Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM

This Canon standard zoom covers 28–70mm on full-frame RF cameras. The range suits people, street scenes, travel and everyday photography. You can show a person with their surroundings, then give a face or detail more of the frame from the same position. Canon introduced it in 2024.

The main trade-off is the wide end. A lens that starts wider can include more of a tight interior from the same position. The constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is useful for a day that moves between outdoor scenes and dim rooms.

The lens weighs 1 lb 1.5 oz (495 g) and measures 3.63 in (92.2 mm) long when retracted. Extend the barrel before shooting. The compact stored size suits a small camera bag. Screw-in filters must match the 67mm front thread to attach directly.

At 28mm, you can include a group or show people within a street scene. At 70mm, one person or a table detail becomes larger from the same position. The zoom can reduce lens changes during a family outing. How much fits still depends on where you stand.

The maximum aperture remains f/2.8 throughout the zoom. You can retain that opening when framing changes, though a different part of the scene may need a different exposure. In a dim room, it gives more room for a faster shutter speed or lower ISO than a smaller opening.

At close portrait distances, f/2.8 can soften a background behind the person. More space between subject and background helps. Stop down when several people at different distances must stay sharp. A moving person still needs enough shutter speed for their movement.

Closest focus is 0.8 ft (24 cm) in manual focus at 28mm, measured from the sensor. Autofocus has a longer minimum distance at that setting. Maximum magnification reaches 0.24x at 70mm in either mode. These limits suit food, flowers and everyday objects. At close distances, leave room ahead of the glass and avoid shading the object. Depth of field becomes thinner as you move closer. Focus on the important detail, then stop down if more of the subject needs to remain sharp.

Built-in stabilization helps reduce camera shake for still subjects at slower shutter speeds. It is useful for a quiet interior or an evening street scene. At 70mm, small hand movements have a greater effect on the image. Stabilization cannot stop a person moving during the exposure.

Dust and moisture resistance help during outdoor use. Protect the lens in persistent rain. Keep the camera connection clean and dry when changing lenses, and remove loose grit before wiping the front glass.

Two aspherical elements help correct distortion and spherical aberration, which can bend straight lines or soften detail. Two UD elements help reduce coloured fringes at high-contrast edges, such as window frames against bright sky. Internal focusing keeps barrel length unchanged while focus moves.