but is of course automatically corrected in camera. Lightroom also already offers the lens profile.
Chromatic aberration is definitely present, especially LoCa. Quite similar to the RF 50mm f1.2 in that regard.
The bokeh is definitely nicer on the RF 24mm - if the RF 15-35mm f/2.8 has one weakness it‘s bokeh, especially trees and leaves that can look quite harsh. But the rendering of the 24mm is definitely softer there.
The Macro ability impressed me quite a bit. You can get fairly close (around 4cm to an object) and the sharpness holds up. Only problem here is the LoCa wide open, but it is greatly reduced, once stopped down.
The sunstars are nice and pointy when positioned at an edge, but have the "double-spike" effect similar to the Rf 35mm f/1.8. Flare is absolutely no issue, there is a bit of ghosting but nothing too distracting.
Lastly the IS works nice, giving similar results as the RF 15-35mm, which means for me that I can usually hand hold around 1s.
From my first test I think it‘s a very well rounded lens. Sharp, very good close up capabilities and nice bokeh. The only downsides are the corners that are not quite as sharp and a bit of LoCa. Hope that was useful for anyone interested in this lens.
How do you find the 24mm compared to the RF 24-105 f4 at 24mm?
From memory the wide end of the 24-105mm was definitely weaker than the long end, so you might see an image quality boost with the new 24mm prime. But that‘s only guesstimating. You probably want to wait for someone else to do a better comparison of those two lenses.
I attached a screenshot from Lightroom, where both images are at 100%. Unfortunately it is not quite the same frame.
The RF 100mm f2.8 Macro is on the left and the RF 24mm f1.8 is on the right. And yes, I didn't mix that up - the new 24mm seems quite a bit sharper to me. I double checked the shot of the 100mm, but couldn't find that I missed focus or anything. I am really impressed by these results.
The only downside of the 24mm for Macro is, that you are really close to your subject and might cast a shadow. I also had troubles positioning my tripod close enough.
I use the 100mm only for product photography where it‘s rare to get that close. In my books the 100mm is a very sharp lens overall.
But in this setup I was able to reproduce the sharpness advantage of the 24mm.
Either way, the 24mm f1.8 is definitely a good lens for macro!