Uncover how the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4 has what it takes to stand out and be a universal lens for any photographer. 5-6. Three different theoretical perspective in this extensive synthesis review. Research it for main characteristics, efficiency, and applicability to be utilized under travelling, photoshoot and videography. Especially ideal for new photographers and amateurs who want a light portable zoom lens that is relatively cheap.
Overview of the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3
Thus, introducing its new APS-C RF mount cameras—well, it’s relatively new—Canon finally revives its entry-level, zoomable APS-C kit lens. Today, we’re taking a look at Canon’s offering: The Canon RF-S 18–45mmf/4 is compact but ain’t bad at all in terms of size and weight. 5-6. 3 IS STM. If bought individually this lens will set you back a fairly hefty £300. Still, as an accessory to a new camera it is only £100. Naturally, if this lens is not exceptionally good, there is no sense in purchasing it individually.
There has also been the introduction of the Canon RF-S 18-45mm kit lens, for which the company will probably offer a pricier EOS R7 body. A preview on this more interesting super zoom lens is in the following link, but a full review is on the way.
This lens is in the range of Canon RF-S 18-45mm and is both small and light It is also attached to the cheaper end of the spectrum if you are buying the lens in conjunction with a camera. However, it has certain limitations: the versatility is limited by the relatively short zoom range, and the lens has an unusually dark maximum aperture.
On a full-frame, the Canon RF-S 18-45mm range translates to approximately 29-72mm, so expect nothing beyond fairly narrow-angle or tight telephoto. While most competitors’ lenses begin as wide as 15mm or 16mm, and as mentioned earlier, Canon compares rather unfavorably. Additionally, the f/4. 5 to f/6. 3 aperture range is rather weak compared to other competitors, thus defining the rather limited possibilities to blur the foreground or shoot in the dark.
Purpose and Target Audience
Fortunately, what Canon has done in this lens is to offer image stabilization. The stabilization makes a huge difference when it comes to the video work and it even offers better still-image sharpness. For those who buy this small, 18-45 mm, kit lens, one will realize that it is small and light in comparison to other kit lenses out in the market. APS-C Sony and Nikon kit lenses are smaller and more versatile with wider focal length ranges than most included Rebel lenses. However, it could be useful for traveling and only landscapes.
The lens is made of plastic, including the lens mount, and lacks weather sealing. The zoom ring clicks heavily when moving from storage to shooting mode, feeling somewhat cheap and sticky. The plastic focus ring, however, turns smoothly and can be customized to control various functions other than focus, depending on your camera’s menu settings. While the autofocus motor is quiet, accurate, and fast—a significant improvement from kit lenses of a decade ago—the lens does exhibit some focus breathing, zooming in and out as you adjust focus.
With a 49mm filter thread, the lens does not come with a hood. While the lens’s electronics function well, anyone who pays £300 for this lens separately may feel disappointed by its cheap, plasticky build quality.
Weather Sealing
Now, let’s examine the image quality. I tested the lens on a 32.5-megapixel Canon EOS R7 with in-camera corrections turned on. At 18mm, the center of the image is sharp, though contrast is only fair, while the corners are much softer. Stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 makes little difference, and at f/11, diffraction causes noticeable softness. Zooming to 28mm, where the maximum aperture darkens to f/5, the center sharpness is decent but not great, and the corners are still poor.
However, stopping down to f/8 improves corner sharpness, while stopping further to f/11 reintroduces softness due to diffraction. Finally, at 45mm and f/6.3, diffraction affects the image quality, and while the center sharpness is okay, corner quality is better than at wider angles.
Key Features at a Glance
As for vignetting and distortion, the situation with 18mm focal length is quite confusing: there is a rather severe barrel distortion and visible corner vignetting. Switching to 45mm eradicates this by extending it back and characterizing the corners more clearly. It has also close-focusing capabilities, as close as 35 cm, while the image quality at this focusing is poor, and the best performed at f/11 focus Canon RF-S 18–45mm.
To the extent of bright light, it offers a highly efficient performance with little flare or loss of contrast. The aperture of this lens is quite dark achieving maximum only at f 1.2, however when achieved the bokeh quality, is quite good.
