Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM
Full-Frame Non-Distorting 108º Ultrawide
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Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM (43mm filters, 5.8 oz./165g, 0.43'/5"/0.13m close focus, 0.26× macro ratio, $299). bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
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Sample Images top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
More samples throughout this review at Compatibility, Bokeh, Distortion, Flare & Ghosts, Macro and Spherochromatism.
These are just snapshots; my real work is in my Gallery.
These are all shot hand-held as JPGs; no tripods or RAW CR3 files were used or needed.
Moonlit Wall, Ensenada, Baja California Norte, México, 7:14 PM, Thursday, 18 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM wide-open at f/2.8 hand-held at 1/5 of a second at Auto ISO 3,200, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (which wasn't needed, LV 0.4), Perfectly Clear. bigger, full-resolution or camera-original 45MP © JPG file.
The white dots are stars! Hand-held in moonlight? I could never do this back in the days of film.
Clouds and Sunstar, Baja California Norte, México, 10:20 AM, Tuesday, 26 October 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/22 for sunstars at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 16⅔), Skylum Aurora HDR where I added some deliberate vignetting. bigger or full-resolution.
Autumn Dawn, 9:03 AM, 29 October 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/16 at 1/40 at ISO 100 (LV 13.4), shade white balance, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Autumn Walk, 9:07 AM, 29 October 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/11 hand-held at 1/8 of a second at ISO 200 (LV 9.0), shade white balance, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Beads Gone Wild, 1:22 PM, Thursday, 11 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/5.6 hand-held at 1/6 of a second at ISO 100 (LV 7.6), Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Ultra-ultrawides have huge depths-of-field, and goodness gracious, this is a sharp lens, and with the R5's built-in stabilization lets me shoot with longer hand-held exposures so I can use lower ISOs for more sharpness.
Wormhole to Crazytown (alternate title: "Anthony James in Color"), 5:12 PM, Thursday, 18 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/5.6 hand-held at 1/30 at ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 10.0), Skylum Aurora HDR. bigger or full resolution.
Aluminum-Can Basket, 6:30 PM, Thursday, 18 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/5.6 hand-held at 1/4 second at ISO 100 (LV 7.0), Skylum Aurora HDR and Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Super-sharp hand-held at a quarter of a second on my stabilized EOS R5. Not bad for $299!
Introduction top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
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This RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is a 108º full-frame rectilinear (non-distorting, non-fisheye) ultra-ultrawide lens in a tiny package with a 43mm filter thread only for Canon's mirrorless cameras — all for under $300!
It's sharp, and focuses super close, so close that something as small as 3.6 × 5.5" (92 × 138mm) can fill the full frame!
This tiny 16mm lens is a landmark, letting us replace our big ultrawide zooms with this tiny lens. If your other lens starts at 28mm or 24mm you don't need the range between 16mm and 28mm unless you like to carry too much.
This is brilliant lens. Instead of hauling the RF 15-35/2.8L or RF 14-35/4L along with your normal zoom, you can just grab this bodycap-sized jewel and be on the road! Obviously no one needs the 35mm end of an ultrawide zoom if your normal zoom starts at 24mm or 28mm. Duh, and bravo!
I now can grab my EOS RP, RF 24-240mm and this new RF 16mm and be prepared to shoot anything, anywhere, anytime, and the whole system weighs just 49 oz. (1,393 g) and sells new for just $2,200. Often there are specials or kits with the RP and 24-240, and even at the full $2,200 this complete system sells for less than many of the bodies that others use. This 16mm is brilliant for creating an ultralight system where it replaces an entire wide zoom!
If 105mm is long enough, get the EOS RP, RF 24-105mm STM and this new RF 16mm for a system total of 36.5 oz. (1,035g) for just $1,598, brand new - less than almost any full-frame body alone!
I got my RF 16/2.8 STM at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
New intro top
World's first super-compact mirrorless full-frame ultrawide.
World's first inexpensive mirrorless full-frame ultrawide.
Good intro top
Super sharp.
Fast f/2.8.
Ultra close focussing, with a 1:3.8 (0.26 ×) macro ratio.
Ultra-ultra wide.
Tiny size.
Ultra-light.
No distortion as-shot in-camera.
Programmable control ring.
Switch to assign the control ring as either a focus ring or to work as another function as set in your camera.
100% U.S.A.-based high-quality technical support at (800) OK-CANON.
