Zoom Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM

First impressions of the RF15-35 f/2.8L USM. This is NOT a scientific testing of the lens, just my first impressions using it a couple of weeks.

I had used the EF 16-35 f/4 for several years and it was one of my go to lens for those big panoramic landscape shots. The new RF f/2.8 version is even better. Blazing fast, quiet focusing and crisp tack sharp images across the whole frame.

The extra 1mm in wide angle is actually quite helpful in tight spaces and wide landscapes. The minimum focus distance of 11” is nice to have.

Bokeh is smooth and creamy at 2.8.

Starbursts at f16 and f22 are very nice and crisp in the couple of shots I have tried so far.

In lens IS together with IBIS lets you shot quite slow hand held. I have been very successful at 1/4 second and have seen reports as slow as a second, although I have not yet tried it that slow.

There is shading at the corners when wide open and a couple of stops more, but easily corrected in post. In fact, it can now be corrected in camera with a setting in the R5 to make the adjustments for Canon lens. Saves a step in post and seems to be spot on. It shows up as activated in Lightroom as well.

I haven’t used it enough yet to report on lens flare.

One of the little things that Canon did with most of the new RF lens is to put a taper on the zoom ring. This makes it so much easier to know that you have the right ring when adjusting without taking your eye off of the composition. I can’t tell you how many times it messed up the focus by mistake with the EF version. I have also found it helpful to lock out the manual focus ring when set to autofocus. I use dual back button focusing and don’t want to mess up the set focus by touching the focus ring.

Another small improvement is the fit of both the front and rear lens caps. The front one on my EF seemed to be challenging at times to securely clip on and not fall off; no problem with the RF.

Only time will tell how the electronic focusing will hold up, but it is excellent in the new lens. I am always a little skeptical of new “by the wire” features, be it a camera or a car. Seems like something that could fail, but that is the way everything is going these days.

For more detailed, scientific review, I recommend looking at The-digital-picture.com. They do a very nice job testing and reviewing, including test image comparisons between any two lenses you select.

I would be glad to try to answer any questions that you have.