Best Canon RF Macro Lenses

I’m going to continue with my guide to the best camera lenses by brand. Today I’m going to talk about the best Canon RF macro lenses. That is to say, the lenses designed for the brand’s mirrorless cameras. The world of macro photography fascinates a lot of people, myself included, and I have to admit that being able to take pictures of things that you can’t see with the naked eye is really, really cool. Don’t hesitate to check out the page dedicated to all Canon RF lenses (Canon and other brands).

Some time ago, I started talking to you about the RF mount. In particular, I wrote an article about the best Canon RF wide-angle lenses. More recently, I’ve started writing about Canon’s best sports lenses, where you’ll find all the best current options for the RF mounts, and the old options if you’re still using a DSLR, on the brand’s EF and EF-S mounts.

So let’s get down to business without further ado. If you’re looking for more information, have a look at our article on what’s important when choosing a macro lens.

Don’t hesitate to check out our article on the best all-round Canon lenses, suitable for all types of photography and smaller budgets.

Here is information on macro lenses designed for Canon’s RF full-frame camera mount.

Macro lens options are still relatively limited, although some interesting 1:2 options are available and may work well in some cases.

The main features of these lenses are summarized in the table below.

Visual

Lens

Features

Best price

Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro

• Excellent image quality
• Superior construction
• Optical stabilisation
• Tropical optics
• Fast, silent autofocus

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Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM

• Versatile lens
• Compact and lightweight
• Excellent image quality
• Optical stabilisation
• Adjustable control ring

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Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM

• Versatile portrait/macro lens
• Good image quality
• Optical stabilisation
• Pleasing bokeh with 9 blades
• Adjustable control ring

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Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM

• Compact, lightweight lens
• Good image quality
• Optical stabilisation
• Customisable control ring
• Good value for money

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You can click on the lens names to access the descriptions for more details.

• Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro
• Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
• Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM
• Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM

The table below is a comparison of the different characteristics of these lenses.

In late 2021, Canon introduced its first macro lens for the RF mount, opening up a new era for close-up photography in the world of Canon cameras. While the excellent 100mm f/2.8 EF Macro lens has been the pinnacle of Canon DSLR photography for many years, the RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is its successor!

The build quality of this tropicalised and stabilized lens is exemplary, with 17 elements in 13 groups and special coatings to reduce flare and chromatic aberration. Canon has also included an ‘SA’ ring that allows photographers to adjust the bokeh, although feedback has described this option as more of a gimmick… Autofocus is both fast and quiet, with a distance limiter for fast, reliable focusing.

In terms of image quality, this lens does not disappoint, offering exceptional sharpness at full aperture (making it excellent for portraits). Closing to f/2.8 and then to f/5.6 further improves sharpness. What’s more, the 1.4x magnification ratio exceeds the traditional 1:1 standard, allowing you to explore even finer details, although this magnification ratio results in an ultra-short depth of field. As for optical flaws, distortion and vignetting are low and well-corrected, enhancing the overall quality of the image.

In short, the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is a top-of-the-range macro lens with exceptional build quality, impressive optical performance and innovative features. However, its high price makes it suitable only for macro enthusiasts or demanding professionals. It is also the only lens (with autofocus) currently offering a true 1:1 (macro) ratio for the RF mount.

Introduced in Canon’s RF mount in June 2022, this lens is a versatile option. Its 24mm focal length makes it an interesting choice for a variety of situations, including everyday shooting, environmental portraiture, street photography and macro photography. It weighs 270g and measures 74.4 x 63.1mm. This makes it a relatively compact and lightweight lens. It is similar in size to the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8. They share a filter diameter of 52mm.

The overall build quality of this lens is good, with 11 elements divided into 9 groups, two switches (AF/MF and stabilization) and a customisable control ring. It also has an STM motor. It comes without a hood and is stabilized but not tropicalised. The minimum focusing distance is 14 cm (5 ft). Despite being labeled ‘macro’, the lens only offers a 1:2 magnification ratio. However, this is perfectly adequate for most applications.

