The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is a smaller, lighter and more affordable alternative to the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM – the ‘kit’ lens that released with the Canon EOS R mirrorless back in 2018.
The L-series version performed better than its kit lens designation might suggest, and it remains a formidable all-purpose optic – so much so that it sits at the top of our best Canon RF lenses guide. But where does the new non-L version come in? And the biggest question – why the move to f/7.1, and what effect does this have on the way the lens functions? Let’s take a look…
Build and handling
The first thing you notice about the new 24-105mm is the form factor. Compared to the f/4L it feels sleek and slender, though no less sturdy. Unsurprisingly, the f/4-7.1 seems to have been designed to pair with the RP in mind – and it has to be said that they make an ideal pairing.
The zoom ring doesn’t have quite the feathery glide as the one on the f/4L, though it achieves just the right balance between tightness and smoothness. It lacks a LOCK button to stop the mechanism telescoping open, but creep isn’t an issue. Where the f/4L featured three rings to accommodate manual focus, zoom and control, the f/4-7.1 only has two. This means the control ring does double duty as a customizable input (aperture, shutter, ISO, white balance or exposure compensation) and manual focus, which is toggled by flicking the FOCUS / CONTROL switch on the side of the lens.
This story is from the July 2020 edition of PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2020 edition of PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CANON Speedlite EL-5
With a touch of gold, it's the first Speedlite to feature Canon's new 'multi-function foot' £499/$399
Newo Ikkin
Professional portrait photographer Newo reveals the Canon gear and lighting equipment she can't live without when creating her fantastical photos
EXPOSURES MADE EASY
Learn all you need to know to take better exposures
INSPIRATIONS
STUNNING IMAGERY FROM THE WORLD OF CANON PHOTOGRAPHY
Manhattan makeover
James Paterson shows you how to transform cityscapes into eye-catching artwork with a combination of blending and selection skills in Affinity
Generate AI backdrops in Photoshop Beta
James Paterson demonstrates the new filter that creates backgrounds based on a few words
Enhance portraits with panel sliders
Sean McCormack shows how to combine these controls to great effect in Lightroom Classic
Macro on a budget
Dan Mold shows you how to capture detail without breaking the bank
Clear the streets
Dan Mold shows you how to remove people from tourist hotspots
Flash fungi in forests
Elevate your macro skills with off-camera flash as James Paterson teaches you to capture stunning mushroom photos on the forest floor