This lens has limitation in the zoom range, average in the aperture and image quality. I cannot recommend this lens but, when bought together with the camera, it is one of the cheapest lenses you can begin your lens collection with. One has to wonder why Canon is releasing a kit lens so non-competitive with its other systems; thus, anyone stuck with this lens should seek to upgrade as soon as affordably possible.
Autofocus and Performance
Autofocus System
Later, they also added the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f4. 5-6. 3 IS STM lens comes equipped with a fresh autofocus system meant for both still image shooting and recording of videos. This system makes it possible for the users to attain clear image focusing as well as high image focus in difficult and challenging circumstances.
Stepper Motor Technology
The lens uses Canon’s Steper Motor (STM) technology, which is famous for being fast, silent almost, and highly accurate. Therefore it is a great video camera for the directors who require focus during a video recording. The STM technology means that focus changes are quiet, therefore the sounds that may be picked up by a camera-mounted microphone are reduced. To the photographers, Stepper Motor provides the faster and reliable object focus for photographs and especially when the object of the photograph is in motion.
Autofocus Speed and Accuracy
But I have found the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4 as fast and precise to focus as some of the higher-priced lenses. 5-6. In general, 3 IS STM lens can be regarded as rather effective within the parameters of its class. It focuses well, with swift accurate phase detect focusing that does not hunt or stumble when engaging with subjects.
As it turns out, it is not going to be as impressive as Canon’s professional-grade lenses but it is plenty good enough for general photography, be it landscapes or portraits. The performance of the lens is optimal in bright conditions, but when the lighting is low, the autofocus speed may be slightly slower than in the case of the previous lens, but the accuracy of focusing is maintained.
Tracking and Eye Detection
In this lens, Canon has added the tracking and, eye detection functionality, which makes this lens suitable for fast-moving objects and greatly for portraits since it can focus on the eyes.
Subject Tracking Performance
On the image focusing department, Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens is impressive in subject tracking, particularly if used with the newer Canon APS-C RF mount cameras. It also has a sufficiently fast focusing system for subjects ranging from people to sports, which makes it easy for the camera to pick the target and follow its movements unevenly. It comes handy for photographing wildlife and sports because the subject’s movement is often unpredictable. The tracking system is solid, so that even when shooting at the telephoto end of the zoom range the subject stays sharp.
Price Menu for Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
- Lens Only: £300
- With Canon EOS R7 Camera Kit: £1,299
- With Canon EOS R10 Camera Kit: £1,099
Image Stabilization
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
In today’s lens, the Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) plays an important role especially in Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4. 5-6. 3 IS STM, which helps in preventing camber jitter and enhance image quality and video shooting.
Effectiveness of OIS
This Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens comes with an advanced OIS that delivers an optimum performance since users can shoot at slower speeds in a bid to prevent blur due to hand movements. It is helpful when the use of tripod cannot be made such as when shooting on the streets, or when shooting an impromptu outdoor photoshoot. Thanks to the compensation of the movement of the hands, OIS keeps the shots clear and the necessary stabilization is provided when shooting in motion or using telephoto lenses where vibration is critical.
Performance in Low-Light Scenarios
When it comes to low light situations, which may require the use of longer shutter speeds, OIS is at it best. This is through the stabilization system of the Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens which helps to enhance the sharpness of images taken without necessarily having to up the quantity of illumination by use of ISO which has a way of introducing noise.
They are especially helpful at night, when the subject is to be illuminated indoors, or in low light conditions in general. In video recording, OIS enables composure, symmetrical, and stable video motions while shooting handheld particularly in low light conditions no need of extra gadgets to make good motion videos.
Video Recording Capabilities
Lens Performance for Video
Regarding the video recording the image stabilization of the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4. 5-6. 3 IS STM lens that can well serve both the novices and professional video users. The lens is characterized by a high level of image stabilization so it will suit numerous video-related tasks.
