It’s been nearly three years since the release of the RF system and we’re finally seeing a more fleshed out catalogue of optics that is no longer only reserved for high-end consumers, but now also caters to a wider segment.

The first wide-angle zoom that the RF system got was the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS, a solid year after the system’s release. It took a little time but we’re now enjoying considerably more options for wide-angle glass. We’ve previously covered the best Canon RF lenses, but today, we’re focusing on the best wide-angle RF mount lenses you can get in 2021.

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM

There’s no point to dilly-dallying around such a premium chunk of glass: the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is objectively the best wide-angle zoom on the system.

It’s got everything you could ever wish to have in a dream ultra-wide-angle zoom: a fast constant f2.8 aperture, goes as wide as 15mm, optical image stabilization, and accepts regular screw-in 82mm filters. A lens this fast and wide wouldn’t normally be able to accept normal filters, let alone cram an image stabilization system inside the barrel, and yet here we are.

Image quality, as you’d expect from an L-series glass, is phenomenal. Center sharpness is nothing but stellar even at f2.8 with the corners getting a nice bump at f4. Being a lens this wide, you’d see some barrel distortion, especially at 15mm though it’s pretty much corrected at 18mm. Vignetting is also a known issue being a tad heavy at f2.8, though both distortion and vignetting can be cleaned up with auto-correction.

But before you drop $2,400 (on Amazon) on this beast of a lens, you should know that all this performance will come with a hefty weight penalty. The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM weighs about 1.9 pounds and comes in at 3.5 x 7.83 inches in size. If you can live with all the above, and you were looking for the best ultra-wide angle zoom that the RF system can offer, this is it.

Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Now don’t let the slightly slower f4 max aperture trick you into discounting the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM as your next UWA lens purchase. It may be a whole stop slower than the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS, but it packs just as much punch as its more premium sibling at a more reasonable package.

It’s fair to assume that the image quality on this lens is everyone’s main concern when there’s a pricier alternative so let’s get to it straight away: at the same apertures (f4 and up), it’s on par with the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L with both lenses trading blows at different focal lengths. What you’ll miss out on is obviously the faster f2.8, but considering all the benefits you’d get out of the f4 lens, I think it’s more than a fair trade-off.

It’s more than 20% shorter and a lot more compact in size overall. You’ll also be saving 300 grams in weight. That weight saving is going to be a big deal when you’re handholding it during long days of vlogging. Speaking of vlogging, that extra millimeter on the wide end makes a lot of difference when we’re talking about UWA focal ranges. Check out this comparison to see the difference in the framing at 14mm vs 15mm.

Finally, it’s $700 cheaper than the flagship option. For the benefits and the one drawback we’ve outlined so far, the new RF 14-35mm f/4L is already looking to be the more logical option for a lot of people.

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM

We’ve been talking a lot about premium L-series lenses so far so let’s switch gears and take a look at what’s within reach for budget-conscious enthusiasts. Luckily, the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, one of the newest lenses joining the RF roster is an incredibly compact, fast ultra-wide-angle prime that can be had for $300 (Amazon).

You won’t be getting extra features with this lens, not even IS, though you’ll get the RF system’s trademark control ring. It weighs a mere 5.8 oz and is about 2.7 inches in length. Canon is positioning this stumpy little UWA prime to be geared towards vloggers and content creators. That’s good news if you fall anywhere near the two niches, but if you mainly shoot stills, don’t worry.

We’ve still yet to see a proper lab test since this beautifully weird lens had just arrived on the shelves very recently, but from the MTF charts we’re seeing, it should perform on par with the trusty RF 50mm f1.8 STM and the RF 35mm f1.8 Macro STM at least on paper, and that’s a good thing!

At this price point, the upcoming Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is shaping to be the best UWA RF prime for newcomers experimenting with wider focal lengths.

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM

Let’s keep the low-cost option train rolling and take a look at the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM. It was one of the first RF lenses introduced to the public and it remains to be one of the best general-purpose, wide-angle prime lenses for the system. Not quite “wide” in the traditional sense, but you can always “zoom with your feet”.

This compact wide-standard prime comes in at $500 (Amazon), significantly more than the previous entry. However, for the features you’re getting, I think the $200 premium is well worth it because the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM does a lot more than similarly priced primes.

Image quality on this neat little lens is impressive. The RF 35mm f1.8 STM delivers sharp images wide open and gets a good boost in contrast and corner sharpness if you stop it down a little at f2 at f2.8. It’s also got optical image stabilization that should let you play with slower shutter speeds.

The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM has a 1:2 magnification which is great for people wanting to experiment with macro stuff. If you’re just buying into the RF system, consider the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS as the best low-cost solution for a wide walk-around prime lens.

Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 RF

The Canon RF system has been around long enough for third-party options to start filling in the gaps and offer relatively affordable alternatives to flagship RF lenses. For people looking to get into UWA lenses but aren’t willing to spend more than a grand for a quality prime, the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 RF is the lens to beat at the $600 price point.

There are of course strong alternatives to the Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 RF like the Venus Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D. But unlike the latter, the Samyang offers a competent autofocus system versus the fully manual Laowa. In terms of AF, Dustin Abbott is pleased to report that Samyang has done an awesome job bringing their prior experience with autofocusing lenses into the AF 14mm, calling it a “very mature autofocus experience.” Center sharpness is also rather good even wide open. The corners don’t look as sharp as the center as you might have already guessed, but it does improve at f4. There’s some pronounced vignetting, but Dustin says a Lightroom correction profile corrects this really well.

Thanks to the bulbous front element on the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 RF, screw-in filters are a no go, though Samyang did provide a remedy for this through a rear gel holder. Vignetting and incompatibility with traditional filters aside, the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 RF still provides a very accessible gateway to a tempting ultra-wide-angle lens that’ll work great for landscapes, real estate projects to astrophotography.