Canon has introduced the new RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM lens, expanding its lineup of affordable zoom options for users of Canon’s mirrorless cameras alongside the RF 28-70 lens.
Geared towards content creators, this lens promises enhanced image quality, ease of use, and portability for both photography and videography.
Image Credit – CanonUSA
Engineered for professionals and enthusiasts alike, the RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM utilizes fast STM stepping motors to deliver rapid autofocus through dual-pixel CMOS AF 2.
It features smooth aperture control and effectively identifies and tracks subjects within the frame.
With a constant F2.8 aperture and ultra-wide zoom range, this lens captures high-resolution footage with sharp detail while minimizing artifacts and distortion.
This lens is constructed with 16 elements arranged in 13 groups, including four ultra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements, all featuring Canon’s Super Spectra coating to reduce color fringing and unwanted artifacts.
The nine-bladed aperture design maintains a consistent F2.8 aperture, producing a pleasing bokeh that enhances image separation.
Image Credit – CanonUSA
It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.25 meters (0.82 feet) at 16mm and 0.2 meters (0.66 feet) at 28mm, with maximum magnifications of 0.11x at 16mm and 0.26x at 28mm.
The lens boasts a 108-degree angle of view and includes a user-selectable control ring, along with an AF/MF control switch for seamless transitions between auto and manual focus.
It supports One-Shot AF and Servo AF functions compatible with Canon’s R-Series mirrorless cameras.
The RF 16-28mm lens also integrates an advanced image stabilization system that combines Peripheral image stabilization with Movie Digital IS, ensuring edge-to-edge sharpness and smooth footage even when the camera is in motion.
Additionally, it features focus breathing compensation for smooth video transitions, providing a polished, professional look to every scene.
Image Credit – Canon
A New Live Switching App
Canon has also announced a new app for iOS smartphones that enables users to switch between multiple smartphones while live livestreaming.
The Live Switcher Mobile app eliminates the need for extra hardware, allowing mobile content creators to connect multiple camera sources and switch between them in real time during a live-streaming event.
Users can add text and graphics and engage with their audience through comments for two-way communication.
The app can capture screens from devices and stream them for live gameplay or mobile applications.
It also allows video from devices to layer on top of the livestream, so viewers can see the streamer’s facial expressions and reactions in real time.
Though designed to live stream through YouTube and Facebook, other platforms can be supported by entering the streaming URL issued on other platforms.
Moreover, Live Switcher Mobile will also support a digital camera connection in a future update for improved quality and featyres for more flexible live streaming options.
Pricing and Availability
The Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM lens is available for preorder through Canon and its authorized retailers at a retail price of $1,149.00, with shipping expected to begin on February 11, 2025.
The Canon Live Switcher Mobile App is available for free to both iPhone and iPad platforms from the Apple iOS App Store.
Some functions, including graphics overlays, may require registration (at a cost) for periodic use and the app must be installed on all platforms being used.
[source: CanonUSA and Canon JP]
Order Links:
- Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM lens (B&H)
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