Bad intro top
No AF/MF switch; you have to set this in a menu.
Missing intro top
No always-responsive instant manual-focus override unless you enable this in a menu.
No AF/MF switch; you have to set this in a menu.
EW-65C hood not included.
No switch for in-camera stabilization.
No distortion with in-camera correction.
No high price, no problem!!!
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger.
Compatibility top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 16/2.8 STM at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This lens only works on Canon's EOS-R series of mirrorless cameras.
It will not even mount on any other camera.
Green Manhole Cover, 8:56 AM, 29 October 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/11 hand-held at 1/30 of a second at ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 12.0), Shade white balance, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Specifications top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 16/2.8 STM at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Name specifications top
Canon calls this the RF16mm F2.8 STM:
RF: Works only on Canon's EOS-R Mirrorless cameras.
STM: STepper (autofocus) Motor.
Optics specifications top
Internal Optical Construction. Aspherical element.
9 elements in 7 groups.
1 aspherical element.
The front section with filter threads moves in and out as focussed, while the rear element is fixed.
Super Spectra multicoating.
Diaphragm specifications top
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger.
7 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/22.
Filters specifications top
43mm filter thread.
Coverage specifications top
Full-Frame (24 × 36mm) and APS-C (16 × 24mm).
Angles of View on Full Frame specifications top
108⅙º diagonal.
98º horizontal.
74⅙º vertical.
Focus Scale specifications top
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
You have to focus somehow to get precise focus at infinity, just like at every other distance.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus (distance from subject to image plane) specifications top
0.43 feet (0.13 meters or 5.1 inches).
Working Distance (distance from subject to front of lens at close-focus distance) specifications top
About 2 inches or 5 cm.
Maximum Reproduction Ratio specifications top
1:3.8 (0.26 ×).
Minimum Subject Field specifications top
3.6 × 5.5" (92 × 138mm).
Image Stabilizer specifications top
NONE, but works with cameras with internal stabilization.
Caps specifications top
Canon 43mm Front Cap (p/n 6317B001), included.
Rear Lens Dust Cap RF (p/n 2962C001), included.
Hood specifications top
Optional EW-65C hood.
Case specifications top
None.
Size specifications top
2.72" ø maximum diameter × 1.58" extension from flange.
69.2 mm ø maximum diameter × 40.2 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
5.8 oz. (165 g).
Announced specifications top
Tuesday Morning, 14 September 2021.
Promised for specifications top
14 October 2021.
Included specifications top
Lens.
Canon 43mm Front Cap (p/n 6317B001).
Rear Lens Dust Cap RF (p/n 2962C001).
Canon's Model Numbers specifications top
Product code: 5051C002 (5051C001 in Japan).
Model number: RF1628STM.
JAN code: 4549292-186772.
Made in specifications top
Taiwan.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
July 2022
$299 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
About $240 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
December 2021
$299 at Adorama, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
It's hard to find new , so scalpers get about $350 for them used at eBay. (How to Win at eBay).
September ~ November 2021
$299 at Adorama, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Box, Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger.
Optional Accessories top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 16/2.8 STM at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Optional EW-65C hood.
Performance top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing
Distance Recording Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics
Falloff Filters Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes
Lens Corrections Macro Mechanics
Peripheral Color Sharpness Spherochromatism
I got my RF 16/2.8 STM at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
The RF 16mm f/2.8 is fast, sharp, tiny and nearly free. If you want one, get it!!!
Autofocus performance top
Autofocus is fast, but not instantaneous. It's the usual fast hum we expect from Canon's STM (stepper-motor focused) lenses.
Manual Focus performance top
Manual focusing is entirely electronic; the manual focus ring isn't connected to anything other than a digital encoder.
There is no AF/MF switch; you have to set this in a menu.
How to get manual-focus override.
Focus Breathing performance top
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The image from this lens grows as focussed more closely.
Focus Distance Recording performance top
The focussed distance is recorded in the EXIF data.
I read this in the lower left of my screen in Photoshop's lens correction filter.
Bokeh performance top
Bokeh, the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, doesn't really matter as nothing is ever that much out of focus with a lens this short.
If you really push me for an evaluation; bokeh is pretty nice; but good luck ever seeing it.
Here's a shot from headshot distance (please don't do portraits like this!) wide-open.
Scarecrow Owl, 08 December 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM wide-open at f/2.8 at 1/1,250 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 13.4), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © file.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/2.8 and get as close as possible.