When it comes to image quality, the lens offers excellent sharpness at the center from the full aperture of f/1.8, with good sharpness at the edges and at the extremes. When you close the aperture down to f/2.8, you get a very sharp and consistent image. In terms of optical flaws, vignetting and distortion are very noticeable if not corrected in-camera (in JPEG). Canon is increasingly relying on software corrections in this area, like many other manufacturers. Chromatic aberrations are generally well managed.

To sum up, the Canon RF 24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM is a versatile lens suited to many different styles of photography. It’s compact, lightweight and offers excellent image stabilization for handheld shooting. However, it does have some optical shortcomings. In particular, distortion and significant vignetting require electronic correction. Nevertheless, the image quality is very good and the price/performance ratio is excellent.

Introduced by Canon in 2020, this is an affordable and versatile alternative for portrait and macro photographers, aiming to fill the gap between the expensive f/1.2L and the needs of more casual photographers. The lens measures 78 x 90.5mm and weighs around 500g. It is very compact. The lens has image stabilization and a 1:2 macro function. However, the lens still doesn’t come with a hood. Nor does it have an all-weather construction.

In terms of build quality, although it doesn’t have the quality of the L-series, the lens (which has a classic 67mm diameter) is relatively well built. It has separate focus and aperture rings, as well as a set of three switches on the side of the barrel. These include a focus limiter, an AF/MF switch and an on/off button to activate or deactivate image stabilization (IS). What’s more: The nine-blade design ensures high-quality bokeh with a circular shape. It is an attractive option for macro photography with a minimum focusing distance of around 35cm and a magnification of 1:2. Autofocus performance was rated as average overall.

Even at full aperture, the lens delivers high-quality images with good contrast and sharpness. However, sharpness improves when you close to f/2.8 and then to f/4. Distortion is low. Vignetting is quite pronounced, although this can be corrected in post-production. Chromatic aberrations are also well controlled.

In conclusion, the Canon RF 85mm F2 IS STM is a versatile lens (especially for portraits/close-ups) that offers very good image quality, especially given its reasonable price. The autofocus could be much better, but this lens is very good value for money.

This is an interesting lens for Canon’s RF mount, having been released in September 2018. It’s positioned as a compact and affordable option, weighing in at around 305g and measuring 74.4mm x 62.8mm. This makes it a suitable choice for smaller bodies such as the Canon EOS RP. The Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM offers attractive value for money.

The lens has a 52mm filter diameter and is made up of 11 elements in 9 groups. Special lens elements and optical coatings are used to ensure optimum image quality. The lens is stabilized and features STM autofocus for smooth, if occasionally noisy, focusing. Please note that the lens is not compatible with Canon teleconverters. Although not an all-weather lens, the build quality is good. There are 2 switches (AF/MF and stabilization). There is an aperture ring and a focus ring. The minimum focusing distance is 17cm and the macro magnification ratio is 1:2 (so not a true macro lens).

As far as image quality is concerned, the lens performs well at full aperture, producing sharp images in the center of the frame, but not so much at the edges. Sharpness improves and becomes excellent when the aperture is closed (f/2.8). However, the lens suffers from noticeable vignetting. There is also slight distortion and chromatic aberration.

In conclusion, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is a compact and versatile lens that offers excellent value for money. Despite some optical flaws, it produces sharp, high-contrast images, making it a solid choice for many types of photography, including (thanks to its 1:2 ratio) close-ups. For photographers looking for an affordable lens for their Canon camera, this is a great option.

Here are the main characteristics compared between these lenses.

In addition to the autofocus RF macro lenses mentioned above, there are many options for manual focus macro lenses, which is not a problem for macro photography where this mode is used more often. Laowa, in particular, offers very good quality lenses in this area.

