Pros:
- Exceptional travel lens
- Very versatile zoom range (10x)
- medium weight at 750g
- acceptable sharpness
- acceptable bokeh (compared to a 24-105 f4-7.1 IS STM)
Cons:
- No weather sealing
- Dark aperture range at the telephoto end (but not a problem! read below)
- No dedicated focus ring
- No clicks on the RF control ring
- extending zoom barrel
Now just because there are more cons listed, doesn't mean it's a bad lens. Now let me tell you a story.
This lens was on my list for awhile. I recently travelled to Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan with the Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 L iii and the Canon EF 70-300 f4-5.6 L, both are exceptional lens but at a cost, of price as well as weight. During hikes, i often had to swap lenses because i love to take landscapes and, i love to get compressed street photography.
A photo I actually shot of me having to change lenses in the middle of the hike up Tiger's Nest, Bhutan
Throughout this trip, i constantly was yearning for a 24-240 lens. Canon RF had it since mid 2019 and it wasn't actually till this year (2024) that i realised this lens existed, mostly because I am more focused on the L lens lineup of Canon. When I found out about the 24-240, I was excited and skeptical. As usual, would an entry lens perform as well as the L variants, and at the price of about almost MYR 4,000, I could almost get the RF 24-105 f4 L which I had before and i knew it wasn't enough because i love compression shots at about 200-300mm.
So, I couldn't decide and told myself, I shall challenge myself to take travel photos with just a 35mm, as I have the RF 35mm f1.8 Macro and its great!
2 weeks later, I had a trip to Hong Kong and i stuck to my promise, "don't spend more, the 35mm is enough" and happily packed a small bag with just my Canon R8 and that 35mm prime. First night in Hong Kong, I was already enjoying the night street shots already.
Hong Kong 7 eleven shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 @f/1.8, 1/125, iso 250
Locals crossing the street in Hong Kong shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 @f/1.8, 1/125, iso 320
That night, all was well, not until i arrived at Macau the next day.
I have been so busy lately trying to start up my biz and technically restart my Photography career, that I had no time to research about where I am travelling to. I usually take it in as a surprise and adventure, and this is where i really got surprised.
Hotel Grand Lisboa, Macau shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 @f/4, 1/2500, iso 200
I didn't know this hotel, that is gold in color, and been famous on Instagram for quite some time, is actually in Macau. It is called the Grand Lisboa, I always thought it was at some other place in China, but the moment I saw it, I instantly regretted. I need my 200mm! Well i was able to capture it in a 35mm frame but, it wasn't enough! I seen before that there was a street that could get a good compressed shot and capture its magnificence.
So walking on around Macau, in my head I just cant stop thinking and finding where can I buy this lens, here right now. Even at the Ruins of St Paul's Cathedral, I could see Grand Lisboa and I'm like, wow what a shot this will be if i had a telephoto.
All I could get with 35mm of Grand Lisboa shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 @f/8, 1/640, iso 200
I even tried to use my iPhone 15 Pro which had only up to 3x optical zoom. I got the frame but it wasn't satisfying.
Shot on iPhone
So we had some extra time and I began hunting for camera stores. Initially I arrived at Nice Digital Company, and it was out of stock. I was thinking, this lens must be good enough that theres no stock and I rarely see it on the 2nd hand market. Ok one last try, we walked to Maxim's Photo Supplies, and they had stock! So the listed price was abit expensive, but the uncle there was nice, he gave me a price i could get as cash locally in Malaysia. So there it was, I straight away took it and put it on my camera.
The Canon R8 paired with the Canon RF 24-240mm f4-6.3 IS USM
I also got a UV filter straight away because I don't want to regret like how my other lenses got scratched on the lens element, just breaks my heart.
And straight away, I went to hunt for the shot of Grand Lisboa parallel to the streets, and here it is!
Hotel Grand Lisboa, Macau shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @f/6.3, 1/250, iso 200, 70 mm
Hotel Grand Lisboa, Macau shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @f/6.3, 1/640, iso 200, 157 mm
As you can see, even the wide angle shot was already at 70mm, and we could go in way closer to get more detail of the hotel at 150+ mm. Now, let me show you what it would have looked like at 35mm.
Hotel Grand Lisboa, Macau shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @f/6.3, 1/200, iso 200, 35 mm
Pretty boring isn't it? I was so satisfied after getting this lens, and now comes the question, was it worth it? How does the lens perform in low light?
Staircase of Hong Kong MTR Station shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @f/4, 1/125, iso 2500, 24 mm
Streets of Hong Kong shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @f/6.3, 1/100, iso 12800, 198 mm
Both scenarios at both ends of the minimum aperture stops shows an acceptable performance of low light capabilities. To me, in photography, the thought process is like this. Composition and shutter speed is more important than noise or grain. You can fix a noisy photo but you can't fix a motion-blurred photo. Although sharpness may be lost, it is still crucial to capture the moment.
So, focal length and low light capabilities checked, how about its bokeh?
Portrait in a cafe shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @f/6.3, 1/125, iso 2500, 123 mm
The Hustler in the rain shot with Canon R8 with Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @f/6.3, 1/80, iso 12800, 157 mm
What do you think? Not bad isin't it especially against the RF 24-105 f4-7.1.
So, does this lens' capability just ends here? No. This lens is also a capable motorsports lens!
Recently I was shooting for Motul Awesome Racing Team for Sepang 1000km Endurance Race. I was focusing on video using the Canon RF 24-105mm f2.8 L Z and the Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L ii, but I had my Canon RP with the RF 24-240 as a backup and for some photos. Here are the results!
Motul Awesome Racing Car 511 shot with Canon RP with Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @f/6.3, 1/80, iso 800, 183 mm
Despite the noise rendered for the night shot, its highlights are sharp and clear and I can say this lens is motorsports ready! The only challenge (or benefit) is that this lens is lighter than regular telephoto lenses, so depending on how you shoot your pan shots, heavier lenses tend to be more stable.
Conclusion
This lens at its price point may be one that you would look away from, but once trying it out and hearing from many other users, they vouch for this lens and I have become one myself too. It will be more suitable to be used outdoor and if you have indoor events, its still better to have a fixed f/2.8 lens or a prime lens. Ultimately, this is a very good lens for travelling where i dont need to carry and switch around multiple lenses to get a wide and zoomed shot.
Last updated .