Distortion performance top
There's no distortion shot as JPG. My R5 corrects it automatically, and won't let me turn off distortion correction:
No Distortion, 5:39 PM, Thursday, 18 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/5.6 hand-held for 0.4 seconds at ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 6.4), Perfectly Clear. bigger.
No Distortion, 6:10 PM, Thursday, 18 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/5.6 hand-held for 0.6 seconds at ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 5¾), as shot. bigger.
If you use raw data rather than JPG image files, this lens does have strong barrel distortion which you may or may not have to correct at some point if your particular choice of software doesn't.
Ergonomics performance top
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16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger. |
16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger. |
16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger. |
Ergonomics are great. This is a tiny little lens and a joy to use once you get your camera set up to your liking.
There's no always-responsive instant manual-focus override unless you enable this in a menu.
There's no AF/MF switch; you have to set this in a menu.
The biggest problem is that the lens is so small that there's barely room for it's one control ring and one slide switch to control what that ring does.
Falloff performance top
Falloff is invisible in actual shooting.
I've greatly exaggerated the falloff by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background; it will not look this bad in actual photos of real things:
Falloff on full-frame at infinity, correction at its default of ON.
© 2021 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
If you shoot raw data rather than JPG images you may — or may not — be responsible to correct this on your own. Here's how it looks uncorrected, and again this is a deliberate exaggeration using flat gray fields:
Falloff on full-frame at infinity, correction deliberately turned OFF.
© 2021 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Filters, use with performance top
Regular filters work fine, but you may want to stick to thin filters for rotating polarizers and grad filters to avoid vignetting which can happen with this lens on full frame.
Don't use polarizers on ultrawide lenses; the sky's natural polarization will appear as a dark band in the sky. Be careful and look all around your image before you get too excited about the effect in one part or another; a polarizer's effect varies greatly across ultrawide images.
43mm filters are less common than larger sizes. While I always use a 43mm UV as a protective cap through which I can shoot, 43mm is an odd size in which to start a collection of filters, especially thin ones.
I'd suggest using an adapter ring to step-up the 43mm threads to a size in which you have filters, but it's still a stretch as step up rings are harder to find for large jumps, like 42mm to 77mm. Jumping to just 52mm may still have vingetting problems with a lens this wide; you'll have to experiment.
I don't worry about this; I hold larger filters over this lens and call it a day whenever I need anything other than a UV. Be forewarned that you need ot be delicate because the lens' AF system will fight back if you push the lens in at all; it has to move in and out to focus.
Be careful if you use large filters on step-up rings or big square filters in special holders: the front filter threads are connected to the front optical cell which moves in and out a focussed. If you bang a big filter on something you could damage the lens' mechanics.
Flare & Ghosts performance top
There can be just two tiny dots about halfway out from the center (click either to enlarge):
As we expect, using an uncoated plain-glass filter can gave more ghosts, but not much (click either to enlarge):
See more examples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes performance top
There are no color fringes when shot as JPG with the default Chromatic Aberration Correction left ON.
If you go out of your way to turn this OFF (or shoot raw and then use non-manufacturer software to process that data into images) then there is still almost nothing.
Bravo!
There is almost no spherochromatism, which is a completely different aberration in a different dimension than lateral color fringes.
Lens Corrections performance top
This will change as the years roll on, but my EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS RP all have options to correct for falloff (Peripheral Illumination Correction), Distortion and a Digital Lens Optimizer which corrects for a suite of other aberrations. The EOS R has this, too; I just don't have one handy to check the specifics with this lens.
Falloff and the Digital Lens Optimizer are ON by default.
Uncorrected, this lens has plenty of distortion, so Distortion correction is forced ON and cannot be turned off.
If you turn off the Digital Lens Optimizer, you are then offered à la carte ON/OFF options for Chromatic Aberration Correction and Diffraction Correction — at least on my EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS RP.
Macro Performance performance top
Macro performance is outstanding.
Not only does it focus just two inches (5cm) from the front of the lens and get to a huge 0.26× macro ratio, it's astoundingly sharp even wide open!
Being this free from softness (spherical aberration) wide-open at the close focus distance is something I usually only see in dedicated macro lenses and rarely in normal and tele lenses; this level of performance is unheard of in an ultra-ultrawide.
