Canon RF 10-20mm 4.0 L IS STM

It's a Canon L lens so it's no surprise that the Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM comes with a good portion of greatness ... and a steep price tag. Its zoom range is more than just exotic - it is unique (at the time of this review) while still providing impressive image quality that easily matches prime lenses in this range. It's very sharp across the image frame at 14mm and 20mm, and it's no slouch either at 10mm (for such a lens this wide). However, it is highly advisable to leave image auto-correction activated all the time. Technically, this is an under-designed lens which requires digital correction due to massive image distortion and vignetting at 10mm. With auto-correction, the vignetting is moderate and image distortions are negligible. Lateral CAs are also not an issue. Flare performance is a bit of a mixed bag but it can usually be avoided if you are a bit flexible with your composition. Sun stars are nicely rendered at small aperture settings. The build quality of the Canon lens is excellent. The engineered plastics are of high quality and the zoom rings turn smoothly. The lens features dust- and weather sealing as you'd expect from a professional grade lens. The AF may only rely on a stepping motor but, even so, it's fast and noiseless. The image stabiliser is certainly also a very welcome feature for indoor and low-light shooting. Some may ask the viable question about the usefulness of a 10mm setting. Ultra-wide lenses emphasize the foreground, and it's not trivial to find a very near foreground that is really interesting enough to be included. Still, the lens isn't limited to 10mm, so more sane ultra-wide images are possible anyway. Needless to say but the Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM is an expensive beast. However, if it's within your budget, it's worth it. In the right hands, it can certainly produce stunning results. Thus ... Highly Recommended!

The Canon RF 10-20mm f4L is an unashamedly high-end lens aimed at those who demand the widest coverage without compromising on quality, distortion or having to lug around a hefty chunk of glass. Compared to the EF 11-24 it effectively replaces, the new 10-20 not only zooms wider and now sports image stabilisation, but is considerably smaller and lighter, making it a much more practical proposition. This is a lens you’d be happy to carry all day rather than just on special occasions, and it’ll also balance better on gimbals or a tripod. Unsurprisingly this performance doesn’t come cheap, but in fairness the RF 10-20 is launched at a slightly lower price than the eight-year-old 11-24 still sells for. I know which model I’d rather have. That said, if you’re satisfied with 14mm coverage, the RF 14-35 will give it to you at half the price with the benefit of reaching comfortably further and sporting a standard front filter thread.