Best Budget Canon RF Lenses Under $500 | 2025 Buyers Guide

About this Video

• Video Title: Best Budget Canon RF Lenses Under $500 | 2025 Buyers Guide
• Channel: James Reader
• Speakers: James Reader
• Duration: 00:14:06

Introduction

This video reviews the best Canon RF lenses available for under $500 in 2025. The presenter aims to help viewers expand their lens collection without exceeding their budget, considering both new and used market prices. He reviews several lenses, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

Key Takeaways

• Canon RF 50mm f/1.8: A budget-friendly, compact, and versatile lens, excellent for portraits and everyday shooting. Its main drawback is significant vignetting at wide apertures. Available new for around $200 and used for around $100.
• Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM: An all-around lens, suitable for various photography types, including video due to its image stabilization. The STM motor can produce noticeable focusing noise. Priced at $499 new, but significantly cheaper used.
• Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM: A budget-friendly zoom lens that surprisingly performs well in sharpness, even against some prime lenses. The variable aperture makes it less suitable for low-light conditions. Available for $399 new but much less used.
• Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM: A sharp portrait lens with excellent bokeh, well-suited for weddings and events. Autofocus can be finicky, especially for macro work. New price is slightly over $500; buying used is recommended.
• Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM: A small, lightweight pancake lens great for travel and street photography. It's exceptionally sharp and produces great image quality. The unusual filter thread size is a minor drawback. Available for $299 new, less used.
• Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM: An ultra-wide lens ideal for landscapes and vlogging. It's sharp but relies on digital corrections for distortion and vignetting. Costs $279 new, around $200 used.
• Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM (Honorable Mention): Excellent for APS-C cameras, offering versatility and good performance for travel, portraits, and video. Autofocus noise and digital corrections needed for vignette/distortion are drawbacks. Priced at $599 new, requiring a used purchase to meet the budget.