While this lens performs superbly for close-up special effects, it's an awful idea for most macro use because being able to focus to inches in front of the lens means you'll usually be in shadow. I had to work very hard not to block my light in these shots. Look at the shadows and you'll see the lens' own shadow is just touching the lower right side of the watch:
Wide-open at f/2.8
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, 08 December 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/2.8 at 1/1,000 at ISO 100 (LV 13.0). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.8× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
At f/8
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, 08 December 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/8 at 1/125 at ISO 100 (LV 13.0). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.8× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
Mechanical Quality performance top
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger.
This is a very well made lens, made mostly out of plastic with a metal mount. This what you get in a lens that weighs only 5.8 oz. (165g).
Finish
Black plastic.
Hood
Plastic bayonet (optional)
Front Bumper
None.
Filter Threads
Plastic.
Hood Bayonet Mount
Plastic.
Barrel Exterior
Plastic.
Control Ring
Plastic.
Slide Switches
Plastic.
Identity
Printed around front of lens, also "16" printed on top of barrel.
Internal
Seem like all plastic.
Dust Gasket at Mount
No.
Mount
Chromed metal.
Markings
Paint.
Serial Number
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger.
Laser-engraved on bottom of barrel.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Mild rattling.
Made in
Made in Taiwan.
Peripheral Color Shifts performance top
A perennial problem with ultra-ultrawides is that due to the nature of lens coatings they can became bluer towards the corners.
Thankfully I see none of this in this lens, bravo!
Sharpness performance top
This is an ultrasharp lens:
Autumn Dawn, 9:03 AM, 29 October 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/16 at 1/40 at ISO 100 (LV 13.4), Shade white balance, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Autumn Walk, 9:07 AM, 29 October 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/11 hand-held at 1/8 of a second at ISO 200 (LV 9.0), Shade white balance, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Beads Gone Wild, 1:22 PM, Thursday, 11 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/5.6 hand-held at 1/6 of a second at ISO 100 (LV 7.6), Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Wormhole to Hell (alternate title: "Anthony James in Color"), 5:12 PM, Thursday, 18 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/5.6 hand-held at 1/30 at ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 10.0), Skylum Aurora HDR. bigger or full resolution.
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/11 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 100 or below because cameras become softer at ISO 200 and above, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it (I set mine to the maximum) and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/16 or smaller at ISO 1,600 or above at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.
People worry waaaaay too much about sharpness. It's not 1968 anymore when lenses often weren't that sharp and there could be significant differences among them; today they are all pretty much equally fantastic.
This lens is ultrasharp, however it has less contrast due to some coma (sagittal coma flare) in the far corners wide-open at f/2.8 so it's less suited to astronomical use compared to the RF 15-35/2.8L. Stop it down to f/4 and especially to f/5.6 and the corners are super sharp as you can see above. Wide-open at f/2.8 the MTF curve confirms what I see; Canon shares no curve for its stopped-down performance:
MTF wide-open at f/2.8 at 10 cyc/mm (black) and 30 cyc/mm (blue). Sagittal (solid) and meridional (dashed).
Spherochromatism performance top
Spherochromatism, also called secondary spherical chromatic aberration or "color bokeh," is an advanced form of spherical and chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral chromatic aberration. It happens mostly in fast normal and tele lenses when spherical aberration at the ends of the color spectrum are corrected differently than in the middle of the spectrum. Spherochromatism can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
It has no significant spherochromatism. I really had to go out of my way to make it visible here:
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at close-focus distance, 08 December 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/2.8 at 1/5,000 at ISO 100 (LV 15.4). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.8× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
Image Stabilization performance top
This lens has no Optical Image Stabilization (OIS, IS or VR (Vibration Reduction)), and it works great with in-camera stabilization if you have it:
Aluminum Can Basket, 6:30 PM, Thursday, 18 November 2021. Canon EOS R5, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM at f/5.6 hand-held at 1/4 second at ISO 100 (LV 7.0), Skylum Aurora HDR and Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution.
Not bad for a quarter of a second hand-held on my stabilized EOS R5! It's sharp!
I see a two-stop real-world improvement in the center on my R5; due to geometry it can't work as well in the corners because the sensor would have to shift about twice as far in the corners as it does in the center. Rubber sensors aren't a thing — yet.
