Canon RF-S 55-210mm compact tele-zoom 2 year follow up user review in 2025

Canon RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 is STM for Canon APS-C Mirrorless RF Mount Cameras, Telephoto Zoom 

Canon RF-S55-210mm

• RF-S telephoto zoom lens that affordably adds flexibility, power, and range to your collectio – an ideal “next lens for EOS R50, R10, and even R7 users.
• Outstanding telephoto coverage with APS-C sensor cameras – Full Frame equivalent of approx. 88–336mm coverage when used on cameras with APS-C size image sensors.
• Excellent image quality: highlights include two UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass elements, one aspheric element, and Canon Super Spectra Coating (SSC) to minimize ghosting and flare.
• Optical image stabilization — up to 4.5 stops* of shake correction. Up to 7.0 stops of shake correction when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS).
• Minimum focus distance of approx. 28.7 in./0.73m. with a maximum magnification of 0.28x (at 210mm focal length) – fill the frame with a subjet the size of a credit card.

This is super light and compact, only 8 mm longer than the Standard RF-S 18-150mm IS STM lens. It also takes a 55mm filter.  Full frame equivalent focal length and aperture is 88 mm f8  to 336 mm f 11.4.

It focusses quickly and accurately , has very good image stabilization and is optically very good at all focal lengths and apertures right across the frame although with a bit less sharpness in the corners.

One handy feature of the RF-S 55-210mm is its ability to deliver near macro magnification od 0.28x without having to bring the lens close to the subject. At  210mm focal length the minimum focus distance is 550mm from front of lens to subject and the horizontal field of view is just 75mm.

The out of focus rendition is smooth,  there is very little color fringing and flare is well controlled.  It is sharp enough to reveal all the considerable amount of fine subject detail which the EOS R7 can produce.

It is not a lens for professional sports photography or fast low light action. But for anything outdoors it is a little gem, delivering sharp, accurately focus pix all the time.

It makes a very good companion to the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 standard lens.