Autofocus in Video Mode Canon RF-S 18-45mm
Autofocus is a critical feature for videos, and this Canon lens is very good in this area. This is made possible by its STM (Stepping Motor) autofocus system which allows for a very fast and silent focusing during video shooting. This is especially useful when shooting scenes with fast-moving objects and people as the autofocus will have to chase the moving target while generating no noise at all. It has a very natural and fast autofocus when recording; this makes it suitable for casual vlogs and professional productions.
Image Stabilization in Video
One important factor in video quality is image stabilization and the OIS present in this lens is very efficient in reducing vibration during the shooting. The stabilization system is useful for getting a smooth and stable picture regardless of the movements of the camera. This is especially helpful to video photographers who cannot use a tripod while recording, as it helps get better shots when capturing a certain moment. OIS and Dual Sensing IS help to contribute to the stabilisation which lets you record wonderful, professional quality footage no matter the situation.
Zooming During Video
The Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4. 5-6. The 3 IS STM lens has provisions that enable easy and steady zooming during shooting of a scene hence enabling the Videographer to capture nice frames or effects.
Smoothness of Zoom Action
The zoom control on this lens has been made silky, allowing users to transition between different focal lengths in the process of shooting a scene. Such a smooth zooming is crucial for smooth switch between the width and narrow perspectives which is very important for professional videography. The Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens’s construction means that zooming is smooth and tight: it doesn’t jolt or jump, which could disrupt your video.
Focus Breathing Analysis
Positive feedback occurs due to focus breathing, which is associated with varying the magnification of the image when changing the focus and which is very disturbing in videos. Fortunately, the focus breathing in the Canon RF-S 18-45mm is not significant at all, which means your subject at the foreground will remain well-framed even as the lens focuses on objects far away or at the background and vice versa.
This is especially relevant for filming scenes that involve a lot of focus pulls, for instance interviews or the moving subject’s scenes. Thus, the Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens allows you to keep a professional view throughout your entire footage by minimizing the focus breathing.
Table of Contents
Pros and Cons
The Canon RF-S 18-45mm has the following benefits:
Among the main characteristics of the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4 lenses that can be noted – it is relatively compact. 5-6. One of the distinctive features of 3 IS STM lens is that it is quite small and light. This is a portable lens which weights just a few hundred grams; thus you do not have to worry carrying it along when travelling or doing everyday photography. Its small size doesn’t reduce its performance in any way it is a very portable option for photographers who need a good lens on the move. Yet, the Canon RF-S 18–45mm lens is also lightweight – an important feature for those using it with Canon’s mirrorless cameras.
Versatile Focal Range
The Canon RF-S 18-45mm zoom delivers a good range of optical zoom; wide angle to slightly standard range. Thanks to this flexibility, the lens can be used for a great number of shooting: landscapes, portraits, etc. It is especially useful when photographing dynamic landscapes or details, you are able to switch between them and close up or pull back without having to put a new lens on the camera. It is for this reason that Canon RF-S 18-45mm becomes the perfect all in one lens for new users and enthusiast photographers.
Flaws that Canon RF-S 18-45mm Incorporates
Another disadvantage of which is the limited aperture of the lens, which has a minimum value of f/4 at the beginning of the focal length range. 5 and at its largest becomes f/6. 3 at the longer end of the zoom. This makes its possible to control the depth rate, but a relatively small aperture means that option of having a limited depth of field suitable for blurring out the background is also limited.
Also, because of the small aperture, taking pictures in the dark environment or at night becomes a little difficult without using a high ISO or a very slow shutter speed that will create blurry images because of the shake.
This is a common problem in many lenses; it may manifest more severely in wide angles, which is chromatic aberration.
One more disadvantage of this lens is that it has chromatic aberration and that is more visible at the widest focal length. The Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens chromatic aberration is a focusing issue that manifests itself like a color fringing along the borders of high contrast components of the shot; it can be seen mainly in low light or during shooting at a large aperture. Although this flaw is one of the aspects that can be fixed during post-production, this may become a problem for photographers who need perfect prints from a camera immediately.
