We all know about the push to shop local, and the importance of supporting your local stores rather than heading straight online to make a purchase. And there’s perhaps nowhere this is more important than when it comes to trying and buying camera equipment.
After all, while they’re great for many things, the one thing that a website can’t do is let you physically touch and try the kit before you buy it – and when it comes to camera gear, you really don’t want to invest in a product unless it’s 100% right for you! Which is why Canon is supporting local retailers with Camera Store Week, running from March 27 to April 02.
This is Canon’s annual event where it works in conjunction with specialist camera stores up and down the UK – as well as partnering with big brands in imaging such as Lowepro, Manfrotto and Billingham – to bring the gear to your high street and enable you to try it out yourself. And a huge attraction this year is the wealth of Canon RF lenses that will be on hand.
The RF mount is the cutting-edge mount at the heart of Canon’s new EOS R mirrorless system. With 18 electrical contacts enabling faster processing and communication between camera and lens than ever before, it unlocks a world of game-changing features in your camera like the industry leading Animal Eye AF – which is virtually a cheat code for wildlife photography!
Whether you’re a photographer, videographer, hybrid shooter or content creator, Canon’s RF lenses cover all the bases for all kinds of use – whether you’re a professional who needs a “trinity zoom” lens or a beginner looking for your first “nifty fifty”.
Here are some of the RF optics that you’ll be able to get your hands on and try at your local specialist, during Camera Store Week…
Get more in – with a wide-angle lens
The Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM gives you more creative freedom thanks to its small, lightweight form factor and wide-angle zoom range – perfect for “fitting more” into your frame when it comes to capturing epic landscapes and other shots with lots of scope.
It’s not just a wide-angle specialist, either; with its super-close focusing and 0.52x magnification, it offers light macro capabilities as well, making this a fantastic everyday all-rounder.
Its Optical Image Stabilizer delivers 5.5 stops of compensation even on EOS R bodies with image stabilization, giving you rock-steady shots whether you’re shooting with slow shutter speeds for stills or handholding sweeping shots for video. And its exceptionally quiet Stepping Motor (the “STM” in the name) offers whisper-quiet focus, which is especially appreciated by videographers.
Get closer – with a telephoto lens
When you can’t get close enough, let your kit do the work! The Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM offers a fantastic focal range that gets you closer to subjects without having to physically move.
For users of APS-C EOS R bodies, such as the Canon EOS R10 or Canon EOS R50, this lens achieves an effective focal range of 29-240mm – packing several lenses into one, from wide-angle to telephoto, in a remarkably light and compact package.
This enviable zoom covers all the bases from landscape to wildlife, travel to sports, and it’s also a great close-up performer with its 12cm close focusing distance. When shooting at those long telephoto lengths, the Optical Stabilizer gives you 4.5 stops of compensation – great for combating camera shake, even in low light.
Get focus – with a portrait lens
If there’s one lens that every photographer needs in their kit bag, it’s the trusty nifty fifty. And they don’t get any niftier than the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM! This incredibly versatile lens offers a neutral and natural perspective, making it incredibly adaptable across genres – but for many, it finds itself most at home as a portraiture tool.
A fantastic focal length for torso and three-quarter-length portraits, it’s flattering on your subject and the fast f/1.8 aperture creates those buttery, blurry backgrounds that everybody dreams of. No need to fake it any more – this absolutely blows away the portrait mode on your phone!
That fast aperture makes this a phenomenal performer in low light conditions, too, so you can keep shooting even in the toughest conditions. All this in one of the tiniest lenses in the entire RF range – no wonder it’s widely considered an essential purchase!
Get details – with a macro lens
Want to emphasize all the fine details that the human eye misses? A macro lens enables you to shoot close-up shots of small subjects at life-size scale. Want to capture every shimmer of detail on jewelry? Trying to see the face of an insect? Then you need the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM.
See the world around you like never before by exploring in extreme close up. This lens’ 1:1 reproduction ratio (which is true macro magnification), combined with its 35cm close focusing distance, reveals the hidden detail all around, whether you’re exploring nature or capturing images for product listings and auctions.
It’s a master of another kind of close-up photography, too. With 85mm being the classic focal length for portraiture, this is a great double-duty performer for taking beautiful headshots – and the f/2 aperture absolutely melts backgrounds away. And with 5 stops of compensation, thanks to the Image Stabilizer, you can be sure of steady shots when shooting handheld, even in challenging light.
Get hands on… and get saving!
You can get hands-on with these lenses, and many more in the Canon RF line-up, during Camera Store Week. As well as being able to ask Canon experts for tips and recommendations, your local retailer will be hosting a variety of events and experiences to show you how to get the most out of the whole EOS R system.
It's also a fantastic time to pick up a great deal on glass, as there will be incredible promotions running all week – including a 10% saving on all RF lenses! Great deals include £50 cashback on the RF 15-35mm f/4.5-6.3, the RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3, and the RF 50mm f/1.8 (T&Cs apply – find out more in-store).
Check your nearest participating store and be sure to visit from March 27 to April 02. There’s no better way to find the kit that’s right for you, and to learn how to sharpen your skills with your camera!
