Hands-on Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ review: THE must-have lens for content creators

It may not look it, but the Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ marks an important first for the EOS R system: it's the first RF lens with integrated power zoom – meaning that you can push in and pull out shots with silky smooth electronic zooming.

It's no coincidence that the Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ was launched in tandem with the Canon EOS R50 V, as it's a lens that's tailor-made for the new content creation powerhouse. However, it's also perfect for anyone creating videos or vlogs on any of Canon's APS-C bodies.

Photographers need not apply, as this is essentially a video-only optic. But if you're a creator then buckle up, because this is a lens that you're guaranteed to want on your camera.

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Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ: Price & availability

The Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ goes on sale in April with a price tag of £379.99 / AU$1,499 (US pricing to be confirmed).

The closest comparable lens is the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM, priced at £589.99 / AU$950. While it is similarly specced, it's a full-frame RF lens – so it's considerably bigger and over twice the weight. Crucially it is also a manual zoom, so it lacks the signature motorized capability of the RF-S 14-30mm.

Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ: Specifications

Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ: Build & handling

As noted, the Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ is the first integrated power zoom lens for the RF system. And this distinction (along with the price) sets it apart from Canon's other power zoom lenses, the RF 24-105mm f/2.8 PZ and RF 70-200mm f/2.8 PZ, both of which require the additional PZ-E2 adapter.

But of course, those are L-series lenses that cost thousands and are aimed at professional videographers; the RF-S 14-30mm is a super-affordable lens that's aimed at content creators.

Its closest comparative is the RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3, which on paper looks like a very similar lens. But make no mistake, that's a very different lens.

For starters, it lacks the motorized power zoom that makes the RF-S 14-30mm so desirable for video. But it's also a full-frame lens, designed for full-frame cameras, and so it's a darned sight bigger and weighs twice as much.

No, if you're a content creator using an RF-S body like the EOS R50 V, R50, R100, R10 or R7, this new PZ lens is exactly what you need. In fact, for a lot of people, it might be the only lens you need.

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Its primary party trick is the power zoom. By turning the zoom ring on the lens barrel, you activate a smooth motorized zoom that instantly makes your footage look more professional. A gentle turn will perform a gradual zoom, and the more you turn the ring the faster the zoom will be.

The zoom feature can also be controlled by the R50 V's zoom switch, and it can even be activated when shooting remotely with the Camera Connect app. This is ideal if you're capturing video on a tripod that's out of arm's reach, or if your camera is delicately balanced and you don't want to introduce shake by handling the camera of lens.

The Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ has a control ring, too, which you can customize to whatever exposure setting suits you best – I always like my video lenses to have aperture control, which is especially handy when you're self-shooting as you can reach to the nose of the lens and make a quick adjustment.

There's no weather-sealing on this lens, though the majority of Canon's APS-C bodies aren't sealed either so I don't think this is a huge omission.

Much more important is the inclusion of image stabilization, which is good for up to 5 stops on most cameras – but goes all the way up to 7.5 stops (in the center; 5.5 in the corners) on a camera with in-body image stabilization.

Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ: Performance

The first thing to bear in mind is that the Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ is an APS-C lens, which means that its effective focal range is 22.4-48mm in full-frame terms (thanks to the 1.6x crop of Canon's APS-C sensors).

This is a pretty ideal range for vloggers and content creators; it gives you a working width for arm's length filming and working in small spaces, and an almost 50mm "standard" field of view for natural everyday environmental filming.

(It's worth noting that some cameras – like the EOS R50 V and R10 – feature a further 1.56x crop when shooting 4K 60p video, which will reduce the image to 64% of the horizontal area in total.)

Something that really impressed me about the RF-S 14-30mm is the close-focus distance. At just 15cm / 5.9 inches, it enables you to keep subjects in focus even when they're really close to the lens.

This is especially important for creators filming reviews or tutorials, when holding small objects up to the camera is called for. I tested it out by holding tiny Happy Meal Transformers toys up to the lens, and it handled them perfectly.

Of course, the most important thing about a power zoom lens is the power zoom feature itself – and it works brilliantly here. I love the creative opportunities it opens up, which just aren't possible using a manual zoom lens.

Having a subtle push-in while filming B-roll makes your footage feel so much more engaging, and being able to silently and smoothly zoom in or out adds bags of production value. It's a brilliant storytelling tool if you use this lens for filmmaking, too, as you can add professional pushes and pulls on your subject to create dramatic effect.

My only concern right now is the sturdiness of the stabilization, as the quoted 5 stops feels very generous given how much movement was present while handholding my shots. However, that could very well be user error as I was also testing the electronic stabilization of the R50 V – so I'm looking forward to getting the lens back in my hands for the full test.

Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ: Sample video

Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ: Early verdict

I've been using power zoom lenses on other cameras for over a decade, and I'm beyond thrilled that there's finally an affordable option for the RF system.

Canon is exceptionally smart to offer this lens in a bundle with the R50 V, as they're a pretty perfect pairing for content creators. But I think that creators should take that as a huge hint, because the Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ is a great lens for shooting video content on any APS-C camera.

Certainly the slow aperture range limits your ability to shoot in low light, or to achieve background blur behind your subjects. But for the kind of filming for which this lens is intended – creators using ring lights and other lighting in their home setups – I don't think this is much of a problem.

For anyone starting their videography or creation journey, and anybody who needs an everyday video lens with a smooth electronic zoom that can be controlled locally or remotely, the RF-S 14-30mm is a great and affordable solution.