Review: Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

Friday 5 May 2023, 12:24 by Nando Harmsen | 3,866 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

There are two fantastic ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses for Canon mirrorless cameras. However, these are L lenses which, although incredibly good in terms of quality, are also rather expensive. As an alternative, Canon has the RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. How does this small lens perform on a full-frame camera?

If you are looking for an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, until recently you were limited to Canon's L lenses. You could choose between the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM or the f/4 version, which already starts at a 14mm focal length.

As expected, Canon has also released a version in its cheaper range of lenses. This is the RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM, a compact and lightweight lens that is more affordable. Of course, it needs to perform well too.

The RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM on a Canon EOS R8
I received this lens together with the new Canon EOS R8 mirrorless full-frame camera, for which you can find the review here. With this camera, I was able to test this ultra-wide-angle zoom lens on a full-frame camera.

The RF 15-30STM is small and compact. You can easily take the lens with you.

A closer look at the lens

The RF 15-30STM, as I will abbreviate it, is a compact lens that is easy to take with you. It becomes slightly longer when zooming, but not by very much. In this respect, the lens is no different from its more expensive siblings.

The lens becomes slightly longer when zooming, but not by very much.
Speaking of the more expensive siblings. When you place the RF 15-35STM next to the RF 15-35L f/2.8, you can see how big the difference in size is. The difference in weight comes on top of that, of course.

You only really notice how compact the RF15-30STM is when you place it next to an RF15-35mm f/2.8L.
Because of its small size, there is no separate focus ring. The control ring has to serve that purpose. With a switch, you can change between the control function and the focus function. The only other button on the lens is the stabilisation switch.

The control ring on the lens can also serve as a focus ring. You do need to move a switch for this.

Distortion

The lens distortion is fairly well controlled. There is, of course, the usual wide-angle distortion when you point upwards or downwards. But the actual lens distortion is barely noticeable.

At a 15mm focal length, the wide-angle distortion becomes very noticeable, which is normal and something you see with every wide-angle lens. The distortion itself is completely corrected by the lens correction in the camera.
The camera's built-in lens correction software of course also corrects some distortion. Vignetting is compensated for as well. However, when I look at the image with this correction switched off, the vignetting is noticeable but there is no extreme distortion.

With lens correction switched off, there is a slightly wider angle of view and quite a lot of vignetting. The distortion is present but not shocking.

Flares and chromatic aberration

The chromatic aberration of this lens is naturally also compensated for by lens correction in the camera. If you switch it off, there is some chromatic aberration present.

Chromatic aberration from the lens is completely removed by the lens correction in the camera. The left side is without, and the right side with lens correction enabled. This image is from the extreme top-left corner, at 300% magnification.
In most cases, if not all cases, lens correction in the camera will be switched on. After all, there is little reason to switch it off. As a result, the lens performs very well in terms of distortion and vignetting.

It is different with flares. When you have a light source in the frame, there is a chance of flares. A lens hood will not prevent this, as it is only intended for light entering at an angle.

This is what the flares look like when you have an extremely bright light source such as the sun directly in the frame.
The lens can show quite a lot of flare, especially when this light source is extremely bright. This is something to bear in mind. Naturally, this is made worse when there is dust on the lens.

Aperture f/4.5-6.3

The RF 15-30STM is not a fast lens. The aperture varies between f/4.5 and f/6.3. This means it is not the most suitable lens for use in dark conditions. It is not the best choice for photographing a starry sky or the Milky Way either.

For normal use, such an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens will be used for landscapes and architecture. For this type of photography, you will usually choose an aperture of at least f/8, or even f/11.

For this type of photography, which the lens is ideally suited to, you will usually use an aperture of f/8 or f/11. You do not need a fast lens.
For landscapes and architecture, the maximum aperture of this lens causes no problems. It can only be somewhat difficult when you need to focus in dark conditions. Because the lens does not let in very much light, an insensitive AF system may have a little more difficulty.

In this case, there is no flare with direct sunlight. The sharpness and contrast of the lens are excellent.

A cautious conclusion

The RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is a perfect and affordable alternative to the more expensive L lenses in this focal-length range. In addition, the lens is so small and light that it is easy to take with you.

The performance of the RF 15-30STM is what you would expect. The images look good and there is not much distortion. Any distortion that is present is compensated for by the lens correction in the camera.

Sometimes it is lovely to head out with a small, compact and lightweight lens. The RF 15-30STM is unlikely to disappoint you.
Would you rather not spend so much on a lens like this, or do you not want to carry so much weight in your camera bag? Then this is an excellent lens for those times when you need an ultra-wide angle. Just bear in mind that it is not a fast lens.

Many thanks to Canon Nederland for providing this lens.

You might also like

• 

  Review: Canon EOS R8 full-frame mirrorless camera

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Review: Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Review: Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Review: Canon RF 10-20mm f/4L IS STM

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Review: Canon EOS R50 mirrorless camera

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Review: Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM

  by Nando Harmsen

0 comments

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.