Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Canon
88 Overall Score
vs
Tamron SP AFA005S-700 70-300mm

Tamron SP AFA005S-700 70-300mm

Tamron
50 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

90 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews

The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its sharpness, fast autofocus, and lightweight design. Users appreciate it as a versatile upgrade from kit lenses, especially for mirrorless cameras like the R7 and R5 Mark II. A single negative review is due to a delivery issue, not product quality.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Great value for the price
  • Versatile for various settings
Cons
  • Possible delivery mismanagement
👍 Image quality 4
👍 Autofocus performance 3
👍 Weight and portability 6
👍 Value for money 4
👍 Versatility 2
👎 Delivery experience 1

Tamron SP AFA005S-700 70-300mm

85 out of 100 medium confidence 16 reviews

Reviewers overwhelmingly praise the Tamron 70-300mm lens for its excellent value for money, delivering sharp images and solid build quality at a fraction of the cost of brand-name alternatives. Many users highlight its impressive performance for wildlife and bird photography, although some note that the autofocus can be slow in low light and there are occasional issues with chromatic aberration. While a few mention the lack of image stabilization on certain models, most find it manageable with steady hands or a tripod.

Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Sharp image quality throughout zoom range
  • Solid build and sturdy construction
  • Good for wildlife and bird photography
  • Effective vibration compensation (VC)
Cons
  • Slow autofocus in low light
  • Occasional chromatic aberration (purple/green fringing)
  • No vibration reduction on some models
  • Autofocus can hunt and struggle on small subjects
  • Zoom ring not always smooth
👍 Value for money 12
👍 Image quality 14
👍 Build quality 9
🤔 Autofocus performance 8
👎 Chromatic aberration 6
🤔 Image stabilization 7

Scores

Professional
Canon
92
Tamron
35
Video Cinema
Canon
90
Tamron
38
Portrait
Canon
88
Tamron
29
Travel
Canon
87
Tamron
47
Street
Canon
84
Tamron
36
Wildlife Sports
Canon
82
Tamron
39
Landscape
Canon
80
Tamron
50
Budget
Canon
79
Tamron
52
Macro
Canon
70
Tamron
50

Specifications

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STMTamron SP AFA005S-700 70-300mm
Optics
Typezoomtelephoto
Focal Length Min28 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max70 mm300 mm
Elements1413
Groups119
Aspherical Elements2★—
ED Elements22
CoatingSuper Spectra Coating (SSC)—
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/32
Min Aperturef/2.84.0-5.6
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades—9★
Build
MountCanon RFSony A
Formatfull-framefull-frame
Weather Sealed✓★—
Weight0.49 kg★0.77 kg
Filter Thread67 mm62 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTM★Autofocus
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5.5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance270 mm★950 mm
Max Magnification0.24x1:2★

Pros & Cons

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

  • Strong stabilization (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile

Tamron SP AFA005S-700 70-300mm

  • Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
  • Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
  • Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
  • Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
  • Below average bokeh (8th percentile)8th %ile
  • Below average build (23rd percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Scores 88 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports