Tamron Di III AFF072Z700 90mm

A 10x superzoom for Canon RF cameras that made sense a few years ago but now feels outclassed. You get a huge focal range and fast, quiet autofocus in a relatively compact body. But image quality is inconsistent, the aperture gets dark quickly, and newer third-party options deliver better sharpness and reach for similar or less money. Only worth it if you find a steep discount and absolutely need native RF glass.

The superzoom landscape shifted dramatically since this lens debuted. The Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS is the new benchmark for APS-C shooters, offering a wider starting point and longer reach with surprisingly good sharpness. The Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is a close second, with excellent vibration compensation and a proven track record on Sony E-mount before arriving elsewhere. For full-frame users, the Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR shows what is possible when a manufacturer takes the all-in-one concept seriously, though it is not available for RF mount. The Panasonic Leica 50-200mm f/2.8-4 is a different beast entirely, a telephoto zoom with a constant-ish fast aperture that trades range for outright image quality. Even Canon's own EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, when adapted, often delivers more consistent results on RF crop bodies than this RF 24-240mm. The Canon is not the worst lens in this group, but it is the hardest to recommend given the current competition.

Anyone who prioritizes image sharpness over sheer convenience. If you shoot landscapes, architecture, or anything that benefits from edge-to-edge clarity, this lens will frustrate you. Also skip it if you own an APS-C RF body, the wide end is not wide enough and you are paying for full-frame coverage you are not using. Travel photographers who want a single lens solution should look at the Tamron 18-300mm or Sigma 16-300mm instead, both offer more range and better optical performance on crop sensors. And if you are on a budget, the used market for this lens is still overpriced relative to what you actually get.

The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is a lens that promised a lot but now struggles to justify its place in a rapidly evolving market. When it launched, the idea of a 10x zoom for the RF mount was genuinely exciting. Today, with newer optics from Sigma, Tamron, and even Nikon showing what modern superzooms can do, this Canon feels dated. The image quality is fine in the center but falls apart at the edges, especially at the long end. Autofocus is quick and silent thanks to the USM motor, but the variable aperture gets dim fast, and the lack of weather sealing at this price point stings. It is not a bad lens, but it is no longer a smart buy for most people. The convenience of the range is real, but the compromises now feel heavier than they did a few years ago.