Best RF-Mount Lenses for Canon EOS R3, R5 and R6 II Cameras

In September 2018, Canon introduced the Canon EOS R as its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a full-frame sensor and a new lens mount, called the RF-mount. Current camera models include the entry-level Canon EOS RP, the compact EOS R8, the mid-range EOS R6 II, the high-resolution EOS R5 (the first mirrorless camera to feature 8K video), and the action-oriented EOS R3. Furthermore, the RF-mount is used for professional video cameras such as the Canon EOS C70.

This page provides an overview of the growing catalog of full-frame RF lenses. These are mostly autofocus lenses, but selected manual focus lenses may also be included. RF-S lenses for cameras with a smaller APS-C sensor are listed separately.

For every lens, the following major characteristics are given:

  • Focal length.
  • Maximum aperture. It has a strong influence on the lighting conditions under which the lens can be used, and how shallow the depth of field can be. Fast lenses also tend to be much bigger, heavier, and more expensive. Green labels indicate fast lenses (> f/2), red labels indicate slow lenses (< f/4).
  • Filter size. It serves as a representative of the length, diameter and weight of the lens. Green labels indicate compact lenses (filter size < 60 mm), red labels indicate big lenses (> 70 mm).
  • Minimum focus distance (MFD). It has a major influence on the magnification that can be achieved, as well as the depth of field.
  • Another important point is of course the price, but it is different in every market and currency. Instead, links to independent reviews are given which will help you to find the best lens for your needs.

The color labels should not be interpreted in a way that a lens like the RF 35 mm f/1.8 Macro with two green labels is better than the RF 800 mm f/11 with two red labels. If the telephoto lens had the same speed as the macro lens, the diameter of its front element would be at least 444 mm instead of 95 mm, so it is actually a very compact lens. Color labels are therefore comparable for similar focal lengths only.

Note that additional designations such as IS, STM and USM that are not necessary to identify a lens are omitted. Manual focus lenses are marked by an asterisk (*), purely mechanical lenses with no digital coupling to the camera are marked by a double asterisk (**).

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length.

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with purposeful strong distortions.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
*Canon RF L Dual Fisheye 5.2 2.8     CL

1.2 Wide angle lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Samyang AF RF 14 2.8 n/a 0.20 OL
Canon RF 16 2.8 43 0.13 CL, OL
Canon RF 28 2.8 55 0.23 CL, OL

1.3 Standard lenses

Lenses with a focal length around the image sensor diagonal of 43 mm, delivering very natural looking images.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Canon RF L 50 1.2 77 0.40 CL, ML, OL
Canon RF 50 1.8 43 0.30 CL, OL

1.4 Telephoto lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Canon RF L 85 1.2 82 0.85 CL, DR, OL
Canon RF L DS 85 1.2 82 0.85  
Samyang AF RF 85 1.4 77    
Yongnuo YN R DF DSM 85 1.8      
Canon RF L 135 1.8 82 0.70  
Canon RF L 400 2.8 n/a 2.50 CL
Canon RF L 600 4 n/a 4.20 CL
Canon RF 600 11 82 4.50 CL
Canon RF L 800 5.6 n/a 2.60  
Canon RF 800 11 95 6.00 CL
Canon RF L 1200 8 n/a 4.30  

1.5 Macro lenses

Lenses with a small minimum focus distance and a high magnification.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Canon RF Macro 24 1.8 52 0.14 CL
Canon RF Macro 35 1.8 52 0.17 CL, DR, OL
Canon RF Macro 85 2 67 0.35 CL, OL
Canon RF L Macro 100 2.8 67 0.26 CL, OL

2 Zoom lenses

Lenses with a variable focal length.

2.1 Wide angle zoom lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Canon RF L 10-20 4 n/a 0.25 CL
Canon RF L 14-35 4 77 0.20 CL
Canon RF 15-30 4.5-6.3 67 0.13-0.28  
Canon RF L 15-35 2.8 82 0.28 CL, OL
Canon RF 24-50 4.5-6.3 58 0.30  

2.2 Standard zoom lenses

Zoom range from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Canon RF L 24-70 2.8 82 0.21-0.38 OL
Canon RF L Z 24-105 2.8 82 0.45 CL
Canon RF L 24-105 4 77 0.45 CL, OL
Canon RF 24-105 4-7.1 67 0.13-0.34 CL, OL
Canon RF L 28-70 2 95 0.39 CL, OL

2.3 Superzoom lenses

Like standard zooms, but with an approximately 10x zoom range.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Canon RF 24-240 4-6.3 72 0.50 CL, OL

2.4 Telephoto zoom lenses

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
    mm   mm m  
Canon RF L 70-200 2.8 77 0.70 CL, OL
Canon RF L 70-200 4 77 0.60 CL
Canon RF L 100-300 2.8 112 1.80 CL
Canon RF 100-400 5.6-8 67   CL
Canon RF L 100-500 4.5-7.1 77 0.90-1.20 CL, OL
Canon RF 200-800 6.3-9 95 0.80-1.80 CL

3 Teleconverters

Teleconverters extend the focal length of matching telephoto lenses by a certain factor.

lens   focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
Canon RF 1.4x n/a n/a n/a  
Canon RF 2x n/a n/a n/a  

References

The linked reviews are by CameraLabs (CL), DPReview (DP), LensTip (LT), MirrorLessons (ML) and OpticalLimits (OL). LT and OL focus on laboratory testing, CL, DP and ML on real world photography. Links in brackets refer to tests of earlier models.