Why Are RF Lenses So Expensive? Do They Worth It?

Sajida Noor
5 min readJul 30, 2022

--

Let’s Uncover:

Are you a photography enthusiast and want to know “Why are RF lenses so expensive”?

Well, technology makes a difference. Right? The latest technology and designs bring uniqueness, better quality, and freshness to the products. Which may cost higher than before. RF lenses are expensive to manufacture, “Yeah,” they say it as all other quality manufacturers might signify the motive, and they know people will pay.

The RF lenses are available in the price range of $300 to $3000 and above in many choices. The point to be comprehended first is that companies with a huge consumer factor, have to alleviate a variety of different customers. They have distinct buying appearances and preferences. They may be mid-range, fanatics, professionals, and experts as well.

Let’s discuss the RF lens’s high price and try to find out the reasons why they are so expensive.

Reasons: Why Are RF Lenses So Expensive?

You must want to know about the incentives behind the cost of RF lenses. Don’t you? Here we reveal the core justifications they tend to give the customers.

  1. Credible Optical Picture Stabilization

Optical image stabilization is a feature that makes RF lenses costly. Regardless of the circumstance and whether you can take photos or video with RF lenses. The camera and lens share data to significantly reduce camera-shake blur and produce remarkably precise images.

2. Controlled Innovative Ring

This quality can also be one of the reasons for the extravagance of RF lenses. The lens barrel of every RF lens is a control ring. The control ring is used to manually change a variety of parameters, including shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and more.

The control ring, which is situated near the front of the lens, effectively adds a third dial to the EOS R and EOS RP camera’s main dial.

Its quick control dial has an easily distinguishable surface and a clicking mechanism that gives audible feedback for confident use while using the viewfinder.

3. Information Display for Lens

The EOS R camera’s ability to show lens information directly in the viewfinder is another extravagant feature. That makes it simple to confirm the lens’s focal length without taking your eyes off the task at hand.

4. Moderate F/2 Brightness in Zoom Range

The RF lenses are highly priced due to remarkable quality and even brightness. The RF 28–70mm F2 L USM offers unmatched performance across its zoom range. Thanks to its maximum aperture of f/2. It provides the performance and versatility of a few fixed focal length lenses with L series optics, pg excellent results from 28 to 70mm.

5. Brilliant and Sharp Aperture

You can produce Stunning photographs with the RF 50mm F1.2 L USM lens in a wide range of circumstances. This is another added factor for being costly. Its f/1.2 aperture, designed especially for the EOS R system, results in dramatic low-light performance. As a result, you get breathtaking, detailed photos with explicit background blur.

6. Straight and Quite Nano USM

The RF 24–105mm F4 L IS USM’s wide zoom range and continuous f/4 maximum aperture make it a convenient lens. It’s the first lens in the L series to have Canon’s quick and responsive NANO USM. That makes it perfect for landscapes, portraits, and a variety of other uses.

7. Magnification Ratio

Its high magnification ratio is what makes these lenses different from others. The RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM lens is a wide-angle macro lens with incredible versatility. It’s small, light, and portable. It boasts a close focusing distance of 0.56 feet/0.17 meters and a 0.5x magnification ratio for great macro photography.

8. Modification Services for RF Lenses and Control Ring

With its new technology, you can modify the RF lenses and control ring. A “clicking” sound is produced when the control ring on RF lenses and the Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R are utilized. Even though it can be useful to check setting changes. With Canon’s control ring modification service, owners of EOS R series cameras can choose to have this function disabled. Don’t worry you can even reapply if necessary in the future.

9. Portable Compact Sizes

RF lenses cost high and this factor also makes them more expensive but it combines excellent performance with a little light construction. For instance, the popular 70–200mm zoom range of the Canon RF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens may be obtained in just 146mm (at its shortest length). As a result, the lens is 28 percent lighter and around 27 percent shorter than the EF equivalent.

Here we give answers to some common FAQs about why RF lenses are so expensive;

Here we go:

Q1. What Are the Creativity Prospects of Expensive RF Lenses?

Answer:

The EF-EOS RF lens mount that you previously purchased and switched to full frame mirrorless can still be used with the EOS R family of camera bodies. The adaptor provides further creative control while maintaining performance and complete compatibility. But bear in mind that using the newer version, more innovative RF lenses will allow you to fully utilize the advantages of the RF mount.

Q2. What Intuitive Control RF Lenses Provide?

Answer:

The RF lenses have a lens control ring, which enables quick, intuitive shooting and provides adjustable shutter speed, ISO, or exposure compensation control. You can specifically adjust these settings, thanks to this special feature without having to take your eye off the viewfinder.

Q3. What Makes RF Lenses Better Choice Than Canon’s EF Lenses?

Answer:

The RF lenses have a shorter flange focal distance compared to EF lenses. That’s why it works for the design of lenses with small focal lengths. They can be made faster and have less distortion. On the other hand, with EF lenses you have to use a retro-focus distortion at an extra cost.

In A Nutshell

Now, you can understand why RF lenses are so expensive. Due to the developing selection of RF lenses and ongoing innovation, there are countless creative alternatives in both photography and cinematography. Of course, they are expensive due to their quality but they are worth it. Right? Operate your EOS R Mirrorless camera to its best potential and look into the selection of RF lenses that have been created to maximize performance. You can boost your creativity with RF lenses but at a high price.

--

--

Sajida Noor

A freelance writer aims to provide outstanding and meaningful content.