Canon’s mirrorless cameras use RF mount lenses, and the system offers a wide variety of options for different photography styles. In this article, we’ll explain what the Canon RF mount is, how it compares to other Canon mount types, and how to choose the best RF zoom lenses and telephoto lenses. We’ll also highlight Tamron RF mount lenses that deliver excellent performance and value.

What You’ll Learn in This Article:

• What is RF mount and how it compares to EF mount (RF mount vs EF mount)
• How Canon mount types differ and what that means for lens selection
• The differences between RF zoom lenses, wide-angle, standard, and telephoto lenses
• How to choose the best RF lenses for portraits, video, and everyday photography
• Why Tamron RF mount lenses are among the best Canon zoom lenses available

Canon Mount Types

Before choosing a lens, it’s important to understand the Canon mount types. The lens mount is the joint that connects the camera body and lens, and different Canon systems use different standards:

• Canon RF mount – used for Canon’s latest mirrorless cameras
• Canon EF mount – used for full-frame SLR cameras
• Canon EF-S mount – designed for APS-C SLR cameras

What is RF Mount?

The Canon RF mount is Canon’s advanced mirrorless lens system. Its short flange focal length allows for larger lens diameters and innovative optical designs, resulting in high-performance lenses with faster communication between lens and body.

Canon RF mount lenses include both full-frame RF lenses and APS-C RF-S lenses, giving flexibility to different users.

Canon RF Mount vs EF Mount

The Canon EF mount, introduced in 1987, was Canon’s long-standing standard for DSLR cameras. It features an extensive lens lineup and wide compatibility across decades of cameras.

By contrast, the RF mount is optimized for mirrorless systems, offering faster autofocus, better optical performance, and modern design. However, EF lenses can still be used with RF cameras via an adapter.

Canon EF-S Mount for APS-C SLR Cameras

The EF-S mount is designed for Canon APS-C DSLRs. While EF lenses can be mounted on EF-S cameras, EF-S lenses cannot be mounted on EF bodies.

Canon RF Mount to EF Mount Compatibility

RF mount EF mount compatibility requires an adapter. Using the Canon RF to EF lens adapter, you can attach Canon EF mount lenses to an RF camera. While generally effective, some combinations may introduce limitations, so always confirm compatibility before use.

How to Choose the Best RF Lenses

With so many options, choosing the best RF lenses depends on your shooting needs. Here are the main considerations:

1. Compatibility with Sensor Size

Canon offers both full-frame RF cameras and APS-C RF-S cameras. Full-frame lenses can be used on APS-C bodies, though the effective focal length will increase by about 1.6x—useful for creating an RF telephoto lens effect without additional glass.

2. Zoom Lenses vs Prime Lenses

Lenses can be broadly divided into two types: zoom lenses and prime lenses. Zoom lenses have a variable focal length, making them appealing for their convenience, letting you use just one lens for a variety of scenes and subjects.

On the other hand, prime lenses have a fixed focal length, but many models offer excellent brightness and image quality. The downside is that you have to physically adjust the distance from the subject by stepping forward or backward, so they can take some time to get used to.

• Canon RF mount zoom lenses: versatile, covering multiple focal lengths, ideal for beginners and travel.
• Prime lenses: fixed focal length, offering sharper optics and larger apertures; ideal for portraits and video.

Beginners should start with a zoom lens to get a feel for the distance and angle of view depending on the subject. After that, adding prime lenses with the focal lengths you like lets you expand the scope of your photography and enjoy professional photography.

3. Focal Length and Angle Of View

The angle of view of a lens changes depending on its focal length, and the range of photography and expression that can be captured vary greatly.

Generally, angles of view are classified according to focal length as follows:

• Ultra-wide angle (approximately 20mm or less): perfect for landscapes and architecture
• Wide angle (approximately 35mm or less): great for travel, cityscapes, and storytelling
• Standard (around 50mm): versatile for portraits and general photography
• Telephoto (approximately 80mm or more): best for portraits, sports, and wildlife
• Super telephoto (approximately 300mm or more): excellent for distant subjects, such as birds, wildlife, or the moon

4. Weight and Portability

For everyday use, consider lenses under 20 ounces (567g). Compact designs increase portability for travel and street photography.

When considering ease of use on a daily basis, the weight of the lens and how it fits in your hand are important. Lightweight and compact lenses are easy to carry around, which naturally increases the number of shooting opportunities. They also reduce the amount of luggage you need when traveling or going on short trips. A lightweight lens that allows you to quickly set up the camera is particularly useful for street photography, which requires mobility.

5. Aperture

Bright lenses like F2.8 create shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh, ideal for the best RF lenses for portraits and best RF lenses for video.

The maximum aperture F-number is the F-number when the lens aperture is fully open, and the smaller this number, the more light can be captured by the sensor. For this reason, lenses with small maximum aperture F-numbers are sometimes called “bright lenses.”

The advantage of lenses with small maximum aperture F-numbers is that they produce beautiful bokeh and make it easier to take brighter photos even in dark places. For example, lenses with F1.4 or F2.8 have a shallow depth of field, making the subject stand out in portrait photography and making it easier to take high-quality photos in low-light situations such as night scenes or indoors.

6. Autofocus and Useability

Check for smooth, quiet autofocus—especially important for video—and intuitive controls such as focus rings and AF/MF switches.

When shooting, you need to be able to operate the lens flexibly and smoothly according to the situation and subject. For this reason, the operability of the lens is important.

For example, make sure that the focus ring moves smoothly and has just the right amount of resistance. It’s also a good idea to check the location and operation feel of various switches, such as the AF/MF switch and focus limiter. If these are positioned in an easy-to-use manner, you can shoot without stress.

