The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is a highly versatile and remarkably lightweight (395g) full-frame zoom lens, perfect for Canon RF mirrorless camera users seeking an all-in-one solution for everyday photography and video. It excels in delivering steady shots thanks to its 5-stop optical image stabilizer and boasts a quiet STM motor ideal for capturing smooth, natural focus in movies; however, its variable aperture means it's not the fastest lens for low-light conditions.
Versatile 24-105mm Zoom Range: Covers wide-angle, standard, and mid-telephoto focal lengths, making it suitable for a vast array of subjects including landscapes, portraits, travel, and everyday moments.
Compact & Lightweight Design: Weighing only 395g, this lens is exceptionally portable, making it an ideal companion for travel or extended shooting sessions without added bulk.
5-Stop Optical Image Stabilizer (IS): Minimizes camera shake, allowing for sharp handheld photos and smooth video footage even in challenging lighting conditions or at slower shutter speeds.
Quiet STM Motor: Provides smooth, near-silent autofocus, which is crucial for video recording to prevent unwanted motor noise from being picked up by your microphone, and also for discreet photography.
Control Ring Functionality: Features a customizable control ring that can be assigned to adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO, or exposure compensation, offering quick and intuitive manual control.
Centre Focus Macro Mode (0.5x Magnification): Enables close-up shooting with up to 0.5x magnification (at 24mm), allowing you to capture intricate details of small subjects, adding creative versatility.
Excellent Versatility: Covers a very useful zoom range from wide to telephoto.
Extremely Portable: Its compact and lightweight design is ideal for travel and daily carry.
Effective Image Stabilization: 5-stops of IS significantly reduce blur from camera shake.
Quiet & Smooth Autofocus: STM motor is superb for video recording and discrete shooting.
Macro Capability: Unique Centre Focus Macro mode adds creative close-up options.
Customizable Control Ring: Offers quick access to key exposure settings.
Variable Aperture (f/4-7.1): Aperture narrows as you zoom in, limiting low-light performance and background blur compared to constant aperture lenses.
Not Ideal for Extreme Low Light: The f/7.1 aperture at the telephoto end can be challenging in dim environments.
Plastic Construction: While contributing to its lightweight nature, it might not feel as premium as L-series lenses.
Excellent Versatility: Covers a very useful zoom range from wide to telephoto.
Extremely Portable: Its compact and lightweight design is ideal for travel and daily carry.
Effective Image Stabilization: 5-stops of IS significantly reduce blur from camera shake.
Quiet & Smooth Autofocus: STM motor is superb for video recording and discrete shooting.
Macro Capability: Unique Centre Focus Macro mode adds creative close-up options.
Customizable Control Ring: Offers quick access to key exposure settings.
Variable Aperture (f/4-7.1): Aperture narrows as you zoom in, limiting low-light performance and background blur compared to constant aperture lenses.
Not Ideal for Extreme Low Light: The f/7.1 aperture at the telephoto end can be challenging in dim environments.
Plastic Construction: While contributing to its lightweight nature, it might not feel as premium as L-series lenses.
The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is designed to be a highly practical and user-friendly lens for a wide range of photographic scenarios.
Its broad 24-105mm focal range means you can capture everything from sweeping landscapes and architectural shots at 24mm to compelling portraits and zoomed-in details at 105mm, all without changing lenses. This versatility, combined with its incredibly light 395g weight, makes it an outstanding choice for travel photographers or as a 'walk-around' lens for daily use, minimizing the gear you need to carry.
The quiet STM (Stepping Motor) autofocus system is a significant advantage for videographers. It allows for smooth and silent focus transitions, ensuring that your video's audio remains clean and free from distracting motor noises. The 5-stop optical Image Stabilizer further enhances video quality by providing steady handheld footage, making it easier to achieve professional-looking results without a gimbal in many situations.
While not a dedicated macro lens, its unique Centre Focus Macro mode allows for close-up shooting with 0.5x magnification at 24mm. This feature is perfect for capturing intricate details of flowers, small objects, or food, adding a creative dimension to your photography without needing an additional macro lens.
The customizable Control Ring is a thoughtful addition, enabling photographers to quickly adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO, or exposure compensation directly from the lens, streamlining the shooting process and keeping your eye on the viewfinder. This lens serves as an excellent general-purpose option for Canon RF full-frame camera owners, particularly those who prioritize portability and versatility over extreme low-light performance.
Attach to Camera: Align the red dot on the lens barrel with the red dot on your Canon RF-mount camera body. Twist the lens clockwise until you hear a click, indicating it's securely locked into place.
Lens Cap Removal: Remove the front and rear lens caps before use. Keep them in a safe place to protect the lens when not in use.
Basic Settings: Ensure your camera is set to an appropriate shooting mode (e.g., Program AE, Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, or Manual). For autofocus, ensure the AF/MF switch on the lens (if present) is set to 'AF' and your camera's AF mode is selected.
Control Ring Assignment: Customize the function of the lens's control ring (e.g., aperture, ISO, shutter speed) via your camera's menu system.
Camera Mount: This lens is specifically designed for Canon's RF mount and is compatible only with Canon EOS R series full-frame mirrorless cameras (e.g., EOS R, EOS RP, EOS R5, EOS R6, EOS R7, EOS R10).
Sensor Size: It is a full-frame lens, meaning it will cover the entire sensor of full-frame RF cameras. It can also be used on APS-C RF cameras (like the EOS R7 or R10), where it will provide an equivalent focal length range of approximately 38-168mm due to the crop factor.
Cleaning: Use a soft, lint-free microfibre cloth specifically designed for optics to clean the lens elements. For stubborn smudges, a small amount of lens cleaning fluid applied to the cloth is recommended. Use a blower brush to remove dust particles before wiping to prevent scratching.
Storage: When not in use, store the lens with both front and rear caps attached in a clean, dry place, away from extreme temperatures and humidity. A lens pouch or camera bag provides additional protection.
Protection: Consider using a UV filter to protect the front element from scratches and dust. A lens hood can help prevent flare and offers some physical protection.
Handling: Always handle the lens by its barrel and avoid touching the glass elements directly. Avoid dropping the lens or subjecting it to harsh impacts.