Canon RF-S 55-210mm F/5-7.1 IS STM Lens

Canon RF-S 55-210mm F/5-7.1 IS STM Lens — Detailed Description

The Canon RF-S 55-210mm F/5-7.1 IS STM is a lightweight, compact telephoto zoom lens designed for Canon’s RF-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras such as the EOS R50, R10, and R7. It offers extended reach in a small, portable package — ideal for hobbyists and enthusiasts looking to capture distant subjects with clarity and ease.

Focal Range & Versatility

• Zoom Range: 55 mm to 210 mm — equivalent to approximately 88–336 mm on full-frame cameras, giving plenty of telephoto reach for subjects far away.

• This makes the lens well-suited for sports, wildlife, travel, portraits from a distance, and everyday telephoto photography where extra reach is required.

Optical Design & Image Quality

• Construction: 11 elements in 8 groups, including two UD (Ultra-Low Dispersion) glass elements that help reduce chromatic aberrations and improve sharpness.

• Lens Coating: Canon SSC (Super Spectra Coating) enhances contrast and reduces flare and ghosting for cleaner, more vibrant images.

• Aperture: Variable f/5 at 55 mm to f/7.1 at 210 mm, balanced for telephoto performance in a compact design.

• Diaphragm: 7-blade rounded aperture for smooth and pleasing background blur (bokeh) when shooting at longer focal lengths.

Image Stabilization & Autofocus

• Optical Image Stabilization (IS): Built-in IS provides about 4.5 stops of shake reduction — helping you shoot sharper handheld photos even at long reach.

• Coordinated IS: When used with compatible EOS R cameras that have in-body IS, the system can deliver up to roughly 7 stops of stabilization for even steadier shots.

• Autofocus: Stepping Motor (STM) autofocus is smooth, quick, and virtually silent, making it especially useful for both stills and video capture.

• Full-time manual focus support lets you fine-tune focus without switching modes on the camera.

Physical Characteristics

• Compact & Lightweight: Approximately 270 g (9.5 oz) and just under 93 mm long — making this lens easy to carry and balanced on smaller mirrorless bodies.

• Filter Thread: 55 mm — compatible with a wide range of standard filters.

• Closest Focusing Distance: Around 0.7 m (2.4 ft) at 210 mm — great for tighter shots with telephoto compression.

• Maximum Magnification: About 0.28× at the long end of the zoom, useful for closer detail shots without needing a true macro lens.

Use Case & Suitability

This lens shines for photographers who want a lightweight telephoto option without investing in larger, heavier glass. It’s especially suitable for:

• Travel and outdoor photography

• Wildlife and bird shots (within reasonable distances)

• Sports or action scenes

• Portraits with distant backgrounds

• Video shooting thanks to smooth, quiet autofocus