Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM Lens

The Canon RF 24‑105mm f/4‑7.1 IS STM is a compact, lightweight standard‑zoom lens designed for Canon RF‑mount full‑frame mirrorless cameras. It offers a broad 24–105mm focal range that covers wide‑angle through short telephoto perspectives, making it a versatile everyday lens suited for travel, street photography, landscapes, portraits, and casual video work.

At the wide end, the lens starts at 24mm, delivering expansive views ideal for scenic vistas, architecture, and group shots, while at 105mm it offers enough reach for portraits and tighter compositions. The variable maximum aperture of f/4–7.1 keeps the lens lightweight and portable, though it is more dependent on good lighting or higher ISO settings compared to fast‑aperture zooms.

Optically, the lens uses a design of 13 elements in 11 groups with Canon’s RF mount advantages to maintain image quality across the zoom range. A rounded 7‑blade diaphragm contributes to smooth out‑of‑focus areas, and Super Spectra coatings help reduce flare and ghosting for strong contrast and accurate color rendition.

The lens features Optical Image Stabilization (IS) rated for up to approximately 5 stops of shake correction (CIPA standard), which helps produce sharper handheld images in low light or at slower shutter speeds. It also pairs effectively with bodies featuring In‑Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) for enhanced stabilization performance.

Autofocus is powered by a lead‑screw‑type Stepping Motor (STM) system, providing smooth, quiet, and responsive autofocus — particularly useful for both stills and video shooting. Full‑time manual focus override allows quick, tactile focus adjustments without switching out of autofocus mode.

A notable capability of this lens is its Center Focus Macro function, which offers a maximum magnification of up to about 0.5× in manual focus mode at the 24mm setting. When shooting normally at 105mm, the lens is capable of approximately 0.4× magnification. Close‑focusing distances as short as 0.13 m (13 cm) at wide angle and 0.34 m at telephoto end expand creative possibilities for expressive close‑ups beyond typical zoom work.

Ergonomically, the RF 24‑105mm f/4‑7.1 IS STM is compact and lightweight, measuring approximately 76.6 mm in diameter and 88.8 mm in length and weighing about 395 g, which makes it easy to carry as an everyday walk‑around lens. It incorporates a customizable control ring to adjust key settings like aperture or ISO directly from the lens barrel, enhancing usability without diving into camera menus.

While the variable aperture means it is not as fast in low light as constant‑aperture zooms, the RF 24‑105mm f/4‑7.1 IS STM balances versatility, portability, image stabilization, and silent autofocus in a single package — a practical option for enthusiasts and hybrid shooters who want broad coverage in a lightweight lens for daily use and casual video work.