When it comes to autofocus (AF), you should check not only the accuracy of the focus, but also the smoothness and ability to track moving subjects. Tracking ability is particularly important for subjects that move a lot, such as children, pets, animals, and sports. Also, when shooting video or in a quiet environment, you should consider the quietness of the AF.

7. In-lens image stabilization mechanism

In-lens stabilization is essential for telephoto shooting and handheld low-light work.

Image stabilization mechanisms are particularly effective when using telephoto lenses or when shooting in low light conditions where the shutter speed is slow. They are also an important function in situations where using a tripod is difficult, such as landscape photography or indoor photography. Therefore, it is important to check whether the lens has image stabilization and how effective it is.

8. Minimum Focusing Distance

A shorter focusing distance increases versatility, enabling close-up and macro-style shots.

The minimum focusing distance indicates the shortest distance between the subject and the sensor within the range that can be seen in focus. The shorter this distance, the closer you can get to the subject and capture larger details. This means that even without a macro lens, you can achieve effects similar to those of a macro lens. Conversely, if the minimum focusing distance is long, you may encounter a scene where you cannot get any closer, even if you want to. This is an especially important indicator when you are looking to express a variety of things with a single lens.

9. Image Quality

Look for sharpness, contrast, and color rendition that match your style. This is why many photographers choose Tamron RF mount lenses, which deliver high optical quality in compact designs.

Lens imaging performance varies depending on the manufacturer and product, even for lenses with the same focal length and F-number. Be sure to check things like sharpness, contrast, color reproduction, and bokeh. Your personal preferences also have a big influence on lens imaging. Check sample photos to see if the lens can capture the subject or scene you want to capture as you imagine it.

Types of RF Mount Lenses

Ultra Wide-Angle RF Zoom Lenses

Captures expansive landscapes, interiors, and cityscapes with dramatic perspective.

Ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses with a focal length of approximately 20mm or less at the wide end have an extremely wide angle of view, allowing you to fit even vast landscapes and large buildings into the frame. 

Because they emphasize perspective, ultra wide-angle zooms are ideal for creating dynamic compositions and expressing a sense of spaciousness. Furthermore, because they can capture a wide angle of view even when you’re close to the subject, they’re also well-suited for capturing landscapes in limited indoor spaces or on narrow street scenes.

RF Wide-Angle Lens

Perfect for travel and architectural photography.

A wide-angle lens is a lens with a focal length of approximately 35mm or less. It is suitable for photographing natural landscapes, cityscapes, and buildings. Like an ultra wide-angle lens, it is characterized by its ability to capture a wide range of subjects in a photo even in limited spaces, such as indoors or narrow roads.

Similarly, it emphasizes perspective, so by using clever angles, you can enhance the sense of three-dimensionality and depth, allowing you to take impressive photos with a sense of scale.

Standard Lenses

Ideal for portraits, snapshots, and all-purpose use with natural perspective.

Standard lenses with a focal length of around 50mm have an angle of view close to the human field of view. Because they can capture subjects with a natural perspective, they are suitable for everyday photography such as portraits and snapshots. Another attractive feature is their versatility, allowing them to be used in a variety of shooting situations, including landscapes and tabletop photography.

RF Telephoto Lenses

Great for portraits, sports, and wildlife photography, providing subject isolation and background compression.

A telephoto lens is a lens with a focal length of approximately 80mm or more. Its greatest advantage is that it can capture distant subjects in large size. It is suitable for photographing sports, vehicles, and animals, and is also used for portraits that take advantage of background blur.

Although the angle of view is narrow, it can be used to isolate the subject from the landscape. It also has the characteristic of compressing the sense of distance (compression effect), making distant objects appear closer. This effect can be used to further emphasize the subject of a portrait or to create an overwhelming feeling in a landscape.

Super Telephoto Lenses

For distant wildlife, sports, and astrophotography—making them some of the best RF lenses for specialized needs.

Super telephoto lenses, with a focal length of approximately 300mm or more, can capture subjects that are even farther away in a larger size. They are used to photograph specific subjects, such as wary wild birds, distant athletes in sports, and even the moon or airplanes. Because the angle of view is even narrower than that of a telephoto lens, the subject can be made larger and clearer.

The Best Tamron RF Lenses for Canon RF mount

Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD (Model B060)

• Ultra-wide zoom designed for APS-C RF mount cameras
• Lightweight: 12 oz. (340g)
• Minimum focusing distance: 5.9” (0.15m)
• Quiet RXD autofocus for stills and video
• Weather-resistant with fluorine coating
• Ø67mm filter size

18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Model B061)

• All-in-one zoom designed for APS-C RF mount cameras
• 6x zoom ratio covers wide to super telephoto (27 to 450mm full frame equivalent)
• Lightweight: 22 oz. (625g)
• Excellent close-up performance with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2 (wide)
• Minimum focusing distance: 5.9” (0.15m)
• Linear motor AF for fast, quiet, and accurate focusing
• VC Optical image stabilization for handheld shooting
• Weather-resistant with fluorine coating
• Ø67mm filter size

Summary: Choosing the Best Canon RF Mount Lenses

When selecting a lens, think about your photography style, whether that’s travel, portraits, wildlife, or video. For many users, Tamron RF mount lenses strike the best balance of performance, portability, and price—making them some of the best third-party Canon zoom lenses on the market.

If possible, test a lens in person to see how it feels and performs with your camera. Choosing a lens is an investment, but with the right RF mount lens, you’ll expand your creative possibilities.

Learn more about Tamron lenses at an authorized Tamron dealer near you or shop now at the official TAMRON Store.