Canon Marketing Malaysia (“Canon”) today announced the RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM, its ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for the RF mount. It offers a wider angle-of-view than the existing EF11-24mm f/4L USM— exemplary image quality and a new built-in Optical Image Stabilizer (Optical IS), all in a significantly smaller body that weighs less than half of the EF version. The portability expands the lens’ possible applications, making it viable for use with a gimbal or rig to provide new cinematic perspectives, or as an additional option on hikes and treks. Hunter Zhang, Director of Image Communication Business Division at Canon Marketing Malaysia stated, “Canon recognises the diverse focal range requirements of photographers. With the latest RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM lens, they extend the zoom lens lineup within the f/4L range, delivering a combination of a professional-grade built camera accessory while enhancing the accessibility of this focal range to photographers.”

The Advantage of Going Wider

The wider the focal length, the bigger the difference every 1mm makes. At a focal length of 10mm, the area covered is nearly twice that at 14mm, and 1.4x that at 12mm, which significantly increases possibilities especially when shooting large subjects in tight spaces. With the unique perspective effect, which exaggerates relative distances, objects near the lens look bigger and more impressive, while vast spaces and scenes look even more spacious and unending. At the same time, the zoom capability allows the flexibility to frame the scene tighter. This makes the ultra-wide-angle RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM an asset for expanding creative expression. Paired with APS-C EOS R cameras, the lens continues to be an ultra-wide-angle lens, capturing a field of view equivalent to 16 to 32mm on a full-frame lens.

Powerful yet Light

Going wider while maintaining maximum aperture and performance traditionally meant a heavier lens, but the RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM goes against this with a dramatic weight reduction. At approximately 570g, it shaves over 600g off the EF11-24mm f/4L USM, even with its additional Optical IS unit, and is of a similar size to the existing f/4L trinity lenses. Its portability also makes it ideal for handheld shooting and use with a gimbal.

Outstanding Image Quality All the Way to the Edges

The RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM is Canon’s first ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with a focal length under 13mm to be equipped with the Optical Image Stabilizer (Optical IS), users can now take long exposures hand-hand with up to 5 shutter stops’ of image stabilisation (6 stops through Coordinated Control IS with compatible cameras). Optical IS also works in tandem with Movie Digital IS to achieve image stabilisation during video shooting, ensuring smooth handheld footage even while walking. The RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM additionally supports the new Peripheral Coordinated Control, which effectively compensates the peripheral blurring that tends to occur with ultra-wide-angle lenses. This works with the optimised lens configuration and in-camera correction to control distortion and chromatic aberration throughout the entire zoom range. This results in outstanding image quality that is on par, if not better than that of the EF11-24mm f/4L USM’s stellar reputation.

Nimble AutoFocus

The lens focusing system, including the STM motor and focusing lens, is designed to optimise AF performance. This ensures swift focusing during still photography, along with high-precision, smooth and quiet AF drive during video recording. Performance is on par, if not better, than the EF11-24mm f/4L USM. It also newly adopts the lens position sensor used in Nano USM lenses, which, when combined with the lead-screw type STM, shortens startup time so users can start shooting quickly from power-on.

Intuitive and Innovative Design

As with the esteemed L-series lenses, the RF10-20mm f/4L IS STM boasts a sturdy and durable design, complete with fluorine coating and dust- and drip-resistance quality. On top of the RF lens’ control ring for exposure control, a new function button can be assigned as a convenient shortcut for various functions and is easily accessible with the left thumb. The lens has a rear gelatin filter holder for those who wants to explore more creative expressions through the use of different filters.