Since Canon launched the Canon RF 28-70mm f2.8 IS STM, many have wondered how the company achieved a compact lens at an affordable price. If you haven’t read our coverage, let us share a little more: the lens is the first RF mount designed like the L series 28-70mm. So, there is a little over a thousand-dollar difference between the two, with the new lens also hoping to meet the stabilization demand of videographers. To answer any question that customers may have their minds, Canon Japan published an interview with those responsible for its creation. Let’s see what the creators have to say!
Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM’s Challenges
The interview, which was reported on Canon Rumors, is quite in-depth and offers great clarity on the lens’s creation. Since the L-series is a luxury lens, the team offered something people can purchase without putting a major dent in their savings. Kyohei Fukuda, Canon’s Product Planning Department, explained this to Canon Japan, saying, “The goal was to create an affordable fixed f2.8 zoom lens. We knew that while L lenses are highly valued, their size and cost can be a barrier for many. Our challenge was to make a compact, fixed f2.8 lens that would be easier to carry and more accessible without sacrificing too much on performance.”
But that was not all. The team faced issues while designing. To ensure the size is compact and lightweight, Toshihiro Ogawa, the RF lens development chief, suggested the lens features a retractable mechanism. “We were initially stuck, and I proposed a retractable design as a solution,” he states. “What started as a last-minute idea became essential for making the lens smaller and lighter while maintaining performance.”
Why Canon RF 28-70mm Is Innovative
Another reason why Canon is so excited about the lens is that it offers a large-diameter UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass element. Thus, like the L-series lens, the IS STM version will reduce chromatic aberration and offer great performance throughout the focal length. To explain what makes this such a standout feature, Yasuaki Hagiwara, who was in charge of optical design, reveals: “Usually, the lens diameter is smaller on the inside, so we place it there. The larger it is, the higher the selling price will be. But in order to achieve a compact size and high performance, we decided to go ahead and use a large UD lens at the front.”
In addition, the fact that the lenses use a Stepping Motor (STM) and image stabilization, a feature that is lacking in the L-series lens, proves Canon’s commitment to the video segment. STM provides silent and smooth autofocus, while IS effectively reduces camera shape in the dark. “We’ve also improved the focus mechanism, known as a ‘lead screw-type STM (Stepping Motor).’ The focus mechanism installed in this lens has been upgraded to the point where it can move lenses that are about twice as heavy as the lenses we used to move,” explained Hagiwara. USM was used for higher-end lenses, but that also makes them expensive. “However, the small STM has evolved to be able to move about twice the weight, which has contributed to the camera’s compactness,” adds Hagiwara.
IS, in that regard, is also very helpful to both photography and videography. Explaining its utility, Kazuki Nonomura, who works in the Product Planning Department, added: “The RF 28-70mm f2.8 IS STM is perfect for capturing beautiful moments in daily life, thanks to its fixed f2.8 aperture and effective IS, which enhances background blur and stability. It’s a lens that delivers professional-quality images and is also compact enough for casual use.”
EF to RF Comparison
Like other RF mount lenses, the Canon RF 28-70mm f2.8 IS STM lens has often been compared with EF (Electro-Focus) lenses. The latter offered exceptional imaging quality and were durable, but they were also bulkier and more expensive. “While EF lenses have been a staple for many photographers, the RF 28-70mm f2.8 IS STM represents a new generation of lenses that combine advanced features with a more accessible price,” Fukuda states. “We’ve managed to incorporate many of the benefits of EF lenses, such as high image quality and effective autofocus, into a more compact and affordable package.”
Fukada states that with the Canon RF 28-70mm f2.8 IS STM, he hopes this new lineup will help beginners and intermediate photographers. “This product is an easy choice when you want to step up from a kit lens. I think it is a lens that can greatly improve your expression,” adds Nonomura. The interview concludes with four developers also sharing what kind of images they would like to create with the RF 28-70mm f2.8 IS STM.
The review of the Canon RF 28-70mm has yet to come out, but from its looks, it may be working in Canon’s favor already. The interview offers insight into the company’s technical ingenuity, and perhaps it just may be the beginning of a great year for them.