Here are the main lenses that you can have a closer look at. To access the description, simply click on the name of the lens.

• Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO RF
• Laowa 90m f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO RF
• Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO RF
• Laowa 24mm f/14 2x Macro Probe
• Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro RF
• Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO

The main features of these lenses are compared in the table below.

The Laowa RF 100mm is certainly the best option if you’re looking for a standard focal length and don’t mind manual focusing. The lens is quite compact (638g and 12.5cm long), all in a high quality all-metal construction. It features apochromatic (APO) lens elements, which effectively correct chromatic aberrations. Note the 2:1 magnification ratio, as opposed to the classic 1:1 of macro lenses.

Image quality is excellent at full aperture in the centre and remains very good at the edges and corners. Sharpness improves significantly when the aperture is closed. As far as optical flaws are concerned, there is a slight pincushion distortion and a moderate amount of vignetting, both of which can be corrected in post-production. Depending on the situation, be aware of flare. The bokeh of this lens is, according to many users, one of the most beautiful!

All in all, this is an excellent macro lens that offers exceptional image quality in a package that is very well made. At the price it’s selling for, almost 3x less than the Canon, if you’re looking for a dedicated macro lens for your body, you can’t go wrong!

Also available in other mounts (Sony E, Leica L and Nikon Z), the Laowa 90mm is a macro lens introduced in 2022. It has the same high quality (metal) construction, apochromatic design, manual focus and no stabilization as the Laowa 100mm, but is much more compact (11.5cm long / 589g).

In terms of image quality, the Laowa 90mm performs exceptionally well. It has excellent sharpness throughout the image, which improves at f/5.6. It has a low level of distortion and moderate vignetting. Bokeh quality is very good overall!

To sum up, the Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO RF is an exceptional macro lens, both in terms of image quality and construction. It is a great choice for macro photographers due to its APO design, 2:1 magnification ratio, compact size and affordable price.

This lens, which was be available from December 2021, is compact and (ultra) light, weighing just 291g and measuring 78mm in length. It will be one of the most compact macro lenses available for a full frame camera. To minimise chromatic aberration, it incorporates Extra-low Dispersion (ED) lens elements. Manual operation is smooth and well thought out. At a minimum distance of 16.3 cm, the internal design allows 2:1 focusing. The lens is neither tropicalised nor stabilised. This may require the use of a tripod for extreme close-ups. Note that the maximum aperture of f/5.6 is not a problem for macro photography. It is common practice to close the aperture to maximise depth of field.

In terms of optical performance, the Laowa 85mm excels at full aperture, offering remarkable sharpness in the centre of the frame and even at the edges. Closing the aperture further improves sharpness, peaking between f/8 and f/11. Optical flaws such as vignetting and distortion are minimal. Chromatic aberrations are well under control, highlighting the APO construction of the lens.

In conclusion, this Laowa 85mm is a high quality macro lens at a very competitive price (under €500). You’ll love it!

This is a truly unique lens that offers revolutionary and endless possibilities in macro photography. The lens weighs only 474g and is 40cm long! It features an unusual aperture range from f/14 to f/40. The construction of the lens is remarkable, with a waterproof metal barrel and exceptional build quality. With 27 elements in 19 groups, this lens has a complex optical design. However, due to its special design, it makes a concession in terms of brightness with a maximum aperture of f/14.

From an optical point of view, the Laowa 24mm f/14 offers rather mixed results. At full aperture, the sharpness is considered to be just good, but as is often the case with most lenses, it improves as the aperture closes, from f/22 onwards. Although distortion and chromatic aberration are kept under control, overall sharpness remains just OK, which might be a compromise for demanding photographers. It should be noted that the bokeh, although accessible despite the small aperture, can be a little harsh in complex environments.

In conclusion, the Laowa 24mm f/14 2x Macro Probe is a unique lens that excels in its mission, especially for macro shots in hard-to-reach places. Its price may seem high to some, but there’s no other lens that offers the same possibilities. If you’re looking for a fresh, new perspective on your photography, this could be an interesting choice, especially for creative and video applications.

