Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM Review

Canon's other kit lens, the RF-S18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM (499.99), is now available. We understand that the 18-150mm lens is a little more expensive and larger than others, but these tradeoffs are well worth it. The lens is likely to be used for daily photography, so the additional zoom range and macro capabilities are important.

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For some, a familiar lens

The 18-150mm F3.5 6.3 IS STM designation may sound familiar. Canon created an EF-M18-150mmF3.5-6.3 IS STM for the EOS M camera system. DPReview reported that the RF–S and RF–M models have the same optical chart and MTF performance charts (Opens in a new browser). Canon has used an optical design that was already in use to create this zoom. The EF-M18-150mm is a good starter zoom, and we don't blame them for it.

The RF-S edition looks a bit different than the EF-M variant, with a slightly thicker base that matches the EOS R system's wider-throat lens mount. Just keep in mind that EF-M and RF-S lenses are not cross-compatible if you are a current EOS M owner mulling a swap to an EOS R10 or R7. On the other hand, if you're moving up from a Canon SLR, you can use your current lenses with the EF-EOS R adapter.

It features a mount and barrel made of plastic. The lens is lightweight, weighing in at 10.9 ounces. It measures just 5.0 x 2.7 inches at its narrowest point (HD), and weighs only 2.9 oz. As you can see, the barrel zooms. The lens does not come with a hood. Only the rear and front caps are included. You may need to purchase a 55mm filter for protection against bumps or stray fingerprints. You can also get a Canon EW-60F or third-party hood for as low as $10.

You don't get any dust or splash protection here, features Canon reserves for its premium L series lenses. We will have to wait and see if Canon releases a premium standard zoom for APS cameras like the EOS R7 and R10 but, for now, creators looking for a sensibly sized, step-up zoom for the system can think about the RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM ($549.99) as a midrange pick, or the RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM ($1,699) as a sensibly-sized, weather-protected premium option. Of course, neither offers much telephoto coverage, and our advice may shift as Canon announces more lenses for the system.

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Handling and controls

The RF-S 18-150mm covers a wide range—29-240mm in full-frame terms—but is deceptively small, something we expect from an optical formula originally made for the svelte EOS M family. On-barrel controls include just the zoom ring and manual focus ring. The zoom occupies the bulk of the barrel and features a ridged plastic finish. The focus ring sits ahead of it; it's fairly narrow and sports a rough, diamond texture pattern.

The STM motor's smooth, silent autofocus makes it a great choice. Lightweight optics allow you to focus quickly from near or far. However, manual focus is not a great experience. Because the throw time is so short and there's no linear response, you will need to move slowly in order to adjust. For the most part, we recommend that you use autofocus.

Videographers should appreciate how well the lens controls the breathing effect. There's no change in angle of view with photos at the nearest focus distance compared with those at infinity, so you can freely use the lens for creative shots that shift focus from one subject to another.

The RF18-150mm is a great tool for close-up photography. The RF 18-150mm can focus to 6.7 in at 18mm and 17.8 at 150mm respectively, which is sufficient for macros of 1:2.3 size. This is a great result for standard zooms and an added bonus for photographers who are nature-lovers. For macro work, the RF-S18-45mm zoom is more expensive and can only achieve 1:6.3 magnifications. This isn't nearly as impressive.

The RF-S 18-150mm includes optical stabilization, which is useful for cameras like the entry-level EOS R10 that don't have in-body stabilization. I found the IS effectively suppresses handshake-induced blur for exposures as long as 1 second at 18mm and about 1/4 second at 150mm. I got similar results with the EOS R7, which does include a stabilization system, though Canon says the combination should net two additional stops of stabilization.

RF-S18-150mm in the Lab

For resolution testing, I used the 32.5MP EOS R7 to pair the lens. Imatest (Opens a new window).Imatest shows very high resolution across the range (around 3,000 line) with slightly improved clarity between f/5.6 (around 3,300 line) and f/8 (3,300). The edges aren't as clear at the broad end, and the lines remain soft when the camera is lowered. However this is expected given the 8.3x zoom ratio and the size of the lens.

The lens leans on some in-camera corrections to suppress distortion, vignette, and lateral chromatic aberration. If you take photos in Raw format, you need to take care of these issues yourself. Adobe Lightroom Classic includes a correction profile for the lens that straightens unnaturally curved lines and brightens vignetted corners. I also recommend using the Remove Chromatic Aberration checkbox; it effectively suppresses lateral CA that sometimes appears as false purple color around tree branches, power lines, and similar objects.

Even though the aperture is quite small, blurring backgrounds can be done easily at close focal lengths and telephoto focal lengths. At open apertures, defocused highlights appear circular but have a cat-eye look toward the edges. To get circular bokeh, simply stop at the edges. We didn't find any LoCA (longitudinal CA) in the specular highlights, or transitions between focus points.

If you are interested in sunstars for your landscape images, the 18-150mm does a good job drawing them at its widest angle and smallest f/22 aperture. You lose some edge image clarity at that aperture, but the 18-point sunstars may be worth the trade-off. You might also encounter ghosting flare when you chase sunstars, though flare is more noticeable at wide-open settings. At 18mm f/3.5 and 150mm f/6.3, the lens shows some flare in images with a strong backlight; if you do a lot of outdoor work, consider picking up the hood accessory to improve contrast.

The Better RF–S Starter Zoom

If you're buying an EOS R10, you get to choose between two bundled lenses—the tiny RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM or this larger (but still carry-friendly) RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM. The 18-150mm lens is better for beginners using Canon's R mirrorless camera system. Both its longer zoom range, and superior macro capabilities are worth the upgrade.

The price difference between the two kits may be an issue, though. You can get the R10 with the 18-45mm for $1,099, but the kit with the 18-150mm comes in at $1,379 (a $100 discount versus buying the camera and lens separately). If you have a strict budget or prefer the 18-45mm's ultra-small form, you may disagree with our take.

EOS R7 prospective owners won't have a choice. The RF-S18-150mm kit lens is the only option. This bundle includes the $100 coupon for the lens. The lens was quite compatible with the R7. However, we understand that some creators may prefer a zoom standard zoom with more coverage and brighter aperture.

Canon hasn't introduced any made-for-APS zooms that qualify as of yet, but a couple of full-frame options are worth considering. We've not yet tested the RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM ($549.99), but it shows promise. If you've got some money to spend, the RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM ($1,699) is another candidate. Both are short zooms, so you have to supplement them with a telephoto option for portraits and distant subjects.