"Percent Perfectly Sharp Shots" are the percentage of frames with 100% perfect tripod-equivalent sharpness I get when I'm shooting hand-held while free-standing with no support or bracing. Hand tremor is a random occurrence, so at marginal speeds some frames will be perfectly sharp while others will be in various stages of blur — all at the same shutter speed. This rates what percentage of shots are perfectly sharp, not how sharp are all the frames:
| % Perfectly Sharp Shots on stabilized R5 | 1 |
1/2 |
1/4 |
1/8 |
1/15 |
1/30 |
1/60 |
1/125 |
1/250 |
| Stabilization ON | 0 |
17 |
33 |
83 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| Stabilization OFF | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
83 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
I see a 2 stop real-world improvement in the center. I didn't test the corners, which are probably much less.
Sunstars performance top
With a 7-bladed rounded diaphragm, I get excellent 14-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light at the smaller apertures.
Samples at Flare & Ghosts and Sharpness.
User's Guide top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 16/2.8 STM at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
How to Use Ultrawide Lenses
Manual-Focus Override user's guide top
By default, there is no always-responsive instant manual-focus override as we take for granted in our DSLRs.
EOS R cameras need a menu setting changed for manual-focus override, otherwise the focus ring is always ignored in AF.
Find the "Lens electronic AF" option in your AF menu (AF 4 in EOS R5 and EOS R6 or CAMERA 8 in EOS RP), and set it to either "One‑Shot‑>enabled" or "One‑Shot‑>enabled (magnify)."
Canon should have it set this way by default, but they don't. No big deal now that I figured it out.
Now manual focus override works if you turn the ring while continuing to hold the shutter halfway, but only after focus locks in ONE SHOT. The focus ring is ignored in SERVO.
AF - MF Switch user's guide top
There is no AF/MF switch, so you need to select Manual Focus in your camera's menu system if needed.
I add this option to my My Menu so I can get to it easily.
EOS R5
Select manual focus at MENU > AF 1 > Focus mode > MF.
In manual focus you have options of 6× or 15× magnifiers. I assign this to my SET button at MENU > CUSTOM 3 > Customize buttons > SET > Magnify. Now just tap SET and it toggles among 1×, 6× and 15×.
Select the in-finder focus-distance scale at MENU > CAMERA 7 > Shooting info. disp. > Focus distance disp.
Focus peaking is enabled and set at MENU > AF 2 > MF peaking settings.
EOS R6
Select manual focus at MENU > AF 2 > Focus mode > MF.
In manual focus you have options of 5× or 10× magnifiers. I assign this to my SET button at MENU > CUSTOM 3 > Customize buttons > SET > Magnify. Now just tap SET and it toggles among 1×, 5× and 10×.
Select the in-finder focus-distance scale at MENU > CAMERA 7 > Shooting info. disp. > Focus distance disp.
Focus peaking is enabled and set at MENU > AF 2 > MF peaking settings.
EOS RP
Select manual focus at MENU > CAMERA page 7 > Focus Mode > MF.
FOCUS - CONTROL Switch user's guide top
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. bigger.
FOCUS: The control ring works as a focus ring as programmed above.
CONTROL: The control ring does whatever else you program it to do in your camera's menu system, typically Aperture, Exposure Compensation or ISO.
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Performance User's Guide Recommendations
I got my RF 16/2.8 STM at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This tiny 16mm lens is a landmark, letting us replace our big ultrawide zooms with this tiny lens. If your other lens starts at 28mm or 24mm you don't need the range between 16mm and 24mm unless you want to carry too much as less confident shooters often do.
It's tiny and sharp and focuses ultra close, and is nearly free.
The optional EW-65C hood is a good idea not for flare, but because it attaches to the sturdy outer, fixed lens barrel to keep your fingers off the delicate inner barrel that moves in and out with a servo-controlled stepper motor to focus.
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The B+W 43mm 010 is an excellent filter, but it's not multicoated which could lead to more ghosts in harsh light. Try the multicoated B+W 101M or the Hoya 43mm Multicoated NXT filter if you shoot into the light. The Hoya NXT Plus filter adds a water-resistant coating. Fuji offers its own 43mm Protector filter.
All these filters are just as sharp and take the same pictures, the difference is how much abuse they'll take and stay clean and stay in one piece. Since filters last a lifetime or more, there's no reason not to buy the best as it will last you for the next 40 years. Filters aren't throwaways like digital cameras which we replace every few years, like it or not. I'm still using filters I bought back in the 1970s!
I got my RF 16/2.8 STM at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken.
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Thanks for reading!
Ken.