Canon RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 IS STM

This Canon RF zoom covers 24–105mm on full-frame cameras. Canon introduced it in 2020. The range suits travel, family days and everyday photography that moves between streets, people and building details. You can change framing without changing lenses as a scene develops.

Its main trade-off is light gathering. The maximum aperture narrows from f/4 to f/7.1 across the zoom. Bright conditions help when moving subjects need a fast shutter speed. Built-in stabilization is useful for camera shake when the subject stays still.

The lens weighs 13.9 oz (395 g) and measures 3.5 in (88.8 mm) long and 3.02 in (76.6 mm) across. Its small body suits carrying a standard zoom on a walk. Screw-in filters must match the 67mm front thread to attach directly.

At 24mm, you can include more surroundings from one position. At 105mm, a person or distant detail becomes larger. How much fits still depends on where you stand. A wider lens can include more of a small room when you cannot step back. For people, leave enough room to avoid an awkwardly tight crop. Moving back also reduces the difference in apparent size between parts of a face at different distances.

The maximum aperture changes from f/4 to f/7.1 as you zoom. In shade or fading light, you may need a higher ISO to retain enough shutter speed. A nearby subject can still have a soft background at the long end when there is enough space behind it.

Canon calls its special manual-focus setting Center Focus Macro. At 24mm, it focuses as close as 0.4 ft (13 cm) from the sensor and reaches 0.5x magnification. That records a subject at half its actual size on the sensor, below life-size reproduction. The effect concentrates sharpness near the centre, so it is not intended to keep a flat subject sharp across the frame.

Autofocus has a longer minimum distance. Its maximum magnification is lower and occurs at the long end. For either mode, leave room ahead of the glass and avoid shading a nearby detail. The front of the lens is much closer than the sensor.

Image stabilization reduces camera shake when you work handheld. It helps with still subjects at slower shutter speeds. A walking person still needs enough shutter speed for their movement. A tripod gives a firm base for long exposures and carefully arranged close-up work.

There is no weather sealing, so protect the lens from rain and blowing dust. The front glass lacks a fluorine coating, so it lacks that specific help with water and oily marks. Remove loose grit before cleaning.

There is no zoom lock switch. Support the lens when carrying the camera.

An aspherical element helps correct distortion and spherical aberration, which can bend lines or soften detail. Internal focusing keeps barrel length unchanged while focus moves.