Average Low-Light Performance
The Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens is also not ideal for low light shooting owing to the limited aperture at the long end of the spectrum. Due to the small aperture, the quantity of light that is allowed to pass through the lens is limited and as such shooting in low light conditions may require external lighting or high ISO ratings. Hearing the sound directly can lead to a rise in noise levels and a degradation of the image which is especially clear when there were low amounts of brightness in the scene.
The extent of light gathering is not as great as might be expected in photographers who shoot in low light situations, more so, photographers who shoot with huge lenses, this makes the focal point twice as less as what would be expected as a result of the relatively small maximum aperture of the Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens.
User Reviews and Feedback
Positive Reviews Canon RF-S 18-45mm
There is a good consensus among the customers as they believe that Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4 is amazing. 5-6. In this connection, the third IS STM lens is very compact and is best described as versatile. Consumers also love the fact that it is relatively portable and easily movable to desired location for photography. One of the advantages which have been noted include the fact that that the focal length range is rather flexible, permitting to take a very broad range of pictures, from broad landscapes to standard portraits.
Another mentioned frequently is the effective Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for improving the sharpness of the image, especially when shooting from hand. All in all, the customers appear to be satisfied with the performance to price ratio of this lens, particularly when used with Canon’s mirrorless DSLR cameras.
Common Complaints
Still, some users have noted certain disadvantages of the lens, as received based on the data reported by multiple clients. The primary disadvantage of this lens is that the aperture range is very simple which in terms of low illumination and a shallow depth of field. A few users have also complained of occurrence of chromatic aberration, especially as the lens approaches the wide-end of the focal length range.
On the downside it means that fine tuning and color correction and some other post processing operations are not possible. Furthermore, as much as the lens has received commendation for being portable, some customers have gripes in that the construction of the lens feels somewhat cheap, more so, it is made from plastic and thus highly prone to abrasion.
If you’re a Canon fan feeling disappointed, stay tuned! I’ll be reviewing the Canon RF-S 18-45mm lens soon, which might offer more encouragement. Thanks to my generous supporters on Patreon for keeping these reviews going.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which Cameras Are Best for Use RF-S Canon 18-45mm Lens?
The Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4 zumo is a zoom lens that has been specially designed as an entry point for beginners to the RF-S full frame mirrorless cameras’ system. 5-6. 3 works with all the APS-C mirrorless cameras that utilize the RF mount, including the Canon EOS R7 and R10 models. It can also be used with full-frame compatible RF mount cameras in cropped mode.
How does it work, or in other words, how does the image stabilization perform?
Its Optical Zoom is up to 4x, and it boasts of the Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) system. It significantly minimises camera vibration and is especially useful when shooting at night or when holding the camera, for stills and video Canon RF-S 18-45mm.
Can the Canon RF-S 18-45mm be Considered a Professional Lens?
Canon RF- S 18-45mm, is a compact and general-purpose lens, it lacks in aperture extent and performability to cater the needs of the professional photographers but can be useful for the photography enthusiastic and common users.
Which is the main competitor of this lens?
Some of the main rivals comprise of the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7. 1, Sigma 18-50mm f/2. 8 DC DN, and the Tamron 17-70mm F/2. 8 Di III-A VC RXD. The lenses vary in focal range and have other characteristics, which are appropriate for photography of various types Canon RF-S 18-45mm.
Does it stand tall against the Canon RF 24-105mm?
The Canon RF 24-105 outfits a wider zoom range and slightly wider aperture at some end, thus is way more versatile. Cons: though the Canon RF-S 18-45mm is larger and heavier than both the EF-M 15-45mm and the EF-M 18-150mm, it must be noted that this lens is designed for travel and everyday photography.
Conclusion
The features are as follows; The AF system –Dual Pixel CMOS AF on the EOS R series cameras. Canon RF–S 18-45mm STM lens to complement the EOS systems which will be perfect for travel and user-friendly APS-C mirrorless cameras. This container has features that it is portable and can be used with Optical Image Stabilization for everyday or travelling photography. However, aperture range is not so large and the build quality may be not appropriate enough for more demanding customers. In conclusion, it is a decent starting lens and when bundled with the camera should suffice especially for the beginner photographer who is not so concerned about the highest ultimate image quality and build of the lens.
