The RF 28-70 f/2L USM Review
The RF 28-70 f/2L is an answer to a problem, a better answer to the same problem that many event photographers deal with: having rapid access to fast apertures across the 24(or 28mm in this case)-70mm focal length.
In the past, and present for that matter, the EF 24-70 f/2.8L, both of them, has been the answer for Canon event photographers. That, or using a prime lens (or a couple of them), usually as f/2.8 although fast enough for most purposes when mounted on a full frame body does not match the special rendition of f/1.2L primes or even f/1.8 primes for that matter. The RF 28-70 f/2L USM still doesn't, but it blurs that line significantly by doubling both the amount of light you can bring in for purposes of faster shutters or lower light, in addition to increasing the creative potential of subject isolation, and it does it with a single lens precluding the need to swap lenses.
What's significant about the RF 28-70 f/2L USM, its ability to shoot wide open with sharp results. I feel it's important to point this out as it really does live up to the Canon marketing of being essentially 5 prime lenses in one, something I didn’t believe and scoffed at myself (prior to owning it) being a big prime lover... The EF 28mm f/1.8, EF 35mm f/2, EF 40mm f/2.8, EF 50mm f/1.8 (or EF 50mm f/1.4), and lastly although it doesn't reach 85mm, it's close to the EF 85mm f/1.8 at 70mm and f/2 on the long end.
What really got my wheels turning about the RF 28-70 f/2L USM was its bokeh rendition (quality, not quantity). Not even that it's a f/2 zoom. I recently had the pleasure of shooting the EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM, one of the sharpest lenses I've ever shot I might add (with smooth bokeh too), and most fun lenses too shoot, and the RF 28-70 f/2L USM has a very similar drawing of bokeh of a prime lens, even though it’s a zoom. This is important as like the EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM, you can shoot it wide open without fear of losing image quality. For a zoom lens, it behaves much like a prime L lens. In that regard, it's in its own class.
I also feel it's important to point out the creative potential of an f/2 zoom lens; it allows you to produce images more special than you could with an f/2.8 zoom lens. It punches harder in real life, not just on paper for subject isolation and creativity. 28mm in particular deserves a special mention as there’s lots of overlap of Canon offerings at 70mm, but 28mm and f/2, sharp at f/2, is another animal.
Also it has a higher t-stop at slower apertures than its EF 24-70 f/2.8L counterpart, which is common for faster lenses stopped down to vignette less and/or deliver more light at the center for that matter when stopped down vs a slower lens wide open. It matters as there's things you (still) need to shoot at say f/2.8 or f/4 etc, and this lens delivers more light to the sensor than the EF 24-70 f/2.8L at the same aperture meaning less ISO and less noise for those f/2.8 shots, not just having access to f/2.
The RF 28-70 f/2L USM does have a few unique challenges though, in no particular order:
Although continuous eye-AF works well on my R, it does not work as well as the RF 35mm, EF 70-300 IS II, or even the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. Not sure the reason for this, but it’s worthy of a footnote. Now I've found using zone AF over a face seems to largely remedy this and is easy (rapid) enough to deploy (well if your R is configured appropriately) to quickly switch AF methods. It attracts attention from the public with its massive 95mm front element. I watch my EOS R + RF 28-70 f/2L USM like a hawk, and get a bit shy bringing it to places where theft or otherwise unwanted attention could be an issue. I'll bring my G1X III or RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM instead.
At f/2, I recommend assigning a button to DoF preview as you can shoot too shallow to envelop your subject/s if you’re always shooting wide open where you might on it’s EF 24-70 f/2.8L predecessors. You do get the feel for what aperture to use after a while but this is very different from an f/2.8 zoom where wide open, you'll hit a group of 3 people in focus usually without issue. But at f/2? You may hit one person in focus, and the other 2 won't be in focus till say f/2.2-2.5 or even f/3.2... This lens unlocks creative potential, and challenges. It's not a bad thing, but it is a shift in how you shoot as you just can't just shoot wide open for everything, at f/2 it's now getting so shallow you have to consider more carefully and preview the effect for best results or even stop down prematurely ironically to be safe when dealing with critical moments that may encompass multiple people, not just a single person at group events.
Some general thoughts worth noting:
Cost... I'm not advertising CanonPriceWatch, but I did happen to buy mine through them and had a positive experience. Shaving off a couple hundred bucks helps on large purchases adds up. Furthermore, even at $2599 USD sounds steep (what I paid), but when you look at how much you'd spend for a comparable setup for what this provides, it's not that expensive. For example, take an EF 24-70 f/2.8L II, its $1599 on sale presently at the time of this article. Then toss in say an EF 85mm f/1.8 USM presently $349 on sale. You're now at $1948, but you have two lenses, and are only encompassing f/2 on one end of the spectrum, not the other with this combination and would have to switch lenses to get the f/1.8 at the long end.
Weight... And those two examples are 805g and 425g each respectively and 1230g combined (not including the 110g adapter needed for either, or, the 100g weight reduction the EOS R represents vs the 6D Mark II). The RF 28-70 f/2L on the other hand is 1430g. I've found, after shooting the R with the EF 16-35 f/4L (adapted) for a while that the RF 28-70 f/2L USM isn't unwieldy at all to my surprise. The EOS R handles it quite well. But, make no mistake, at 1430g, it’s heavy in a bag. Just because it handles well mounted on an R, doesn't mean it handles well stored. It’s a tank at the end of the day, but it does handle well is the point, to my surprise.
So the great irony is the two things I most had beef with prior to buying it (weight and price), are in fact non-issues at the end of the day for me anyways (as I only had the EOS M50 and it’s EF-M lenses prior as sold my 5D III and it’s L some years ago). I did however have to convince the wife on authorization to spend the funds. That's its own story that does not encompass the lens review...
What I do find though, is the EOS R + RF 28-70 f/2L by themselves are very manageable. But, it's when you throw other things in the mix, say a bag with other lenses on your back, now it gets burdensome. When I go out just with the EOS R and RF 28-70 f/2L, it's a non-issue, even with the stock strap for hours at a time. But, when I go out with an array of other options, it does produce fatigue. This is in contrast to say my former EOS M50 + EF-M setup where you can carry every EF-M option your heart desires in a sling bag, and you're good for hours long events. But unlike the EOS M / EF-M system, the RF 28-70 f/2L can produce images it can't. It also by itself, without a body, costs more than a whole M system, combined. Also, I find the tipping point, if you will, on weight/bulk is pretty much maxed out between a single EOS R and RF 28-70 f/2L USM; adding my Speedlite EL-100 to the mix, is not comfortable either to shoot, hold or sling. That extra 200g in weight and bulk tips the scale to not so comfortable for myself.
This is all to say the RF 28-70 f/2L USM has been a surprise for me, pleasant one at that. I found after I got over the cost, it is a very unique, special and capable option for event photography. I use it for casual photography and family events, but, it delivers truly special, very satisfying results.
Click here to view my RF 28-70 f/2L USM sample Flickr Gallery (updated periodically)
Saturday, June 15, 2019