“With the launch of the RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM and RF16mm f/2.8 STM lenses, Canon’s RF lens line-up is expanding rapidly to offer a range of lens selection to answer the different needs of the photographic community,” said Mr. Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore. “With the compact and affordable RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM, we now have a suite of telephoto options for different photographers covering different focal lengths, design build and cost-performance levels. Tapping on the design flexibility accorded by new EOSR system and RF lens architecture has allowed us to develop the ultrawide, fast, yet still affordable RF16mm f/2.8 STM, as we continue to develop even more lenses to allow photographers to realise their creative vision.”

Smaller, Lighter and Better

The RF lens mount that the EOS R system is renowned for, has large diameter and short back focus design, that allow both lenses to take advantage of. All these result in both a compact optical system and excellent quality across the entire image, from edge to edge.

The RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM offers telephoto capability of up to 400mm zoom yet it is compact at less than 170mm in length, making it easily portable for users. Weighing at approximately 635g, the RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM lens is an affordable and lightweight telephoto lens option. It is also light than the RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.  The RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is comparable to the EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM lens but features an additional 100mm to the telephoto end of the focal length.

The RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM lens has Nano USM, enabling quick and smooth focusing throughout the entire zoom range, regardless of stills or videos. This makes this lens a a great starter lens for those who are interested in bird and wildlife photography without the bulk.

Users can add the Extender RF1.4x/2x to the RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM lens, this would increase the focal length to 1.4x/2x, allowing them to enjoy shooting with an ultra-telephoto range of up to 800mm. When combined with Canon’s lightweight mirrorless cameras, users can trek long distances with it or shoot handheld comfortably without much difficulty.

An ultra-wide angle lens with a large f/2.8 aperture traditionally would cost a substantial amount to own. The new RF16mm f/2.8 STM lens is going to change that by overcoming the price barrier, making this lens at an accessible price point. Another outstanding feature of the RF16mm f/2.8 STM is its ultra-compact design. At just 40.2mm tall and weighing approximately 165g, it barely occupies any space in the camera bag. In fact, one can easily mistake it for the RF50mm f/1.8 STM lens, given that both share an almost identical form factor.

New Angle of View and Creative Perspectives

The RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM lens has a minimum focusing distance of just 1.05m (at 400mm), a maximum magnification of 0.41x can be achieved. These features would come in handy when shooting small flowers and creatures, bringing out the best of the lens compression effect and bokeh of telephoto lenses.

The lens comes with a native 5.5 stops of image stabilisation. However, when it is paired with a camera that has In-Body Image Stabilisation (In-Body IS), the IS effectiveness goes up to 6 stops. This greatly reduces camera shakes and ensures sharp images even at the 400mm telephoto end.

With the RF16mm f/2.8 STM, users can take powerful photos by adjusting perspectives to capture larger images of nearby objects or smaller images of faraway ones. The distortion effect of the ultra-wide angle lens when the user gets closer to a subject (such as animals and children) creates a warped look, resulting in adorable photos.

The ultra-wide angle of the RF16mm f/2.8 STM covers a 110 degree diagonal field of view. This makes it convenient for taking selfies with large groups, shooting video for social media, and taking photos in tight spaces. In addition, its large f/2.8 aperture not only creates pleasing bokeh, but when combined with the wide field of view, it can become an excellent lens for astrophotography as well.

Pricing and Availability

The RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM and RF16mm f/2.8 STM are priced at $1,029 and $479 respectively, and will be available in October 2021.

Product Specifications

* Information and pictures courtesy of Canon Singapore and GLOO *

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