Canon's new 'kit lens' is actually a half-price f/2.8 trinity lens!

The Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lacks a red ring, but borrows premium features from its L-series siblings

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Canon has launched what is, on paper, a trinity lens without the red ring or the price tag. The new Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM doesn’t pack the same elite optical performance, but it’s a far more affordable alternative to both the RF 28-70mm F2L and the RF 24-70mm F2.8L.

It’s set to be a great accompaniment to Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras such as the EOS R6, R6 Mark II and R8, and will be a substantial upgrade over kit lenses such as the RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 or RF 24-105mm F4-7.1.

It has a slightly more limited focal range, with a 2.5x optical zoom compared with the 4.3x zoom of the 24-105mm, it’s about 14% smaller in length when fully retracted – and 30% lighter, too, weighing just 490g.

Canon’s non L-series lenses aren’t usually weather-sealed, but the new 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM bucks this trend with protective seals around the focus and zoom rings, RF mount, and the lens switches.

The ace up its sleeve is the constant f/2.8 maximum aperture which is available throughout the entire zoom range. In terms of kit lenses this makes it a full stop (twice as bright) as the Canon 24-105mm F4L.