This is another excellent lens with a magnification range of 2.5x to 5x. It’s a very lightweight and compact macro option, an attractive choice for photographers who want to explore the world of macro photography at very (very) close range. As always with Laowa, the build construction is robust and advanced coatings ensure effective correction of chromatic aberrations. The lens is not tropicalised or stabilized.

In terms of image quality, the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro RF excels at full aperture, offering impressive sharpness in the center of the frame. Closing the aperture further improves sharpness, peaking between f/8 and f/11. Optical flaws such as vignetting and distortion are minimal, and chromatic aberrations are generally well under control.

In conclusion, this lens offers a unique macro solution. Its solid build construction, excellent optical quality and affordable price make it an attractive choice for those who want to explore the invisible details of the macro world.

Available from September 2022, this lens is compact and lightweight. The 58mm Laowa is slightly smaller than the 90mm, but is still much more versatile, with a focal length suitable for macro, street and portrait photography. In terms of build quality, it’s still excellent, being made entirely of metal. Although the lens hood is made of plastic, the manual focus ring is of high quality.

The lens is apochromatic (APO), which reduces chromatic aberration and increases contrast, and offers a 2:1 macro ratio. Image quality is exceptional throughout the frame. Closing the aperture improves sharpness slightly, peaking at f/8, which is not very important for a macro lens that is often used with a closed aperture. Bokeh is also of high quality and optical defects are practically non-existent.

In conclusion, the Laowa 58mm f/2.8 APO 2x Macro offers excellent optical quality at a reasonable price. Its robust construction, apochromatic design and versatility make it an excellent choice.

The main features of the Laowa optics described above are summarized in the table below.

You’ll also find other, less well-known brands that offer macro lenses for the Canon RF mount, such as the Meike 85 mm f/2.8 Macro RF or the Mitakon Zhongyi 200 mm f/4 1x.

For its APS-C cameras, Canon does not currently offer any dedicated macro lenses. Macro enthusiasts using these cameras have therefore turned to third party brands such as Laowa, TTArtisans and 7Artisans, which offer manual focusing lenses:

• Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO RF
• 7Artisans 60mm f/2.8 II V2 Macro APS-C RF

Introduced in 2020, this is an excellent macro lens with a light weight (335g) and short length (100mm). The build quality of the Laowa 65mm is excellent, with all-metal construction, soft rings and an anodised metal finish. Like all Laowa lenses, it is manual, non-stabilised and non-tropicalised. The lens has a very high magnification ratio of 2:1.

The lens construction (APO) ensures excellent correction of chromatic aberrations, delivering sharp images and high contrast. In terms of image quality, this lens offers excellent sharpness at full aperture, which is further enhanced at f/5.6 to deliver remarkable image quality across the entire frame. Bokeh quality is quite good and optical defects are not a problem. This is an excellent lens, especially given its price and its potential for portrait work.

The Chinese brand 7Artisans, known for its affordable lenses with generally average image, has produced its 60mm macro lens with a second version that offers a significant improvement in terms of quality. Compared to the previous version, this new lens is much lighter. It weighs only 350g compared to 550g for the previous version. Image quality at full aperture is good enough, but you should close the aperture to f/5.6 to get more homogeneous images.

At longer distances, however, the performance of the lens diminishes, especially in portrait photography, where its limitations become apparent. We therefore recommend using this lens for macro photography. However, at a price of less than €200, you’re not taking any great risks, which makes it an interesting choice for those who want to try their hand at macro photography, provided they don’t mind manual focusing. It should also be noted that this lens does not transmit EXIF information to the camera.

Here are the details of manual-focus macro lenses for Canon RF APS-C cameras.

If you’re looking for a lightweight, discreet lens, check out our guide to Canon RF pancake lenses!

