Canon RF 24-240mm Review

Released in 2019, the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is a superzoom lens designed for Canon’s full-frame RF-mount mirrorless cameras. Covering a 10x zoom range, this lens is an all-in-one solution for travel, landscapes, portraits, and even light wildlife photography. It offers image stabilisation (IS), a Nano USM autofocus system, and compact portability, making it a great option for photographers who want versatility without carrying multiple lenses.

Build and Design

Despite its extensive zoom range, the RF 24-240mm remains relatively lightweight at 750g, making it easy to carry around for extended periods. The lens is primarily constructed from high-quality plastics with a metal mount, ensuring a balance between durability and weight savings.

It features a control ring, a hallmark of Canon’s RF lenses, which can be customised for aperture, ISO, or exposure compensation. The zoom ring is large and well-damped, but the lens does extend significantly when zoomed to 240mm. Unfortunately, it is not weather-sealed, so caution is needed when shooting in harsh conditions.

The front element accepts 72mm filters, a common size that makes it easy to find compatible ND or polarising filters for landscape and travel photography.

Optical Performance

For a superzoom, the RF 24-240mm delivers surprisingly good image quality, particularly in the 24-100mm range. Sharpness in the center is strong, with some softness in the corners, especially at the wider and longer ends. Stopping down slightly improves overall sharpness.

Chromatic aberration is well controlled, though some distortion and vignetting are noticeable at 24mm and 240mm. Canon’s in-camera lens corrections help mitigate these issues, particularly for JPEG shooters.

Contrast and colour rendition are excellent, consistent with Canon’s RF lens lineup. Bokeh is decent but not particularly creamy, given the f/4-6.3 aperture. Subject isolation is possible at longer focal lengths, but it does not rival faster prime or telephoto lenses.

Autofocus Performance

The Nano USM autofocus system ensures fast, silent, and smooth focusing, making it suitable for both still photography and video. Autofocus tracking is reliable, though it can slow down slightly in low-light conditions, particularly at 240mm where the f/6.3 aperture limits light intake.

For video shooters, the smooth, near-silent autofocus performance and minimal focus breathing make it a viable option for vlogging and casual filmmaking.

Image Stabilisation

Canon’s Optical Image Stabilisation (IS) system provides up to 5 stops of stabilisation, making it possible to shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds, particularly at the telephoto end. This feature is especially useful for low-light situations and video recording.

When paired with IBIS-equipped Canon bodies, such as the EOS R5 and R6, stabilisation performance is further improved, making handheld shooting even more effective.

Handling and Versatility

The 10x zoom range makes this lens one of the most versatile options in Canon’s RF lineup. It covers everything from wide landscapes at 24mm to distant subjects at 240mm, making it a perfect travel or walkaround lens.

It is also relatively compact when retracted, fitting easily into a small camera bag. However, lens creep can occur when carrying it around at different angles, so using the zoom lock switch is recommended to prevent unintended movement.

Drawbacks

• Variable aperture of f/4-6.3 limits low-light performance and subject isolation
• No weather sealing, making it less ideal for extreme outdoor conditions
• Lens distortion at 24mm and 240mm, though correctable in-camera or in post-processing
• Some softness at 240mm, requiring careful technique for sharp results

Conclusion

The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is a highly practical all-in-one zoom lens, offering a huge focal range, solid autofocus performance, and effective image stabilisation. While it does not match the optical quality of Canon’s L-series lenses, it provides great value for travel photographers, videographers, and casual shooters looking for a single-lens solution.

For those prioritising portability and versatility over ultimate sharpness and low-light performance, the RF 24-240mm is an excellent choice. However, photographers who frequently shoot in low-light or harsh environments may prefer faster primes or weather-sealed zooms for better optical performance and durability.

Samples

Here are some recent photos I captured using the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM lens. These sample shots highlight the lens’s performance across different conditions, settings, and subjects. To view the complete collection of photos taken with this lens, the link.