Canon RF 24mm 1.8 Macro IS STM

Canon’s RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM is a compact, light and well-featured wide-angle lens for the EOS R mirrorless system that’s capable of decent results from distant landscapes to close details. It’s fairly sharp into the corners, can deliver nice shallow depth-of-field effects, and while not a true 1:1 macro lens, the ability to achieve 50% magnification will be close-enough for most. The addition of optical stabilisation and an AF / MF switch also rank it above Canon’s cheapest models. As a non-L lens from Canon, it’s not surprising not to have weather sealing or a hood as standard, but it’s still disappointing, especially given the price. As such it lacks the no-brainer low-pricing of the 16 and 50 STM, while also being beaten by the 35 STM on price and quality too. So if you’re flexible on focal length and simply want to add a general-purpose prime to your collection, there are cheaper options, and again the RF 35 1.8 is a little better-corrected to start with. But if you want a 24mm prime in the native RF mount, it’s literally the only game in town - at least at the time I made this review. Ultimately while it’s neither their sharpest nor most affordable lens, the RF 24 1.8 remains a solid option for both stills and video.