Macro photography is a speciality within photography. It requires specialist equipment and presents a number of challenges, not least the short focusing distance required to achieve a scale of 1:1 or more. When the camera is so close to the subject, ambient light is often blocked, and capturing the ‘size’ of the subject in the frame increases the risk of movement and subject blur.

There is a comprehensive article on choosing a macro lens, which covers everything you need to know. However, here is a summary.

The idea is that ‘true macro’ is characterised by an image captured at a ratio of at least 1:1, as mentioned in the introduction to this article. While you can play around with this ratio using accessories such as extension rings, it’s important to note that macro lenses that were originally designed with a 1:1 ratio generally offer superior image quality. This is partly because lenses designed for more standard use often perform poorly at close range, even if they achieve a 1:1 ratio. The increased size and weight of macro lenses compared to their conventional counterparts can therefore be compared to the effect of adding an extension ring to a standard lens.

When taking macro photographs of insects, it is sometimes suggested that to reduce the risk of frightening them, you should use longer focal lengths, especially telephoto lenses. In reality, remember that the distance is measured from your camera’s sensor, even if a lens with a longer focal length has a longer minimum focusing distance. Because longer focal lengths are longer, the difference in distance to the subject at a 1:1 ratio between a short and a long focal length will not be huge.

Your choice of focal length has a greater effect on perspective: longer focal lengths make surfaces look compressed. This is due to the short distance you are standing back from, not the difference in focal length. Keep in mind that it’s the distance to the subject that affects perspective, not the focal length. The focal length will also have an effect, albeit a moderate one, on the depth of field, because at a shorter focal length, the same aperture will produce a greater depth of field (but this will be compensated for by your closer approach, so the difference will be relatively small).

However, it doesn’t affect the size of the subject: if you use a 1:1 ratio, the subject will appear to be the same size whatever the focal length. If you want to get even closer, you’ll need a lens with an even higher ratio. Or you can use an extension ring. Alternatively, the simpler solution is to zoom into the image. However, this has its drawbacks (the perspective remains the same, unlike the physical approach, and you sacrifice pixels, of course). Note that all macro lenses have a fixed focal length (no zoom) and a constant aperture.

Autofocus isn’t really necessary when it comes to macro photography. In fact, because the 1:1 ratio (or more, depending on the lens) is achieved at a specific distance, it’s not very practical. The idea, then, is to lock on to that distance and then, with a bit of movement, adjust the focus to the subject. However, if preferred, autofocus is useful for tracking moving subjects or other types of photography, such as portraits with 100/105mm lenses.

When you get very close to your subject, the sharp area becomes small. Most macro lenses open to f/2.8. However, you often need to use smaller apertures, such as f/8 or f/11, to get a sharp image with some context. You can even go as low as f/14 with some macro lenses. Another option, if it is possible, is to use a focus stacking technique. This involves stacking photos of the same subject taken at slightly different focal lengths to give the effect of a photo taken at f/32 using a wide aperture such as f/2.8. It should be noted, however, that this method is almost impossible to use when shooting handheld or with a moving subject.

One of the features that is sometimes praised in macro photography is the stabilization, although this is often overrated. In macro photography, where the plans are very close together, there is a high risk of camera shake and subject blur. Even with an exposure time that is appropriate for your focal length and distance, the slightest movement of the subject can undermine your efforts and force you to reduce the exposure time. This makes stabilization almost useless, except for handheld shots with a stationary subject.

We’ve come to the end of this article on Canon’s best RF macro lenses, both for its full-frame and APS-C bodies. You should now be able to make the best choice for your needs and budget. If you’d like to read on, don’t hesitate to check out our article on the best Canon RF lenses currently available.

See you soon for another article,

Written by Sylvain PONS

I've been passionate about photography since 2010, learning as I went along. Today, I dedicate myself to guiding others in their choice of camera gear and sharing a variety of tips to improve their photography skills.

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