Canon RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Launch MSRP
$549- Weight
- 390g
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Min focus
- 0.13m
- Max mag.
- 0.52×
- Formula
- 13E / 11G
- Released
- 2022
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x UD
- 1x Aspherical (plastic-moulded)
- Aperture range
- f/4.5–6.3 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 390g
- ⌀ × length
- 76.6 × 88.4mm
- Filter
- ⌀67mm
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Optical
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 8.0 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.13m
- Max magnification
- 0.52× (1:1.9)
Optical character
Canon's budget full-frame ultra-wide zoom, suited to travel, interiors and vlogging on R bodies, and a 24-48mm-equivalent walk-around lens on APS-C. It weighs 390g, takes 67mm filters, and adds 5.5-stop optical IS (7 with IBIS). In manual focus at 15mm it focuses to 12.8cm for 0.52x magnification, so it doubles as a wide close-up lens. In AF the limit is 28cm.
The 13-element design uses two UD elements and one plastic-moulded aspherical, and it relies on in-camera correction for distortion and vignetting at the wide end. The f/4.5-6.3 aperture keeps it small but rules it out for astro work. It has a combined focus/control ring with a selector switch, a quiet STM motor and a metal mount. There is no weather sealing, and the hood is sold separately.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers agree the centre is sharp from wide open across the range. Edges and corners at 15mm are weaker and need stopping down, while 28-30mm is very good to the corners. In close-range lab tests it came near the RF L ultra-wides. Lateral colour shows towards the corners between 15 and 24mm but corrects easily. Flare is fairly well controlled, though the sun in or near the frame can add coloured spots, and the optional hood is recommended.
The big caveat is its reliance on correction. Uncorrected 15mm files show very heavy barrel distortion and vignetting, and the image circle does not fully cover the corners, so correction crops the frame. Autofocus is quick, quiet and free of visible breathing, and the IS matches its rating in tests. Build is judged good for the price, but the lack of sealing and the missing hood are common complaints. All three reviews rate it strong value against the L zooms.
Owner sentiment
Owner feedback will appear once we have verified real-world reports for this lens.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +390g with 67mm filters
- +5.5-stop optical IS (7 with IBIS)
- +0.52x close focus at 15mm in MF
- +Sharp centre from wide open
- +Quiet STM AF, metal mount
Weaknesses
- −Heavy distortion and vignetting at 15mm without correction
- −Soft edges at 15mm until stopped down
- −Slow f/4.5-6.3 aperture
- −No weather sealing, hood sold separately
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 7.6
- Bokeh Rendering
- 6.8
- Autofocus Speed
- 8.0
- Flare Resistance
- 7.4
- Build / Sealing
- 7.0
- Value / Size
- 8.8
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Canon RF · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 15–30mm |
| Category | Ultra-Wide |
| Maximum aperture | f/4.5–6.3 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 13 elements in 11 groups |
| Special elements | 2x UD · 1x Aspherical (plastic-moulded) |
| Aperture blades | 7 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | STM |
| Minimum focus | 0.13m |
| Max magnification | 0.52× |
| Stabilisation | Optical |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 390g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 76.6 × 88.4mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀67mm |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2022 |
| Launch MSRP | $549 USD |
Sources
Verified against the pages below. Specifications come from the manufacturer; summaries only reflect reviews and owner reports we actually read.
Specifications
- canon.com.cn/product/rf1530f4563/spec.html
- canon.com.cn/product/rf1530f4563/
- global.canon/en/c-museum/product/rf518.html
Launch price
- canonrumors.com/canon-officially-announces-the-rf-24mm-f-1-8-macro-is-stm-a
Professional reviews
- digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/canon-rf-15-30mm-f45-63-is-stm-review
- photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_rf_15_30mm_f4_5_6_3_is_stm_review/conclusion
- amateurphotographer.com/review/canon-rf-15-30mm-f4-5-6-3-is-stm-review
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSRF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM vs RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM
- VSRF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM vs RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM
- VSRF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM vs RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
- Canon
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- 445g
- FLT
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- MFD
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- MSRP
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AFSTABWR - CanonL
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- FLT
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- MFD
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AFSTABWR - CanonL
RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
15–35mmF2.8- WT
- 840g
- FLT
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- MFD
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- MSRP
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AFSTABWR
